10 deep. We do not press near enough.

[Phillymoose]

What was Pitt's % of successfully bringing the ball up against our press? It had to be below 50%. With all the depth and fouls to give, not to mention Melo (and Keita) back to guard the basket, we should press way, way more.

Teams that break it can either challenge the big men or pull it back out and wait for us to set up in our zone. Either way we win. The only reason NOT to do this is fatigue and foul trouble. In other words - I can't think of 1 reason why we shouldn't be doing this.

 

[mantonio]

Are you talking about at least 20 minutes of hell per game?

 

[44cuse]

I agree with the logic (10 deep use your weapons which are fouls and energy). But there is also something to be said for: "if it ain't broke."

44cuse

 

[Niastri]

JB has been playing a lot more of the "What if" game this season than in many more. I can think of several games where I wondered to myself "Why the hell is he in there!?" The particular player in question changes every time we don't easily blow a team out.

 

[jec1521]

I'd be ok with seeing more press. We have the horses.

 

[tbouks02]

Good news is in the past JB would only press when we were down. This year he is being proactive and pressing with the lead to break the game open. We will see a lot more of the press in March. When the games get slower and our half court O stutters.

 

[longislandcuse]

I agree, so far this season I have never thought to myself "ahhh stop pressing", so it must be working.

 

[jdubs30]

I think he's "saving it" for a closer game.

Pitt didn't really have trouble with it honestly, they got alot of 2-or-3 on 1s with it, just didn't convert.

 

[Marsh01]

I think he's "saving it" for a closer game.

Pitt didn't really have trouble with it honestly, they got alot of 2-or-3 on 1s with it, just didn't convert.

They had trouble the first couple of possessions.

I loved it when he kept subbing in and out Fab/BMK when they were pressing.

 

[CusefanATL]

What was Pitt's % of successfully bringing the ball up against our press? It had to be below 50%. With all the depth and fouls to give, not to mention Melo (and Keita) back to guard the basket, we should press way, way more.

Teams that break it can either challenge the big men or pull it back out and wait for us to set up in our zone. Either way we win. The only reason NOT to do this is fatigue and foul trouble. In other words - I can't think of 1 reason why we shouldn't be doing this.

I am pretty sure they broke it the first 3 times and somehow, someway in their own boneheadedness didnt score a point.

 

[Marsh01]

I am pretty sure they broke it the first 3 times and somehow, someway in their own boneheadedness didnt score a point.

They actually did break it the first time but threw it away. Second time I believe as well.

 

[stuckinbig11]

A good team gets layups off our press. Pitt almost pulled it off last night. If given a couple more chances, I think they would have been scoring easily. The press works best when used sporadically to surprise and disrupt the other team. If I was an opposing coach, I would tell my players to call a timeout the first time we show the press, get them to settle down, and then execute the press break they had likely been practicing.

 

[CusefanATL]

They actually did break it the first time but threw it away. Second time I believe as well.

Yeah, thats what Im saying. Im pretty sure it was the 1st 3 times. the 1st 2 times they broke with 1 pass within 1 second.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

Are you talking about at least 20 minutes of hell per game?

I'd be ok with 12 minutes of hell

 

[pfister1]

Just because the offensive team gets the ball into the front court doesn't mean they've "broken" the press, oftentimes the press forces a player you wouldn't want holding the ball into a hurried decision in the front court resulting in a poor shot or a turnover. Last night even though Pitt was able to get the ball up the floor against the press, they almost never converted it to a score (I don't recall them converting it to a score, but am not sure that they didn't). If they get the ball into the front court and then throw it to the ball boy under their offensive basket because it is the wrong two players trying to execute a fast break layup that is a possession in which the press worked. It isn't designed just to force turnovers in the back court.

I thought the press did what JB would have wanted it to do last night. I was surprised we didn't use it more last night simply because Pitt was down ball handlers.

 

[longislandcuse]

Pitt just knows how to handle whatever we throw at them. They play a style that is the worst matchup for us, because were in the Big East they get away with it, and they're coach is a zone busting expert. Not suprised they knew how to handle our press given they somehow handle everything else we do.

 

[OttoMets]

Just because the offensive team gets the ball into the front court doesn't mean they've "broken" the press, oftentimes the press forces a player you wouldn't want holding the ball into a hurried decision in the front court resulting in a poor shot or a turnover. Last night even though Pitt was able to get the ball up the floor against the press, they almost never converted it to a score (I don't recall them converting it to a score, but am not sure that they didn't). If they get the ball into the front court and then throw it to the ball boy under their offensive basket because it is the wrong two players trying to execute a fast break layup that is a possession in which the press worked. It isn't designed just to force turnovers in the back court.

I thought the press did what JB would have wanted it to do last night. I was surprised we didn't use it more last night simply because Pitt was down ball handlers.

Exactly. Twice they got the ball into the frontcourt; once they fired the ball out of bounds, the next time the receiver was shocked to see the pass and immediately traveled.

On a night where our half-court was not very good, the officiating was Pittsburgh-standard, and Pitt was shaky with the ball, I'd like to have seen more press.