I really, really think a huge part of our problems is that we don't play inside out. We take forced perimeter shots, not in rhythm, and even with the improved ball movement under Smart, still don't play inside out, and run the majority of our offense from 18ft or more away from the hoop.
We need to play off Cousins. He's not involved anywhere near as much as he should, and last night it was too the point I wondered if Salmons had made a concentrated effort not to pass it to Cousins, even though as a 73 yr veteran of this league, he more than anyone should know the importance of playing inside out.
Cousins hasn't been passing as much as he should. A reason for that in my mind, is that he gets the ball so rarely in the half court he feels he has to shoot, because he won't see the ball for the next 5-8 possessions. But if we play through him, he'll be much more willing to pass. He showed that last year. Let him draw a double, command some attention down low, and force the defense to react, either play him straight up, where most, if any can't guard him, or send help, where we then have the defense moving and reacting to us, and therefor opening passing lanes for us. We won't just have easier passes because of that, but when guys get the ball they'll either be wide open, and hopefully in rhythm when shooting, or since the defense is scrambling as we swing quickly, they'll be larger lanes/openings for our guys to attack.
Getting it to Cousins first, forcing a double, and then swinging it allows the other 4 guys to essentially play 4 on 3. A win for us. But when we don't go inside, that initial double never happens, so even if we swing it around the perimeter, we're still 5 on 5 for the most part, with the defense just switching or fighting through screens. We don't have the defense scrambling after they were forced to double. Instead they sag off a little, watch the ball move, as we pretty much stand still, and when their man gets the ball, they have an easy close out for a contested jumper. I see that far too frequently.
Another aspect of playing off Cousins is we need slashers. We don't have any. Reke rarely slashes, and since he still doesn't have a flip shot/floater or left hand, and isn't a great jumper, probably isn't a good idea. Thornton doesn't slash without the ball. Wish he did, because when he's off he's invisible. Salmons/Cisco/Jimmer/Outlaw don't slash, period. Donte is my only hope on this roster, of someone who's shown flashes of slashing off the ball and finishing. But with an offense which should use Cousins much more, we need to find a guy or two that can slash. Right now just about every single perimeter player we have would much rather stand still at the 3pt line, which is upsetting, but the reality of it.
Of course this won't cure all our shooting woes, as Outlaw and Salmons we never good shooters, and that's one reason I hate having both on this roster. But playing inside out, and forcing the defense to scramble, should help Thornton/Reke/Jimmer/Donte get some easier looks, as well as more in rhythm looks.
But really, when you see where this team dynamic is heading, with Reke/Cousins the cornerstone, and Thornton the key third wheel, and when the offense revolves around them as it did in Tor, it becomes pretty clear the rest of this roster doesn't fit well. Outlaw/Salmons still make no sense, and are pretty much the opposite of what Petrie should have looked for, and Hayes while he might help, should not have been the lone acquisition to a frontline which lost Daly. I guess the saving grace is that as Reke/Cousins/Thornton take over this offense, it will become damn clear the surrounding pieces don't fit, and a move shouldn't be too far away. But we can't go forward with Cousins, who'll be a top 3-5 center within a year or two, having an offense run through he and Reke, without any decent spot up shooters or slashers on the roster, or guys who can even just move the ball.
