Incredible Breakdown of Memphis' Offense

[NorCal Spartan]

This may be posted but I didn't see it.

Anyway, Spartans Weblog has a great breakdown of the DDM offense Memphis runs.

Study Session: The Dribble-Drive Motion Offense « Spartans Weblog

Go and read the entire article, it is really well done. There's a youtube clip in the article that shows the importance of drive to the elbow.

Should be mandatory reading before Friday's game.

Again, sorry if posted already.

[DDRMSU]

Good read... thanks!

[MSix]

I almost wet myself reading the paragraph below. This offence is pretty much what I tried to get my H.S. coach to run a lot when I was a Freshamn on the JV, because I was a short, quick, penentrating PG who couldn't shoot and was a below avg. passer. Unfortunately, he was a Larry Brown type (and former pg) and just switched me to SG instead. In summer ball (without the coach) we sometimes did something like this and I would rack up the assists.

"point guard named Chris Hernandez (who would later star at Stanford), was such a skilled dribble-penetrator that Walberg moved his post man to the weakside block, clearing two bodies from Hernandez's path to the basket. When Hernandez broke down his defender he had several options: 1) shoot an open layup, 2) pass to the post man (if his defender left him to stop Hernandez), or 3) kick the ball out to an open teammate on the perimeter (if his defender had sagged to help out on Hernandez). The open player could shoot a three-pointer, but if one wasn't available, the team would attack again."

[Taggert]

OK---this is pretty scary, but it also really shows how Memphis plays the game…you really have to watch the video towards the bottom to get the full effect. Basically, the attack the top of the key—the guards aim for each corner of the FT line extended. Then they either try to hit a cutter back door for a layup, take it themselves, hit another guy running behind them aimed at the other corner of key, or kick it out for a three. They do this as fast as they can…..and try to catch the D off balance.

After watching it I’m not sure how Izzo plans to stop it….they could run some sort of a zone (maybe a box and 1 on Rose) to force them away from the top of the key, or they might want to get ready to take a charge here and there by anticipating where they are heading as this might frustrate them. Memphis would prefer to get it in close. If I had to pick my poison I would let them jack 3’s and hope they miss, and if they get in the lane don’t be afraid to put their big guys on the line.

[AASpartan]

Originally Posted by bugleboy

Sports Illustrated had a big article on this a few weeks ago.

No ****

First, some required reading: Grant Wahl’s February SI piece on the dribble-drive motion (DDM) offense.

In the very first sentence.

[J T]

Originally Posted by NorCal Spartan

Go and read the entire article, it is really well done. There's a youtube clip in the article that shows the importance of drive to the elbow.

Will Tieman is going to set a record for useage of the word "elbow." Good thing I don't have to listen to him for this game.

[TonyAlmeida]

Originally Posted by Taggert

OK---this is pretty scary, but it also really shows how Memphis plays the game…you really have to watch the video towards the bottom to get the full effect. Basically, the attack the top of the key—the guards aim for each corner of the FT line extended. Then they either try to hit a cutter back door for a layup, take it themselves, hit another guy running behind them aimed at the other corner of key, or kick it out for a three. They do this as fast as they can…..and try to catch the D off balance.

After watching it I’m not sure how Izzo plans to stop it….they could run some sort of a zone (maybe a box and 1 on Rose) to force them away from the top of the key, or they might want to get ready to take a charge here and there by anticipating where they are heading as this might frustrate them. Memphis would prefer to get it in close. If I had to pick my poison I would let them jack 3’s and hope they miss, and if they get in the lane don’t be afraid to put their big guys on the line.

Box and 1 only worked in 6th grade when there's that one kid who hit puberty at age 9.

[VargMan]

Originally Posted by Taggert

OK---this is pretty scary, but it also really shows how Memphis plays the game…you really have to watch the video towards the bottom to get the full effect. Basically, the attack the top of the key—the guards aim for each corner of the FT line extended. Then they either try to hit a cutter back door for a layup, take it themselves, hit another guy running behind them aimed at the other corner of key, or kick it out for a three. They do this as fast as they can…..and try to catch the D off balance.

After watching it I’m not sure how Izzo plans to stop it….they could run some sort of a zone (maybe a box and 1 on Rose) to force them away from the top of the key, or they might want to get ready to take a charge here and there by anticipating where they are heading as this might frustrate them. Memphis would prefer to get it in close. If I had to pick my poison I would let them jack 3’s and hope they miss, and if they get in the lane don’t be afraid to put their big guys on the line.

No zone...MSU will force dribblers away from the elbow and will sag on penetration. We will allow them to win or lose the game at the 3 point line.

[VargMan]

Originally Posted by MSix

I almost wet myself reading the paragraph below. This offence is pretty much what I tried to get my H.S. coach to run a lot when I was a Freshamn on the JV, because I was a short, quick, penentrating PG who couldn't shoot and was a below avg. passer. Unfortunately, he was a Larry Brown type (and former pg) and just switched me to SG instead. In summer ball (without the coach) we sometimes did something like this and I would rack up the assists.

"point guard named Chris Hernandez (who would later star at Stanford), was such a skilled dribble-penetrator that Walberg moved his post man to the weakside block, clearing two bodies from Hernandez's path to the basket. When Hernandez broke down his defender he had several options: 1) shoot an open layup, 2) pass to the post man (if his defender left him to stop Hernandez), or 3) kick the ball out to an open teammate on the perimeter (if his defender had sagged to help out on Hernandez). The open player could shoot a three-pointer, but if one wasn't available, the team would attack again."

Teen Wolf ran this offense, as well and we saw how well he did.

[MSix]

Originally Posted by WCS

Teen Wolf ran this offense, as well and we saw how well he did.

And it's just being adopted? I thought everybody saw that great basketball classic.

[VargMan]

Originally Posted by MSix

And it's just being adopted? I thought everybody saw that great basketball classic.

Everybody just assumed that he was successful because of his wolf powers...until they broke down the film.

[MSix]

Originally Posted by MSix

And it's just being adopted? I thought everybody saw that great basketball classic.

Originally Posted by WCS

Everybody just assumed that he was successful because of his wolf powers...until they broke down the film.

Oh yeah. I could see that happening. It was probably a combination of both, but I'm leaning toward the offense having more to do with it because I think they won without his wolf powers.

[Stats]

Originally Posted by TonyAlmeida

Box and 1 only worked in 6th grade when there's that one kid who hit puberty at age 9.

It can be very effective in high school games when a team has one kid that takes most (if not all) of their shots and no one else that can do ****.

[The Matador]

The Grant Wahl article makes it seem impossible to stop.

Izzo is a great great great X's and O's coach, and i'm sure the DDM is nothing new to him, i'll be very interested to see what he has in mind.

I'm hoping it's not "Travis walton is a great on the ball defender, he can handle rose 1-1".

[Taggert]

from the traditional sense...but one where we simply clog up the areas they would like to go with the ball. Rose would be the only one to draw man to man coverage initially and then once they initiate their offense we start packing it in. Then it would be all about rotating on the perimeter, but making sure our bigs don't come too far out to help. I think the Donger is going to be getting a lot of minutes.

[blanch32]

ok, after watching the video, they basically run a 3 man weave extended to the elbow--basically taking advantage of the fact that you have bigger guards than your opponent.

Hell, you could run a simple 2-3 zone to stop this offense--just stop the dribble penetration at the eblow, and force them to shoot threes. This really isn't brain surgery.

[SpartyOn82]

These guys are not great shooters. They have a high % from shooting layups, getting off. rebounds for easy stick backs, or dishing out to wide open three shooters. What's wrong with just playing off of them on the perimeter so that they can't drive by you as easy, but just close enough so if they pull up for a three, it will at least be somewhat hurried?

[MSUtopia]

This is very interesting but if you saw them play Tennessee they were up against a team who pressures more than they do and maybe shoots quicker but the score was in the 60's. They missed a lot of shots,

[DDRMSU]

Originally Posted by blanch32

ok, after watching the video, they basically run a 3 man weave extended to the elbow--basically taking advantage of the fact that you have bigger guards than your opponent.

Hell, you could run a simple 2-3 zone to stop this offense--just stop the dribble penetration at the eblow, and force them to shoot threes. This really isn't brain surgery.

Calling Tom Izzo! We have a plan!

[bigwali]

Originally Posted by WCS

No zone...MSU will force dribblers away from the elbow and will sag on penetration. We will allow them to win or lose the game at the 3 point line.

Or from the Free Throw line......

[Sabretooth]

The loss to UT was bittersweet. The bitter was obviously losing to our in-state rival, but the positive was it showed the folly in settling for the outside shot. Miss. State packed it in and hoped we'd settle for the 3. We didn't. We only attempted 3 the entire 2nd half. I don't expect we'll see a repeat of the UT performance.

[spartanblogger]

Originally Posted by blanch32

ok, after watching the video, they basically run a 3 man weave extended to the elbow--basically taking advantage of the fact that you have bigger guards than your opponent.

Hell, you could run a simple 2-3 zone to stop this offense--just stop the dribble penetration at the eblow, and force them to shoot threes. This really isn't brain surgery.

A couple notes:

(1) I just don't see Izzo going zone for a substantial amount of the game. MSU has played almost no zone this season; you can't expect them to learn it in a few days.

(2) Mississippi State played a 2-3 exclusive against Memphis on Sunday. This allowed Memphis to do two things they already do well: hold on to the ball (only 5 turnovers) and rebound the ball offensively (17+ offensive rebounds).

Memphis it is « Spartans Weblog

I have no doubt Izzo will have a good game plan for the Memphis offense, but I don't think a zone defense will be part of it.

[Crow]

I saw good spacing, nice cuts, and fairly unselfish play. I like what I see...but I just don't see it as this revolutionary concept. It's certainly looks like it offers a lot of freedom to the players, but nothing unstoppable

[blanch32]

Originally Posted by Sabretooth

The loss to UT was bittersweet. The bitter was obviously losing to our in-state rival, but the positive was it showed the folly in settling for the outside shot. Miss. State packed it in and hoped we'd settle for the 3. We didn't. We only attempted 3 the entire 2nd half. I don't expect we'll see a repeat of the UT performance.

Miss St packs it in almost as tightly as a hot dog in a hallway, similarily to your wang and your 12 year old sister.

[blanch32]

Originally Posted by spartanblogger

A couple notes:

(1) I just don't see Izzo going zone for a substantial amount of the game. MSU has played almost no zone this season; you can't expect them to learn it in a few days.

(2) Mississippi State played a 2-3 exclusive against Memphis on Sunday. This allowed Memphis to do two things they already do well: hold on to the ball (only 5 turnovers) and rebound the ball offensively (17+ offensive rebounds).

Memphis it is « Spartans Weblog

I have no doubt Izzo will have a good game plan for the Memphis offense, but I don't think a zone defense will be part of it.

Honestly I don't foresee any changes to our defense. We still play box-elbow-help and zone on SLOBs and BLOBs.