Over analyzing can be a mine field. Overanalyzing with bad data can be disastrous. What if things are going like this, based on what Mills has repeatedly said
Mills to player X: This is what you're best at, I want you to do more of that.
Player X: I've never done that before. I'm not really sure how to do that, and I'd rather not do that.
And the things that Player X is best at were observed in practice against WSU's SECOND-TEAM defenders.
On another topic: The pre-game emphasis against NT was to shut down the 3-ball. The first time I had a chance to check score and stats Thursday, WSU was down about 7 and NT was 4/5 from 3. Taylor's article today showed how they did that. The way Pohto was being used to cut off drives after screens would ALWAYS leave a 3-shooter open because Pohto isn't quick enough or fast enough to recover from defending the drive to contesting the shot.
Ballard had a similar problem for a different reason. He's quick enough and fast enough to challenge, but he doesn't seem to react quickly enough to be effective. Plus, when Ballard has to challenge a 3 shooter our rim protector and rebounder is 20' from the basket.
The current D1 game requires a PF who is quick enough to defend the perimeter and can hit at least 30% from the perimeter. Pohto is neither. Abidde could be both, but he's still pretty raw, as is Ballard.
Mills to player X: This is what you're best at, I want you to do more of that.
Player X: I've never done that before. I'm not really sure how to do that, and I'd rather not do that.
And the things that Player X is best at were observed in practice against WSU's SECOND-TEAM defenders.
On another topic: The pre-game emphasis against NT was to shut down the 3-ball. The first time I had a chance to check score and stats Thursday, WSU was down about 7 and NT was 4/5 from 3. Taylor's article today showed how they did that. The way Pohto was being used to cut off drives after screens would ALWAYS leave a 3-shooter open because Pohto isn't quick enough or fast enough to recover from defending the drive to contesting the shot.
Ballard had a similar problem for a different reason. He's quick enough and fast enough to challenge, but he doesn't seem to react quickly enough to be effective. Plus, when Ballard has to challenge a 3 shooter our rim protector and rebounder is 20' from the basket.
The current D1 game requires a PF who is quick enough to defend the perimeter and can hit at least 30% from the perimeter. Pohto is neither. Abidde could be both, but he's still pretty raw, as is Ballard.
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