An X's and O's question re: Denver

[Turbine]

I don't buy that for a second. But maybe, just maybe their blogger got it right. Humidity difference in multiples of tens. Heavy air made the ball off target just a bit.

Not enough difference for an easy tip in, or two straight ft misses for an 86% ft shooter.

Tired arms (and legs) explains both.
igeaux.mobi

[IHateLaState]

_ I never say never. But if we play Denver and play zone on more than one possession, I'll be shocked.

They're entire team can shoot 40-50 percent from there. I, as a coach, would never zone them. Not even for one possession. _

I accept yours and the others explanations... Thanks... been talking about it to my son since the game ended...lol...

[IHateLaState]

To add one more thought then.... I now stand REALLY impressed with Denver... If they can run that weave with a deal of precision... and shoot lights out against a zone... AND those guys play good defense.... Just surprised they have not won more.....

[cajun4life]

_ If you want to learn match up---watch Syracuse---I think that is all that they play and play it well---the whole deal with the Zone concept is to ANTICIPATE the ball flow----I always taught that it was a man defense within an area---When the off guy receives the ball you are there but broken down and not running to him!!!!! Another factor is the game underneath where you can play with smaller personnel-----I remember Southhall against a 3/2 matchup where they drilled him every time across the paint as the ball moved around the circle and he tried to post up---he was done after the game and never got the ball----BTW anybody not love the Denver offense----Think of the non-contested lay-ups and the % of these made in the game!!!!! _

Boomer the best team in the country at running the match up zone is Temple. Jon Chaney practically perfected it. We ran it a ton when I played at VC and it got us to a 29-8 record. Worked pretty well if you asked me. Puts a ton of pressure on the perimeter and if ran correctly cuts off several cross court passing lanes limiting quick ball reversals that normally kill zone defenses.

[CajunAmos]

Coach mentioned that against this type of offense you have to position yourself between your man and the goal rather than the normal positioning between your man and the ball.


igeaux.mobi

[Bandwagon King]

_ Not enough difference for an easy tip in, or two straight ft misses for an 86% ft shooter.

Tired arms (and legs) explains both.
igeaux.mobi _

I think the crowd being so into the game had a lot to do with Denver folding down the stretch also. It appeared to me that they had a lot of trouble adjusting to the intensity of the crowd. The people jumping up & down behind the goal definitely affected their free throw shooting late.

A little more full court press could have caused some turnovers. They were very close to several backcourt violations in the second half with us just fronting them down the court. I believe Cajuns beat them double digits if they play again.

[Boomer]

_ I think the crowd being so into the game had a lot to do with Denver folding down the stretch also. It appeared to me that they had a lot of trouble adjusting to the intensity of the crowd. The people jumping up & down behind the goal definitely affected their free throw shooting late.

A little more full court press could have caused some turnovers. They were very close to several backcourt violations in the second half with us just fronting them down the court. I believe Cajuns beat them double digits if they play again. _

Man what about the guy shaking his butt during free throws---That got my attention--VERY funny!!!!! Need him to switch positions at half time!!!! Well switch ends-----Well what I mean is to change from one end of the court to another "BEHIND" the goal!!!!

[Jeaux]

How about the way Travis called everyone back and then just attacked number 15 when he got close to halfcourt. He looked like a free safety. The Denver player look like he knew what was coming but froze from combination of Travis' quick hands and the deafening decibel level. That's the way you stop a highly efficient offense. Don't let them cross mid-court.

[CharlieK]

It's a cool offense but not good if you get behind or need to score quick. I'd have liked to see us press from the beginning and try to jump on them, but I know we prob can't press all game due a lack of depth. All in all we did well to beat a team that runs such a disciplined set offense. Another year of marlin and we will be running that crap out the building. It's like the triple option, works ok till you go up against a team with talent AND discipline.

[AstroCajun]

What really impressed me about Denver is how quickly they got back into defense in transition. I don't think we had a single "fast break" on them because of it.

[zephyr]

_ I understand all of the above... Yet the fact remains, until the last 3 minutes and then the OT period, their weave was very effective I think. It has been stated that Denver has good 3 point shooters... an effective match up zone could, I think, put pressure on those shooters... they still have to make a long jump shot as opposed to the relatively easy backdoor layups they were getting... Also I agree we should have run more full court pressure and maybe we will

Still in the end we won. If we match up again i would like to see maybe some combination of full court pressure, match up zones and man to man.... They are very patient, even when they were down 4 they ran their weave offense which took valuable seconds at the end.... giving a variety of looks, coupled with their patience would add even more pressure on them to score every time... just a thought _

Match up zones will still give up the 3 with good ball movement and patience and Denver has those attributes. The backdoor is always a tough component to any offense to stop when you play pressure D, just ask Duke as they were killed by this against Saint Johns. The bottom line is that weakside Defense is relied upon to be on time and consistent if you are going to give up the backdoor. I say don't deny on the wing to them. They aren't really going to beat you off the dribble and I'd rather take my chances there rather than giving them potential layups. You get a hand up in the shooters face when they take that perimeter shot, that's what you ask of your defense. I would not zone a team like Denver one time unless its in a half court trap scenario. This plays into their hands and you minimize your length and athleticism advantage.

I definitely believe increasing the pressure in a full court scenario, especially with long athletic guys like Bureau, Farrington and Brown to create problems for a team like Denver. If nothing else, you slow them down and make them enter their offense much later into the shotclock so they don't have time to wear you down with their patience.

[zephyr]

_ What really impressed me about Denver is how quickly they got back into defense in transition. I don't think we had a single "fast break" on them because of it. _

They also rebounded really well. I don't think we got many offensive rebounds that game and they outrebounded us which hasn't been said often this season and certainly during this streak.