The Anatomy of an Elite Offense (HV Weekly: 12/10/21)
Breaking down the offensive DNA of one of the nation's last unbeatens.
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The 2021-22 season is about one month old (one down, four to go!) and — if this week full of upsets is any indication — we are in for an exciting final couple weeks of non-conference play.
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Spain action with a twist
LSU’s three-point defense
Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard breaks the career steals record
MAAC road wins
Middle pin down hi-lo action
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In today’s edition, we take a deeper look at one of the nation’s most efficient — and most overlooked — offenses through the first month of this season.
Solving Basketball: Niko Medved
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On Thursday we released the 43rd episode of Solving Basketball, featuring an interview with Colorado State head coach Niko Medved.
Colorado State is off to an undefeated 9-0 start thanks to one of the most efficient offenses in the country. The Rams offense currently ranks:
13th in kenpom adjusted offensive efficiency (3rd in raw ppp)
1st in effective field goal percentage
10th in turnover percentage
On the podcast, Medved discussed the history, scheme, and philosophy behind his offensive style. Listen below or find it on your favorite podcast app:
Medved discussed how earlier in his coaching career, he was heavily influenced by Dana Altman’s Spread offense. There are still some Spread concepts in Colorado State’s current system, but the Rams now run a hybrid of several different styles.
In today’s newsletter — to accompany the podcast — we have film on some of the different schemes incorporated into Medved’s hybrid system, helping show how CSU has staked their claim as one of the nation’s best offenses this season.
Forwards Out
Many different offenses with two-guard formations use “forwards out” to initiate at the beginning of a possession.
The forwards out action is relatively simple: While a dribble handoff is occurring, both forwards move out away from the basket — switching places with the guards.
Colorado State starts most of their half court possessions with this action. Here’s an example where they use it for an intentional set play:
The “forwards out” movement lifts the Oral Roberts weakside defender up towards the foul line. At that point, Colorado State simply passes the ball back to the strong side wing (instead of the normal ball reversal), setting up a drive towards the baseline.
The above is a simple but effective play the Rams usually try at least once or twice per game.
Princeton Influence
We already saw some Princeton influence with the Forwards Out concept, but the element most reminiscent of Princeton within CSU’s offense is the point series.
In Medved’s scheme, the Rams will play through their 5-man at the elbow area and set up elbow split action — just like the point series.
Here’s a clip below of a secondary action Colorado State likes to get into out of the point series.
Instead of playing towards the split action, #11 Dischon Thomas spin/freeze dribbles towards the other side of the court to initiate an empty ball screen with #4 Isaiah Stevens.
That spin dribble into a ball screen is a common occurrence in CSU’s point series.
Beilein 2-Guard Influence
During our interview, Medved talked about being inspired by John Beilein’s 2-Guard Offense — which happens to be inspired by the Princeton offense.
The best example of the Beilein-influence is in Colorado State’s slice series. The slice series was a staple of Beilein’s offenses at Michigan and West Virginia.
Again, the play above starts with forwards out. This time, the second cutter (#31 Adam Thistlewood) sets up the slice screen for #1 John Tonje. Tonje gets a bucket and the foul off of the play.
Colorado State also runs counters off of their base slice action. In the play below, watch #21 David Roddy after he receives the screen.
Instead of Roddy going to the opposite block and reversing the ball, the Rams throw the ball back to where it came from. Meanwhile, Roddy ducks-in his man in the middle of the paint.
In the end, the play led to free throws for Roddy.
5-Out with Roddy
Finally, Medved mentioned on the podcast how he started incorporating more 5-out offense in the last few seasons.
This season in particular, David Roddy is tremendously effective at the top of the key — an area Medved calls the “p-spot” — when the Rams are in 5-out.
Roddy has the shooting ability to force opposing centers out onto the perimeter. He has the speed and shiftiness to get past bigger defenders. And the strength and physicality to finish at the rim.
All of those attributes are on display in the clip below against Creighton.
Roddy’s shooting ability gets #44 Ryan Hawkins lunging out towards the perimeter, and then Roddy does the rest. Going behind his back to get past Hawkins and finishing through contact at the rim.
For more on Colorado State and Niko Medved’s offense, be sure to check out Solving Basketball Episode #43 if you haven’t already.
Links from around the internet
Gibson Pyper broke down a Ty Lue coaching adjustment
Daryl Morey was a guest on The Decision Education podcast
Derek Bodner gave some interesting insight into The Athletic’s business incentives — and why he’s launching an independent newsletter
Zach Kram wrote about the changing relationship between shot quality and offensive efficiency in the NBA
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