Coach Howland: ML's D > JH's D
by Nestor on Feb 22, 2009 9:31 AM PST
13 comments
First of all, I agree with the underlying sentiment on the two highlighted posts on frontpage defending our freshmen recruits. I am completely behind these kids and I do believe if they (ok I am mostly talking about JH here) stick around a bit they will emerge great Bruins before they are done in Westwood. That said, I do think we have to be honest and speak out constructively on what we are seeing with our own eyes on the basketball coach.
Coach Howland spoke the obvious following yesterday's basketball game:
If Ben Howland was upset by his team's defensive effort in Saturday's 82-81 loss to Washington State, the UCLA coach made it clear at the beginning of the second half.
Guard Jrue Holiday, a starter, remained on the bench after the man he was guarding -- Washington State's Klay Thompson -- had scored 15 points in the first 20 minutes.
"It's just that he defensively was breaking down on some of his responsibilities, which is to trail the shooter and not go underneath screens," Howland said of Holiday.
Stunningly JH didn't seem to get the message (from the LA Times):
"I thought I played defense well," Holiday said. "He was just knocking down shots. He was firing and they were going in."
Jrue, Jrue, Jrue. Comeon kid. If I have it right, Clay Thompson in 10 minutes before ML came in scored 13 points. After ML took over for JH and took on Thompson most of the time, Thompson scored 2 points in remaining 30 points of the game. More Howland:
Howland pointed out that Thompson was held scoreless in the second half, which began with reserve guard Malcolm Lee on the court.
"We're going to have to play him more," the coach said. "He's our best defensive wing right now."
I am with Coach Howland. I hope ML gets the start or most of the mins this upcoming week. A message needs to be send to this entire team.
As for JH, he should perhaps call AA and get his thoughts on how to react following a tough loss. AA would be inconsolable after losses like the one we experienced yesterday. He would take responsibility and come back stronger. One thing he would never do is make excuses and shy away from taking responsibility.
Again I argue with the underlying sentiments on the two frontpage posts on our freshmen. But at the same time our young cubs do need to learn some lessons about taking responsibility. And they should also understand this is Howland's program and it's Ben who we trust.
GO BRUINS.
UPDATED: Interestingly on the DN blog, DN reported that JH "said it was the right move" for Howland to give ML more mins over JH and start him in the second half. Haven't seen any quotes yet. Still the JH quotes in the LAT are troubling to me and I hope Howland gives ML more mins against Cal to send a more clear message to rest of the team. GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Yesterday this was quite evident
I will say though that I can see a little bit of where Jrue is coming from. It’s not that I agree with him that he played defense particularly well, at least not up to CBH standards, but some of the shots Thompson made were just clutch (lucky?). At least half of what he made were made without his feet set, not squared up, on the move, and not in the paint. I actually couldn’t ask much more out of any of our guys, whether it’s Jrue, Malcolm, or even AA, on those possessions. If they go in, they go in, and that’s a tough break. The problem was the other half of the shots he made.
by Tydides on Feb 22, 2009 9:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
It wasn't just yesterday though
Our perimeter defense has been atrocious last few games. DC is having his own problems as he has gotten torched by Rochestie, Wise, Glasser and also the UDub.
At the 2 spot JH had problems with Thompson yesterday. He also looked helpless against Harden. To be fair Harden is a special talent. But note when UCLA made the run against ASU on the road. It was when ML came in. He came in and our defense got a little tighter. I am not advocating for reducing JH’s mins dramatically. But I do think ML has earned more mins on the court the way he has played defense. Sure he needs to be a little more patient on offense but I think that will come if he plays with the understanding that he is not going to get pulled fast.
by Nestor on Feb 22, 2009 10:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt that this isn't an isolated incident
But the quote was about yesterday, and if some of the shots Thompson hit were over me, I’d also conclude that there was not much else I could do on those plays. That’s all I’m saying.
by Tydides on Feb 22, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You are right about the quote
the more that I think about it. I guess I have gotten spoiled reading AA and RW over the years. Those guys would be simply inconsolable after tough losses. I think I got frustrated because I wanted to sense a little urgency from JH and I am not hearing it. That goes back to blinkshot and crispybruin’s great analysis. We have to remember these kids are freshmen and AA/RW didn’t emerge till their second years either.
Still it is clear Howland is getting concerned about the defensive effort. He just doesn’t drop quotes w/o thinking about it. His quote about ML being our “best defensive wing” is kind of telling I think.
by Nestor on Feb 22, 2009 10:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ML is like a hybrid of those two guys
AA was a cerebral defender. He knew what spots you liked and did whatever he could to take it away from you. I sense a lot of that mentality in Malcolm but it’s not quite there yet. On the other hand he has some of the physical attributes that made RW such an effective stopper. Long arms, quick, great instincts, but ML isn’t quite as athletic (at least from what I’ve seen). Russ was more of a natural defender. He played by feel. I’d be satisfied if next year Malcolm went one way or the other. I’d be ecstatic if he found a way to combine the two.
by Tydides on Feb 22, 2009 11:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Lee
Doesn’t have quite the strength, hops or speed of Westbrook but he is taller and longer and still pretty quick in his own right. He’s actually a great scorer too – in high school, IIRC, he threw up 55 in a game despite being under double figures for a half I believe. In fact, he played center at his high school because he was the tallest player, which is why he has a knack at getting rebounds too.
I’d consider him a mix of Luc (not quite as tall or long, but close) and Westbrook. He’s got a bright future
by blinkshot on Feb 22, 2009 7:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hops
ML absolutely has crazy hops. I have seen them showcased on a number of occasions this year. Keep watching and you’ll see it. He just needs some more upper body strength and to work on his outside jumper and he will be a lotto pick just like Westbrook.
by Bald Eagle on Feb 23, 2009 8:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
coul CBH
be using a page out of Phil Jackson’s book and trying to motivate by this move? It sure seems possible dont you think
by uclabruin34 on Feb 22, 2009 12:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
i think jrue is getting a raw deal on this one
he made some mistakes, but klay thompson started off hot yesterday. at the same time rochestie poured in 33 on dc and shipp missed breakaway layups. but by all means let’s keep blaming the freshmen
Across The Face
by rb bruin on Feb 22, 2009 3:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Thompson
He is the son of former Laker, Mychal Thompson. I don’t know if we came in respecting Klay’s game and the WSU team. CBH warned the team that is was a trap game, and Josh said they didn’t play with enough effort. It was strange watching our defense react to the other team’s offense and at times look confuse and helpless. This was also evident against UofA. Typically, we force the issue and make other teams turn the ball over or into rushed shots. WSU patiently ran plays and there were open guys on almost every possession.
I stayed inside Pauley after the game and chatted with some of the players. They were cordial and happily signed many autographs for kids. JH was with his family, and he seemed composed. I remember Westy making many mistakes during his freshman year.
I was upset after the game, but realized that the players are treating it as one game. They will have to move on and CBH will have them ready for the stretch run.
We shouldn’t expect every player to shoot for hours after a loss like AA did after the W. Virginia loss several years ago. I think JH and ML will play important roles during tourney time. The freshmen need support from BN not criticism, we need to trust that CBH and the seniors will light a fire under them.
Play with confidence, pride, and relentless optimism!
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Feb 22, 2009 4:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
have to agree that
Jrue got a bit of the raw deal, given that Rochestie did throw up 33 and DC has been torched lately by opposing PG’s. As a whole, our guards are not defending up to what they are capable of.
Im hoping Lee gets more minutes now, as its obvious that when he’s in the game, he’s done much better defensively (such as when we made that run against ASU when we put him on Harden). He just needs to stay out of foul trouble
by blinkshot on Feb 22, 2009 7:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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