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Post by ironlions on Dec 4, 2009 18:32:56 GMT -5
Well for right now, I hope we can improve ours so we can just win some games. We are having such a difficult time guarding people. I have heard Coach Good say he would "rather get kicked in the ear" or have "teeth fillings without Novocaine" than play zone, but at a certain point will we at least try it.
We really need to remedy this problem soon.
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Post by irishlion on Dec 4, 2009 18:43:48 GMT -5
Suggestions:
1) Teach your guards how to defend on ball. They sag off too far, and then when they get close, they try to swipe at the ball, hoping for the showy steal. Instead - most of the time - when you lean to swipe, you are off balance, and the man goes by you. For every steal - we allow 10 penetrations. Which leads to my next point,
2) teach your interior defenders how to help, or show and recover. It amazes me that we don't step UP into the driving player, making his shot tougher. By the time we are actually playing defense, he is deep into our paint, and the basket is a no brainer.
3) Posts - cut off the damn baseline. Outside the paint. Third grade fundamentals, boys.
4) Take it personally when they score - especially, when they score on you (are you listening, Kevin?). You can score 10 points, but when you give up thirty, you're killing us.
5) Coach - recognize who is unwilling, or unable to play defense. Play the less showy player for the steady, blue collar guy that will work his ass off to get some boards and stops.
Look at your numbers. Who is rebounding on defense? There's your first starter. Watch the videos - who can guard on ball? There's your backcourt. Who will be in the right spot on defense, and hustle to rotate? There's your other starters.
And that leads me to my final point - Don't do crack..... sorry, couldn't help it.
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Post by irishlion on Dec 4, 2009 19:20:07 GMT -5
Uh, am I missing something? Who's out of shape (besides Timmy's shoulder rehab issue?)
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Post by golions1444 on Dec 4, 2009 19:24:18 GMT -5
You know i really think our players are athletic enough and in shape enough to play good defense and yes there are certain fundamentals that need to be followed...but defense has a lot to do with pride and heart and intensity and i think that is where we are lacking most. our guys right now just dont care enough about playing good defense...they just go through the motions and until it is time to play offense or they just go for a steal and either get it or let their man get a layup. coach good needs to get these guys fired up to be physical, intense, and taking pride in defending that basket like their life depends on it on every possession!
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Post by irishlion on Dec 4, 2009 19:45:32 GMT -5
Agreed. Getting a team to bond into a single unit, and take massive pride in defense is a tricky task. Personally, I'm a positive, motivational John Wooden type- and believe strongly in that. Especially with new, young, less-talented players. Sometimes breaking players down emotionally backfires, especially if they don't have the talent foundation to build upon. Just sayin'
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Post by irishlion on Dec 4, 2009 20:36:11 GMT -5
Most of them are in good shape. It's more a lack of effort/passion and maybe even HOW to play defense. The hesitate on every rotation, late on every single assignment. Maybe they don't understand the rotations? Maybe they just don't care about covering each other's backs? Maybe they are just waiting for us to get the ball back (after a score, obviously) to start playing again. Don't know. But I've watched them run - they are in good shape (most of them).
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Post by LIONS90045 on Dec 4, 2009 20:59:48 GMT -5
irish - Coach Good did use the term "game shape" in his post game interview referring to Ashley and AO. He noted they have not played a lot in games and this detracts from overall conditioning - it's like a day off practice when you ride the bench the whole game. I don't think it was a knock on the two players, just a recognition that playing in the actual games is a bit different from running sprints in practice. Not sure if alert2 picked this up from Max or not. www.lmulions.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120309aaa.html
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Post by irishlion on Dec 5, 2009 1:28:52 GMT -5
Just watched a D2 game. They winning team played a rotating 2-3 zone, swarming over the ball handler, and denying one pass away. And this is a good D2 team, with ATHLETES and ball players. The held the other team to 30 points (yes, 30). Why the brain lock against zones? I LOVE teams that will mix up four or five zone looks, and drop in to a man at times. Press sometimes, pick up at half sometimes. Change things up, on the fly, and get some easy stops with the confusion of the other team.
Now - you have to have the BRAINS to adjust from one defense to another, especially on the fly - so maybe we aren't ready for that. But one or two easily adaptable zones isn't such an evil thing. Is it?
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Post by LIONS90045 on Dec 5, 2009 11:52:23 GMT -5
I agree irish - let's clog up the middle using the zone. In fact, I thought AAU, with its limited talent, used it pretty well on Wednesday to making getting good shots tough for LMU. Yes we scored 91 but we were struggling at times to get off good shots inside.
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Post by lmutourney2011 on Dec 6, 2009 18:09:07 GMT -5
Coach Good may eventually go to a zone ,but he wont like it. His worry with the zone is that you lose accountability with rebounding and the gray areas in the zone with shooters. While there were many problems with Tention on offense and recruiting, one reason we were in a lot of games against good teams our first year was how he called his defenses and the different looks teams would get. A team would have to prepare for the m2m, half and full. the 1/2 court trap, 2-3, 1-3-1, and 3-2 zones. Not to mention prepare all of their out of bounds plays against those. Imagine what that can do to a team that has a bad IQ you just added 5 different sets of offense they must know and I know our guys wouldn't be able to do that. It might also be hard for him to leave the man to man pressure after the team seemed to rally around it at the end of last year. He attributes a lot to the defense last year for the few wins we had. I think our problem is the players we recruit. while the coaches believe that east coast players are the greatest with the hard nosed style they play on defense, is that really true? Is it the fact that we recruit guys that cant play the position because they are too skinny(but hey they can jump high!!!)? What about the lack of focus to play like a team. One thing last year that hurt us was the of roles people had. No one seemed to know there role. As a team we had a role of okay guys we have 7 players lets not try to get blown out and if we are in a game in the last 4 mins maybe we can steal one. Yes JD had a great defensive game against Notre dame and a few others, but what was his focus.....score. Kevin yeah had some blocks and dunks but how many times did he give up a foul while trying to block a shot instead of taking the charge like a smart player? This year our team should have roles and we should have a substitution pattern because its obvious not all the players play well with every teammate. This is the time to get that pattern ironed out and put in place. Now lets find out how wants to play as a team and how wants to get mentioned in the box score at the end of the night!
Sorry for being long winded
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Post by LIONS90045 on Dec 6, 2009 22:10:36 GMT -5
lmutourney - you raise several good points but one in particular I like. It need not be man-to-man or zone, we could combine both and mix it up on D now and then. And throw in a press occasionally when not expected. Etc per your comments. Man-to-man may be the most effective in certain situations but would be even better if it is not the only defensive set we use. Someone noted in another post the players seemed "out of shape" but perhaps tiring may be a better description with the constant pressures on the defenders in the man-to-man set. While no on should "relax" in a zone, at least they all won't be running around chasing their man all the time and it does provide a break. It might help with our "legs" near game end when most of our games seem to be getting resolved. Thanks for noting this! Plus, I am the long-winded one around here and don't you forget it!
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Post by lmutourney2011 on Dec 7, 2009 0:39:59 GMT -5
Sorry ill leave it to you.
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Post by irishlion on Dec 7, 2009 1:57:16 GMT -5
Yeah, engineers love it when they can put words together.
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