It's been frustrating lately to watch the basketball team on the offensive end of the court. Brady's teams have always been more defensively inclined but lately the offense is more and more lacking. Not lacking of talent, not lacking of shooters, just lacking of creativity and execution. As it is now, the offensive game plan for our tigers appears to be VERY simplistic. They work the ball around a lot on each possession, but it is always the same type of past. Players run out behind the three point line to receive the pass. Even the post players do this. The ball is passed around like this until the shot clock winds down. Then *sometimes* some semblance of a play is run with around the 5-10 seconds to go on the shot clock. Where are the drives to the basket? Saw what Temple was able to do when he tried a couple of times last night? How about Big Baby and Rolle (or Lazarre) working together down low. Passing to one another rather than going up against double, triple, even quadruple teams. Where is the inside/out game? Mainly, I am just frustrated of the pass pass pass pass pass pass pass (all behind 3 point line) then take a random shot philosophy on offense. Maybe it's just me?
I have to agree. Our offense is about as painful to watch as a marathon of home improvement shows. What astonishes me is that it appears that we run the same offense whether we are playing against man or zone. Basketball 0091 says that you pass to beat the zone and you and use motion with lots of screens to beat man. I can't quite put my finger on where the problem resides. And I know Rolle is greener than a winter rye grass, but I am already tired of seeing him getting pushed out of the way, failing to be aggressive on the boards, and thinking he can block every shot that goes up. I'm not quite sure what else the coaches can do to motivate this kid and convince him he has to go hard to the boards. A short clinic in how to box out wouldn't be bad either. We got whipped last night by another team playing fundamental basketball, and we didn't have an answer for solid, physical post play down low.
Right now, we don't have a ball handler who can drive and make things happen, like Dmitch last year. Temple is not the best ball handler and lacks quickness to blow by smaller guards. Minor can blow by people, but usually forgets to take the ball with him or forces a bad shot. I thought Mason would fill this role, but it hasn't happened for him yet. No dribble penetration leads to passing around perimeter. Brady also changed the offense to allow Davis to play more on the perimeter. That may make Davis a better pro prospect, but it's not helping this team. Gotta go back to putting him down low. If they double him, he can kick it out for an open 3.
I am actually starting to believe that Voogd may be a good option for the team. If only the kid could buy some confidence. He has more patience and often times has a calming effect on the team when he is in the game.
U dub was playing lights out last night. it seemed every time we'd hit a 3 so would they. ohio st, duke, fla, uconn woulda had trouble with the huskies last night. but the offense changing to get baby the ball on the perimeter is just that. getting him the ball. teams will zone up and deny the ball in the post and baby has developed great feet and a nice body up dream shake fade away. i think that's the reason. the two biggest reasons the O is struggling is simple: 1) lack of another inside presence besides baby 2) losing d mitch is bad enough but trying to replace him with a turnover machine will drive brady to lose his hair. (ahem, the rest of it)
If Brady is going to stick with it, then he needs to tell the other 4 players to do something when Davis gets the ball on the perimeter. Right now, they just stand there waiting for him to create his shot. Davis can be an effective passer if we get guys cutting in and out of the lane. Martin will help this team. I like what I saw from him last night.
I am not a big basketball fan and certainly don't pretend to be a guru, but why is Davis being played on the perimeter. I always thougth he was most effective on the inside.
The official reason is to avoid all the double teams and the pounding he takes inside. The unofficial reason is to improve his perimeter game and show he can play facing the basket. It might help his NBA draft position.
I'm no Dick Vitale, either...but Holy S*** these games are painful to watch. They looked decent against a good Texas A & M team a week or so ago, ever since then it has been very disheartening to watch. Some say they are a target for other teams b/c they were in the Final Four last year.....I say they just execute poorly. It's early. Hopefully it can be fixed before the middle of January.
