So I don't watch THAT much NBA. I really find it fairly boring until the play-offs. Shoot me.

Anyway, Monty said in the post-game that the wolfpack were running stuff that was very NBA-esque to get the switches onto Burton so that he could take that switch off the dribble from the clear out.

Could someone that knows Xs and Os well explain what he meant and how you are supposed to defend? Top of mind I can remember at least four times that the Pack ran screens that resulted in Burton matched up on Solo out top (though by the end - and maybe that IS how you defend; we were hedging high and looking to double team/trap him on that screen play and it forced it out of his hand....great scorer but Burton is not that good a passer).

Sadly, Don McClain other than bad mouthing Bears (I am sure he gushes when Bruins play) simply provided NO decent color. I can't believe it but I was SO wishing we had Ernie Kent doing the game cause he often will break things down rather than say the obvious (aka "What a dunk")

Sounds like a lot of high pick and roll (I couldn't watch the game last night), which is an NBA staple. There's a nice discussion of how the Bulls defend that play in this article by Zach Lowe, who imo is the best in the world at breaking down NBA action and showing why it works or doesn't.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8915581/the-chicago-bulls-coach-tom-thibodeau-quest-perfection

bluesaxe;842244183 said:

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Sounds like a lot of high pick and roll (I couldn't watch the game last night), which is an NBA staple. There's a nice discussion of how the Bulls defend that play in this article by Zach Lowe, who imo is the best in the world at breaking down NBA action and showing why it works or doesn't.


The high pick and roll, (Stockton/Malone) where the guard can hit 18 foot J if the big plays loose and can turn the corner on the big if played tight. (Stockton).. and the O big (Malone) can seal to the low block with a small on him... thus, mismatches on both positions once the pick and roll is executed.

The D's big is now 15 to 18 foot away from the rim when to ball goes up, the O big is 3 feet away once the ball goes up.

If weak side help closes in the paint, dish out to the weak side corner for a open 3.

with the NBA's 24 second clock, play after play, the shot has to get up fairly quickly once past half court, so much less passing to get the open look.. or time to let the O play develop...

socaltownie;842244175 said:

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.

Sadly, Don McClain other than bad mouthing Bears (I am sure he gushes when Bruins play) simply provided NO decent color. I can't believe it but I was SO wishing we had Ernie Kent doing the game cause he often will break things down rather than say the obvious (aka "What a dunk")

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Someone want to explain how we got Ted Robinson and Maclean twice in a row? Are they just picking commentators from a list of people who absolutely hate Cal?

even though fleming is a furd, he is very even handed when doing Cal games. Robinson and Maclean....not so much.

ducky23;842244193 said:

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Someone want to explain how we got Ted Robinson and Maclean twice in a row? Are they just picking commentators from a list of people who absolutely hate Cal?

even though fleming is a furd, he is very even handed when doing Cal games. Robinson and Maclean....not so much.

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I simply tune out the Cal hate since EVERYONE seems to do it with frequency. Those rejection letters must really have scared them in their youth.

What I get mad about is that those guys don't _ADD_ anything. Maybe it is that the Pac-12 doesn't have good technology yet at all the venues to provide replays and let the color guys draw on the screen - but really Donnie M added NOTHING to the broadcast last night. Yes. David is now automatic from the face up. Yes, nice drop step I JUST watched from Solo. Yes, monster dunk from Burton. Yada Yada Yada.

What is great when you get an actual COACH rather than an ex-NBA'er who is a d*** is that they help you watch the game in a more interesting way. Hate the guy but give me Knight any day. He would have been so much more interesting last night in helping us understand what Wallace/Bird/Mathews need to do to improve defense.

Were absolutely brutal last night. They were silly and even worse overtly rooting for the wolfpack to make a comback. aren't they paid by the PAC12? WTF?

socaltownie;842244204 said:

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I simply tune out the Cal hate since EVERYONE seems to do it with frequency. Those rejection letters must really have scared them in their youth.

What I get mad about is that those guys don't _ADD_ anything. Maybe it is that the Pac-12 doesn't have good technology yet at all the venues to provide replays and let the color guys draw on the screen - but really Donnie M added NOTHING to the broadcast last night. Yes. David is now automatic from the face up. Yes, nice drop step I JUST watched from Solo. Yes, monster dunk from Burton. Yada Yada Yada.

What is great when you get an actual COACH rather than an ex-NBA'er who is a d*** is that they help you watch the game in a more interesting way. Hate the guy but give me Knight any day. He would have been so much more interesting last night in helping us understand what Wallace/Bird/Mathews need to do to improve defense.

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that they wanted to "fire" on the high screen to force the ball out of Burton's hands, but got caught some times on the switches (i.e., had to stay w/ the switch too long). Burton is far too quick for any forward to guard 1 on 1. In fact, I was talking to Jay John at halftime, and he was saying that Burton may be the 2nd best PG on the West Coast (after Carson)--although he's more of a scorer than passer. His first step is lightning quick.

UrsaMajor;842244252 said:

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that they wanted to "fire" on the high screen to force the ball out of Burton's hands, but got caught some times on the switches (i.e., had to stay w/ the switch too long). Burton is far too quick for any forward to guard 1 on 1. In fact, I was talking to Jay John at halftime, and he was saying that Burton may be the 2nd best PG on the West Coast (after Carson)--although he's more of a scorer than passer. His first step is lightning quick.

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Burton is very strong.. and was able to push Cobbs off when dribbling. (Cobbs is very strong as well).... his 2 slams were very impressive.. one of which DK got posterized...

UrsaMajor;842244252 said:

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that they wanted to "fire" on the high screen to force the ball out of Burton's hands, but got caught some times on the switches (i.e., had to stay w/ the switch too long). Burton is far too quick for any forward to guard 1 on 1. In fact, I was talking to Jay John at halftime, and he was saying that Burton may be the 2nd best PG on the West Coast (after Carson)--although he's more of a scorer than passer. His first step is lightning quick.

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When Monty says "fire" does that mean the high hedge? Toward the end we were actually just double teaming/trapping him to force it out of his hand.

Good question; I thought he meant a quick trap to force it out of his hands to a wing (not an entry pass), but I realize I'm not sure. If that is correct, it requires good timing, because Burton is quick and can break a trap if it isn't set quickly enough.

UrsaMajor;842244293 said:

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Good question; I thought he meant a quick trap to force it out of his hands to a wing (not an entry pass), but I realize I'm not sure. If that is correct, it requires good timing, because Burton is quick and can break a trap if it isn't set quickly enough.

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I have seen two things out of Monty. The first is the high hedge on the ball screen. So the defender on the man screening just out to force the ball handler to go high. He then usually sprints back to his man and get back in position.

The second, - which I saw more of last night and it sounds like he wanted to be done better - is where the big STAYS with the ball handler and rather than focus on forcing him high tries to force him toward the sideline. They double team him and force someone to break off their effort and come save him. That forces a reset.

I wonder which Monty wanted to see more of last night?

socaltownie;842244336 said:

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I have seen two things out of Monty. The first is the high hedge on the ball screen. So the defender on the man screening just out to force the ball handler to go high. He then usually sprints back to his man and get back in position.

The second, - which I saw more of last night and it sounds like he wanted to be done better - is where the big STAYS with the ball handler and rather than focus on forcing him high tries to force him toward the sideline. They double team him and force someone to break off their effort and come save him. That forces a reset.

I wonder which Monty wanted to see more of last night?

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What he was trying to do was force Burton to pass, rather than either pull up or drive, because he said their scouting had shown that Burton was not super comfortably trying to pass off when harried. Essentially, once he has the ball in his hands, he wants to try to score. Monty said the one time they executed what they wanted to do successfully, Burton had to pass off, Nevada couldn't reset, and a clock violation resulted.

Jeff82;842244372 said:

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What he was trying to do was force Burton to pass, rather than either pull up or drive, because he said their scouting had shown that Burton was not super comfortably trying to pass off when harried. Essentially, once he has the ball in his hands, he wants to try to score. Monty said the one time they executed what they wanted to do successfully, Burton had to pass off, Nevada couldn't reset, and a clock violation resulted.

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Very cool!! Thanks! I haven't seen the whole interview yet and stuck in soCal so no radio.

Makes sense. Good teaching moment Monty can get out of that. I assume that will be some of what we try to do against Ruins and U of A.

wrong thread

socaltownie;842244204 said:

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I simply tune out the Cal hate since EVERYONE seems to do it with frequency. Those rejection letters must really have scared them in their youth.

What I get mad about is that those guys don't _ADD_ anything. Maybe it is that the Pac-12 doesn't have good technology yet at all the venues to provide replays and let the color guys draw on the screen - but really Donnie M added NOTHING to the broadcast last night. Yes. David is now automatic from the face up. Yes, nice drop step I JUST watched from Solo. Yes, monster dunk from Burton. Yada Yada Yada.

What is great when you get an actual COACH rather than an ex-NBA'er who is a d*** is that they help you watch the game in a more interesting way. Hate the guy but give me Knight any day. He would have been so much more interesting last night in helping us understand what Wallace/Bird/Mathews need to do to improve defense.

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The guy I thought was may the best at that I ever saw only did it for one year. Then he took the Cal job.

Jeff82;842244372 said:

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What he was trying to do was force Burton to pass, rather than either pull up or drive, because he said their scouting had shown that Burton was not super comfortably trying to pass off when harried. Essentially, once he has the ball in his hands, he wants to try to score. Monty said the one time they executed what they wanted to do successfully, Burton had to pass off, Nevada couldn't reset, and a clock violation resulted.

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I recall one other time, lateish in the first half, where we successfully got a big out on the trap and burton lost his handle and we got a steal out of it. There was one really short stretch where I felt like he was getting frustrated with our d and I was feeling hopeful, but then he regained composure and got back to scoring (and posterizing) on us at will.

bluesaxe;842244857 said:

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The guy I thought was may the best at that I ever saw only did it for one year. Then he took the Cal job.

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Knight does it as well but he is just so p'oed at the world and so full of himself that often gets in the way.

socaltownie;842244895 said:

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Knight does it as well but he is just so p'oed at the world and so full of himself that often gets in the way.

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Yes, and that's why Monty did it better.

Go Bears!

bluesaxe;842244857 said:

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The guy I thought was may the best at that I ever saw only did it for one year. Then he took the Cal job.

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What he said. I can suffer through poor color announcers if the best one is coaching our team.