Dribble Penetration

[World B. Free]

We have had some real problems stopping dribble penetration at times and it has cost us dearly in the last two games. We get bailed out a lot because we have Larry back in the paint to block and change so many shots but over time teams wind up getting open kick-outs and easy looks at the basket. We are also out of position on rebounds since guys are leaving their men to help on the penetration.

I hate watching teams carve us up at times because of all of the easy looks they are getting. If our on the ball defense and ability to stop dribble penetration doesn't improve quickly, this will be a 5th or 6th place team at best in the conference.

Hope we get it going on Saturday. Go Rams!!!!

 

[Pavarotti]

We for the most part have a team of freakishly gifted athletes, which early in a season can cover up for a lot of mistakes. However, as teams adjust, and improve over the course of a year, they can overcome good athletes.

In this case, we do not seem to have great defensive fundamentals to go with that athletic ability. We're caught out of position a lot (in the half court, I think our full court traps have been very good), which causes help to come late, when it comes at all. Our guys play a lot of "hands down defense," which makes passing lanes easier to see. We close out on three pointers out of control, rather than with the ability to stop the drive, and with hands reaching out towards the ball, rather than up, obscuring the field of vision.

The positive is that these are things that can, and will be, improved. It reminds me a lot of Capel's first year, with a lot of strong players, that could be so much better. We made a lot of mistakes, but still ended up very good that year, and had a darn good team the following year, that IMO could have beaten any of the Maynor era teams (ok, I'm biased, sitting on the bench with that team, but we were darn good).

This year is not a wash by any means, we can still win the CAA with 3 (or 4) good games in March, no matter how the season goes. Next year however, I'm already excited about what will be a fundamentally sound, intelligent, know your teammate like the back of your hand, lineup of Joey, Brandon, Bradford, Jaime, Larry (4 seniors and a junior, when have we ever had that kind of experience?)

I've come back from the ledge a little this morning. We be ok.

 

[buckwheat]

good thing janning missed about 3 straight point blank layups the other night, or the game wouldn't have even been as close as it was.

 

[VCU4LIFE]

good thing janning missed about 3 straight point blank layups the other night, or the game wouldn't have even been as close as it was.

Doesn't matter, we took the L either way.

 

[VCU4LIFE]

We have had some real problems stopping dribble penetration at times and it has cost us dearly in the last two games. We get bailed out a lot because we have Larry back in the paint to block and change so many shots but over time teams wind up getting open kick-outs and easy looks at the basket. We are also out of position on rebounds since guys are leaving their men to help on the penetration.

I hate watching teams carve us up at times because of all of the easy looks they are getting. If our on the ball defense and ability to stop dribble penetration doesn't improve quickly, this will be a 5th or 6th place team at best in the conference.

Hope we get it going on Saturday. Go Rams!!!!

Look a little closer, I think teams are doing a great job of getting Larry out from the middle to open it up for their guards to get inside. I think Larry needs to be told to keep himself in the paint defensively, even when we are playing man, and not follow the other big men in the conference outside where they (unlike him!) will not be pulling the trigger on long-range shots!

 

[buckwheat]

Doesn't matter, we took the L either way.

i am aware it doesn't matter.

in the context of this thread, i was simply pointing out that janning was able to get in the lane at will toward the end of the game.

 

[L72boy]

Doesn't matter, we took the L either way.

i am aware it doesn't matter.

in the context of this thread, i was simply pointing out that janning was able to get in the lane at will toward the end of the game.

Wasn't a guy named Joey guarding Janning near the end of the game. 6'4 vs 5'10....bad coaching and a poor match-up.

 

[Pavarotti]

Dude, this isn't youth rec league, where you walk out and say "I got him."

Guards pick up guards in transition, bigs pick up bigs. It's nice if you can match up better than that, but I'd rather have Joey start out on Janning, then have nobody on him, while Joey says "Batiste is mine, I must find him."

 

[L72boy]

Dude, this isn't youth rec league, where you walk out and say "I got him."

Guards pick up guards in transition, bigs pick up bigs. It's nice if you can match up better than that, but I'd rather have Joey start out on Janning, then have nobody on him, while Joey says "Batiste is mine, I must find him."

Dude,

This is supposed to be Division 1 basketball. I thought maybe people would be better at doing there jobs and maybe the fans would now fundamentals a little better. Oops. Having a man crush on Joey Sunshine is old.

 

[L72boy]

PAV,



I couldn't resist.

It was a bad match up though.

 

[Pavarotti]

I agree, I cringe when Joey gets switched onto a big guard, but every once in a while it works out when he manages to get a steal, other times a Janning type can shoot over him, or keep his handle penetrate.

 

[World B. Free]

We have had some real problems stopping dribble penetration at times and it has cost us dearly in the last two games. We get bailed out a lot because we have Larry back in the paint to block and change so many shots but over time teams wind up getting open kick-outs and easy looks at the basket. We are also out of position on rebounds since guys are leaving their men to help on the penetration.

I hate watching teams carve us up at times because of all of the easy looks they are getting. If our on the ball defense and ability to stop dribble penetration doesn't improve quickly, this will be a 5th or 6th place team at best in the conference.

Hope we get it going on Saturday. Go Rams!!!!

Look a little closer, I think teams are doing a great job of getting Larry out from the middle to open it up for their guards to get inside. I think Larry needs to be told to keep himself in the paint defensively, even when we are playing man, and not follow the other big men in the conference outside where they (unlike him!) will not be pulling the trigger on long-range shots!

Obviously teams will continue to try and draw our shot-blocking center away from the basket! Even if Larry was staying in the paint on all of those pick and rolls and other sets designed to move him away from the hoop, the bottom line is that our guys get beat off the dribble a lot and it is a real problem.

 

[Wolfpack Ram]

At this point in the season, VCU is playing CAA conference teams that are familiar with VCU's personnel. Other CAA schools are going to make VCU beat them with someone other than Larry Sanders. Right now we don't know who that go to guy is. Is is Burgess? Is it Rozzell? Is it Skeen? Due to size, it is not going to be Joey.

Every CAA team probably wants to beat VCU more than any other CAA team due to our recent success. This VCU team and coaching staff needs to understand every other CAA team is going to give their absolute best against VCU and this VCU team needs to be prepared for that night in and night out. There are no off nights for VCU from here on out.

With all of that said, I am starting to question the team chemistry. Coach Smart keeps talking about players more interested in individual performances than team performances. I can see it at times in Sanders. Saintill has already been called out for it. Gavin has turned into a total head case. Right now, I think it's mind games that are affecting VCU's play. The coaching staff has to get a handle on this ASAP or VCU is looking at a long slippery slope. It's time for Coach Smart to stop talking about how good this team can be. Most of these guys probably had inflated heads coming into the new year due to everyone, including the coaching staff, telling them how scary good they could be. At 1-3 in CAA conference play, it's time to be humble, start working your fannies off and play team ball.

 

[VCU4LIFE]

Dude, this isn't youth rec league, where you walk out and say "I got him."

Guards pick up guards in transition, bigs pick up bigs. It's nice if you can match up better than that, but I'd rather have Joey start out on Janning, then have nobody on him, while Joey says "Batiste is mine, I must find him."

Dude,

This is supposed to be Division 1 basketball. I thought maybe people would be better at doing there jobs and maybe the fans would now fundamentals a little better. Oops. Having a man crush on Joey Sunshine is old.

Dude, are you a college educated individual? Their/There....

 

[L72boy]

Dude, this isn't youth rec league, where you walk out and say "I got him."

Guards pick up guards in transition, bigs pick up bigs. It's nice if you can match up better than that, but I'd rather have Joey start out on Janning, then have nobody on him, while Joey says "Batiste is mine, I must find him."

Dude,

This is supposed to be Division 1 basketball. I thought maybe people would be better at doing there jobs and maybe the fans would now fundamentals a little better. Oops. Having a man crush on Joey Sunshine is old.

Dude, are you a college educated individual? Their/There....

FU