Now that we are in the BIG12 and we have somewhat reinvented ourselves from a team that would run and try to win 90-83 to a team that is trying to adapt to play our opponent's style.. I think it is prudent that Arizona starts forging their identity around extremely tough defense and slowing it down just enough.
The best basketball that we have played this year has been when we have dug our feet in the sand and didn't give an inch to the opponent defensively, then we were willing to push the ball up-court quickly to see if there was anything easy available, but then pull the ball out and setup some sort of play from the half court.
So far I have seen us "Copying" what our opponent does and it's been a mixed bag. We don't need to be a chameleon that will play game to game in a style based on our opponent.
The entire dynamic changed when Krivas finally decided to stop playing. Rather than trying to run and gun with Slo Mo Krivas, we are able to do this whole style with Henri and Carter. Not Awaka. Tommy is close to being able to get this team back on track, but he is being exposed by better coaches flat out lately. It is hard to watch us very close to grabbing some brass rings and just never being able to. I don't really like Del Orso nor Townsend both getting 15min a game. Especially when producing and then yanked out. We are struggling from 3 and Tommy takes out a couple of players who are actually hitting some 3's in a that particular game.
I get that everything was going to plan until it didn't and by then it was too late, but Tommy should really learn to micro-manage better. Sub in a player to actually run a play for them or decoy a play for them.
It is the game within the game.
Again, we need an identity and defense is a good place to start for a team that isn't afraid to try to score a lot of points, it is all just a matter of execution. It really looked like Kelvin Sampson went into Halftime, studied what we did in the 1st half, came out in the 2nd and emulated it + Houston did it better as we got a little bet bored down the stretch, lost our focus, and it took around 10-13 minutes before they snatched the lead and didn't look back. We need to be a 40 minute team like all the best teams. We are close. If we hit our FTs then that was OT, but again, Houston was smart enough to know that every time we were going to score they needed to put us on the line and make us hit 2 shots to earn 2 points. Very effective "prove it" strategy and for the record, Tommy would never coach his team to do that. It is not in his wheelhouse yet as he is learning the game as a Head Coach.
Tommy has been known to fall off the wagon at the end of seasons before. We need a W5 from here to get our mojo back.
It's not a game within the game. Our players, who typically shoot 30%+ from deep, are missing wide open looks.
Our guards need to step up because the frontcourt and overall defense has been stellar.
Bradley should be getting some more shots.
What I saw today is what I have been calling for.
Some dribbling into the top of the key/elbow, inside the Arc, set feet, rise up and let once fly.
That should be about 70% likelihood of going in based on FT shooting % in live action.
So the more of that the better.
Love should be doing it too.
Bradley is 3 of his last 18 from deep. He needs the ball in his hands because he attacks the bucket and opens up opportunities for teammates but he doesn't need to throw up 3's until he can get back into his rhythm.
I saw that Tom finally played the Carter / Henri / Awaka unit that I've been waiting for all season, but it was with Bradley and Dell'Orso when I saw it. Did they ever end up doing it with Bradley and Love?