Igor Kokoskov's philosophy of offense

[JCSunsfan]

Lots of motion, especially side to side. Eventually it opens up three point shooters or the middle. Things I like:

Constantly uses screens and cuts to open the three point line.
Works from the middle out
No more standing in the corner waiting for a pass for players like Chriss or Bender. They will have to move on offense.

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[Mainstreet]

Lots of motion, especially side to side. Eventually it opens up three point shooters or the middle. Things I like:

Constantly uses screens and cuts to open the three point line.
Works from the middle out
No more standing in the corner waiting for a pass for players like Chriss or Bender. They will have to move on offense.

I so like motion in an offense. It consistently creates scoring opportunities.

Also as I understand it, Igor will run this as a system. It will be so nice to know what the Suns are trying to do on offense.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I could see Ayton fitting in an offense like that nicely, with his ability to pop a shot or finish at the rim from the 5

 

[Hoop Head]

From what I've seen of the Jazz their offense is pretty smooth and they don't stick people in the corners like the Suns do. That's not to say they don't have players slide over there but it's not a staple of their offense like it has been for the Suns for the last 5 years. Of course who knows how much Igor does in Utah. I know he's credited with Rubio's play in Utah and his improved shooting. Utah plays a bit slower than most other teams, but not a total slowed down, grind it out style. Their system isn't that different than what you see teams start doing in the postseason, running under control when there are easy baskets to be had, not solely to up the tempo.

 

[JCSunsfan]

From what I've seen of the Jazz their offense is pretty smooth and they don't stick people in the corners like the Suns do. That's not to say they don't have players slide over there but it's not a staple of their offense like it has been for the Suns for the last 5 years. Of course who knows how much Igor does in Utah. I know he's credited with Rubio's play in Utah and his improved shooting. Utah plays a bit slower than most other teams, but not a total slowed down, grind it out style. Their system isn't that different than what you see teams start doing in the postseason, running under control when there are easy baskets to be had, not solely to up the tempo.

They hit the corners then move. They don't just stand there. It will be really interesting to see how this works for Booker. I think it has real potential to bring Bender out of his shell. TJ will be going to the rim more and will shooting the midrange less. This offense seems to avoid midrange shots. He will have to learn how to shoot the three to be effective in this offense.

The C and PF are constantly in the middle setting picks and then rolling toward the hoop or out to the three. Then back to the middle. Wings and PG are cutting off the picks constantly. Sometimes they are even using two picks in a single cut.

 

[Hoop Head]

They hit the corners then move. They don't just stand there. It will be really interesting to see how this works for Booker. I think it has real potential to bring Bender out of his shell. TJ will be going to the rim more and will shooting the midrange less. This offense seems to avoid midrange shots. He will have to learn how to shoot the three to be effective in this offense.

The C and PF are constantly in the middle setting picks and then rolling toward the hoop or out to the three. Then back to the middle. Wings and PG are cutting off the picks constantly. Sometimes they are even using two picks in a single cut.

I do wonder how TJ will do but he's such a smooth offensive player I doubt there will be much issue finding a role for him. He moved so much without the ball in his first year here but he seemed to stand around more and more each passing year. I imagine not being found and rewarded for his cuts caused him to slow things down. He's not the type of player that will standout when he's playing alongside ball stopping PG's like Bledsoe and Knight. He played well when Payton got here but that only lasted for so long. Payton went from putting up triple doubles to just giving up, not sure what his issue was but he was on his way to good payday before he decided to mail in his effort. TJ needs a willing playmaking PG to feed him in order to be at his best though and that could be Payton but after seeing him sort of give up, I hope it isn't. TJ will need to extend his range if he hopes to hold that starting job. If he can't hit 34-35% or greater then Jackson will have that job before 2018 is over.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Oh man. I just noticed this. This type of offense is perfect for Brandon Knight. He is a master at slipping off screens. I wonder if this would cure him of his hero ball tendencies.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Oh man. I just noticed this. This type of offense is perfect for Brandon Knight. He is a master at slipping off screens. I wonder if this would cure him of his hero ball tendencies.

I would love nothing more than to do a 180 on Knight.

 

[leclerc]

Then we'll see his behind instead of his face, bye bye, adieu, Knight.

 

[rocker]

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[Hoop Head]

Oh man. I just noticed this. This type of offense is perfect for Brandon Knight. He is a master at slipping off +. I wonder if this would cure him of his hero ball tendencies.

If Igor can turn Knight into a positive contributor that would be huge. I've given up on trading him but if he can become a good rotation player instead of dead money on the end of the bench that would be big. He does have talent and if he bought into a 6th man role he could carve out a good niche for himself going forward, whether he stays here or goes elsewhere. Something like 12-16 ppg and 3-5 assists a game with no more than 2 turnovers might be asking too much but that's what I'd like to see from him in a first guard off the bench, super sub type role.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Kokoskov can fix Bender, Knight, Chriss and Payton the Suns should be just fine.

 

[Mainstreet]

The more I read about David Fizdale the more I'm glad the Suns went a different direction... not the "Miami Way."

The younger players went along. Gasol, however, answered, "No." Then when asked for an explanation, Gasol replied, "We don't have the right leader."

Fizdale had a solid comeback, but it couldn't have helped his future with Gasol.

"I get it, you want Gregg Popovich, and I want LeBron James," the coach told his star player, according to a source.

"He had it in where Marc was going to be a certain way and he didn't care who Marc was and he didn't care how the offense was, he didn't care about the style we were playing. It was going to be about – 'This is a new era. The Memphis stuff is over. That Grit n Grind is done,' " a source said. "Then he turns around and says, 'We're going to do it the Miami Way.'

"The players didn't respect that. If you're going to talk about Miami, we should be able to talk about Memphis."

Ironically Fizdale might end up with Lebron in New York.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...wrong-david-fizdale-memphis-article-1.3972298

 

[Mainstreet]

Scott Bordow writes a nice article today at azcentral that covers the hiring process for Igor Kokoskov.

Even more interesting to me is the description of Igor's offensive game plan for the Slovenia team that won EuroBasket 2017.

See below:

... McDonough said he was “blown away” by Kokoskov’s offensive game plan for the Slovenia team that was led by Goran Dragic and Luka Doncic and won EuroBasket 2017.

“Ball movement, player movement and, on a lot of possessions, a lot of multiple players open for layups, 3-pointers, just wide-open shots,” McDonough said. “It was pretty impressive. The spacing, cutting and amount of different options available for each player, it was at a high level. It’s not often I watch something after having watched basketball for more than 15 years and see something impressive and innovative and different from what I’ve seen before. His offensive creativity stood out for us.”

In regards to who the Suns might draft.

McDonough, however, said that’s not necessarily the case.

“It’s an easy assumption to make, but we’re going to draft whoever we think the best player is,” McDonough said. “If we do get the Number 1 pick, Doncic will certainly be in that mix. But Ayton and a few other guys will, as well.”

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...ence-phoenix-suns-summer-decisions/583990002/

 

[SirStefan32]

“Ball movement, player movement and, on a lot of possessions, a lot of multiple players open for layups, 3-pointers, just wide-open shots,” McDonough said. “It was pretty impressive. The spacing, cutting and amount of different options available for each player, it was at a high level. It’s not often I watch something after having watched basketball for more than 15 years and see something impressive and innovative and different from what I’ve seen before. His offensive creativity stood out for us.”

That's actually really impressive.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's actually really impressive.

I know this will be Igor's first job as an NBA head coach but he brings a lot of coaching experience, both Euro and NBA, to the table.

 

[JCSunsfan]

That's actually really impressive.

I tend to get overly optimistic with new coaches and players. So I am trying to keep myself in check here. But I am really looking forward to watching Kokoskov's offense in action with the Suns. I am curious how hard it is to learn and which players will take to it and which won't.

It's something new to look forward to at least.

 

[Mainstreet]

I tend to get overly optimistic with new coaches and players. So I am trying to keep myself in check here. But I am really looking forward to watching Kokoskov's offense in action with the Suns. I am curious how hard it is to learn and which players will take to it and which won't.

It's something new to look forward to at least.

It will certainly be a chance to look at Suns players through fresh eyes. I'd like to see if Igor can get Bender more inside shots in the flow of the offense. The same with Chriss.

 

[Errntknght]

That's actually really impressive.

You watched the Slovenia Na'tl team playing last summer didn't you? I watched three of the games you posted links to - I didn't realize Kokoskov was the coach until the third game. I was focussed on Doncic. My take on the games was that Dragic made the offense go though his backup(not Doncic) did well, too - I guess that's the sign of good coaching. It was the Goran we saw for stretches here, especially the time when Bled was out - except he had more help on the fast breaks.
Doncic made some good plays but he didn't slash as much as I thought he would - and should have, IMO. He was most notable grabbing defensive rebounds and triggering the fast break. His shooting from 3 was not impressive though he did bank one off the glass to seal a game. He must have contributed much more for Real Madrid, because in those games you'd never imagine him being in the running for the first pick in the draft.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It will certainly be a chance to look at Suns players through fresh eyes. I'd like to see if Igor can get Bender more inside shots in the flow of the offense. The same with Chriss.

It would be interesting if he can get here in June and run some practices with players that we have to make decisions about like Payton and Len. He probably already knows if Payton can work in his offense. He coached him in Orlando. Len would be a big body setting picks, but he doesn't have the shot to keep defenses honest. Bender could be deadly in Kokoskov's system. If he runs the plays, he has to be involved and he will have to shoot.

 

[Mainstreet]

It would be interesting if he can get here in June and run some practices with players that we have to make decisions about like Payton and Len. He probably already knows if Payton can work in his offense. He coached him in Orlando. Len would be a big body setting picks, but he doesn't have the shot to keep defenses honest. Bender could be deadly in Kokoskov's system. If he runs the plays, he has to be involved and he will have to shoot.

This would be a huge plus for the Suns. I can't help but think this while watching the Rockets-Jazz game.

 

[Carolinacacti]

No more lobs to Chriss I hope.

 

[elindholm]

No more lobs to Chriss I hope.

Heh, maybe Kokoskov can bring in a dunking coach for Chriss.

 

[BC867]

Heh, maybe Kokoskov can bring in a dunking coach for Chriss.

Or a hypnotherapist for and Bender and Chriss.

 

[SirStefan32]

It would be interesting if he can get here in June and run some practices with players that we have to make decisions about like Payton and Len. He probably already knows if Payton can work in his offense. He coached him in Orlando. Len would be a big body setting picks, but he doesn't have the shot to keep defenses honest. Bender could be deadly in Kokoskov's system. If he runs the plays, he has to be involved and he will have to shoot.

I agree. He's shown that he can be aggressive. Now he just needs to do it more often than three times every other game. He will also need to learn to move without the ball more. He is made for Igor's system, now we just have to hope that he gets more aggressive. I also think that Igor's system is dependent on good play makers. Suns have a good number of secondary play makers (Booker, Bender, JJ, Dudley, etc) but they REALLY need a primary play maker. Doncic did a very good job for Igor, but it was Dragic that really ran the show.