...and this is about self-scouting.
Didn't post last night because my language may have been bannable, and this is about more than any one game. So, only gonna spend a few lines on that last one:
...like tired legs being obvious from the tip with the myriad short-armed finish misses --- or that a team that was literally ranked in the 300s in the NCAA D1 in 3-pt shooting lights it up on us --- or that we got that incompetent buffoon zebra (Curry) for the damn 3rd time in 4 games who thwarted our initial comeback by T-ing up Hubert (who wasn't even talking to him) after his partner-in-crime made a hideously bad call (or I should say, let Izzo make the call), and make no mistake, that changed the game --- or after leading another comeback and abusing their PG, EC misses a damn 99% layup to for the lead, then leads us back to force OT on Seth's splash --- or that we ran outta gas in said OT. Yeah, enough of that...
This is about deeper issues., and they are NOT the ones many fans fall back on. Our issues are NOT about who we got or did NOT get in the portal --- or which player might be struggling at whatever --- it is how the players we have are (or are NOT) being used.
Thus, as I said, it is time for this staff to do some serious SELF-scouting. The texts and calls I've gotten from my coach mafia during and after the game can be summed up by one in particular from my (Carolina-guy) AAU coach bud:
"WTF are we even doing???"
Y'all know I love this staff, but it is their collective pedigree that makes what I'm seeing so much of a "WTF?"
So, I actually hope one of them reads this, because here are 4 self-scouting points (that are BTW unanimous amongst my circle) that need to be corrected pronto (and I'll save the most important for last:
1. DEFENSE - Guys, we can NOT afford to just give opponents one look, and I don't care how good we are at it. We have the arsenal and the personnel made to be multiple. We used three series of 43 Tuesday and one of 42 last night, but there were myriad situations that screamed for scrambles.
2. PERSONNEL USAGE - We have a roster that has strengths and weaknesses (like most teams), but we SHOULD be legitimately deeper than we are showing. Tyson is being forgotten and that is helping neither him nor us. I know casual fans will jump to conclusions that he is a bust --- BS --- For those who watched practices, he proved himself worthy of starter consideration. He can play but is never gonna find his fit and mojo rotting on the bench. Powell, in particular is showing his value, and that's good. But we're not gonna win with 34 minutes of Withers (nothing against his value).
3. HALF-COURT OFFENSE - Hubert has a nice array of set plays and actions, BUT we are limiting ourselves by forgetting an inside-out game. Never forget that the highest % 3-pt shots come from rhythm kick-outs. We should be using mid-post entries with JWash as a shot-threat and passer, as opposed to just a screener and roller.
4. (and most important) RESTORE THE DAMN SECONDARY - for Christ sake, this is Dean's greatest invention and Roy's calling-card! There's a reason we aren't getting sh** off the Secondary these days --- we're doing it WRONG. There is nothing easier to defend than a team that just comes down and surrounds the defense. All you hafta do is get your guys to mirror and it stalls. The Secondary run properly is designed to stress a retreating defense, but there are TWO fundamental f***-ups going on right now:
A) NEVER use a cross-court pitch-ahead (unless it makes for a layup) --- all that does is balance the defense FOR them --- and I can tell this is not a player decision, it is being taught. Hell, Dean would've stopped practice if he saw that nonsense. You push middle or sideline which draws the defense and affords a reversal.
B) The magic key to the Secondary is the first 4/5 man sprinting to the block (rim-run, dive). It forces a reaction as it is option #1, making it difficult to account for everyone. We're are eschewing this critical component, which has killed the TRIGGER of the Carolina system, and puts us in an (ugh) 5-out set, which is just unsound pussery.
As I said prevciously, running a Secondary without the post option is like putting tits on a boar-hog.
Come on guys! I mean, three of you on our bench played for Roy Williams, and 3 played for Dean Smith!... well, somewhere up there Dean is face-palming right about now, and Roy won't say anything unless he is asked. He probably should, but he won't. So ASK! Please...
Anyway, good Thanksgving wishes for all, and well... I guess we shall see what happens next...
Didn't post last night because my language may have been bannable, and this is about more than any one game. So, only gonna spend a few lines on that last one:
...like tired legs being obvious from the tip with the myriad short-armed finish misses --- or that a team that was literally ranked in the 300s in the NCAA D1 in 3-pt shooting lights it up on us --- or that we got that incompetent buffoon zebra (Curry) for the damn 3rd time in 4 games who thwarted our initial comeback by T-ing up Hubert (who wasn't even talking to him) after his partner-in-crime made a hideously bad call (or I should say, let Izzo make the call), and make no mistake, that changed the game --- or after leading another comeback and abusing their PG, EC misses a damn 99% layup to for the lead, then leads us back to force OT on Seth's splash --- or that we ran outta gas in said OT. Yeah, enough of that...
This is about deeper issues., and they are NOT the ones many fans fall back on. Our issues are NOT about who we got or did NOT get in the portal --- or which player might be struggling at whatever --- it is how the players we have are (or are NOT) being used.
Thus, as I said, it is time for this staff to do some serious SELF-scouting. The texts and calls I've gotten from my coach mafia during and after the game can be summed up by one in particular from my (Carolina-guy) AAU coach bud:
"WTF are we even doing???"
Y'all know I love this staff, but it is their collective pedigree that makes what I'm seeing so much of a "WTF?"
So, I actually hope one of them reads this, because here are 4 self-scouting points (that are BTW unanimous amongst my circle) that need to be corrected pronto (and I'll save the most important for last:
1. DEFENSE - Guys, we can NOT afford to just give opponents one look, and I don't care how good we are at it. We have the arsenal and the personnel made to be multiple. We used three series of 43 Tuesday and one of 42 last night, but there were myriad situations that screamed for scrambles.
2. PERSONNEL USAGE - We have a roster that has strengths and weaknesses (like most teams), but we SHOULD be legitimately deeper than we are showing. Tyson is being forgotten and that is helping neither him nor us. I know casual fans will jump to conclusions that he is a bust --- BS --- For those who watched practices, he proved himself worthy of starter consideration. He can play but is never gonna find his fit and mojo rotting on the bench. Powell, in particular is showing his value, and that's good. But we're not gonna win with 34 minutes of Withers (nothing against his value).
3. HALF-COURT OFFENSE - Hubert has a nice array of set plays and actions, BUT we are limiting ourselves by forgetting an inside-out game. Never forget that the highest % 3-pt shots come from rhythm kick-outs. We should be using mid-post entries with JWash as a shot-threat and passer, as opposed to just a screener and roller.
4. (and most important) RESTORE THE DAMN SECONDARY - for Christ sake, this is Dean's greatest invention and Roy's calling-card! There's a reason we aren't getting sh** off the Secondary these days --- we're doing it WRONG. There is nothing easier to defend than a team that just comes down and surrounds the defense. All you hafta do is get your guys to mirror and it stalls. The Secondary run properly is designed to stress a retreating defense, but there are TWO fundamental f***-ups going on right now:
A) NEVER use a cross-court pitch-ahead (unless it makes for a layup) --- all that does is balance the defense FOR them --- and I can tell this is not a player decision, it is being taught. Hell, Dean would've stopped practice if he saw that nonsense. You push middle or sideline which draws the defense and affords a reversal.
B) The magic key to the Secondary is the first 4/5 man sprinting to the block (rim-run, dive). It forces a reaction as it is option #1, making it difficult to account for everyone. We're are eschewing this critical component, which has killed the TRIGGER of the Carolina system, and puts us in an (ugh) 5-out set, which is just unsound pussery.
As I said prevciously, running a Secondary without the post option is like putting tits on a boar-hog.
Come on guys! I mean, three of you on our bench played for Roy Williams, and 3 played for Dean Smith!... well, somewhere up there Dean is face-palming right about now, and Roy won't say anything unless he is asked. He probably should, but he won't. So ASK! Please...
Anyway, good Thanksgving wishes for all, and well... I guess we shall see what happens next...
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