After watching poor and inconsistent pick and roll defense for the past 8 years, I’m uber sensitive to it. Yesterday, during the stretch of the second half when Tulsa cut the lead to single digits, I started to get flashbacks. We were switching every time, and they were eating us up. Then, Muss called a timeout and we went back to a hard show, and we got it under control again.
That in-game adjustment was so key. I love that Muss’ strategy is to be multiple on the pick and roll.
That was a solid team that had been very good defensively. Nice win.
I’m still expecting some big bumps, but I’m enjoying every second of this stage!
The guy can flat out coach. I know our lack of size and depth is going to get us, but these guys play hard and smart for the most part. That last min. against WKY was the first time I have seen them not play “smart” and it cost them. sounds like he hammered that all week.
One thing that was notable in the presser after the game is when they asked him about calling time out, he didn’t say it was to “stop the momentum” or anything–it was to make a very specific correction on how we were defending the pick and roll (i.e, stop the switching). Everything with a purpose, even the TOs.
I’ll attempt it. A “show” is when the player guarding the screener jumps out to impede the dribbler, then drops back to keep the screener from heading unimpeded to the basket. I’m just assuming that a “hard” show, is if he jumps out higher and also uses his body and not just his arm to impede before dropping back.
As former coach, I was thinking the exact same thing. Was very glad to see the in game adjustment. Next thing is to clean up defending the back screen on under the basket out of bounds plays. We gave up 2 baskets as a result of this. It’s really best to just switch these IMO.
I do challenge the posts depending on how the statement is worded and if I feel it is not justified.
I will give some examples.
I myself have praised how things are going under EM like our defensive effort without making it sound like we didn’t play defense under Mike.
On the other hand, I have complimented EM about being a better recruiter than Mike.
I have no problem with OP by RazorAg about switching on PNR because that was a problem with Mike. Or posts about rebounding under Mike.
But look at Wally’s column today that says now under EM, players don’t have to be told to play hard and there is always a rhyme and reason for what happens on both ends of the floor.,That is implying team didn’t play hard under Mike and without a plan. That is just not true and I would challenge that if Wally had posted that here.
