I would like to preface this with a hearty congrats to Stans, Charles, Barry, Jamont, and the rest of the Bulldogs.
My criticism of Jamont was well placed in the first half and my lack of consternation for Stans was well placed. Switching to a zone against a team that was backdooring us to death was the right move in the first half. Sure we gave up a few open looks for three in the zone, but no more than we did in the man to man the first 5 minutes of the second half. The difference was a team that hit shots vs a team that missed the same wide open shots. At least we stemmed the tide of a free layups and protected our big men from early foul trouble.
Charles was the player of the game, but Barry Stewart got us back in the game with the help of effective ball distribution by our PG and floor leader Jamont Gordon. Jamont's decision, probably at the behest of Stansbury, to be a floor general and distributor of the ball in the final 11 minutes, as opposed to a ball hog trying to impress scouts by driving into a packed lane and throwing up prayers with the hope of drawing fouls, is what got us back into the game. Jamont's unselfish play and Barry's ability to get out of his slump is what got us back in the game. To blame any of our failures and shortcomings in this game on Stans is both shortsighted and indicative of a general distaste for him and a complete lack of appreciation for the responsibility of players to live up to their positional duties and expectations.
Those of you who have such hatred for Stans will likely ***** a storm when he zones a Memphis team that has the ability to shoot 40+% from 3-pt range but generally shoots much worse. Going man to man vs Memphis would be the worst idea. They will eat us alive and Varnado and Rhodes won't play 12 minutes in the first half if they aren't protected with a zone. CDR, Rose, and Anderson may light us up early (much like they did TN), but if we can stay out of foul trouble, hit our FTs, and take care of the bball then we have a chance. Memphis is hands down the best defensive and most athletic team we have played all year.
I will be the first to criticize Stans if we don't matchup zone memphis early and often with mixed in man to man play. Whatever happens, I expect us to get back defensively and attempt to draw fouls offensively with good off the ball movement and dribble penetration.
My criticism of Jamont was well placed in the first half and my lack of consternation for Stans was well placed. Switching to a zone against a team that was backdooring us to death was the right move in the first half. Sure we gave up a few open looks for three in the zone, but no more than we did in the man to man the first 5 minutes of the second half. The difference was a team that hit shots vs a team that missed the same wide open shots. At least we stemmed the tide of a free layups and protected our big men from early foul trouble.
Charles was the player of the game, but Barry Stewart got us back in the game with the help of effective ball distribution by our PG and floor leader Jamont Gordon. Jamont's decision, probably at the behest of Stansbury, to be a floor general and distributor of the ball in the final 11 minutes, as opposed to a ball hog trying to impress scouts by driving into a packed lane and throwing up prayers with the hope of drawing fouls, is what got us back into the game. Jamont's unselfish play and Barry's ability to get out of his slump is what got us back in the game. To blame any of our failures and shortcomings in this game on Stans is both shortsighted and indicative of a general distaste for him and a complete lack of appreciation for the responsibility of players to live up to their positional duties and expectations.
Those of you who have such hatred for Stans will likely ***** a storm when he zones a Memphis team that has the ability to shoot 40+% from 3-pt range but generally shoots much worse. Going man to man vs Memphis would be the worst idea. They will eat us alive and Varnado and Rhodes won't play 12 minutes in the first half if they aren't protected with a zone. CDR, Rose, and Anderson may light us up early (much like they did TN), but if we can stay out of foul trouble, hit our FTs, and take care of the bball then we have a chance. Memphis is hands down the best defensive and most athletic team we have played all year.
I will be the first to criticize Stans if we don't matchup zone memphis early and often with mixed in man to man play. Whatever happens, I expect us to get back defensively and attempt to draw fouls offensively with good off the ball movement and dribble penetration.
