Keys to tonight IMO
1) Defense and Rebounding
These two aspects always travel well in March, on short rest, even if/when the offense isn't great. We guarded Balls well for the most part last night. Need another effort like that tonight. Can't allow Kant to shoot over 50% or it's over.
2) Get bigs involved in the offense
Our offense is SO much better when Carter (or BVP) are getting touches and scoring from the interior. Sears is going to get his points from the line, driving and maybe some 3s like last night. We're going to shoot 3s (making them is a different story) - that 3rd aspect of interior scoring is what truly makes our offense balanced and difficult to guard. Shots start opening up etc.
3) Stay out of foul trouble
We aren't deep enough to absorb it. Plus we need our bigs on the floor for rebounding (see #1) and scoring (see #2). Exception is IJ Ezuma - play the man and fouls be darned. We need his energy for defense and rebounding (see #1) and keep Carter fresh for scoring (see #2).
4) Somebody has to knock down 3s
Honestly doesn't matter who. Could be BRod (wishful thinking) could be Miles (he hit a couple last night), could be Tommy off the bench, or could be Sears and BVP like last night. Point being we shoot so many 3s, so some better go in or we're toast. A 3-19 night from 3 will result in a 20 point beatdown. Have to make shots. Hopefully an effective inside game (#2) makes these shots more open and therefore more successful.
5) Our Big 3 have to play like Big 3
Sears, BVP and Carter have generally been pretty steady as our 3-headed monster all season and it served us well. When one of them isn't clicking (see Carter during our skid) we just don't have enough depth and talent to make up for it against quality opponents.
So let's see - where we at with these at the half?
1) Defense - check. Rebounding? Pathetic.
2) Sporadic. We had a stretch around the 14-10 minute mark and again at end of half where we went inside with great success. Rest of half not so much, and we didn't fare very well.
3) Carter with 2.
4) It sure isn't BRod or Tommy. Miles hot early - would like to see us get him some more shots. Gonna need BVP and Sears to knock some down - 33% from the field at the half isn't going to cut it.
5) Been the Big 1. BVP productive. Carter and Sears non-existent. Just not good enough for that to continue.
We're 1.5 out of 5 by my score. And we're down 8. Sounds about right.
Gonna need to reverse these trends in the 2nd half to extend our season beyond tonight.
Last Edited: 3/11/2022 8:37:02 PM by GraffZ06