[76lsjumb]

It looked to me like the success of the Hebard/Ionescu pick-and-roll derived from one overwhelming characteristic -- the effectiveness of Hebard's hip [and, occasionally, knee] in disrupting the defender without drawing a foul call.  If I recall correctly, Hebard either never got called [or got called only once] for screens that almost always involved a very well-timed and well-placed hip check.  At least two of the Hull fouls, where they were called for running into Ionescu while trying to get around the screen, looked like they were set in motion by a nifty Hebard hip-check to the involved Hull at just the right time.  And, even when there was no foul called on anyone, the screen either got Ionescu free for a relatively uncontested shot or set Hebard up perfectly on the roll as the defenders recovered.

For many years it has been frustrating to watch our bigs get called for illegal screens at the elbow or thereabouts due to sliding over enough to make the screen work.  Ionescu and Hebard, however, worked out the timing and proximity of their screens so well that Hebard's movement was highly effective, but sufficiently subtle, so as not to draw a foul call most of the times it was employed.  It would be great if we could get a duo working that well in the future...

[76lsjumb]

It looked to me like the success of the Hebard/Ionescu pick-and-roll derived from one overwhelming characteristic -- the effectiveness of Hebard's hip [and, occasionally, knee] in disrupting the defender without drawing a foul call.  If I recall correctly, Hebard either never got called [or got called only once] for screens that almost always involved a very well-timed and well-placed hip check.  At least two of the Hull fouls, where they were called for running into Ionescu while trying to get around the screen, looked like they were set in motion by a nifty Hebard hip-check to the involved Hull at just the right time.  And, even when there was no foul called on anyone, the screen either got Ionescu free for a relatively uncontested shot or set Hebard up perfectly on the roll as the defenders recovered.

For many years it has been frustrating to watch our bigs get called for illegal screens at the elbow or thereabouts due to sliding over enough to make the screen work.  Ionescu and Hebard, however, worked out the timing and proximity of their screens so well that Hebard's movement was highly effective, but sufficiently subtle, so as not to draw a foul call most of the times it was employed.  It would be great if we could get a duo working that well in the future...