03-20-2012, 10:56 AM
Burger--
I think part of it might have been what I wrote about in the post about the first game, when people were asking about the commentators' remarks that Stanford did well when Aaron Bright did well. We seem to do well when the other team is not big on the perimeter, which denies sight lines and good looks at the rim to Bright and Randle. Bright in particular seems to blossom when he's playing against another 5'9" or 5'10" guard, rather than a 6'2" or 6'3" defender. And Illinois State's guards, for all of their shooting prowess, were not really that big. The way I put it was, we do well when we're playing teams against which Bright can have success. Not to take anything away from his play last night, which was brilliant (and the fake no-look pass was one of the few real highlight-worthy plays I've seen by a Stanford men's team in a while).
Defensively, I was surprised it took us so long to switch to a straight denial and ball pressure defense against their shooters (late in the second half). The helter-skelter switching defense Stanford normally employs breaks down in the face of teams that pass well and hit open shots; every time Bright or Randle left their player on the perimeter to dig down and help inside, I cringed, knowing what was coming. But at that point, not sure if the defensive switch or simple fatigue explains the collapse of Ill State's offensive efficiency.
Offensively, I was frustrated by our inability to get the ball inside, especially late in the game and in the overtime, when both inside defenders were playing with four fouls. On the final play in regulation, I was hoping Bright would jump-stop, because he was about to get plowed over by the defender trailing him.
Just my $.02,
VG
I think part of it might have been what I wrote about in the post about the first game, when people were asking about the commentators' remarks that Stanford did well when Aaron Bright did well. We seem to do well when the other team is not big on the perimeter, which denies sight lines and good looks at the rim to Bright and Randle. Bright in particular seems to blossom when he's playing against another 5'9" or 5'10" guard, rather than a 6'2" or 6'3" defender. And Illinois State's guards, for all of their shooting prowess, were not really that big. The way I put it was, we do well when we're playing teams against which Bright can have success. Not to take anything away from his play last night, which was brilliant (and the fake no-look pass was one of the few real highlight-worthy plays I've seen by a Stanford men's team in a while).
Defensively, I was surprised it took us so long to switch to a straight denial and ball pressure defense against their shooters (late in the second half). The helter-skelter switching defense Stanford normally employs breaks down in the face of teams that pass well and hit open shots; every time Bright or Randle left their player on the perimeter to dig down and help inside, I cringed, knowing what was coming. But at that point, not sure if the defensive switch or simple fatigue explains the collapse of Ill State's offensive efficiency.
Offensively, I was frustrated by our inability to get the ball inside, especially late in the game and in the overtime, when both inside defenders were playing with four fouls. On the final play in regulation, I was hoping Bright would jump-stop, because he was about to get plowed over by the defender trailing him.
Just my $.02,
VG