Scottie

@BHDAU1, you're definitely hitting on the right topics, and we are all hitting the same target at different angles. There are a multitude of issues at the moment, even with the win last night. The "hero ball" (HB) I am discussing occurs throughout the game in attempts to change the energy of the game. HB works better with confidence rather than desperation, and it is the desperation low percentage shots that drive us wild. You have to be smart about when and how you throw a counter to their run.

On 1/29/2023 at 10:26 AM, BHDAU1 said:

The biggest question I have that I cant figure out is why they shoot so poorly during the games but during warmups they seem to hit everything.  I think there is just a group confidence problem, they have the talent. 

Your answer is in your question my friend. Warmups don't equate to the game; when they are loose and comfortable, they make shots. When pressure builds, they miss shots. @Dual-Threat Rigby  and I had a nice chat about the team's glaring problems over the last couple of years in another thread. Most of our problems come down to guard play and "hero ball" in times of pressure.  The fact is that our guards aren't playing any well near as well as they should be at the moment; last game they shot a combined ~30%. They missed 29 shots last game while turning it over 10 times.

11 minutes ago, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

Dissertations aside, I don’t think you should just be unable to really contend for a championship if your front court is amazing but you rolled out a stable of mediocrity in the back court. We aren’t even looking competitive in the last few matchups where our guards got really exploited (basically every loss except USC since last March) 

Fair point. This is a perfect storm of past issues all being present within the same team without all stars being able to stem the flow.

3 minutes ago, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

I think their defensive coaching has been great. I think their general laissez-faire offensive philosophy is just biting them. The guys who are the decision makers in this system shouldn’t have the  free reign to do what they do, it’s just that simple. The difficulty comes in the fact that they’d have to shift what they’ve done for almost a decade - a scheme that works when he gets the talent at the guard spot that he hasn’t had often in the past 4 years. It just feels very inflexible 

This is where my frustration comes in the most. I spend a lot of the time questioning hero ball/Curry shots when the games aren't going their way. It is a desperate attempt to make a statement that consistently falls flat this year, and that is because either the basketball iq or talent isn't there (yet). I'm not going to bash individual players; overall the % of 3's made over the years has decreased. Some players this year are seeing over a 10% drop in efficiency. 

Guard play over the last couple of years has not been great for the most part; it has been our Achilles heel especially against "better" teams. We don't have the players to hit threes consistently (anymore), as others have said, to open up the inside. Some of the looks are there, but the players just aren't making the shot. 

Our three main guards shot under 30% overall (1 for 9 in terms of 3's sans FTs) last night and accounted for 9 turnovers.  The players we expected to take a step forward haven't, and maybe the role they are asked to play now is too much for them. While I appreciate the leeway to play how they want, there needs to be some discipline around it.

2 minutes ago, homersapien said:

A&M forced that. Those 3's were wide open.

We aren't known for our ability to hit 3's. We don't have a lights out shooter this year to prevent this from happening; so, every team we play will use the same strategy, and I don't blame them. Our guys will either step up to the challenge and adapt, or it will be a quick exit. The team has accomplished a lot this year. I am thankful for that. We have a lot of growing and developing to do still.

I would be beating a dead horse by saying that it all comes down to guard play. Guards shooting 7/37 isn't going to win any games. The team needs to develop better composure when times get tough and work instead of playing hero ball. It is what it is. I admire their fight. They to play hungry the entire game instead of desperate. 

As others have said, it is a national problem:

• Competing personal priorities (kids, coaching, family stuff, dog sitter, etc.)
• COVID fears
• Crowds and time commitment
• Working from home, while reducing daily travel, means a lot of people have to work weekends now
• Cost
• Fan experience vs couch experience

That last one is where all televised/broadcasted sports are struggling. You have all the luxuries at home or at your fingertips. You don't have to worry about crowds, weather, or missing the game going to the bathroom (I guess you wouldn't have to miss the game in person if you where Depends, but you might not be too popular if that sucker busts). You have control of your own experience at home. Don't like your home, go to a bar/cookout.