Question about SideStep

I can always connect with the following:
When my opponent blocks my SDE, I can usually immediately dodge his/her counter attack and then do a ++, which takes off about 50% of my opponent's life.

However, I don't seem to be able to connect with the dodge + ++ after dodging my opponent's normal attack as oppose to a counter attack after my SDE, say the elbow from Kage or a P from Pai.

My question here is: Is there any timing difference between initiating a counter attacking upon Side stepping from your opponent's attack and upon dodging your opponent's attack when the initiate attack was blocked? I feel as though there's a timing difference....

I also notice that when you want to side step and throw your opponent, you have to delay your throwing command for a period of time. In other words, you can't side step and hit + immediately. I find this particularly hard to do because I don't know how long to delay my command input. Please advise...

FokFu