If you thought last night was bad......

[JZVOL]

we have people capable, but we won't force them to focus enough to get it done.

I would agree with that. I saw at least two times off the top of my head where Meeks was left just wide open.

That is nothing but lack of focus.

 

[KingNick865]

If that's the case then people need to stop saying what great athletes we have.

It hurts to say that, but I honestly believe that. I think we have some good athletes. Problem is, they don't know how to play defense.

 

[BigPapaVol]

It hurts to say that, but I honestly believe that. I think we have some good athletes. Problem is, they don't know how to play defense.

this debate again???? Know how is not the issue with defense. We were in a man. Guarding Meeks body to body everywhere is not a learning issue. It's a focus and heart issue. We can talk about learning on the rest of the floor, where help side mattered. However, on Meeks last night, that didn't matter. We needed someone willing to be in his grill and staying there. We didn't have that.

 

[cotton]

this debate again???? Know how is not the issue with defense. We were in a man. Guarding Meeks body to body everywhere is not a learning issue. It's a focus and heart issue.

Going body to body with Jodie Meeks all over the court is an excellent way to find yourself behind a screen watching him drill another three.

Technique is important.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Going body to body with Jodie Meeks all over the court is an excellent way to find yourself behind a screen watching him drill another three.

Technique is important.

he wasn't being screened for off ball. He was taking dribbles and drilling almost all of those.

Face guarding hot shooters is nothing new. Technique isn't an issue in that regard. Heart and tenacity are far more valuable on that end, always.

 

[KingNick865]

this debate again???? Know how is not the issue with defense. 1) We were in a man. Guarding Meeks body to body everywhere is not a learning issue. 2) It's a focus and heart issue.

1. I think it was a bit of a learning issue. It didn't look like defense is what we were playing. It looked like someone trying to hump a doorknob. Then again, when someone's got a hot hand, there isn't too much we could do about it.

2. Something we seem to be lacking in great quantities.

 

[JZVOL]

It hurts to say that, but I honestly believe that. I think we have some good athletes. Problem is, they don't know how to play defense.

What is there to learn about face guarding? Face guarding is the opposite of sound team defense.

Tabb, Maze or Hopson are athletic enough to face guard Meeks.

The rest of the team calls out picks to the man face guarding.

Really man-to-man is not complicated.

 

[cotton]

he wasn't being screened for off ball. He was taking dribbles and drilling almost all of those.

Face guarding hot shooters is nothing new. Technique isn't an issue in that regard. Heart and tenacity are far more valuable on that end, always.

I think we watched different games. Kentucky did everything they could to get him the basketball, screening to free him, letting him bring it up, and then screening for him again once he had it.

Admittedly, our defensive intensity is lacking, but it doesn't matter how hard you try, if you don't play fundamentally sound defense, you are going to get beat by a good player. And Meeks is a good player.

EDIT: Technique is vitally important to "face guard" somebody, assuming you mean denying them the basketball and contesting shots. Just crawling into somebody's uniform with them is a sure way to lose him if the guy, and the offense, knows what they are doing, and Kentucky does.

 

[KingNick865]

What is there to learn about face guarding? Face guarding is the opposite of sound team defense.

Tabb, Maze or Hopson are athletic enough to face guard Meeks.

The rest of the team calls out picks to the man face guarding.

Really man-to-man is not complicated.

You're right, to an extent, but even face-guarding seems like it seems complicated to the team. They can't play D worth a lick.

 

[JZVOL]

You're right, to an extent, but even face-guarding seems like it seems complicated to the team. They can't play D worth a lick.

I agree.

Getting down in a defensive stance is complicated for this team.

They don't do the simple basic things so there is no way they are going to pick up more complex things.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I think we watched different games. Kentucky did everything they could to get him the basketball, screening to free him, letting him bring it up, and then screening for him again once he had it.

Admittedly, our defensive intensity is lacking, but it doesn't matter how hard you try, if you don't play fundamentally sound defense, you are going to get beat by a good player. And Meeks is a good player.

EDIT: Technique is vitally important to "face guard" somebody, assuming you mean denying them the basketball and contesting shots. Just crawling into somebody's uniform with them is a sure way to lose him if the guy, and the offense, knows what they are doing, and Kentucky does.

you apparently haven't seen guys like Bruce Bowen play D. There's nothing fundamental about it. He views his function as keeping people from scoring. He does get bet, but at a much lower rate than many bigger, better athletes doing the same thing.

Off ball screens matter, but Meeks wasn't catching and drilling shots, regardless of the game you watched. He might have rubbed off some on ball screens to score, but he wasn't cutting to those spots. He was dribbling to them and pulled up every time our guys backed up a bit to breathe. Watch the replay and you'll throw up.

 

[JZVOL]

Meeks did not have a Redick or Reggie Miller catch and shoot type game.

Almost every shot he dribbled to get in rhythm.

 

[cotton]

you apparently haven't seen guys like Bruce Bowen play D. There's nothing fundamental about it. He views his function as keeping people from scoring. He does get bet, but at a much lower rate than many bigger, better athletes doing the same thing.

Off ball screens matter, but Meeks wasn't catching and drilling shots, regardless of the game you watched. He might have rubbed off some on ball screens to score, but he wasn't cutting to those spots. He was dribbling to them and pulled up every time our guys backed up a bit to breathe. Watch the replay and you'll throw up.

He was rolling off screens to get the ball. They were also screening for him once he had it, and once he got it there was nothing we can do to prevent him from putting it in the basket. I know the replay would be sickening, but that doesn't change the fact that UK was setting pick after pick to get Meeks in scoring position.

And Bruce Bowen plays very fundamentally sound defense. Do you really think he is one of the best defenders in the league because he tries harder than everybody else? No, it is a combination of intensity, athletic ability, and good, hard-nosed, fundamentally sound technique, and we don't have a single guy on the perimeter that isn't lacking in one of those three.

 

[JZVOL]

Bowen does try harder than most, because he would be out of the league if he slacked on D.

Why did Kobe get so much better at defense? Mental focus was about 95% of the reason.

Defense is where most people slow up to catch their breath and relax.

 

[WA_Vol]

The fact he didn't need screens to get open shots when he was on pace to break Kentucky's single game scoring record is inexcusable.

 

[WA_Vol]

Meeks did not have a Redick or Reggie Miller catch and shoot type game.

Almost every shot he dribbled to get in rhythm.

That's what it looked like to me. For whatever reason UT was tentative to go out and guard him past the 3 point line.

 

[Redlegs]

You're still here?

You must have won.

With your post, this thread suddenly takes on the smell of vinegar and water.
:bad:

 

[BigPapaVol]

With your post, this thread suddenly takes on the smell of vinegar and water.
:bad:

that clearly beats the alternative.