Two things I take from this game

[moqui]

and neither of them is the ordinariness of the half court offense; we've known that for 3 months now.

1. Regardless of who you think the team's best player is, who you think the "go-to-guy" should be, it is going to be Scoop who initiates the offense on those key, must-score possessions. As he should, because regardless of what the numbers say, this is Scoop's best season. His is the example of maturity and unselfishness that the 09-10 team had in Andy but lacked last season.

2. JB is making a concerted effort to turn Fab into a consistent low post threat. He was 4-8 tonight, but that was essentially a 4-12 effort - he made 4, missed 4, and fumbled 4 away before he could get the shot off. Still, 12 scoring opportunities was more than anyone else on the team tonight. Could have had a larger margin of victory if some of those had gone elsewhere, but if they keep feeding the post it should pay dividends down the road in more important games.

I know some are unhappy that this game wasn't yet another blowout, but I am very happy with this win. In addition to not having a chance to cement the 2nd half bad habits they had been developing, they confirmed their team leader, and JB took a definite step toward fixing the half court offense by working on Fab.

Best win of the season, IMO.

 

[Ghost]

I know some are unhappy that this game wasn't yet another blowout, but I am very happy with this win. In addition to not having a chance to cement the 2nd half bad habits they had been developing, they confirmed their team leader, and JB took a definite step toward fixing the half court offense by working on Fab.

Best win of the season, IMO.

Hadn't really thought about it much, but they did seem more focused than normal on getting the ball into the post to Fab.

 

[Marsh01]

and neither of them is the ordinariness of the half court offense; we've known that for 3 months now.

1. Regardless of who you think the team's best player is, who you think the "go-to-guy" should be, it is going to be Scoop who initiates the offense on those key, must-score possessions. As he should, because regardless of what the numbers say, this is Scoop's best season. His is the example of maturity and unselfishness that the 09-10 team had in Andy but lacked last season.

2. JB is making a concerted effort to turn Fab into a consistent low post threat. He was 4-8 tonight, but that was essentially a 4-12 effort - he made 4, missed 4, and fumbled 4 away before he could get the shot off. Still, 12 scoring opportunities was more than anyone else on the team tonight. Could have had a larger margin of victory if some of those had gone elsewhere, but if they keep feeding the post it should pay dividends down the road in more important games.

I know some are unhappy that this game wasn't yet another blowout, but I am very happy with this win. In addition to not having a chance to cement the 2nd half bad habits they had been developing, they confirmed their team leader, and JB took a definite step toward fixing the half court offense by working on Fab.

Best win of the season, IMO.

Good post. They definitely tried to feed fab early and often. He and Kieta just need to catch the damn ball. Very frustrating to see them fumble it away time and time again. Keita had one go right through his legs.

 

[Orangezoo]

good post

 

[Toga]

Agree about feeding Fab. And I think it is an excellent approach, especially over the long haul.

 

[RF2044]

Solid stuff, Moqui.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Pitt is one of those teams that we will never match up well with as long as Jamie Dixon or somebody with similar philosophy is at the helm. They are so comfortable against the zone, and know exactly what to do against us on defense to aggravate the ever living spit out of us.

Wins over Pitt are never going to be pretty. Playing them is like cleaning out a toilet that is backed up with 30 feet of crap. It's dirty, nasty, smelly, makes you sick to your stomach, but you have to do it.

I'm just glad we got out of there without the toilet exploding excrement all over our face.

 

[Garbs]

and neither of them is the ordinariness of the half court offense; we've known that for 3 months now.

1. Regardless of who you think the team's best player is, who you think the "go-to-guy" should be, it is going to be Scoop who initiates the offense on those key, must-score possessions. As he should, because regardless of what the numbers say, this is Scoop's best season. His is the example of maturity and unselfishness that the 09-10 team had in Andy but lacked last season.

2. JB is making a concerted effort to turn Fab into a consistent low post threat. He was 4-8 tonight, but that was essentially a 4-12 effort - he made 4, missed 4, and fumbled 4 away before he could get the shot off. Still, 12 scoring opportunities was more than anyone else on the team tonight. Could have had a larger margin of victory if some of those had gone elsewhere, but if they keep feeding the post it should pay dividends down the road in more important games.

I know some are unhappy that this game wasn't yet another blowout, but I am very happy with this win. In addition to not having a chance to cement the 2nd half bad habits they had been developing, they confirmed their team leader, and JB took a definite step toward fixing the half court offense by working on Fab.

Best win of the season, IMO.

no it isn't

 

[DNABB5]

Playing them is like cleaning out a toilet that is backed up with 30 feet of crap. It's dirty, nasty, smelly, makes you sick to your stomach, but you have to do it.

I'm just glad we got out of there without the toilet exploding excrement all over our face.

This is Gold Seattle.

 

[billsin01]

Pitt is one of those teams that we will never match up well with as long as Jamie Dixon or somebody with similar philosophy is at the helm. They are so comfortable against the zone, and know exactly what to do against us on defense to aggravate the ever living spit out of us.

Wins over Pitt are never going to be pretty. Playing them is like cleaning out a toilet that is backed up with 30 feet of crap. It's dirty, nasty, smelly, makes you sick to your stomach, but you have to do it.

I'm just glad we got out of there without the toilet exploding excrement all over our face.

Yeah, comfortable is the right word. They get good movement off the ball and constantly have the zone overloaded. They also hammer the offensive glass and take care of the ball. 13 TOs isn't great but it was just 4 TOs in the final 26 mins.

 

[SoBristol]

Maybe half of those "feeding the post" plays were from a high pick and roll -- Melo is getting better at that move. Others are alley-oops, with mixed results last night -- though Melo is very good usually.
On standard low-post feeds, Melo is trying something that resembles a jump hook or a jump push -- rather awkward and not much touch.
He has some work to do.

 

[realorange]

They need to take Fab and Kieta at the end of practice and throw 20 passes to each one. The team has to stay until they each handle 20 without fumbling them.
Also, they can take a broom handle and whack them in the legs everytime they jump before a offensive player goes up with the ball for a shot.

Am I frustrated with those two things?

 

[OttosBestFriend]

Good post. They definitely tried to feed fab early and often. He and Kieta just need to catch the damn ball. Very frustrating to see them fumble it away time and time again. Keita had one go right through his legs.

They catch like Jerry Rice when compared to T-Rob and Mookie Watkins from a few years back. Worst hands on SU teammates in my 25+ years of following the Orange.

 

[Deano]

SU must establish a low-post game if they are going to make a deep run into the tourney. You see what happens in our half-court offense with no post game. Makes you wonder how much better we would be if RJ had one more left.

 

[CuseinNYC]

My hope is that Melo develops a solid low-post game by NCAA time, so that Xmas can get more time on the court. Right now, if Melo and Xmas are on together, our halfcourt offense is severely constrained. If Melo has more of a low-post game, then we can get away with more Xmas on the court. My hope is that this will give us some added rebounding down the line.

 

[SBU72]

My hope is that Melo develops a solid low-post game by NCAA time, so that Xmas can get more time on the court. Right now, if Melo and Xmas are on together, our halfcourt offense is severely constrained. If Melo has more of a low-post game, then we can get away with more Xmas on the court. My hope is that this will give us some added rebounding down the line.

Actually I think they may benefit from having him play a high post game. He passes better than any center since Forth. I love the passes he has made to Scoop and Dion cutting under the basket. He can take and make that little elbow/foul line jumper. And since he isn't terrific at OR, maybe he can open it up for CJ, KJ, etc.