Glenn
11-15-2006, 05:34 AM
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/SPORTS03/611150392/1051/rss16
Mohammed needs more talk on defense
November 15, 2006
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Sometimes Pistons center Nazr Mohammed has no clue what his teammates are doing on defense.
But listen -- it's not his fault.
The other four starters, who have played together instinctually for years, sometimes make changes to crucial things like pick-and-roll defense mid-play, and because they're so familiar with one another, they all can sense the change in plans coming.
"They'll adapt right away and change on the fly," coach Flip Saunders said, "right during the play. And they understand it because they've played so much."
Not Mohammed, whom coach Flip Saunders calls a directional defensive player, meaning he sticks to the game plan and rotates to the areas decided on before the game.
Those miscommunications have resulted in some early baskets and open lanes for opponents. But the Pistons are aware of the problem.
Saunders said part of his practice Tuesday was devoted to that issue, and he asked his veterans to communicate better. No more reading a situation and reacting to it spontaneously without verbalizing the change.
"There's been a little miscommunication here and there, just for different reasons," Mohammed said. "Guys reading situations differently. I've always been taught to do the game plan and go from there before we make adjustments. I'm trying to get used to adjusting to making adjustments on the fly without getting in the huddle and making a verbal commitment to it."
His teammates are adapting, too: Mohammed has a different defensive style than that of former Piston Ben Wallace. For instance, when Wallace left a man inside, he often blocked a shot and no one had to rotate in front of Wallace's man. Mohammed's instinct is to contest shots, so he needs someone to rotate to his man to box him off the boards.
"We need more verbal communication just to get used to one another," he said. "After a while, it can be physical; you can just give a look or read a situation."
Mohammed needs more talk on defense
November 15, 2006
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Sometimes Pistons center Nazr Mohammed has no clue what his teammates are doing on defense.
But listen -- it's not his fault.
The other four starters, who have played together instinctually for years, sometimes make changes to crucial things like pick-and-roll defense mid-play, and because they're so familiar with one another, they all can sense the change in plans coming.
"They'll adapt right away and change on the fly," coach Flip Saunders said, "right during the play. And they understand it because they've played so much."
Not Mohammed, whom coach Flip Saunders calls a directional defensive player, meaning he sticks to the game plan and rotates to the areas decided on before the game.
Those miscommunications have resulted in some early baskets and open lanes for opponents. But the Pistons are aware of the problem.
Saunders said part of his practice Tuesday was devoted to that issue, and he asked his veterans to communicate better. No more reading a situation and reacting to it spontaneously without verbalizing the change.
"There's been a little miscommunication here and there, just for different reasons," Mohammed said. "Guys reading situations differently. I've always been taught to do the game plan and go from there before we make adjustments. I'm trying to get used to adjusting to making adjustments on the fly without getting in the huddle and making a verbal commitment to it."
His teammates are adapting, too: Mohammed has a different defensive style than that of former Piston Ben Wallace. For instance, when Wallace left a man inside, he often blocked a shot and no one had to rotate in front of Wallace's man. Mohammed's instinct is to contest shots, so he needs someone to rotate to his man to box him off the boards.
"We need more verbal communication just to get used to one another," he said. "After a while, it can be physical; you can just give a look or read a situation."