MBB: Mavs have a passing fancy for 2014-15
11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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By Art Garcia | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington coach Scott Cross decided to change gears midway through the Mavericks' first run-though of the Sun Belt Conference. Turnovers, as in too many, were becoming a sore spot.
"I felt the second half of conference we were able to do a much better job," Cross said. "I think we cut our turnovers down maybe by three in the second half of conference. We really emphasized passing."
Making the extra pass took on added weight during the offseason, along with moving, cutting and working the pick-and-roll. A certain NBA team also provided a blueprint that Cross was all too willing to emulate.
"The Spurs laid the perfect blueprint down for everybody to see," Cross said. "I think that was the greatest thing ever for our team, because we run a similar offense as what they run, so now they see all these guys passing and cutting and moving, and the ball is not sticking and they're shooting wide-open shots."Cross fed his team video of San Antonio dominating the Miami Heat to win the NBA title. They digested the display of precision passing, gaining an appreciation for teamwork at its highest level.
In the process of cutting film of UTA offseason workouts at home, Cross began to notice those Spurs' lessons take root. He admitted to getting goose bumps at what was happening on the laptop screen in front of him. Jennifer Cross took notice, too.
"I took it to my wife, I hit play and I was like, 'What does this look like?' After about a minute or two she's like, 'the Spurs,'" Cross remembered. "I was like, 'I agree, that's exactly what it looks like.'"
Cross was quick to point out these clips were highlights, but added that at no time last season would a compilation of highlights come close to resembling the Spurs. And the Mavericks don't exactly have the likes of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan on their roster.
Cross does have a group of willing passers at each position group. The point guard spot includes slick ball-handlers in senior Lonnie McClanahan, junior Johnny Hill, sophomore Drew Charles and freshmen Erick Neal.
"The Spurs are kind of what coach tried to implement on us by watching those guys play and see how they play a beautiful game," Hill said. "We've been watching them a lot and just trying to pass the ball like they do, as well as they do."
McClanahan is the team's returning leader in assists after averaging 3.5 per game last season. Cross believes McClanahan can be better.
"I've been really pleased with Lonnie and the way he's been able to move the ball," Cross sad. "There was one practice where I asked him, 'Lonnie, why didn't you do that last year?' and he just kind of shrugged his shoulders, because he really makes us better as fast as he is.
"If he whips that ball back across the floor, nobody's guarding that. I think he sees everybody else doing it and he's like, well, the ball's gonna come back to me, so move it around and now guys get open shots."
Passing isn't just about the point guards. Cross has been pleased with the passing skills of the Mavericks across the roster.
"All of our guards really pass the ball well," Cross added. "Our 5 men, we won't require them, they're not gonna need to pass it a whole lot, but 1-4 will need to, and those guards have done a great job so far."
The Mavericks' first tests are Nov. 14 on the road at Bradley and Nov. 18 against Buffalo in the home opener at College Park Center. If all goes well, they pass.
