Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Ten-day break comes at perfect time for banged up No. 16 Orange
Abstract:
Andy Rautins sat near his locker with two large ice packs around his knees, minutes after Syracuse had overcome a 16-point deficit against Cornell.
The No. 16 Orange had just completed a stretch of eight games in 19 days. Three of its last four contests involved double-digit comebacks by Syracuse....
- Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Jon
posted 12/07/08 @ 8:19 PM EST
@ Erin
Good points. Still, I don't completely agree with you on why the 2-3 hasn't worked since Carmelo left. The 2-3 requires the 1 and 2 to be very quick so they can cover all of the ground from mid wing to mid court. The back 3 need to have massive wingspans so that they can cover all of the ground, contest any balls that are worked inside, and contest any three from the wings. Our teams post-Melo have only had 2 or 3 players TOPS who are good fits for the zone D. Obviously, opponents getting more comfortable with the zone is a factor, but it's more that JB was trying to force a style of defense on teams that just weren't suited for it. The 2003-2004 Orangemen were great b/c they had both the size and the quickness to smoothly run such a fatiguing style of D. Anyway, this year's players are much more comfortable playing man to man, and they have stated that on several occasions. I'm with you though- stick with M-to-M for most of the game, switching after a bunch of possessions to 2-3 just as a change up. I think this team would also be good at the 1-2-1 full court pressure zone (to be thrown in every once in a while too). This team is at its best when it is playing pressure D and transition O. GO CUSE!!
Good points. Still, I don't completely agree with you on why the 2-3 hasn't worked since Carmelo left. The 2-3 requires the 1 and 2 to be very quick so they can cover all of the ground from mid wing to mid court. The back 3 need to have massive wingspans so that they can cover all of the ground, contest any balls that are worked inside, and contest any three from the wings. Our teams post-Melo have only had 2 or 3 players TOPS who are good fits for the zone D. Obviously, opponents getting more comfortable with the zone is a factor, but it's more that JB was trying to force a style of defense on teams that just weren't suited for it. The 2003-2004 Orangemen were great b/c they had both the size and the quickness to smoothly run such a fatiguing style of D. Anyway, this year's players are much more comfortable playing man to man, and they have stated that on several occasions. I'm with you though- stick with M-to-M for most of the game, switching after a bunch of possessions to 2-3 just as a change up. I think this team would also be good at the 1-2-1 full court pressure zone (to be thrown in every once in a while too). This team is at its best when it is playing pressure D and transition O. GO CUSE!!
Jon
posted 12/07/08 @ 8:54 PM EST
@ Erin
Good points. Still, I don't completely agree with you on why the 2-3 hasn't worked since Carmelo left. The 2-3 requires the 1 and 2 to be very quick so they can cover all of the ground from mid wing to mid court. The back 3 need to have massive wingspans so that they can cover all of the ground, contest any balls that are worked inside, and contest any three from the wings. Our teams post-Melo have only had 2 or 3 players TOPS who are good fits for the zone D. Obviously, opponents getting more comfortable with the zone is a factor, but it's more that JB was trying to force a style of defense on teams that just weren't suited for it. The 2003-2004 Orangemen were great b/c they had both the size and the quickness to smoothly run such a fatiguing style of D. Anyway, this year's players are much more comfortable playing man to man, and they have stated that on several occasions. I'm with you though- stick with M-to-M for most of the game, switching after a bunch of possessions to 2-3 just as a change up. I think this team would also be good at the 1-2-1 full court pressure zone (to be thrown in every once in a while too). This team is at its best when it is playing pressure D and transition O. GO CUSE!!
Good points. Still, I don't completely agree with you on why the 2-3 hasn't worked since Carmelo left. The 2-3 requires the 1 and 2 to be very quick so they can cover all of the ground from mid wing to mid court. The back 3 need to have massive wingspans so that they can cover all of the ground, contest any balls that are worked inside, and contest any three from the wings. Our teams post-Melo have only had 2 or 3 players TOPS who are good fits for the zone D. Obviously, opponents getting more comfortable with the zone is a factor, but it's more that JB was trying to force a style of defense on teams that just weren't suited for it. The 2003-2004 Orangemen were great b/c they had both the size and the quickness to smoothly run such a fatiguing style of D. Anyway, this year's players are much more comfortable playing man to man, and they have stated that on several occasions. I'm with you though- stick with M-to-M for most of the game, switching after a bunch of possessions to 2-3 just as a change up. I think this team would also be good at the 1-2-1 full court pressure zone (to be thrown in every once in a while too). This team is at its best when it is playing pressure D and transition O. GO CUSE!!
- Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Erin Madill
posted 12/05/08 @ 11:48 PM EST
Getting their legs back alone will rejuvenate their enthusiasm (again: this season started before mid-night madness and they have been at it a long time) .
Enough with that.
The only three suggestions I have (and I believe these are the keys to this season):
1. Play M-to-M as primary defense and nothing else unless it is not working. JB needs to set his 2-3 ego aside with this team. He does not need it, and moreover, teams have figured out that you simply shoot 3s until they start dropping and the 2-3 is useless thereafter. [BTW --Since Carmelo left, that is exactly what opponents have been doing, and the result speak for themselves; At the D1 level (especially with lower ranked teams that recruit players for skill and not so much as for freaky size, most teams have decent 3 point shooters somewhere on their roster.]
2. Press More: FC. This team has 9 players. Use them. It pays dividends ESPECIALLY with the athletes this team has available. Mix them up as needed to keep the screws turned on the opponent.
3. Finally, AO – make him touch the ball at least once every time down the court. (a) He needs to take more of his own shots. He is a great player and WAY, WAY "under-utilized." (b) More importantly, it will be easier for everyone else on the team after that -- I truly believe doing this alone would result in at least five and maybe even six Orange averaging double figures with a point like JFlynn.