The “tweak” that the Kentucky basketball team really needs

The Kentucky Wildcats are experiencing consistent offensive struggles since the West Virginia game. While the Cats’ defense is noticeably improved, the offense continues to be stagnant and inefficient.

While the Kentucky basketball teams’ defense is noticeably improved, the offense continues to be stagnant and inefficient. Much of this has to do with the lineups that John Calipari has on the floor. Players such as Hamidou Diallo, Jarred Vanderbilt and Nick Richards have really struggled to be offensive weapons. This is why Coach Cal needs to start maximizing opportunities to play Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander together at the same time.

The most consistent scoring option the Wildcats have right now is point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA). Gilgeous-Alexander has proven to be a smooth, reliable finisher at the rim. He consistently uses dribble penetration to finish at the basket, make pull-up jumpers, or distribute to post players for the easy finish. Coach Cal continued to set ball-screens for SGA during the Tennessee game and the Cats had great success with it.

But the Vols made an adjustment that cost Kentucky two turnovers late in the game and the game itself. SGA’s defender started going under the ball-screen, challenging SGA to shoot jumpers rather than get into the paint. Nick Richards was setting the ball-screen, and his defender dropped below the screen to help on SGA’s dribble penetration. 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.

Here’s the “tweak” that I would like to see: Kevin Knox setting the ball-screen. Think about it, it really makes perfect sense and I’d love to see how Texas A&M guards it on Saturday. SGA has the ball, running the point, and Kevin Knox sets a high ball-screen for him at the top of the key.

Whereas Richards, Killeya-Jones and Washington roll to the basket after ball-screens, Knox won’t. Instead, Knox will pop out to the perimeter for a catch-and-shoot opportunity. If Knox’s defender helps on the ball-screen, Knox has a chance to knock down an open shot. If Knox’s defender “stays home” on Knox, then SGA has a driving lane.

This two-man game will put the opponent in a much more challenging situation defensively than if Richards is setting the screen. Calipari has used this with previous teams, most notably with Kyle Wiltjer, Derek Willis, and even Josh Harrelson.

The next part of this “tweak” is simple: Quade Green as a spot-up shooter on the ball-side perimeter. When SGA comes off the ball-screen, he obviously wants to go score. 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.

Tennessee continued to give Diallo open looks in order to help on Shai’s drive and it worked for the Vols. However, Green is one of the top three-point shooters on the team. Green on the ball-side perimeter puts the opponent in a difficult situation. If Quade’s defender helps on Gilgeous-Alexander, Quade has an open look from deep. If Quade’s defender stays home, SGA gets to the hoop.

With Quade Green in the game at the same time as SGA, it simply provides the Kentucky basketball team with more offensive weapons. Add in Kevin Knox and now the Cats can really look to spread the floor. 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.

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. In SEC play, Kevin Knox has hit 13 three-pointers, Wenyen Gabriel 11 and Quade Green 9. For the Cats to be successful they need to spread the floor. For this to happen, SGA needs Knox, Gabriel and Green in the same lineup.

In SEC play, Diallo is only shooting 36% from the floor and 20% from 3-point land. He’s averaging 7 points a game. Diallo simply isn’t performing for the Cats and it hurts the team. He also has 17 turnovers in SEC play compared to 11 assists. I see no reason for him to have continued playing time over Quade Green.

Green is more likely to score from three-point territory, more likely to convert free-throws and less likely to turn the ball over. Calipari has proven very, very stubborn in the past with player rotations, but he simply needs to make a change here. This team needs to win sooner than later or else “bubble” conversations and the NIT becomes a real possibilities. Let Diallo become an “energy guy” off the bench, similar to a Dominique Hawkins role.

With Kentucky’s defense improving at the rate it is, Cal can now afford to use a more offensive-oriented lineup. The shooting of Green, Knox, and Gabriel matched up with the driving ability of SGA is Kentucky’s best offensive option. This group of players would be very difficult to guard by opponents playing man-to-man, but would also be a very difficult lineup to zone.

Of course the other option is to install a more fluid motion offense rather than three to four guys standing while one or two other players move. But, at this point in the season, that is highly unlikely. Calipari has his scheme, he’s stubborn about changing his style, so now he needs a new rotation.