The whole "offensive coordinator" idea.

[buckeye242424]

That offense would be perfect for our skillsets.

Can't you see Josh getting 8 points per on back door cuts alone

I agree that this type of offense would play to our strengths as individual players. I just question if NBA players, more specifically Hawks players, have the discipline and time to run it. 18-20 seconds to run the Princeton style offense isn't a lot to work with.

[MaceCase]

That offense would be perfect for our skillsets.

Can't you see Josh getting 8 points per on back door cuts alone

It would also require that he camp around the 3 point....oh no nevermind bring on Jordan

[Diesel]

That offense would be perfect for our skillsets.

Can't you see Josh getting 8 points per on back door cuts alone

It’s a scene that happens every day in all kinds of offices. Co-workers get together and brain storm and talk about ideas. In the summer of 2001, it happened in New Jersey in the office of some prominent basketball coaches.

The Nets were coming off their first season under the direction of head coach Byron Scott. He and his assistant coaches, including Eddie Jordan and Mike O’Koren, are discussing ways to improve on a 26-56 season. It is August and training camp is just a round the corner and they are excited about the addition of All-Star point guard Jason Kidd.

The discussion is about their offense and they talk about what they have done in the past and what they want to do in the upcoming season when Jordan brings up the "Princeton Offense". Scott, who coached with Jordan in Sacramento is receptive and suggests they go to the practice facility and bring it to life.

So the five Nets coaches get on the floor, and with Jordan serving as the choreographer they run through the motions of the “Princeton Offense”. They are in their office now, but suddenly it is not just another day at the office.

“During the course of the 5-on-0 with the coaches Byron got a lot of shots. You know he was a shooter when he played with the Lakers, so he loved it,” O’Koren recalled with a smile. “He said ‘this is great. We can get shots for these guys here, and we can shots for these guys there.’ Byron really liked it and the rest is history.”

So Scott gave Jordan full permission to implement the offense with the Nets. It worked. The Nets finished 13th in scoring in the NBA (96.2) but had five starters average in double figures. They went all the way to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Lakers, but in one season they had gone from Eastern Conference doormat to NBA title contender.

At the time Scott told Sports Illustrated: “The Princeton offense is old-style basketball. Dribble, pass and shoot. I always thought it's the way the game was supposed to be played."

In the summer of 2003, the Wizards joined the Ivy League when Jordan was hired as head coach. Jordan brought the Princeton offense with him. Like the buzz created in New Jersey, there was genuine excitement back in Washington.

The numbers tell part of the story. Since Jordan arrived, the Wizards have been ranked:

2003-04: 18th in the NBA in scoring (91.8 PPG)

2004-05: 6th in the NBA in scoring (100.5 PPG)

2005-06: 3rd in the NBA in scoring (101.7)

It is ironic that in the age of flying slam dunks and plays designed for highlight shows, an offense that stresses fundamentals is able to make a difference. It did and still does in New Jersey (under current Nets head coach Lawrence Frank) and now the gospel has been spread here to Washington.

HOW JORDAN BECAME A BELIEVER

It was in Sacramento that Jordan got religion. He was an assistant coach to Gary St. Jean, along with former Princeton coach Pete Carril. Carril stayed on when Jordan took over as head coach late in the 1996-97 season. He absorbed the offense from Carril and he became an ardent believer that an offense more than a half century old could make a difference in the modern NBA.

“Being an assistant under Peter Carril at Sacramento really helped me understand the offense. I feel like that I was fortunate to learn it from the ‘Master’ himself, instead of learning it second-hand. I received great lessons and learned about the origin of the offense,” Jordan recalled.

The weave may even go back further than Jordan thinks. According to the Princeton Alumni Weekly, it was Franklin “Cappy” Cappon that put the five-man weave offense in place when he was hired to coach the Tigers back in 1938. It’s been described as an offense that keeps all five players in motion with players handing the ball off above the key, in order to create open shots and lay-ups.

Jamison and Arenas run a variation of the offense's "dribble hand-off".

Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

It is an offense that takes time to learn. Instead of fighting through defenses, players have to be conditioned to read defenses. They have to move without the ball and make back door cuts. The options seem endless which makes the learning curve gradual, but when mastered can leave opposing defenses puzzled.

“The strength of the offense is about unselfishness and the fact that everyone touches the basketball,” said Jordan. “We can tweak the offense as much as you want to tweak it, but the truest sense of the offense is when everyone helps each other succeed, and it is unselfish as an offense as there is out there.”

“That is what attracted me to the offense. It has a lot of movement. Everyone feels they’re a part of the scoring process. Even though it is just one player scoring, the other four players played an integral role in helping with that process. We always say: ‘You play with your teammates and against the defense,” Jordan noted.

The offense is as much game plan as it is tradition now at Princeton. It may have started in 1938 with Cappy Cappon, but the coaches that followed at Princeton worked off his blueprint.

Butch van Breda Kolf, who once coached the Lakers in the NBA, was one of the coaches who enjoyed success with the weave offense at Princeton. Pete Carril replaced van Breda Kolf, and in his 28 years at the helm the Tigers earned a reputation as “giant killers” by running the weave that started in 1938.

Carril even did a video series to help explain the offense and he noted: “Offensive sets revolve around the ability of all players being able to read defensive pressure. The center and forward use defensive reads to receive and pass from both the high and low post-positions. Guards use defensive reads to determine whether to cut back door, spot up for a three point shot, or dribble penetrate.”

For Wizards forward Jarvis Hayes, it is all the ball movement that makes it great.

“There is never a point where things get stagnant or you feel like you are just standing around,” said Hayes. “There is always spots that you have to be in and when you have players like Gilbert (Arenas), Caron (Butler) and Antonio (Daniels) who can penetrate and that leaves guys like myself open to move without the ball.”

When it works it can be down right mesmerizing. Consider this account of the offense from the Daily Princetonian newspaper: “Seven passes in 16 seconds. Two curls, three hard cuts toward the hoop, one hand-off, two fadeouts to the three-point line. Finally, the possession ends with an open three-pointer touching nothing but net.”

Jordan goes over the team's offensive strategy during a time out.

Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

EXECUTING THE OFFENSE

The offense is different. The positions are different, or at least they are viewed in a different way. Basketball is usually thought of in terms of point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center.

“It’s not one, two, three, four, five like most teams do. You have two guards, two forwards, and a center. The guards and forward spots are interchangeable, the center is the only position that is not,” noted O’Koren.

In fact what may get lost in understanding the Princeton offense is the critical role played by the center. It really starts with where the center is positioned. He could be down low on the block (in the post), at the elbow (by the foul line) or at the top of the key. In effect there are three different versions of the offense and then several sets that develop out of each version.

“The offense revolves around the center,” Jordan explained. “Now, whether he touches it a lot or doesn’t touch it at all, you still form your organization around the center. You find your center, and your center finds the ball, and everyone else sets up in the proper spots. The center can be in the low or high-post, or off the elbow. You can certainly run your offense through him or around him. We like to say: ‘If he is the main player, he is going to get more touches and he is going to be a passer as well as a scorer.”

To put it simply, it’s a chess match. The Wizards will see what the defense offers and than try and take advantage by using the multiple options that come out of every set.

“I think what stands out for me is that it is hard to stop one particular play,” Wizards forward Antawn Jamison emphasized. “In the Princeton offense, there are always counter attacks. If the defensive team takes away one thing, it then opens up another option and by doing that you always get quality shots.”

Hayes looks to make a backdoor pass to a cutting teammate. Frequent motion is the name of the game in Washington.

Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

With so many options it is also a hard offense to defend.

“It’s like the triangle offense in a way,” O’Koren added. “There are two ways to try and stop it: You either sag (back off) on it, so you don’t give up back door cuts, or you pressure it and get into the dribble hand offs.”

Ahh, the old back door cut. It is a play that is probably as old as the game itself. A player on the wing suddenly will move in towards the basket, receive a bounce pass from a guard on the perimeter, and often will find himself with no defenders between him and a lay up. It’s the favorite part of the Princeton offense for many players including a shooter like Jarvis Hayes.

“The back door cut is probably the most exciting play,” said Hayes. “Coaches often teach defenders to overplay the pass and get out and deny the lanes, and that opens up the possibility for an easy bucket.”

Also, in this age of zone defenses, the Princeton offense helps to create space on the floor. To try and negate a key player, a team can “load up” or put an extra defender at the foul line or down on the box on the side of the floor with the ball, and those players do not have to guard anyone as long as they are outside of the lane (per NBA zone rules).

Using this defensive strategy is a way to essentially create a defensive traffic jam. Because of the movement involved in the Princeton offense, it makes it difficult for opposing teams to “load up” on one particular guy. “

I have been in situations where it’s like you couldn’t move. With this offense there is space and there is always opportunity to get decent shots. That’s something that is rare in this game,” Jamison added.

The Princeton offense used to be rare in the NBA game. It has not taken over the league, but it has certainly made its mark in New Jersey and Washington. And in this business of basketball a mark is defined by post-season success.

Let's get Jordan!!!

[Diesel]

It would also require that he camp around the 3 point....oh no nevermind bring on Jordan

Not necessarily. There are several versions of the Princeton.

[frosgrim]

I would rather just hire Jordan as the HC and get rid of Woodson.

That said, Woodson has shown that he is the soul voice on the coaching staff. Apparently, from Woodson's own admissions, doesn't really listen to council form his staff. Other evidence of this are the number of asst coaching defections from the Hawks. Face it, as long as Woodson is here, we are going to try and run the Detroit style offense but without the PG and PF to actually make it work.

I am all for getting the Hawks better coaching, but it won't happen through getting a better set of asst coaches. It must come from removing the man in charge of the team.

[High5]

They said the Cavs have an awful offensive system. How is that not hating on their offense? I think they even said then that the Hawks aren't much better, although if I had to guess I'd say ours is worse but I haven't looked at the numbers.

They didn't though. They were just saying how LeBron was being a ballhog. And that's he's good enough to make it work against the Hawks. Then they added that's what the Hawks do all the time anyway.

[LOL_Hawks]

They didn't though. They were just saying how LeBron was being a ballhog. And that's he's good enough to make it work against the Hawks. Then they added that's what the Hawks do all the time anyway.

Yeah. They basically said that it wouldn't work against better teams, but luckily for them, we were running the EXACT same thing, just with lesser caliber players.

[Diesel]

I would rather just hire Jordan as the HC and get rid of Woodson.

That said, Woodson has shown that he is the soul voice on the coaching staff. Apparently, from Woodson's own admissions, doesn't really listen to council form his staff. Other evidence of this are the number of asst coaching defections from the Hawks. Face it, as long as Woodson is here, we are going to try and run the Detroit style offense but without the PG and PF to actually make it work.

I am all for getting the Hawks better coaching, but it won't happen through getting a better set of asst coaches. It must come from removing the man in charge of the team.

I think the Spirit can bring in Jordan as the Offensive Coach. If Woody Bucks, then give Jordan the job. It's really that simple. However, 4 yrs and we're running Jr. High School plays... When we run plays.

[AHF]

I'm on board with bringing in Jordan as our offensive coordinator. I expect we would need to extend Woody if we did that so he would feel he wasn't handing over offensive duties to his replacement.

[Diesel]

I'm on board with bringing in Jordan as our offensive coordinator. I expect we would need to extend Woody if we did that so he would feel he wasn't handing over offensive duties to his replacement.

The question is would we be the first team to have a two HC system.

I think of Doc Rivers and Tibbedeau?

or

Johnson and Del Harris?

or

Vinny and Del Harris?

BTW, it looks like Del Harris might get the Kings Job? They are talking about him as being their top choice after Chicago's turn around. Too bad they gave up Miller!!

[Atlantaholic]

No way in heck Jordan would sign with us to be an assistant... He either replaces Woody or stays unemployed... For one the Spirit would never sign anyone of Jordan's caliber to be an assistant, at worst the guy would have to be making slightly less than Woody... Why keep Woody then???

Woody isn't going anywhere and no coach who is anywhere near high profile would be targeted as an assistant coach prospect by our owners. That is the truth.

[crimedog]

$$$?

[Joker]

That offense would be perfect for our skillsets.

Can't you see Josh getting 8 points per on back door cuts alone

No it wouldn't, that offense involves thinking, something were not good at.

[GameTime]

While we're at it we might as well get a rebounding coach.

And a free throw shooting coach.

[Diesel]

No it wouldn't, that offense involves thinking, something were not good at.

If Antwain Jamison and Deshawn could learn it, we could learn it.

If not, let the trades began. I would love to have Caron Butler.

[TheDude]

seems like basketball offensive systems are so limited...let's see you have the iso (not an offensive system), pick n roll, fast break (not an aoffensive system), triangle, the princeton (is that even in the nba?)..and that's all i can think of

man, seems like someone (a coach) needs to come up with another offensive system..

[AHF]

seems like basketball offensive systems are so limited...let's see you have the iso (not an offensive system), pick n roll, fast break (not an aoffensive system), triangle, the princeton (is that even in the nba?)..and that's all i can think of

man, seems like someone (a coach) needs to come up with another offensive system..

I don't think they are limited at all. The basic architectures maybe limited but think of the most common system: the motion offense. How many varieties are there on a motion system? Too many for me to count.

Teams incorporate transition offense or fast break offense into their systems in very different ways. Contrast the Hawks who do get some decent transition production with a team like the Red era Celtics who ran as much more of an intentional and structured philosophy and then contrast that to the Phoenix system and then contrast that to the the Celtics of the Pitino era. Many different variations on the same idea of exploiting other teams through transition offense.

[Kimsey]

If things are going well offensively the players will naturally gravitate toward unnamed coach and gradually or immediately tune out Woody making him useless. Woody would just be in the way and unnamed coach will want to put people around him to make the transition easier for him.

[AHF]

If things are going well offensively the players will naturally gravitate toward unnamed coach and gradually or immediately tune out Woody making him useless. Woody would just be in the way and unnamed coach will want to put people around him to make the transition easier for him.

Is this supposed to be a downside or upside of the idea?

[Atlantaholic]

Basketball is a pretty simple game, it is all about creating an advantage on offense by making the defense move their feet and exploiting them when they are in an off balance position. Not only does this allow for you to get open looks, and draw fouls, but it also tires the other teams' players which will in turn frustrate them and hopefully affect them when they go back to play offense.

By standing around you are doing the exact opposite of what good offensive basketball is, and you are allowing the other team to feel comfortable. You are basically putting all of the pressure on your players and taking all of the pressure off of the opponent. There is no succesful NBA team in the NBA that plays as stagnant on offense as we do. Never have I seen a Laker possession where Kobe dribbles the ball for 10 seconds at the top of the key (with every single teammate standing in the same spot with their hands on their hips), gets a screen finally when there are 8-7 seconds left on the shot-clock, DOESN'T shoot the shot after the screen but instead takes a dribble towards the hoop and then three-four dribbles back and than either takes a fade-away, or passes it off to a wide open power forward for three.

When we have the lead we have these type of possessions, not only during every single last 24 seconds of quarters, but consistently from the third quarter onward... Like we are protecting a lead with 18+ minutes left in the game... Either that or we give it to Joe Johnson in the corner after which he goes on to dribble for 3-4 seconds until a double team comes, and then takes another 4-5 dribbles to the wing, all the while EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PLAYERS does absolutely nothing, they literally stand in place. When we finally pass the ball for the first time in the possession there are like 6 seconds left on the shotclock... It is the WORST basketball I have ever seen since middle-school. What infuriates me is when these "plays" get called by Woodson when we are starting to struggle on offense, because it only helps to compounds the problem exponentially. You want a reason for our playoff losses all being blowouts? That is reason #1 right there: Whenever we run into trouble offensively (start missing three or four shots in a row) Woody panics like a little b*tch and calls isolations for Joe Johnson every trip down the court... With Joe being doubled every single possession, and non of our players seemingly having any idea about what to do in that situation, running that play is essentially like throwing the ball into a black hole for 10-12 seconds, when the ball is passed back out there is NO ONE open because we are so goddamn slow in passing off of the double that the defense can rotate without breaking a sweat, with only 4 or 5 seconds left we also don't have time to pass it around more than twice, it is like watching retards play basketball.