Blueprint for teams scouting us

Feb 18, 2024, 11:27 AM

I’m concerned that last night provides an excellent game tape for how to beat our basketball team. This is not any sort of condemnation of anyone, but I have seen some of these weaknesses all season and last night Nancy St. exposed most of them at one time or another and used them to get a win against a team that they should lose to 8 out of 10 times.

1. Apply pressure, even just a token amount, to our guards after made baskets and after we get defensive rebounds. We struggled a lot with getting the ball inbounds after made shots and we were careless with several passes after defensive rebounds. After rebounds, we are susceptible to what I call “sneaky pressure” where one guy stays close to the guard waiting for this type of opportunity. We provide a lot of opportunities for a smart, hustling defender to get turnovers in those situations.

2. Use jump traps and double teams. Take every opportunity to slap the ball out of our hands. Defenders are normally taught not to slap at the ball but we have had a lot of balls taken away this way and even when it looks like a foul was committed, they don’t seem to be being called. We just are not strong with the ball in our hands and we tend to make timid or ill-advised passes when pressured.

3. Give PJ a few open looks at 3 pointers early. If he misses, we get off to a slow start. If he makes a couple, he starts feeling it and will jack up several more that usually brings his percentage back to normal before remembering he is effective inside and starts playing in the post again.

4. Make sure whoever is guarding our shooter goes to the boards. Our shooter will be headed down the court and not be a factor in rebounding.

5. Put a guy who is at least a littler taller on Girard. He can be shut down by a decent defender, especially if he is even just slightly taller than Joe.

6. Play aggressive, physical defense on our big guys. PJ gets flustered or goes outside when he is played physically, especially if the fouls aren’t being called. Once you know how the officials are calling the game you can adjust if needed, but he will already be flustered. Schieffelin is my favorite player, but he struggles finishing on shots when he is challenged physically. Just foul Godfrey if he has the ball down low. Take your chances with him from the free throw line.

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