There’s little doubt that the Charlotte 49ers miss Shamari Spears as a very talented individual athlete. As a team player, however, it seems he left something to be desired, hence his exile from the team in mid-season. Since Spears left the Niners, the team has begun to claim wins based on team play, including the big upset of Tennessee last week.
“Switching to a zone defense in the second half, the 49ers cooled the (Wright State) Raiders (7-6) down the stretch. After scrapping their way back into the game, Charlotte got its winning points when guard Derrio Green’s 3-pointer broke a 53-53 tie with 16 seconds left,” reported David Scott of the Charlotte Observer. “‘Give them credit, they made the adjustment at halftime,’ said (Wright State coach Billy) Donlon. ‘There was nothing we could do with their zone.’”
In the games Charlotte has won recently, the zone has slowed opponents down, taking the defensive points per possession from an average above 1.00 to the below 1.00 zone. That’s more in line with the 49ers offensive production. So, in essence, as long as UNCC can bring opponents down to their own level, the (close, improbable) wins may just keep coming.
Not suprising: we don’t force TOs with our D (337th in the country), we don’t get offensive boards (248th), but we’re actually 27th in the nation in 3pt% defense (shocker). That’s more likely a product of playing a lot of poor shooting teams, but when’s the last time we could say it this late in a season?
Once again, we’re plagued by poor FT% defense (247th, nod to X49er), and we’re pretty good at FTs (73.4%, 50th)
Not suprising: we don’t force TOs with our D (337th in the country), we don’t get offensive boards (248th), but we’re actually 27th in the nation in 3pt% defense (shocker). That’s more likely a product of playing a lot of poor shooting teams, but when’s the last time we could say it this late in a season?
Once again, we’re plagued by poor FT% defense (247th, nod to X49er), and we’re pretty good at FTs (73.4%, 50th)[/quote]
What I see there is a team that is scrapping for W’s - I think the perimeter D may be the difference since the 3 can be such a killer. We need another shooter badly. Good news is that when push came to shove, the Niners exerted their will on the game. Perhaps this is the foundation of a very sound, multi-dimensional team. Team play is critical.
Being able to have JB or Gohkan up top on the zone gives us tremendous length to force our opponents to shoot over. I hope JB stays assertive on offense, he’s the only reason we were in the game at half time vs Wright State.
The problem with Gokhan there is that he is really slowfooted.Noi saying that he’s not improving and playing hard…but many times his man just went right around him and drove the basket…either scoring or getting fouled.He’s never going to be a positive force on the def. end,but at least he’s getting some game confidence out there.
As an aside to this,and it affects Gokhan a lot…we are still an absolutely terrible team at setting screens.It frustrates me every game when I see other teams setting hard picks and rubbing their guys and than I see guys like Phil and Bras who just don’t know or want to set strong picks.
[quote=“lucky57, post:5, topic:24639”]The problem with Gokhan there is that he is really slowfooted.Noi saying that he’s not improving and playing hard…but many times his man just went right around him and drove the basket…either scoring or getting fouled.He’s never going to be a positive force on the def. end,but at least he’s getting some game confidence out there.
As an aside to this,and it affects Gokhan a lot…we are still an absolutely terrible team at setting screens.It frustrates me every game when I see other teams setting hard picks and rubbing their guys and than I see guys like Phil and Bras who just don’t know or want to set strong picks.[/quote]
Worst part about the screens was on one of the inbounds plays we had two screeners set a pick on one guy and he went right between them easily.
[quote=“cdsniner, post:6, topic:24639”][quote=“lucky57, post:5, topic:24639”]The problem with Gokhan there is that he is really slowfooted.Noi saying that he’s not improving and playing hard…but many times his man just went right around him and drove the basket…either scoring or getting fouled.He’s never going to be a positive force on the def. end,but at least he’s getting some game confidence out there.
As an aside to this,and it affects Gokhan a lot…we are still an absolutely terrible team at setting screens.It frustrates me every game when I see other teams setting hard picks and rubbing their guys and than I see guys like Phil and Bras who just don’t know or want to set strong picks.[/quote]
Worst part about the screens was on one of the inbounds plays we had two screeners set a pick on one guy and he went right between them easily.[/quote]
I have noticed on occasion that some players are learning to be more patient waiting for the screen and timing it right. Derrio did it well one time on an under the basket inbound play. Eventually we will get it done on the screen and roll more consistently. For the life of me I can’t get why no player in what seems of all of pro and college basketball seals his man after setting the screen when they go to the basket, players always turn the wrong way.
[quote=“Charlotte2002, post:10, topic:24639”][quote=“cdsniner, post:6, topic:24639”][quote=“lucky57, post:5, topic:24639”]The problem with Gokhan there is that he is really slowfooted.Noi saying that he’s not improving and playing hard…but many times his man just went right around him and drove the basket…either scoring or getting fouled.He’s never going to be a positive force on the def. end,but at least he’s getting some game confidence out there.
As an aside to this,and it affects Gokhan a lot…we are still an absolutely terrible team at setting screens.It frustrates me every game when I see other teams setting hard picks and rubbing their guys and than I see guys like Phil and Bras who just don’t know or want to set strong picks.[/quote]
Worst part about the screens was on one of the inbounds plays we had two screeners set a pick on one guy and he went right between them easily.[/quote]
I have noticed on occasion that some players are learning to be more patient waiting for the screen and timing it right. Derrio did it well one time on an under the basket inbound play. Eventually we will get it done on the screen and roll more consistently. For the life of me I can’t get why no player in what seems of all of pro and college basketball seals his man after setting the screen when they go to the basket, players always turn the wrong way.[/quote]
Should have proofread before I posted but it was the defender that was able to go right between our two screeners. That should never happen.