[b]Not overlooked NA, just ignored. What did you want Baldwin and Goldwire to do? Baldwin played a solid defensive game but you can't expect him to just come down court and create an offense.[/b]
Funny, most people would define the point guardās role as just that. I like Baldwin, a lot. But I donāt think heās a point guard anymore than you think Brendan is one. Baldwin is one hell of a transition guard, but he sets up 30 feet from the basket and cannot make entry passes to Curtis or drive to the hoop.
[b]We run little to no effective half court sets and that is not his problem, it is the coach. Withers should be pissed.[/b]
Ignoring what you think is the obvious answer - that itās Lutzās fault, ask yourself why. Could it have anything to do with losing recruiting battle after recruiting battle for a true floor general? Damn I hate to say it, but a guy like Jarrett Jack or Chris Paul could take this team as far as it wanted to go, maybe even with the FT shooting woes. We havenāt had a guard who could make crisp post entry passes since Colson. Man do I ever miss him. He had one main job - get the ball to Demarco, and he did it. 7.8 apg his senior year, wasnāt that the number? In case you forget, Lutz was the offensive mind behind that team too, as Bob Huggins will tell you. Nothingās changed except for the personnel. Lutz has his new DJ, but not a new Colson.
[b]The only thing we run are baseline screens for Plavich who was unable to use them effectively.[/b]
We do run the baseline screen too much, but I say that because we do not screen. Plavich got shoved into the goal post when we ran it in the closing seconds last night. Not one of his screeners did their jobs. Otherwise, he might have come free for a game winner. If weād just execute this, we might have won last night, free throws or not. As for Plavās shooting - he was cold in the first half. No doubt about it. Waters was hell bent on not letting him get a look though. Another game of guys in his shorts all night. That sucked. I wish Nance would have picked them so hard that their teeth fell out.
[b]Also, I'm not blaming Plavich... ...Goldwire should have got his minutes in the second half.[/b]
I caught myself playing a little monday morning QB too, but I donāt get this one. Did you watch the whole game? Lutz tried Baldwin & Goldwire in the backcourt several times. It didnāt change what waters was doing at all. They both got whistled on the iso plays when Waters spread the floor. I still despise whistle happy refs, only because we lose that type of game everytime with our poor FT shooting.
[b]Funny how the guys that said we couldn't judge Balwin after his excellent LBSU performance are now judging him after an average Rutgers performance. Hypocritical?[/b]
How is it hypocritical to do exactly what we said we were gonna do - which is reserve judgemnt until we played Rutgers. The answer is that itās not. Mitch is a good player and sounds like an even better guy, but it doesnāt look like heās any more of a PG than anyone else weāve suited up since Colson. He can always change my mind in the future, but for right now, itās same old, same old for the Niners.
BTW, I have mixed feelings on the trap plays. #5 absolutely retreated like a scared kid every time we doubled him. A couple of times it was comical. I couldnāt believe a player as touted as him would backpedal is such obvious despair. The coaching staff must have seen some tape on him doing that before. So I could see continuing to trap him. The other guys got over their issues with it really quickly and we gave up some silly baskets. Maybe Lutz should be more selective with it. I also wasnt thrilled with wearing Withers out on every Rutgers possession.
The problem wasnāt just Plav, it was having EJ and PLav on the floor at the same time. EJ would get screened and fall off, and Plav just couldnāt keep up/was too short. EJ needs to play solid D, if he had half the hustle BP did, he would be a much better defender.
But, they could come down and get entry passes all game with those two on the floor at the same time. BP would guard the point or the 2 and whoever EJ was guarding would find themselves open easily because EJ would get a little bump or make a jump for a ball that wasnāt there. The rest of the team would have to rotate to make up for his mistake and Brendan is stuck guarding a guy he shouldnāt be, who can drive around him or pass over him. There is no one in position to take up the slack, because they had to recover for EJās mistakes. They had a low post screen on EJ about 5 times last night and then they got great position down low. Three possession they ran the exact same play, and Lutz still kept EJ and BP on the floor together.
That is a serious problem, because if EJ doesnāt step it up and coach doesnāt pull him when heās not stepping it up, weāre going to lose a lot more games. EJ is supposed to be a scorer, right? He played 7 more minutes than Nance and Nance outscored him. That kid needs to play. Chris Nance earned his minutes, and we certainly could have used his hustle and defensive presence. Thatās probably been my biggest gripe with Lutz in games though, he sticks with guys who arenāt getting it done over guys who are because he thinks his guys is going to be the one to win us the game. He favors offense over defense, and it costs us games.
Lutz is not a good defensive coach. Heās simply not. Some coaches are good defensive coaches and not good offensive coaches. Reminds me of Dave Odom who could hold teams to 65 points a game and still lose. I love having Lutz has our coach but I accepted that last year that we arenāt going to be a team thatās going to consistantly stop teams. We will have to try to outscore them in the end. I love having BP on the floor because he flat out runs every play. He passed up a 3 early in the game that I know he would have took last year and hit the hot hand of Basden in the corner who nailed the 3. I agree that Plavich is a mediore defensive player at best but I love having him on our team and I wish other players on our team aka Iti would put fourth the effort he does.
In closing, I am curious to see how EJ matures. I like his offense but defenisvly he is terrible and in some cases heās actually wourse then Plavich on defense.
[i]Originally posted by NinerAdvocate[/i]@Nov 23 2004, 10:04 AM
[b]
[b]Not overlooked NA, just ignored. What did you want Baldwin and Goldwire to do? Baldwin played a solid defensive game but you can't expect him to just come down court and create an offense.[/b]
Funny, most people would define the point guardās role as just that. I like Baldwin, a lot. But I donāt think heās a point guard anymore than you think Brendan is one. Baldwin is one hell of a transition guard, but he sets up 30 feet from the basket and cannot make entry passes to Curtis or drive to the hoop.
[b]We run little to no effective half court sets and that is not his problem, it is the coach. Withers should be pissed.[/b]
Ignoring what you think is the obvious answer - that itās Lutzās fault, ask yourself why. Could it have anything to do with losing recruiting battle after recruiting battle for a true floor general? Damn I hate to say it, but a guy like Jarrett Jack or Chris Paul could take this team as far as it wanted to go, maybe even with the FT shooting woes. We havenāt had a guard who could make crisp post entry passes since Colson. Man do I ever miss him. He had one main job - get the ball to Demarco, and he did it. 7.8 apg his senior year, wasnāt that the number? In case you forget, Lutz was the offensive mind behind that team too, as Bob Huggins will tell you. Nothingās changed except for the personnel. Lutz has his new DJ, but not a new Colson.
[b]The only thing we run are baseline screens for Plavich who was unable to use them effectively.[/b]
We do run the baseline screen too much, but I say that because we do not screen. Plavich got shoved into the goal post when we ran it in the closing seconds last night. Not one of his screeners did their jobs. Otherwise, he might have come free for a game winner. If weād just execute this, we might have won last night, free throws or not. As for Plavās shooting - he was cold in the first half. No doubt about it. Waters was hell bent on not letting him get a look though. Another game of guys in his shorts all night. That sucked. I wish Nance would have picked them so hard that their teeth fell out.
[b]Also, I'm not blaming Plavich... ...Goldwire should have got his minutes in the second half.[/b]
I caught myself playing a little monday morning QB too, but I donāt get this one. Did you watch the whole game? Lutz tried Baldwin & Goldwire in the backcourt several times. It didnāt change what waters was doing at all. They both got whistled on the iso plays when Waters spread the floor. I still despise whistle happy refs, only because we lose that type of game everytime with our poor FT shooting.
[b]Funny how the guys that said we couldn't judge Balwin after his excellent LBSU performance are now judging him after an average Rutgers performance. Hypocritical?[/b]
How is it hypocritical to do exactly what we said we were gonna do - which is reserve judgemnt until we played Rutgers. The answer is that itās not. Mitch is a good player and sounds like an even better guy, but it doesnāt look like heās any more of a PG than anyone else weāve suited up since Colson. He can always change my mind in the future, but for right now, itās same old, same old for the Niners. [/b]
It is tough for Baldwin to enter the ball into the post to Withers when Withers is standing at the top of the key every possesion. We run absolutely no sets to clear one side of the floor and enter the ball to Curt on the low block. This is fundamental post basketball and we donāt even attempt it.
Allowing Withers to stand on the perimeter is allowing the opposition to guard him with one man which is a complete waste of talent. Withers should be drawing double and triple teams every possesion which is exactly what we want.
We use to get the ball to Demarco in the low post almost every possesion so the offense would run through him. He could either take his man one on one real quick or wait for the double team and rotate the ball. This is exactly how we should be using Curt.
I donāt understand how Lutz canāt just clear on side of the floor and run a two man game with Mitch and Withers. In Withers defense, he is probably exhausted from running all over the floor, waving his arms around for nothing, as the point in that ridiculous trap we run.
[b]I don't understand how Lutz can't just clear on side of the floor and run a two man game with Mitch and Withers. In Withers defense, he is probably exhausted from running all over the floor, waving his arms around for nothing, as the point in that ridiculous trap we run. [/b]
I just donāt think Mitch can get the ball to him down there. That AA label is a target on his back as far as opposing coaches are concerned. They are not gonna let us run simple set plays to get the ball to him, and weād need a better passer than Mitch.
I really donāt like bashing Mitch. I love his hustle. Love how articulate and athletic he is. I just think heās playing out of position.
[i]Originally posted by NinerAdvocate[/i]@Nov 23 2004, 03:09 PM
[b]
[b]I don't understand how Lutz can't just clear on side of the floor and run a two man game with Mitch and Withers. In Withers defense, he is probably exhausted from running all over the floor, waving his arms around for nothing, as the point in that ridiculous trap we run. [/b]
I just donāt think Mitch can get the ball to him down there. That AA label is a target on his back as far as opposing coaches are concerned. They are not gonna let us run simple set plays to get the ball to him, and weād need a better passer than Mitch.
I really donāt like bashing Mitch. I love his hustle. Love how articulate and athletic he is. I just think heās playing out of position. [/b]
What do you mean canāt get it to him? I could get it to him if they run the set for meā¦ All the point has to do is dribble to the wing and enter a bounce pass.
It is not rocket science, it is just a case running a screen in the paint to curl Withers off to get position and the point guard drops the ball down.
Every freakin game preview talked about how Rutgers is slim and inexperienced in the frontcourt. I thought Lutz might actually make it a focus to post up Withers or even Nance. They basically were in man-to-man most of the game so I donāt understand it. Withers should have easily gone for 25+ last night as well as fouled out a few of their guys.
Bottom line is Lutz let a highly inferior team beat us by allowing them to basically just run isolation against a few select guys. He has to get better at adjusting quicker and more effectively during the game. We gave up a ton of uncontested layups last night. I donāt understand why we canāt try and be a very good defensive team in 1 or 2 sets. Evidently Lutz takes pride in saying that we run these junk defenses even though they NEVER work.
Shouldnāt a point guard have excellent court vision, dribble well, distribute the ball and have good passing skills? shouldnāt a good PG run the teams half court sets? A PG should be an extension of the coach on the floor. Baldwin should be the one running the team and calling out plays. A good PG should also recognize what kind of defense the team is facing and run plays accordingly.
I have to believe lutz tells his PG to run plays and i have to believe there are plays designed to get the ball to withers. Maybe he doesnāt, who knows. But it looks like Baldwin doesnāt have what it takes to run a team. A good PG will take over a game and make sure the offense is run. I donāt see Baldwin taking over a game in But then again, maybe heās being told not to run any offense.
I like baldwin for his speed and enthusiasm, just donāt see him as a PG.
To get Withers the ball in the post, two things have to happen.
A) Withers has to be posting in position to receive the ball.
B) A suitable pass has to be made.
A) requires B). Withers getting the ball at the top of the key isnāt going to make him instantly translocate to the low post in excellent position to score. Donāt blame Mitch if A) isnāt happening because either Withers or Lutz doesnāt want Withers on the block.
I donāt know which one it is. But itās one of the two, and itās a problem.
[i]Originally posted by NinerLoudNProud[/i]@Nov 23 2004, 04:11 PM
[b] To get Withers the ball in the post, two things have to happen.
A) Withers has to be posting in position to receive the ball.
B) A suitable pass has to be made.
A) requires B). Withers getting the ball at the top of the key isnāt going to make him instantly translocate to the low post in excellent position to score. Donāt blame Mitch if A) isnāt happening because either Withers or Lutz doesnāt want Withers on the block.
I donāt know which one it is. But itās one of the two, and itās a problem. [/b]
The only reason I can see Withers playing at the top of the key against a team that had a 6ā7" freshman guarding him is, Withers has the ability to make it to the next level (NBA) and I think he needs to showcase more SF (3) skills. Playing at the top of the key and isolating 1 on 1 allows him to showcase more of these skills.
Oākay that is as far as I am going to reach.
Put his a** on the low blocks, kick it into to him, let him score, get fouled, double teamed for a quick kick out pass for a three or a dump pass into an interior player for a shot Iti can even make 50% of the time (dunk). Withers is a great passer if anybody remembers. Do this consistently and ride his a** to a 20(+) win season and a nice seeding by the NCAA and a 1st round draft selection for him that we can show potential recruits to keep our pipeline full of potential 1st rounders. Oh yeah, BTW, quit running his a** ragged at the top of that press. H*ll let Drayton run up there, he is a longer athlete at the point of the press anyway.
Oākay Iām finished on this till after the Valpo game but retain the right to return here and vent again as prescribed by my therapist.
[i]Originally posted by TheShowDawg[/i]@Nov 24 2004, 01:41 AM
[b] The only reason I can see Withers playing at the top of the key against a team that had a 6'7" freshman guarding him is, Withers has the ability to make it to the next level (NBA) and I think he needs to showcase more SF (3) skills. Playing at the top of the key and isolating 1 on 1 allows him to showcase more of these skills.
Oākay that is as far as I am going to reach.
Put his a** on the low blocks, kick it into to him, let him score, get fouled, double teamed for a quick kick out pass for a three or a dump pass into an interior player for a shot Iti can even make 50% of the time (dunk). Withers is a great passer if anybody remembers. Do this consistently and ride his a** to a 20(+) win season and a nice seeding by the NCAA and a 1st round draft selection for him that we can show potential recruits to keep our pipeline full of potential 1st rounders. Oh yeah, BTW, quit running his a** ragged at the top of that press. H*ll let Drayton run up there, he is a longer athlete at the point of the press anyway.
Oākay Iām finished on this till after the Valpo game but retain the right to return here and vent again as prescribed by my therapist. [/b]
Good points TSD. I think weāll see some changes going forward. Now enjoy your holiday.
