11/14/2022 0 Comments Screenx knox![]() The shooting of Green, Knox, and Gabriel matched up with the driving ability of SGA is Kentucky’s best offensive option. With Kentucky’s defense improving at the rate it is, Cal can now afford to use a more offensive-oriented lineup. Let Diallo become an “energy guy” off the bench, similar to a Dominique Hawkins role. This team needs to win sooner than later or else “bubble” conversations and the NIT becomes a real possibilities. Calipari has proven very, very stubborn in the past with player rotations, but he simply needs to make a change here. Green is more likely to score from three-point territory, more likely to convert free-throws and less likely to turn the ball over. I see no reason for him to have continued playing time over Quade Green. He also has 17 turnovers in SEC play compared to 11 assists. Diallo simply isn’t performing for the Cats and it hurts the team. In SEC play, Diallo is only shooting 36% from the floor and 20% from 3-point land. For this to happen, SGA needs Knox, Gabriel and Green in the same lineup. For the Cats to be successful they need to spread the floor. In SEC play, Kevin Knox has hit 13 three-pointers, Wenyen Gabriel 11 and Quade Green 9. I would like to see Wenyen Gabriel also as a part of this lineup, rounding it out with either PJ Washington or Nick Richards for rebounding. This 3-man crew is the most similar to a recreation of De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Derek Willis as the Cats have this season. Add in Kevin Knox and now the Cats can really look to spread the floor. With Quade Green in the game at the same time as SGA, it simply provides the Kentucky basketball team with more offensive weapons. If Quade’s defender stays home, SGA gets to the hoop. If Quade’s defender helps on Gilgeous-Alexander, Quade has an open look from deep. Green on the ball-side perimeter puts the opponent in a difficult situation. However, Green is one of the top three-point shooters on the team. Tennessee continued to give Diallo open looks in order to help on Shai’s drive and it worked for the Vols. If Quade Green is on the ball-side perimeter, his man is MUCH LESS likely to rotate to the drive than if it were Diallo or Vanderbilt. When SGA comes off the ball-screen, he obviously wants to go score. The next part of this “tweak” is simple: Quade Green as a spot-up shooter on the ball-side perimeter. Calipari has used this with previous teams, most notably with Kyle Wiltjer, Derek Willis, and even Josh Harrelson. This two-man game will put the opponent in a much more challenging situation defensively than if Richards is setting the screen. If Knox’s defender “stays home” on Knox, then SGA has a driving lane. If Knox’s defender helps on the ball-screen, Knox has a chance to knock down an open shot. Instead, Knox will pop out to the perimeter for a catch-and-shoot opportunity. Whereas Richards, Killeya-Jones and Washington roll to the basket after ball-screens, Knox won’t. SGA has the ball, running the point, and Kevin Knox sets a high ball-screen for him at the top of the key. Think about it, it really makes perfect sense and I’d love to see how Texas A&M guards it on Saturday. Here’s the “tweak” that I would like to see: Kevin Knox setting the ball-screen. You can see the problem: there were no driving lanes for SGA in these scenarios, causing him to get stuck and turn the ball over. Nick Richards was setting the ball-screen, and his defender dropped below the screen to help on SGA’s dribble penetration. SGA’s defender started going under the ball-screen, challenging SGA to shoot jumpers rather than get into the paint. Coach Cal continued to set ball-screens for SGA during the Tennessee game and the Cats had great success with it.īut the Vols made an adjustment that cost Kentucky two turnovers late in the game and the game itself. He consistently uses dribble penetration to finish at the basket, make pull-up jumpers, or distribute to post players for the easy finish. Gilgeous-Alexander has proven to be a smooth, reliable finisher at the rim. The most consistent scoring option the Wildcats have right now is point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA). This is why Coach Cal needs to start maximizing opportunities to play Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander together at the same time. Players such as Hamidou Diallo, Jarred Vanderbilt and Nick Richards have really struggled to be offensive weapons. Much of this has to do with the lineups that John Calipari has on the floor. While the Kentucky basketball teams’ defense is noticeably improved, the offense continues to be stagnant and inefficient. While the Cats’ defense is noticeably improved, the offense continues to be stagnant and inefficient. The Kentucky Wildcats are experiencing consistent offensive struggles since the West Virginia game. By Matt Upchurch 4 years ago Follow Tweet ![]()
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