What is wrong with Tom Thibodeau?
How many times do you have to fail before you realize that the pick and roll doesn't work against the heat?
Why does a pick and roll traditionally work? Because the person who sets the pick must also be an offensive threat!
So what happens when the person who sets the pick is not a legitimate offensive threat?
Both defenders with follow the legitimate threat (point guard in this case) around the pick. So essentially by running a pick and roll with a person who isn't a threat simply introduces a double team to your point guard.
That's right, you have now helped the defense double team your guard. DUH!!!
How come I can see this, the announcers can see this, yet an NBA coach can't fathom why the pick and roll isn't working? Seriously?
Derrick Rose is arguably the fastest guard in the league. No one can guard him by themselves. NO ONE. Not even the much hyped Lebron James. I have nothing against Lebron James, I think he's a great player, but I am sick and tired of folks saying he can do anything and guard anybody. Have you all lost your minds?
"Hey, but see how he stopped rose in the 4th qtr of game 4?"
Are you serious? My 14yr old son could of stopped Rose in the 4th qtr! Why, because he was exhausted!
He has been running against double and triple teams all series long. Try that shit in the 1st qtr and watch the beloved James break an ankle trying to "guard" Rose, won't happen, because they know better than to assign James to guard Rose so early on in the game.
Obviously, Derrick needs some help to spread the floor. In game one, Deng was hitting his outside shots which helped spread the floor and created another legitimate threat that had to be guarded. What happened to that shooting? I watched the Bulls miss shot after uncontested shot. They need a real shooting guard that can pose a consistent threat.
"But Boozer is a threat!"
Man please, if your game plan is to "unleash" Boozer, your going to lose! He cannot put up enough points to win the game, no one player can! I'll ask you dear reader, if your defending the pick and roll, do you fall off on Boozer or stay with Rose? I thought so! So what if Boozer gets 26 points....Bulls lose.
Now, in the scenario above, substitute Boozer for any of the other Bulls players and you see why the pick and roll doesn't really work here.
Thibodeau, you have the fastest guard in the NBA, known for attacking the rim and finishing! Why not exploit that?
I think some isolation plays early in the game would allow Derrick to get going. Why not try that first instead of last (when he's tired)?
In the end, I am not sure there is an easy fix for Chicago without some personnel changes. They need more threats!
I know one thing though, the pick and roll is NOT WORKING TOM!
