Courtside observations - Longwood
I don't get to many games in person and fewer do I get to sit near the court. But this game I was down in the lower bowl. A couple of observations that are hard to make when you're watching on TV or further away:
1. Kobe takes possessions off on defense. I don't mean he dogs it, I mean there are entire possessions where his defensive effort level is 0%. Wait let me take that to another decimal place for accuracy: 0.0%.
2. Our defensive rebounding problem is not one of athleticism, it's just basic execution. Over and over (let me be more accurate: AND OVER) again, a shot goes up and our guys just simply turn and look at the rim. Holmes watches most of the rebounding action from 5' away hoping the ball comes his way so he can just jump for it because it's clear from the close-up view that he doesn't go looking for contact. But he's hardly alone. Santos is built like a guy who would love to hit people but rebounds like a pretty boy.
We basically only get rebounds when we out-jump people or get lucky.
3. Bennett is stoopid quick. His extreme level of defensive effort is effortless. He touches the ball on almost every defensive possession. He doesn't get the deflection or steal all the time, but if his man makes a pass, Bennett will get a fingernail on that pass. If his man picks up his dribble, Bennett will have a hand on the ball, if only briefly. If he digs down on a big, he WILL touch the ball and disrupt the flow of the play.
4. Holmes is really weak around the rim on offense. He's like a galloping antelope, it's all speed and little power. I can see why AG keeps him around the perimeter so much. There's SO MUCH he does well for a man his size, but he needs to meet Mr. Leg Day 1989. He gets his shot blocked so much because he just doesn't have the power to create room. He could be in the national POY conversation if he developed that. If he wants to be a 1st rounder, he needs to DOMINATE not just score points.
5. Padagimas is really athletic. I'm high on him for next year and after. This year he needs to buckle down on defense more. He's often out of position.
6. This team hasn't gelled yet. It's obvious from the courtside chatter and facial expressions that they haven't quite figured out who is supposed to be where. There's much more upside to this team I think.
1. Kobe takes possessions off on defense. I don't mean he dogs it, I mean there are entire possessions where his defensive effort level is 0%. Wait let me take that to another decimal place for accuracy: 0.0%.
2. Our defensive rebounding problem is not one of athleticism, it's just basic execution. Over and over (let me be more accurate: AND OVER) again, a shot goes up and our guys just simply turn and look at the rim. Holmes watches most of the rebounding action from 5' away hoping the ball comes his way so he can just jump for it because it's clear from the close-up view that he doesn't go looking for contact. But he's hardly alone. Santos is built like a guy who would love to hit people but rebounds like a pretty boy.
We basically only get rebounds when we out-jump people or get lucky.
3. Bennett is stoopid quick. His extreme level of defensive effort is effortless. He touches the ball on almost every defensive possession. He doesn't get the deflection or steal all the time, but if his man makes a pass, Bennett will get a fingernail on that pass. If his man picks up his dribble, Bennett will have a hand on the ball, if only briefly. If he digs down on a big, he WILL touch the ball and disrupt the flow of the play.
4. Holmes is really weak around the rim on offense. He's like a galloping antelope, it's all speed and little power. I can see why AG keeps him around the perimeter so much. There's SO MUCH he does well for a man his size, but he needs to meet Mr. Leg Day 1989. He gets his shot blocked so much because he just doesn't have the power to create room. He could be in the national POY conversation if he developed that. If he wants to be a 1st rounder, he needs to DOMINATE not just score points.
5. Padagimas is really athletic. I'm high on him for next year and after. This year he needs to buckle down on defense more. He's often out of position.
6. This team hasn't gelled yet. It's obvious from the courtside chatter and facial expressions that they haven't quite figured out who is supposed to be where. There's much more upside to this team I think.