Transition game...

[gary-7]

...and I've noticed an ironic trend this season in that we have not scored as much in transition as usual. A big reason: Transition starts with defense and rebounding and in several games we just didn't clean the defensive glass well enough. At least thru the first 9 games when we did run we were very efficient --- we just needed to get into our transition more frequently.

Now, we have been remarkably efficient in half-court offense with JB in the game, which has made up for much of that --- and when he's not in the drop-off is significant. You really don't need any stats to see that but sites that keep those numbers certainly bear it out. Where I'm going with this is the heart of the system is the Carolina transition game. As Roy said when he was asked what he hoped to accomplish is the short summer practice sessions, he said simply "introduce the freshmen to the Secondary Break". There's a very good reason for that.

With the caveat that the numbers don't always match the situation, I noticed on another site an efficiency breakdown between our early and later shot-clock situations. And at least our top-5 offensive players all have good numbers in both transition and half-court situations. However 7th, BRob and (ironically) Nate have not fared as well in early shot-clock scenarios --- and the reasons for that I can explain with my eyes --- it goes back to spacing and shot selection in the Secondary Break.

Anyway, I decided to keep a new stat yesterday --- Blown Secondary Breaks, i.e., when we got a scoring op on the Secondary and didn't cash in. I limited this to missed shot attempts/FTs or TOs on drives/entries, but the number was alarming in that we blew 14 of these. I haven't kept that number before for comparison but that does strike me as quite high.

The good news is that as discussed yesterday, we actually came from behind by stepping up our defense AND pushing tempo. And as my eyes told me, our lack of efficiency when we ran was the hump it took the longest to get over, and kept us from seizing the lead earlier in the second half. As frustrating as it was to come up empty after getting key stops, the fact that we WERE aggressively pushing tempo was good to see and eventually won us the game. Hopefully when JB comes back we continue to push tempo, and given the mondo-efficiency he brings with him that would bode well... as it should when Theo returns.

BTW: Hicks's efficiency goes way up in transition, and that shouldn't be surprising --- no double-teams and open space to get the ball.

 

[imajericho]

I will say this. There was a 4 or possession stretch when our transition game was something nasty.

Despite Robinson's pass getting stolen, I loved his attempt to make that down court pass for an easy bucket. It was a thing of beauty eventhough a turnover.

 

[gary-7]

I will say this. There was a 4 or possession stretch when our transition game was something nasty.

Despite Robinson's pass getting stolen, I loved his attempt to make that down court pass for an easy bucket. It was a thing of beauty eventhough a turnover.

They cranked it up nicely in the second half --- just didn't convert as often as we needed. I would definitely like to see Roy get the guys to fire up the race car... starting Saturday when our #1 driver is back.

 

[UNC71-00]

Dammit

 

[TPFKAPFS]

I agree that we look much better when running. I am happy that we seem to be much more efficient in the half-court than past teams. If we can get the two together, this will be a special team!

 

[Archer2]

I agree that we look much better when running. I am happy that we seem to be much more efficient in the half-court than past teams. If we can get the two together, this will be a special team!

We have been more efficient in the half court this year. But what really excites me about this team is that we have the potential to be downright nasty defensively when we get Theo and Joel back. Kenny has developed into a very good defender, watching him deny the ball to Hubbs in the last 2-3 minutes, when even Bilas was saying Hubbs needed to have the ball every time down, was a thing of beauty. He simply wouldn't allow Hubbs to touch the ball. In Joel, Kenny, and Theo, we have three guys who can make life miserable for their counterpart.You can still win you can't throw the ball in the ocean, if you play great defense. Conversely, you can shoot well and still not win if your defense is bad. That come from behind win was predicated on great defense, which led to higher percentage transition baskets. The running game begins and ends with defense. If we shoot as bad as we have the last two games in years past, we lose both of those games.

That is what I think will make the difference this year.

 

[gary-7]

I agree that we look much better when running. I am happy that we seem to be much more efficient in the half-court than past teams. If we can get the two together, this will be a special team!

Absolutely, and that's the positive take. I'd like to see more 30 and 40 defense to speed up the opponents as well. We did a good bit of that Sunday.

As for half court, once we get JB back we'll recover our spacing. The challenge now (and Roy mentioned it) is to get our Bigs complementing each other as opposed to getting in each others's way down low. The freelance movement in the Passing Game can be challenging for Bigs alternately posting and screening and there's a lot of "feel" to it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Roy call more sets after the Secondary to clean things out down low.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

Hope so. One thing I noticed is that Meeks and Hicks aren't creative freelance type guys. They might excel with a little more structure. JB helps with this as he directs them and insists on proper spacing. He also delivers the ball where they can be effective. If they are in a bad position he doesn't give it to them.