Maliq at center doesn’t work

[Cusefan0307]

Well, one of those passes was WAAAAY over Highlander's head.
Even MP joked that it was pretty hard to overthrow a dude who is 7'4", but Taylor managed to do so.
So yeah - that crap pass was totally on JT.

I do appreciate that Taylor was looking to feed the big guy, but his passes weren't great.

There was another one where the guy got around McLeod. That shouldn’t happen at his size.

 

[shandeezy7]

This is an utterly absurd comment at this point. Maliq, JJ and Copeland are all really athletic and can move laterally really well and are extremely hard workers. They have the potential to be very good defenders. But it’s going to take them all some time to learn how to play high-level man to man defense and understand all the minute details of what they need to do on that end in terms of help defense, stopping dribble penetration and trying to keep guys out of the lane. It’s gonna take some time. It’s up to Red and the staff to teach them.

I was referring specifically to Brown's lateral movement, not anyone else. I was told by all the anti-zone people (I'm not a zone lover btw) that these guys all played man-to-man their entire basketball careers and could easily transition back to it. Through three games of watching them play man-to-man, I think it's safe to say that it's not like riding a bike. I'll accept there will be some growing pains, but there's nothing I've seen so far to make me think that these guys will be any better in man-to-man defense than they were in zone last year.

 

[shandeezy7]

According to the stats Maliq was our best defender the other night. JJ was actually one of our worst.

Honestly curious - which stats?

Because unless my eyes deceived me, UNH attacked the rim at will - with little resistance - with Maliq at the 5. Not his fault, of course. That's not his position and his primary role on defense shouldn't be a shot blocker. And the onus also falls on the on ball defenders allowing that penetration into the paint.

 

[Sherman20]

I was referring specifically to Brown's lateral movement, not anyone else. I was told by all the anti-zone people (I'm not a zone lover btw) that these guys all played man-to-man their entire basketball careers and could easily transition back to it. Through three games of watching them play man-to-man, I think it's safe to say that it's not like riding a bike. I'll accept there will be some growing pains, but there's nothing I've seen so far to make me think that these guys will be any better in man-to-man defense than they were in zone last year.

I think Maliq is still dealing with that groin or back injury. That’s why he moved a bit slower on Monday. His lateral movement looked really good last year. Also, playing man to man in college is much more difficult than high school, so it’s going to take time to adjust. I just hope Red and Griff can coach it well.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Honestly curious - which stats?

Because unless my eyes deceived me, UNH attacked the rim at will - with little resistance - with Maliq at the 5. Not his fault, of course. That's not his position and his primary role on defense shouldn't be a shot blocker. And the onus also falls on the on ball defenders allowing that penetration into the paint.

This says we were far better defensively with him in the game over McLeod.

New Hampshire vs. Syracuse Box Score (Men), November 6, 2023 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

New Hampshire vs. Syracuse Box Score (Men), November 6, 2023

www.sports-reference.com

 

[Orange315]

If i were a new coach switching from zone to man defense, a large chunk of the off season would be spent watching tape of Virginia and their pack line defense. A lot of teams run it but Tony Bennett has perfected it, which is not surprising since his dad developed it.

 

[shandeezy7]

This says we were far better defensively with him in the game over McLeod.

New Hampshire vs. Syracuse Box Score (Men), November 6, 2023 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

New Hampshire vs. Syracuse Box Score (Men), November 6, 2023

www.sports-reference.com

I'm not advocating that McLeod should have played more minutes over Brown last night. It was clear from the jump that attempting to have a 7'4" guy guard a 6'7" guy on the perimeter wasn't going to work out. I'm just saying that Brown at the 5, especially if you're going to run zone for extended possessions, is absolutely not going to work in the long run.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I'm not advocating that McLeod should have played more minutes over Brown last night. It was clear from the jump that attempting to have a 7'4" guy guard a 6'7" guy on the perimeter wasn't going to work out. I'm just saying that Brown at the 5, especially if you're going to run zone for extended possessions, is absolutely not going to work in the long run.

I don’t think we are going to play as much zone unless we get into serious foul trouble like the other night. Red said we did that to protect Judah.

 

[Niastri]

I always find it ironic that McCloud has bad matchups on defense. Shouldn’t it work in his favor on offense? We never seem to punish smaller players with our size. McCloud scored on a nice low post move to start the game and never touched the ball again in the post. Taylor made two bad entry passes from the top instead of giving the wing the ball to feed McCloud. He needs touches. JJ and Mintz in transition need to find the shooters and set them up. JJ did this in our first exhibition game, but they didn’t look for anyone against NH.

If another team tries to guard McLeod with a 6'6" guy, they should just throw it up where only the Highlander can get it, then let him turn around and dunk over the little guy. Dunking is McLeod's best skill.

It doesn't make sense to take him out when he should have a huge advantage. Even if they have to zone during the matchup to keep him from having to guard a smaller player on the perimeter, it should be an advantage we try to capitalize on. Autry is showing JB's age old weakness in this area.

 

[two3zone]

If another team tries to guard McLeod with a 6'6" guy, they should just throw it up where only the Highlander can get it, them let him turn around and dunk over the little guy.

It doesn't make sense to take him out when he should have a huge advantage. Even if they have to zone during the matchup to keep him from having to goats a smaller player in the perimeter, it souffle be an advantage we try to capitalize on. Autry is showing JB's age old weakness in this area.

Agreed, remember when it was an advantage to have the largest man on the court?

 

[Niastri]

Honestly curious - which stats?

Because unless my eyes deceived me, UNH attacked the rim at will - with little resistance - with Maliq at the 5. Not his fault, of course. That's not his position and his primary role on defense shouldn't be a shot blocker. And the onus also falls on the on ball defenders allowing that penetration into the paint.

I agree... I was shocked at how defenseless Brown seemed in the middle. Not even a hint of a threat to block a shot. He didn't even challenge most of them. Brown's only defense was poking the ball away, which was great, leading to 3-4 steals... But it won't offset him giving up layup after layup in the long run.

Either he's terrible or he was really hurt.

Either way, why not McLeod?

 

[Niastri]

Agreed, remember when it was an advantage to have the largest man on the court?

It still is when I'm playing my six year old son and his friends.

 

[Orangezoo]

I agree... I was shocked at how defenseless Brown seemed in the middle. Not even a hint of a threat to block a shot. He didn't even challenge most of them. Brown's only defense was poking the ball away, which was great, leading to 3-4 steals... But it won't offset him giving up layup after layup in the long run.

Either he's terrible or he was really hurt.

Either way, why not McLeod?

Re watch the game. Terrible? He wasn't the issue on defense. Like not the issue at all. The on ball defense where the expectation is you are going to stop the ball was the issue. Not Maliq who was both hampered by injury and guarding his own undersized big. That's where the advanced stats help because they get deeper into what actually occurred during those possessions vs what was perceived based on him being the 5.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

It's modern basketball. We scored against Miami too and lost again and again. He's not throwing away McLeod. Look at our recruiting targets as well. He's not putting together a lineup of midgets.

What's so great about going with a bigger lineup? Looked at the advanced box score 0307 posted with Maliq not at 100 pct. The numbers don't back up your argument.

Also right now our bigger issues are to sort things out on offense and rebound better.

I’ll let it play out and check back in with you during the Maui. Or even Colgate. Hopefully tonight won’t matter

 

[Niastri]

Re watch the game. Terrible? He wasn't the issue on defense. Like not the issue at all. The on ball defense where the expectation is you are going to stop the ball was the issue. Not Maliq who was both hampered by injury and guarding his own undersized big. That's where the advanced stats help because they get deeper into what actually occurred during those possessions vs what was perceived based on him being the 5.

You are right, when Brown is left all alone after an opposing player beats his man cleanly off the dribble, it isn't all his fault.

On the other hand, McLeod's not letting them get easy layups in that situation. They'll at least have to navigate a shotblocker if the perimeter is going full matador.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

You are right, when Brown is left all alone after an opposing player beats his man cleanly off the dribble, it isn't all his fault.

On the other hand, McLeod's not letting them get easy layups in that situation. They'll at least have to navigate a shotblocker if the perimeter is going full matador.

Thank god some1 can see it

 

[Cuse_NYC]

And when McLeod is in, we need the dribble penetration and lobs to him. He’s a weapon with the lob. He’s showed little glimpses of it with us, but we need to make an effort to use him in this aspect.

 

[Orangezoo]

You are right, when Brown is left all alone after an opposing player beats his man cleanly off the dribble, it isn't all his fault.

On the other hand, McLeod's not letting them get easy layups in that situation. They'll at least have to navigate a shotblocker if the perimeter is going full matador.

They got around McLeod a couple of times too. Small ball pulls the shot blocker out into screening action where he is forced to chase. Which then reduces the floor time for the big guy anyways if he is forced to chase all game.

McLeod would not have helped in the scenarios I referenced. It wasn't about who was at the 5. It's not the zone.

Again re watch the game. If Brown was so bad on defense then it would be reflected in those metrics.

Offense is our bigger issue not defense even with the breakdowns. This is where we have to use the advantages we have yall have been posting already. Too many empty trips and bad shots ( low pct).

 

[two3zone]

You are right, when Brown is left all alone after an opposing player beats his man cleanly off the dribble, it isn't all his fault.

On the other hand, McLeod's not letting them get easy layups in that situation. They'll at least have to navigate a shotblocker if the perimeter is going full matador.

I thought McLeod did a great job of stopping their offense in its tracks when he was in multiple times.

 

[Niastri]

They got around McLeod a couple of times too. Small ball pulls the shot blocker out into screening action where he is forced to chase. Which then reduces the floor time for the big guy anyways if he is forced to chase all game.

McLeod would not have helped in the scenarios I referenced. It wasn't about who was at the 5. It's not the zone.

Again re watch the game. If Brown was so bad on defense then it would be reflected in those metrics.

I'm not referring to when McLeod is the primary defender on the perimeter. Hopefully we rarely see that, and double team instantly if McLeod is out there on a guard. He's not capable of staying even close in that situation. McLeod really isn't switchable, we're either going to see open threes or layups if he's guarding out there. Maybe he can get better, but even D2 teams made him look bad, so it seems like it's not going to be playable against anybody good.

Comparatively, Brown was conspicuously bad as the secondary defender, when he's supposed to be protecting the basket. McLeod is worlds better in that role. If Brown's true talent level is what he showed against New Hampshire, we need Carey and Hima, because Brown just can't do what is needed in the center position.

I suspect he's more hurt than we think, because he looked really bad even compared to last year. If that's the case, it's on the coaches.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

I'm not referring to when McLeod is the primary defender on the perimeter. Hopefully we rarely see that, and double team instantly if McLeod is out there on a guard. He's not capable of staying even close in that situation. McLeod really isn't switchable, we're either going to see open threes or layups if he's guarding out there. Maybe he can get better, but even D2 teams made him look bad, so it seems like it's not going to be playable against anybody good.

Comparatively, Brown was conspicuously bad as the secondary defender, when he's supposed to be protecting the basket. McLeod is worlds better in that role. If Brown's true talent level is what he showed against New Hampshire, we need Carey and Hima, because Brown just can't do what is needed in the center position.

I suspect he's more hurt than we think, because he looked really bad even compared to last year. If that's the case, it's on the coaches.

Like if we can realize McLeod would be best in a zone defense, why can’t the staff?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Like if we can realize McLeod would be best in a zone defense, why can’t the staff?

You want to go back to being a zone team?

 

[Niastri]

Like if we can realize McLeod would be best in a zone defense, why can’t the staff?

I think it's as simple as Red doesn't want to resort to the zone very often. But a few possessions here and there wouldn't hurt.

Zone, press, man to man, then back again. Especially if McLeod is getting beat in man consistently. Or we could stop switching? Just so much that could be done.

If Pritchard can get minutes for the Celtics, McLeod can play 20-25 for us every night.

 

[rrlbees]

Re watch the game. Terrible? He wasn't the issue on defense. Like not the issue at all. The on ball defense where the expectation is you are going to stop the ball was the issue. Not Maliq who was both hampered by injury and guarding his own undersized big. That's where the advanced stats help because they get deeper into what actually occurred during those possessions vs what was perceived based on him being the 5.

I’ve said this for awhile, but I’d be careful using those metrics for defense. Offense fine. But your eyes are probably better defensively. Like most metrics it’s all based on the box score. And they admit there’s not much to go on in the box score for defensive measures. All they use is defensive rebounds, blocked shots and steals. That’s it. They can’t measure if you stayed with your man or lost him, or if you properly switched, or you got up on a shooter etc. It also doesn’t measure who’s out there with you and the help defense you are getting or giving.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Right so throw objectivity on the coaching comments out the window.

Everyone had an opinion on who should have been named HC. So, no one can have “objectivity on the coaching comments?”