What is the reason for all of those slow starts?

[IDUNK4HEELS]

I cannot be the only one here who is not understanding why Carolina plays like a intramural YMCA team in the first half of their first two games in the dance and then like the Magic Johnson ' s show time Lakers of the 80's in the second half. A perfect example of this would be a Justin Jackson who has been AWOL in the first half of the first two games then played like Superman in the second stanza of the last two games. Hope the team are not taking teams for granted and have to wait for Coach Williams and the rest of the staff light em at up during the halftime break. Someone let me know why the team is playing like this because it is so frustrating to watch and very tough on my health.

 

[thaUNCshow]

There's a difference between starting slow and both teams just playing good. Our opponents are clear underdogs, and they typically give everything they have in the first half to keep it close. The longer the underdog keeps it close and hangs around, the greater their chances get of stealing one. The last two games the other teams have exerted everything in the first half and get blown out in the second because they cant sustain the energy. We scored 41 and 34 in the first half this weekend, its not like we failed to break 30 and had a dozen turnovers.

But if you do believe we're starting slow, here are some reasons I can think of:

1. Meeks starting. Him and Brice simply shouldnt play at the same time, its clear that having Meeks in their clogs the paint and gives Brice less room to operate. Plus he forces too many shots.
2. Players like James and Britt getting more minutes in the first half before the bench gets shorter in the 2nd.
3. The time it takes to figure out a team you havent played before, and how to attack a defense. You can watch hours of film, but you dont truly get a feel for a team until youre physically out there playing against them. By halftime, you know what their defense is like and what adjustments need to be made.

 

[UNCPJH81]

I honestly think Roy toys with the opposition in the first half to some extent. He plays a game of attrition--tries to beat the opponent with our quality depth. And that alone is usually sufficient.

 

[Ozheelfan]

I honestly think Roy toys with the opposition in the first half to some extent. He plays a game of attrition--tries to beat the opponent with our quality depth. And that alone is usually sufficient.

Not sure if it's toying with the opposition or having a look to see how his own players are going.... esp Meeks. I reckon Roy starts Meeks to see if he'll get some decent play from him early. If Kennedy seems dialled in and ready to play he might get more time, if not, in come Joel J etc.
Also, I think Roy likes to use his big bigs early. By big bigs I mean KM and Joel James - a couple of 280 pounders who can inflict some bruises early but are not necessary late in the game.

 

[ROYALWITCHEESE]

It's called coaching adjustments. I know people like to think Roy just rolls the ball out there, but he adjusts the approach at halftime. He does a fantastic job with this team and in game adjustments, especially over the month. He went small ball Saturday and they steam rolled Providence. He went heavy on the bigs against FGC with the same results.

We will not likely be able do this against Indiana, as I expect the game to be tight throughout.

Long story short, how about we give our great coach some credit once in a while?

 

[Bubspub88]

Coach Smith always wanted to play the first half to get to the second. Carolina has more options and can play more ways than most teams. As others have said I don't think Roy believes this team can win a game in the first five minutes but they can control the last five.

 

[Tom79]

IDUNK, love your zest for exaggeration but I get your point.
Dean always wanted to win the first and last 4 minute segments of each half, the whole middle part was to test adjustments, matchups and so on...that and Roy and Dean are just toying with the opposition! Seriously, in Brice's interview he is not sure himself but they are aware of it,the team has discussed it and as a team they all want to come out with more fire. I'm sure they will.

 

[gobblercalls]

I thought they came out playing hard against Providence. I saw the effort in the first 5 minutes and told my wife we'd win going away. Personnel adjustments and the effects of our depth on the opposition explains the better results in the second half. Why should Roy change the starting lineup....if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

There's a difference between starting slow and both teams just playing good. Our opponents are clear underdogs, and they typically give everything they have in the first half to keep it close. The longer the underdog keeps it close and hangs around, the greater their chances get of stealing one. The last two games the other teams have exerted everything in the first half and get blown out in the second because they cant sustain the energy. We scored 41 and 34 in the first half this weekend, its not like we failed to break 30 and had a dozen turnovers.

But if you do believe we're starting slow, here are some reasons I can think of:

1. Meeks starting. Him and Brice simply shouldnt play at the same time, its clear that having Meeks in their clogs the paint and gives Brice less room to operate. Plus he forces too many shots.
2. Players like James and Britt getting more minutes in the first half before the bench gets shorter in the 2nd.
3. The time it takes to figure out a team you havent played before, and how to attack a defense. You can watch hours of film, but you dont truly get a feel for a team until youre physically out there playing against them. By halftime, you know what their defense is like and what adjustments need to be made.

You are spot on with all three, especially the 3rd. I always believe the 1st 10 minutes of a NCAA tournament game is spent feeling out the opponent and devising a gameplan for the other 3/4 of the game.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

As shared, it's Meeks and a longer bench in half 1.

 

[heelmanwilm]

I blame the ncaa

 

[Heelicious]

As shared, it's Meeks and a longer bench in half 1.

WAY too late for tinkering now, but I sometimes wonder if Pinson should start over Meeks. I know that would be a small lineup, and then who would sub in for Jackson..... maybe Kenny Williams? Seems like we'd have better energy right out of the gate. And maybe that'd light a fire under Kennedy. We need to get him going. In the Prov game he whiffed on a tough but decent pass from Marcus, that Hicks, Brice, or Pinson would've jammed home.....

then he air balled a three foot shot, about a foot short, with nobody in between him and the rim. How is that possible?

 

[DSouthr]

As shared, it's Meeks and a longer bench in half 1.

yeah, I really think our extremely deep bench plays a HUGE factor, we are still fresh legs but the opposing teams have to cool down at half and it is hard to get tired legs cranked back up. Every team we play is going to come out and give us their best shot but at times that best shot in the first half is all they have. WE see we are in a thin lead at the half and we get pissed and lock down, especially defensively and all the sudden it starts and it does not end until it is to late to do anything about it. That has kinda been how it is since that first duke game this season, hope it holds true for the rest of our games this season.

I think Roy has done a masterful job with his adjustments both at the half as well as in game on the fly, it really has been fun to see.

 

[thaUNCshow]

I dont think its ever too late to adjust lineups. Vanilla Whip was a garbage time player for almost the entire regular season last year, but saw a huge increase in minutes during the tournament. As much as we hate to admit it, Dook doesnt win the title last year without Allen getting that huge jump in playing time

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

I like Meeks to start...I think it's keeps us out of foul trouble with Hicks (willingly) coming off the bench..it allows us to wear them down, stay out of foul trouble and anything we get from Meeks is a bonus in this matchup..Roy knows what he's doing here--defensive guard play is huge Friday

 

[Lewis&Miller]

Carolina has a history of being a slow starting team. Of course, there is not one specific reason or like Coach Williams says often, he would have already fixed it. So Im sure Coach Roy is trying different things to see if it has an effect. The slow start is more than likely a systemic issue.

Carolina runs an offensive pattern that offers a finite number of options that the opponent is fully prepared for at tip off. There is no variation off of this set. The opponent knows the motion of the player and ball(Virginias defense knows our offense better than our players, see them run to the spots before the pass). The point is the system seldoms provides a clean open look and the perceived advantage is an inside look from a Meeks type closer to the basket. Im always amazed the ball always goes to Meeks early, Johnsons the decoy. Johnson holds his spot(blocked out by the defender) while Meeks puts up multiple early shots. So by the 18 minute mark, the big man rotational pattern begins, and seems to last until the halftime horn. In the second half, the true starters get the continuous court time to figure things out. This is just an opinion as to why Carolina has to play a much better game than our opponent. Or the reason when the Heels win, it is won by being more talented.

In the past, the answer to a game where the offense is throttled, is the point guard. Joel Berry is stepping up, coming on strong as of late, like great sophomore pgs historically do. Carolina will have that game soon where the offense is stopped and Berry will have to put the team on his shoulders(like Felton, Lawson). He appears to have to confidence and ability, but he will also have to make that decision during the live game(canning the sets, drive the ball to score or dish off when the help defender shows). Carolina only wins the championship with great point guard play. Berrys moment is near, he looks ready, even if alittle young.