If one were grading the performance of Coach Lavin last night, I don't see how anything other than a big fat "F" would be possible. The game brought to bear serious elements of some of our Red Storm's worst games...a combination of San Francisco and Fordham, if you will. Don't get me wrong, I'm hardly ready to give up on coach...his stunning ability to recruit a roster full of fine athletes, was an accomplishment that few people might have even contemplated......and was an answer to the prayers of most of our long time fans. But with that said, Steve Lavin's grasp of basketball chemistry is dreadful. A combination of poor defensive strategy, bad substitutions, unimaginative offensive sets, and poor preparation are turning St. John's into one of the most predictable teams in the nation. Opponents are coming into our games copying a formula...which is readily available for video-tape analysis...and expose every fiber of the idiotic way we are playing basketball. Some suggest we are too young...some have said we are just tired....some have suggested that this is all a part of a plan where a "walla" moment will arrive, and we will suddenly be a winner. My take?...Not a chance...unless there are some serious changes in the way we are approaching the game...TACTICALLY, on both ends of the court!
I've been to the board several times this season talking defense. Ours is a joke, and I've said so from the start. Defense is not about blocking shots and stealing the ball. That's for the school yard. Superior defense comes from solid positioning, contesting the shot, boxing out, shutting down passing and driving lanes, active use of hands, intelligent switching with active communication, identifying players that can hurt you, and an active understanding by each player on the court, as to where your possible vulnerabilities lie. To have a defense that truly functions to it's maximum potential, it is essential that a coaching staff is able to identify what it's opponent wants to do...what it does best...and seek a way to reduce that effectiveness....and in the process, encourage your opponent into something he really doesn't want to do. This doesn't include allowing his best player to be wide open for 30 points plus, nor inviting the opposition point guard to break you down for lay-ups. Friends..Our center is leading the nation in blocked shots...we are also probably among the leaders in surrendering lay-ups! Somehow, that seems like a giant inconsistency for me. C'mon Steve...Let's let a little common sense leak out onto the court at Carnesecca Arena. We are long! We are athletic! We are quick for the most part! Why is our interior there for the taking? UNC Ashville had 13 offensive rebounds last night...and outrebounded us overall 40 to 30. This is a completely unacceptable statistic...and this has been an on-going issue for the entire season so far. We are being routinely outrebounded by teams substantially smaller and in many cases, slower. Aren't you asking why? It's not youth and it's not desire. Those in the know recognize that these are tactical inequities.
Last night we were up by seventeen. You substituted a team with Garret being the tallest player and three guards. What was that all about? We quickly surrendered eight points from our lead. That was bad decision making. Experiment some other time please...that idea probably cost us the game in the long run. I'm also, as in Fordham, not a proponent of pressing when leading by 17. It up-tempos and lengthens the game. The idea is not necessarily to win by thirty, but to win. Not time to play loosey-goosey, but encourage a game where possessions are treated with care and respect.
Substitutions for my money, are currently without reason or purpose. They are simply a devise to satisfy people's need for playing time, and rarely do they reflect anything tactical with regard to strategical needs on the court. Coach...do yourself a favor...cut your rotation and give those playing some sense of on-court stability.
We could immediately improve this defense by pulling it in....inside the three point line. With our length, size, and athleticism, that would go a long way to closing down penetration lanes. Obepka's influence around the paint would increase. Teams trying to force penetration would find themselves in turnover land.
Lastly, get rid of the weave. It wastes time and frequently results in an ill-advised shot. Harrison, while obviously being a very talented player, still doesn't seem to be able to differentiate between a good shot or a bad one..regrettable for a guy whose playing time virtually qualifies him as a junior at this point. Branch, meanwhile, was on the court for a single minute last night when he produced the best pass of the season so far. It was obvious that the team performed better with him running the show. It was also clear that the offensive chemistry changed when he was out there. He could survey scoring options on the entire court....something that has been sorely absent so far.He had four first half turnovers (so what?), and subsequently played only three minutes in the second half. Is it coincidence that the offense completely sputtered without him on the floor. He had two assists, but made several plays resulting in free throw opportunities. All I saw was upside from him last night...so we benched him almost the entire second half?...reason please? In Branch, I also saw a guard looking to involve our bigs in the scoring process...rather than the "where is Harrison offense". One man teams never ever work. Please Steve...encourage his creativity....don't suppress it.
I still believe this could be a pretty good team. But they have to begin playing smart. We are losing to inferior opposition who are simply employing more intelligence in their in game approaches. The current game tactics from this coaching staff are leaving wins on the floor. Time to hit the videotape and the chalk board and establish a winning formula. Our fans are leaving these losses feeling victimized...rather than like the losers in a well fought game.
I've been to the board several times this season talking defense. Ours is a joke, and I've said so from the start. Defense is not about blocking shots and stealing the ball. That's for the school yard. Superior defense comes from solid positioning, contesting the shot, boxing out, shutting down passing and driving lanes, active use of hands, intelligent switching with active communication, identifying players that can hurt you, and an active understanding by each player on the court, as to where your possible vulnerabilities lie. To have a defense that truly functions to it's maximum potential, it is essential that a coaching staff is able to identify what it's opponent wants to do...what it does best...and seek a way to reduce that effectiveness....and in the process, encourage your opponent into something he really doesn't want to do. This doesn't include allowing his best player to be wide open for 30 points plus, nor inviting the opposition point guard to break you down for lay-ups. Friends..Our center is leading the nation in blocked shots...we are also probably among the leaders in surrendering lay-ups! Somehow, that seems like a giant inconsistency for me. C'mon Steve...Let's let a little common sense leak out onto the court at Carnesecca Arena. We are long! We are athletic! We are quick for the most part! Why is our interior there for the taking? UNC Ashville had 13 offensive rebounds last night...and outrebounded us overall 40 to 30. This is a completely unacceptable statistic...and this has been an on-going issue for the entire season so far. We are being routinely outrebounded by teams substantially smaller and in many cases, slower. Aren't you asking why? It's not youth and it's not desire. Those in the know recognize that these are tactical inequities.
Last night we were up by seventeen. You substituted a team with Garret being the tallest player and three guards. What was that all about? We quickly surrendered eight points from our lead. That was bad decision making. Experiment some other time please...that idea probably cost us the game in the long run. I'm also, as in Fordham, not a proponent of pressing when leading by 17. It up-tempos and lengthens the game. The idea is not necessarily to win by thirty, but to win. Not time to play loosey-goosey, but encourage a game where possessions are treated with care and respect.
Substitutions for my money, are currently without reason or purpose. They are simply a devise to satisfy people's need for playing time, and rarely do they reflect anything tactical with regard to strategical needs on the court. Coach...do yourself a favor...cut your rotation and give those playing some sense of on-court stability.
We could immediately improve this defense by pulling it in....inside the three point line. With our length, size, and athleticism, that would go a long way to closing down penetration lanes. Obepka's influence around the paint would increase. Teams trying to force penetration would find themselves in turnover land.
Lastly, get rid of the weave. It wastes time and frequently results in an ill-advised shot. Harrison, while obviously being a very talented player, still doesn't seem to be able to differentiate between a good shot or a bad one..regrettable for a guy whose playing time virtually qualifies him as a junior at this point. Branch, meanwhile, was on the court for a single minute last night when he produced the best pass of the season so far. It was obvious that the team performed better with him running the show. It was also clear that the offensive chemistry changed when he was out there. He could survey scoring options on the entire court....something that has been sorely absent so far.He had four first half turnovers (so what?), and subsequently played only three minutes in the second half. Is it coincidence that the offense completely sputtered without him on the floor. He had two assists, but made several plays resulting in free throw opportunities. All I saw was upside from him last night...so we benched him almost the entire second half?...reason please? In Branch, I also saw a guard looking to involve our bigs in the scoring process...rather than the "where is Harrison offense". One man teams never ever work. Please Steve...encourage his creativity....don't suppress it.
I still believe this could be a pretty good team. But they have to begin playing smart. We are losing to inferior opposition who are simply employing more intelligence in their in game approaches. The current game tactics from this coaching staff are leaving wins on the floor. Time to hit the videotape and the chalk board and establish a winning formula. Our fans are leaving these losses feeling victimized...rather than like the losers in a well fought game.
