Takeaways from Fordham and Bonnies' Games
Feb 10, 2021 7:30:12 GMT -5
golasalle, theneumann64, and 3 more like this
Post by 23won on Feb 10, 2021 7:30:12 GMT -5
Below are some thoughts on the last few games, a challenge to improve on performance and some final thoughts.
1.There were positives from both games that show the effects of good coaching and players buying into not only the how to do things but the "why" behind these things that have been coached and are being put into practice by the players. These items include (a) far better ball movement, (b) more cutting off the ball on O, (c) better positioning for rebounding, (d) sharing the ball better off cuts near the hoop and in transition.
2.There are things we need to improve on. While 1(b) and (d) are better, we need to do these things more often. Why? Because as we play better teams, the defense improves and you can't just take a three or just break down your man 1:1, as the D will stop this and the secondary action off the pass will create an easier and more makeable shot conversion.
3.This is really a part of 2 and integrated with the concepts in 2, but is separated due to importance. We absolutely have to get into the paint on offense on every possession, spread our spacing around the arc a little wider to create better drive penetration angles and gaps and then apply 1(b) and (d) principles off the drive penetration. Our offense has sputtered and we have had scoring droughts when we have not attacked the lane and settled for perimeter shots only. You have to attack the D, have it collapse and force some open cut looks and open shots. We are settling way too much for the 3 shot and not the cut.
4.The D is much better. Fordham's 18% line drive no arc 3 shooter had a career night for 6 threes, largely from the low percentage deep corner, so he had a powerball lottery win of sorts. Can't get too upset except I must note that after the second or third 3, you can't leave him open and we did and he made us pay, so there is some learning there. The D was good against the Bonnies, a well coached team. They scored a lot of easy finishes off plays we need to implement like I pointed out in 1(b) and (d) and 2 above. However, they rarely scored off any backdoor cut, their patented killer play, which we defended well and that shows good coaching, game prep and execution by La Salle.
5. The path to .500 and above is a tough journey.
We had favorable starts in both games and then the winds decidedly shifted to the opponent who got to the line easily compared to us (some whistle swallowing on O and slap happy whistle calls for the opponents on D) and where the possession whistle seemed to blow against us on every 50-50 play. Then you add the bench warnings (in COVID, really?) and double Ts and you once again have the POS Leslie Jones playing the La Salle foil. I understand how Ash got upset and don't fault him, but he's gotta do the all-game mid to medium high ref banter that Jay does so well and keep the circuit breaker from going; play the long game, maybe take a T here and there but don't DQ yourself early.
You also have Jack missing most of his 13 shots from 3 and putting us well under .500 from the floor. Again 1(b) and (d) and 2 above come into play here and we have to work for better shots and
avoid taking a challenging 3 early in the shot clock as we we have in droughts!!!
As In pointed out in post 1 in the SLU thread, I think Jack should work on getting open and taking mostly mid range and close in shots and work the 3 ball rust off in the summer. Those 3 analytics are working heavily against us. OTOH, Sherif and Jig are doing a good job with the 3, so those can be emphasized within the points of emphasis noted above. IMO Jig needs to take more 3s.
Conclusion. We are making progress. Rome wasn't built in a day. Keep improving, team. Keep the faith, fans. This is a good progression at work here in a very tough league.
1.There were positives from both games that show the effects of good coaching and players buying into not only the how to do things but the "why" behind these things that have been coached and are being put into practice by the players. These items include (a) far better ball movement, (b) more cutting off the ball on O, (c) better positioning for rebounding, (d) sharing the ball better off cuts near the hoop and in transition.
2.There are things we need to improve on. While 1(b) and (d) are better, we need to do these things more often. Why? Because as we play better teams, the defense improves and you can't just take a three or just break down your man 1:1, as the D will stop this and the secondary action off the pass will create an easier and more makeable shot conversion.
3.This is really a part of 2 and integrated with the concepts in 2, but is separated due to importance. We absolutely have to get into the paint on offense on every possession, spread our spacing around the arc a little wider to create better drive penetration angles and gaps and then apply 1(b) and (d) principles off the drive penetration. Our offense has sputtered and we have had scoring droughts when we have not attacked the lane and settled for perimeter shots only. You have to attack the D, have it collapse and force some open cut looks and open shots. We are settling way too much for the 3 shot and not the cut.
4.The D is much better. Fordham's 18% line drive no arc 3 shooter had a career night for 6 threes, largely from the low percentage deep corner, so he had a powerball lottery win of sorts. Can't get too upset except I must note that after the second or third 3, you can't leave him open and we did and he made us pay, so there is some learning there. The D was good against the Bonnies, a well coached team. They scored a lot of easy finishes off plays we need to implement like I pointed out in 1(b) and (d) and 2 above. However, they rarely scored off any backdoor cut, their patented killer play, which we defended well and that shows good coaching, game prep and execution by La Salle.
5. The path to .500 and above is a tough journey.
We had favorable starts in both games and then the winds decidedly shifted to the opponent who got to the line easily compared to us (some whistle swallowing on O and slap happy whistle calls for the opponents on D) and where the possession whistle seemed to blow against us on every 50-50 play. Then you add the bench warnings (in COVID, really?) and double Ts and you once again have the POS Leslie Jones playing the La Salle foil. I understand how Ash got upset and don't fault him, but he's gotta do the all-game mid to medium high ref banter that Jay does so well and keep the circuit breaker from going; play the long game, maybe take a T here and there but don't DQ yourself early.
You also have Jack missing most of his 13 shots from 3 and putting us well under .500 from the floor. Again 1(b) and (d) and 2 above come into play here and we have to work for better shots and
avoid taking a challenging 3 early in the shot clock as we we have in droughts!!!
As In pointed out in post 1 in the SLU thread, I think Jack should work on getting open and taking mostly mid range and close in shots and work the 3 ball rust off in the summer. Those 3 analytics are working heavily against us. OTOH, Sherif and Jig are doing a good job with the 3, so those can be emphasized within the points of emphasis noted above. IMO Jig needs to take more 3s.
Conclusion. We are making progress. Rome wasn't built in a day. Keep improving, team. Keep the faith, fans. This is a good progression at work here in a very tough league.
