Coach’s Clipboard: Houston Cougars NBA Inspired Offense
In the first edition of the Coach’s Clipboard, we examine a set from the Houston Cougars, led by Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, that demonstrates an NBA style offense influenced by Sampson’s time in the professional ranks.
Kelvin Sampson has never shied away from a challenge and he certainly has one on his hands as he attempts to rebuild the Houston Cougars (7-9, 0-5) into an American Athletic Conference power. Sampson hopes to restore the once proud Houston program to its Phi Slamma Jamma glory days while at the same time rebuilding his own reputation.
At Washington State, Sampson guided the Cougars to unprecedented success including an NCAA Tournament berth in 1994. It was the program’s first trip to the tournament in 11 years.
While leading Oklahoma, Sampson’s Sooners enjoyed eight consecutive 20-win seasons, 10 NCAA Tournament berths with appearances in the Sweet 16 (1999), the Elite Eight (2003) and a Final Four (2002).
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Sampson enjoyed a bit of success as the head coach at Indiana, but “major” NCAA violations stemming from his time at Oklahoma and Indiana led to his dismissal from the helm of the Hoosier program.
In November of 2008, the NCAA saddled Sampson with a five-year “show-cause” penalty which essentially barred him from coaching at the collegiate level until 2013.
Sampson’s teams at Oklahoma were known for their 1-4 High continuity offense. These sort of offenses are more common in the high school and collegiate ranks. They are essentially patterns of action that are repeated until a good shot is found.
During his time in exile from college basketball, Sampson served as an advisor for the San Antonio Spurs, and as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Houston Rockets.
Now in his first year at the University of Houston, Sampson has altered his offense to one that more specifically uses mismatches and isolations which is much more common in the NBA.
Sampson demonstrates his NBA influences in this series of clips from an early season win over Texas Tech.
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The mismatch Sampson identifies is in the post as Texas Tech’s freshman big man Norense Odiase is guarding Houston’s Devonta Pollard. Odiase does not have the speed or lateral quickness to defend Pollard in space.
To get the mismatch they want the Cougars use a downscreen, but do so by using a smaller guard to screen for Pollard. This discourages the Red Raiders from switching the screen and brings Odiase out to play perimeter defense. Due to the screen, Odiase is already trailing the action.
The Cougars immediately bring Pollard up to set a pick-and-roll with guard L.J. Rose. Rose finds Pollard rolling to the wing and the other three Cougars stay spaced on the opposite side creating the isolation for Pollard.
Odiase stands no chance of keeping Pollard in front of him and Pollard blows by for a dunk.
In their next offensive possession the Cougars run the same set to exploit the very same mismatch. Pollard once again blows by Odiase this time collecting a foul.
A few minutes later and after having the benefit of a timeout, Tubby Smith and the Red Raiders make some adjustments. Sampson comes back with the same play but this time we see the Cougars counter Texas Tech’s adjustments to this isolation set.
First, Smith substituted Odiase and now has Clark Lammert guarding Pollard in the post. Second, the Red Raiders switch the “little-on-big” downscreen set by Jherrod Stiggers.
Rose and the Cougars brilliantly recognize the new mismatch as the smaller and quicker Stiggers is now guarded by Lammert. Rose directs the Cougars to clear the side and Stiggers pops out to the wing and another mismatch is isolated.
Lammert, having seen his teammate get blown by on consecutive trips, is reluctant to defend Stiggers on the perimeter. Stiggers makes the Red Raiders pay for the switch and takes advantage of the open space by burying a three.
The city of Houston is a hotbed of prep talent and Sampson can sell recruits with NBA aspirations on the fact that while in college they will play “the pro game” and be better prepared for the lessons learned by rookies in professional basketball. His challenge will be first getting that sort of talent into the program.
This series of plays shows that Sampson, too, learned some lessons while in exile in the NBA. Coaching is all about adjustments and Sampson hopes his Cougars soon have to adjust to the national rankings and postseason trips he is used to.