|
|
|
Tuesday, November 21, 2000
Bucks: Poor shooting, defense must change
ESPN.com
|
For every NBA team that is on a roll, there is a team that isn't. That's why we need the doctor -- Dr. Jack Ramsay. Each week in Dr. Jack's Prescription, the Hall of Fame coach will analyze a team in distress, and offer a cure to what ails them.
This week: Milwaukee Bucks
|  | | Ray Allen and the Bucks are off to a brutal start. |
The Symptoms
The Bucks are off to a 1-5 start, are scoring only 93 points a game, allowing
opponents 102, and are being outrebounded by an average of four boards a game.
Those are not good numbers for a team that has an incendiary level of firepower and which, some experts predicted, would represent the East in the NBA
Finals in 2001.
Coach George Karl has used terms like "outhustled" and an "absence of
pride" to describe his team's lethargic play in recent games. These words
have come from a coach who is known for his ability to motivate teams into
high-energy performances -- teams that made opponents work hard to just get
the ball across halfcourt. Karl's Seattle teams were extremely disruptive to
opposing teams' structured offenses and, as recently as last season, the
Bucks had the Indiana Pacers on the ropes in the opening playoff round with
similar pressure tactics. Those qualities are not evident in Milwaukee's play
so far this season ... and the coach and his players can't seem to figure out
why.
The Diagnosis
As might be expected from a team with the Bucks' record, there are
shortcomings at both ends of the floor. On defense, Milwaukee allows a .459
field goal percentage to opponents. Only five NBA teams permit a higher shooting percentage.
There's a serious lack of solid team defense here -- perimeter defenders are
permitting straight-line drives to the hoop, interior defenders don't
effectively protect the basket area, rotations from help defenders are often
too slow to materialize, and the Bucks give up too many transition scores.
That's how a team allows 102 points a game.
On offense, the Bucks are shooting only .438 -- much too low for a team with
as many good shooters as they have. Ray Allen (.437), Glenn Robinson (.433)
and Tim Thomas (.418) are shooting well below their percentages of last
season, and the latter two are firing away at career low marks from the
field. These stats indicate that these players aren't taking good quality
shots. Some are forced, some are hurried, and too many are from the
perimeter. And poor quality shots, combined with the Bucks' lack of strong
rebounding, give opponents golden opportunities to run.
There's also an absence of a quality low-post game at Milwaukee. Big men
Ervin Johnson and Scott Williams have never been double-digit scorers in
their NBA careers; and Jason Caffey reached that plateau only last season at
Golden State.
The Cure
George Karl simply must find a way for his team to be tougher
defensively, whether it's with a trapping scheme like he used so well in
Seattle or with a more conservative, rock-ribbed half-court game based on
solid on-the-ball pressure and an effective help system. The defense must
improve for the Bucks to emerge from this malaise that's haunting them in the
early season.
Among Allen, Lindsey Hunter and Sam Cassell the Bucks should
be able to tighten up their perimeter D. Meanwhile, Robinson and Thomas must take
responsibility for containing the talented match-ups they face at small
forward; and the bigs (Johnson, Caffey and Williams) must protect the hoop
with a level of intimidation that's been lacking. On a team without a volume
rebounder, board work becomes a five-man responsibility. The Bucks miss the
energy of Darvin Ham -- especially around the boards. But he's out for an
extended period, so it's time for others to step up and produce.
On offense, the Bucks need to become less perimeter and take the ball to the
basket more. Without a strong post-up game, penetrations create inside
scoring opportunities and put pressure on opponents' interior defense. That
tactic also gets you to the free throw line. Both Cassell and Hunter are
capable of this ... and so is Allen. And good penetrations get a team's big
men involved for easy scores -- either on dishes or offensive put-backs. They
also tend to keep opponents from running out on fast breaks.
There are no quick fixes in pro basketball. The Bucks won't get their game
together overnight. But Karl is one of the most astute coaches in the game
and has a good quality group of people among his players. My guess is that
he'll find a way to get the job done. He always has.
|
|
ALSO SEE
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Raptors
|
|
