Pass the Cutchie

20 then 18 assists in back to back games?  Uncharted territory for this group.  Passing and ball movement looks to be much improved.  Are Lavin and staff the miracle workers?

Assists up and turnovers down?  A pleasant trend that I hope continues tonight. 

Good luck!

Good point. During the first two games and even in the Ball St. game at times the team just seemed to be passing the ball around the perimeter and then trying to go on 1 on 1 against the defender. Last night the team got others guys open looks and played much more of a team game. We dont have dynamic scorers so all the guys need to help make each other better. We have some good passers on this team and when everyone gets involved and helps one another this team is much better offensively.

The overall decision making is quicker. The ball is being rotated much quicker. If you're .3 quicker on 3 passes rotating the ball around the key that gives that shooter an extra second to take that shot in the corner. I know it seems minimal but it's huge.

I'd still like to see the half court sets the guys without the ball changing speeds, cutting quicker, and coming off screens harder. Trotting around won't get you open.

Last year we looked like we never saw a zone before.  Last night we moved the ball incredibly well against a team known for having a great zone.

I don't know which game you all are talking about. I watched the SJ game last night (actually this AM). SJ looked awful against the zone, as awful as they looked last year, passively passing the ball around the exterior, chucking up threes and driving mindlessly into three players at a time. The one thing they did effectively was get the ball in to Brownlee. After playing pointlessly against the zone for 34 minutes, SJ was down by 5 with 6 minutes to go, having scored 45 points to that point. They then scored 8 points in 40 seconds, all due to defensive pressure, a blow from which ASU never recovered. If by playing well against the zone you were talking about Malik Stith banking in 3 pointers from half court and Dwight Hardy chucking up double clutches after being fouled, then yeah, they were superb. Otherwise, not so much.

To open the game they looked stumped. In the 2nd half they were patient and efficient.

The lineup at the end of the game was a tough lineup to run a halfcourt offense with but the Hardy play was set play. Hardy cut baseline came back with Brownlee setting the screen. He had the open look to trigger  but he took the contact instead really heady play.

The decision making is quicker. Guys are thinkning what they want to do with the ball before they have the ball where as last season they'd catch then think which allowed the defense to catch up. There is still a ways to go in the half court but I'm seeing signs of change

I don't know which game you all are talking about. I watched the SJ game last night (actually this AM). SJ looked awful against the zone, as awful as they looked last year, passively passing the ball around the exterior, chucking up threes and driving mindlessly into three players at a time. The one thing they did effectively was get the ball in to Brownlee. After playing pointlessly against the zone for 34 minutes, SJ was down by 5 with 6 minutes to go, having scored 45 points to that point. They then scored 8 points in 40 seconds, all due to defensive pressure, a blow from which ASU never recovered. If by playing well against the zone you were talking about Malik Stith banking in 3 pointers from half court and Dwight Hardy chucking up double clutches after being fouled, then yeah, they were superb. Otherwise, not so much.

We'll have to disagree then.  We missed a lot of wide open three's in the first half...good shots that didn't fall.  Last year we "passively passed the ball around the exterior," as you put it, but I felt the passing most of the time was with purpose.  That's how you beat a zone....you want to make them work on d.  When the ball got to the wing, there was usually a shot-fake, head-fake, or some attempt to at least get an entry pass in.  That forces the D to respond, and a quick ball reversal with some screening behind it opens things up.

There were also a number of drives to the basket that resulted in kicks to open shooters and some very nice baseline passes.  Brownlee had a great drive and awesome pass baseline to Hardy for a wide open three late.

We are limited offensively and that is obvious, but we showed some good stuff against a team known for one of the better zones in the country.  We're never going to be an elite offensive team with the current roster.

To open the game they looked stumped. In the 2nd half they were patient and efficient.

The lineup at the end of the game was a tough lineup to run a halfcourt offense with but the Hardy play was set play. Hardy cut baseline came back with Brownlee setting the screen. He had the open look to trigger  but he took the contact instead really heady play.

The decision making is quicker. Guys are thinkning what they want to do with the ball before they have the ball where as last season they'd catch then think which allowed the defense to catch up. There is still a ways to go in the half court but I'm seeing signs of change

Obviously you're seeing signs of change. There's a new staff, a new system, and players who didn't contribute last year are getting time and doing good things. But the first half yesterday was just as bad as any from last year.

We had 20 points at halftime and 45 points with six minutes left. Which is Normesque. We scored 22 points in the last six minutes, and that wasn't because we were being patient and efficient on offense. It was because we had a miraculous 30 seconds. For the game we shot 44 percent from the floor, 27 percent from three, and 59 percent from the line. That's seems pretty inefficient to me. We stole this game. I'm happy we stole it, and maybe last we don't steal it, but steal it we did.

To open the game they looked stumped. In the 2nd half they were patient and efficient.

The lineup at the end of the game was a tough lineup to run a halfcourt offense with but the Hardy play was set play. Hardy cut baseline came back with Brownlee setting the screen. He had the open look to trigger  but he took the contact instead really heady play.

The decision making is quicker. Guys are thinkning what they want to do with the ball before they have the ball where as last season they'd catch then think which allowed the defense to catch up. There is still a ways to go in the half court but I'm seeing signs of change

Good point, Dave.  I remember calling that out in the chat last night.  That was a terrific screen by Brownlee.
It seems like the baseline is an area of emphasis to attack.   

Quote from: Dave on November 28, 2010, 12:58:13 PM

To open the game they looked stumped. In the 2nd half they were patient and efficient.

The lineup at the end of the game was a tough lineup to run a halfcourt offense with but the Hardy play was set play. Hardy cut baseline came back with Brownlee setting the screen. He had the open look to trigger  but he took the contact instead really heady play.

The decision making is quicker. Guys are thinkning what they want to do with the ball before they have the ball where as last season they'd catch then think which allowed the defense to catch up. There is still a ways to go in the half court but I'm seeing signs of change

Obviously you're seeing signs of change. There's a new staff, a new system, and players who didn't contribute last year are getting time and doing good things. But the first half yesterday was just as bad as any from last year.

We had 20 points at halftime and 45 points with six minutes left. Which is Normesque. We scored 22 points in the last six minutes, and that wasn't because we were being patient and efficient on offense. It was because we had a miraculous 30 seconds. For the game we shot 44 percent from the floor, 27 percent from three, and 59 percent from the line. That's seems pretty inefficient to me. We stole this game. I'm happy we stole it, and maybe last we don't steal it, but steal it we did.

Offensively we are still a work in progress. But this year's team is pretty limited, so you might not see a big difference until Lavin has his own players. On defense I think the zone pressure is helping us score points wich is huge considering our offensive deficiencies. I think the O will look better once DJ gets comfortable and Hardy starts to hit some shots.

It is interesting to me how Lavin is for the most part distancing himself form some of Norm's favorite players. While I have no problem with that, I think I would start Burrell and Brownlee(whom I was wrong on btw, kid can score) and have Polee come of bench with Horne and stith for energy.