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

[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.