A Few Random Thoughts on the VCU Game
by Class of 66 on Mar 20, 2009 7:12 AM PDT
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1. Trying to Explain the Inexplicable -- All year long, most of the BS calls against us are when we are playing D -- and most in the first half. Remember when CBH first came and we started playing that intense D? People thought it "ugly" and unexciting. All year long, first SPTR's, and the pseudo-SPTR's last night, put us in early foul trouble -- and we were forced to back off, some, from our physical D. Could this be an attempt to create more scoring against us? In the same way that baseball juiced the balls, and football protected QB's, can this be a way to get higher scores and more O? This might also explain why the other teams get away with obvious fouls against us. They are not the same threat to hold scores way down that we are. Yes, you might say that this years team is not that strong D team that we've had in the past; but I think part of that is because we've been taken out of our D with foul trouble way too often this year.
And, my theory that they are trying to create more scoring finds support on the "no calls" we've seen all year. Maynor cannot bring the ball up court, or cut with it, without carrying it. He got called for it once, but got away with it all game. We've seen people like Harden push with their off arm and get away with it all season long. Brockman got away with murder all year on his offensive boards
Of course, I may be completely wrong. It may be that the ref's are just bad. How we can have some many bad ref's is inexplicable.
2. Our Rotation: Now we know that DG was out with a concussion; frankly, having a daughter that has had her share of concussions, I really don't see him playing this weekend. If this is his seventh this year, he'll probably not be cleared to play. No, I am not a doctor, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night (and I know the restrictions placed on Jen when she had hers.) Fortunately, ND had a monster game last night -- a double double, with 13 boards. I though he played very well with JK when PAA was out and figured that was why we weren't seeing DG.
I know people wanted to see ML -- I think their full court pressure kept him out of the game.
But, here's the concern all have expressed. Early in the second half I put up a post saying that if CBH didn't put in the youngsters soon, he'd never be able to put them in because he won't want them in near the end of a close game. And, that happened.
At the end of the game, we had the team on the floor that we needed. I would not have had it any other way.
But, they were really gassed. CBH gets paid very well to do the cost/benefit or risk analysis on substitution patterns. I'm glad I don't have to.
3. Senior leadership: Wow! What more can be said about DC, JS, and PAA? JS and PAA had obviously great games. People question DC but he is so clutch -- one of the greatest one on one defensive plays on Maynor, at the end of the game, that I've ever seen. Just good, strong, in your face D -- no foul perfectly played. I love ML and JA, but given the choice, I'd put DC there all the time. BTW -- if there is criticism about going into the prevent -- it is on CBH, not DC. DC doesn't call those plays, he executes them. And, there were some questionable "no calls" on some of those drives. I don't like the strategy. Prevent rarely does. But, I'm not the coach, for good reason. If this is CBH's way, it's my way, too.
JS did everything all game long. In years past, their was a concern that he didn't let the "game come to him". This year, his maturity is showing. Great decisions, great play, a true warrior.
And, PAA -- we hear so often that we lack an "inside presence". That's wrong. PAA is overlooked and underestimated in almost every game. Part of being a presence is leadership and intensity; no one is more present that PAA on those qualities. And, he has been playing extremely well -- without fouling out -- just what CBH told him he'd have to do; he's done it all season. Has anyone taken more hard fouls than PAA? And, last night, one of the fouls he did commit was unique: his scrotum fouled someone's elbow.
4. JH -- I said it last night and I'll say it again: Fuck You Jrue Haters, Fuck You All. No need to say more.
5. Game Day Thread -- My Bruin brothers and sisters, last night you were incredible. It's one of the best threads, in any sport, that I can remember. So intense and active that we bogged it down -- but I agree with Nestor, changing threads is a Karma issue and it was better to be slowed down than changed.
Living in Exile, away from my season tickets, has been tough. Being here on game days is like sitting with my close circle of friends. I can't imagine a game without you.
One last thing -- very little drive by posting last night. How does it work? Do people lurk and get negative when it's clear we are going to lose? Or, do they make special trips over here when we are not playing well. Do they register, in the moment just to trash us? If so, they need to get lives.
See you all, tomorrow.
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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about the rotation...and a couple other things
I think that CBH made the decision to ride his seniors all the way – win or lose – last night. I don’t think they would’ve wanted him to put their careers in the hands of the inexperienced freshmen. I know a lot of people were frustrated with the subbing pattern last night. But i honestly wasn’t one of them. DC made a couple of “tired” looking plays, sure. But not ONCE did he turn the ball over while breaking the press, and I think JH only did once – and it was on the 2nd play of the game when that full court pass just sailed too far. I’m with you 66, I will ALWAYS trust DC when he’s on the floor.
Don’t forget, JA is our true backup point guard. He turned it over at least 2 times in short minutes against Maynor and Rodriguez’s pressure. ML doesn’t have the handle that JA does – I just don’t think CBH trusted him to take care of the ball.
Remember guys, there is more to the game then scoring and making plays offensively. I think DC did an incredible job defensively on Maynor all night. He got beat a couple times, but most were because he was being cautious due to fouls. But at the same time, DC is a senior. He knows how to play with fouls, knows how to pick his spots, and knows how to get the angle to cut a drive off. 2 or 3 of his fouls were total BS…but he didn’t hang his head or quit being aggressive. Personally, and I’m probably in the minority here, I thought this was one of DC’s best all around games of the year. Points, assists, and all other stats don’t show what DC meant to us last night.
And of course, the final play of the game. It bothered me last night that people were mad at CBH/DC for that last offensive play. Sometimes you have to admit that while we made a good play, the other guys simply made a better one. We were up 1, with the ball, and 48 seconds left. No one should complain about the “prevent” offense here. As for DC, what do you want? He got penetration, got a look at the basket, and the freakishly long Sanders simply blocked the shot. It was a good drive by DC, but just a great block by Sanders. Some times the other team makes a good play. That doesn’t mean we messed up.
And as for those that think JH should’ve had the ball, don’t forget he missed his fair share of layups last night. I love the kid and he played a hell of a game. But (I don’t remember who said it) someone in the thread said that “If we had JH take the last shot, the last defensive possession wouldn’t have even mattered”. Really? You honestly think that Holiday would’ve had better luck penetrating against Sanders? DC did everything he could’ve done – it would’ve taken Kobe to flip that ball over Sanders, and even he might not have done it.
And DC’s defense on that last play cannot be understated. Every other guy on this team probably would’ve gone up after Maynor’s 2nd pump fake. JH and ML are great defenders, yes. But they’re still inexperienced, and in all likelihood, overexcited. DC’s career was on the line, but he still had the poise to wait for Maynor to commit and force him into a really difficult shot.
This was a bit long winded, but it bothered me a little how frustrated people got with CBH and DC last night. Remember guys, DC does more than score. He’s the rock of this team, and without him we’d be nowhere.
by bucknellbruin on Mar 20, 2009 7:51 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
On a subtle point
I think JH would’ve had a better chance simply because I think he has more hang time. It almost seems that he gets a “second lift” when he’s driving( physically impossible) With good hang time defensive players over-reach when they realize why the freak this guy is still in the air. We may have seen a foul there or maybe the same result as DC. Picky I know, but JH appears to float, just love to see him drive.
I wish to add one more Fuck You
To the hack who said our seniors were going to mail it in last night.
On a side note, while JH had a good game, there were times I felt he tried too hard to put things on himself, i.e. driving the length of the court only to miss the shot.
I thought the decisions he made to drive were correct
and he got high percentage shots, he just didn’t execute. I wish he would have been free to do this all season because I think some of it was simply lack of confidence and experience with doing this in games.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Mar 20, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions
About the subbing
I’d rather we played the freshman more during the season and lose a few games if we have to because we played the freshman. I think if you look at a team like Kansas, they have a very similar situation to us and while they lost a lot of games early, they were able to mesh together better near the end of the season and put together a decent run. That’s why it’s good to just give the players their minutes.
A "Hell, Yes!" To This
JH has game, and he can maintain poise under pressure. Haters, take note: You’re most likely the same morons who were trashing JS last year, so you should already be apologizing all over the place, anyway, and; JH is only going to get better out there. Plus, you’re all giving yourselves whiplash because you can’t figure out whether to try and pounce on JH or DC these days, you sad, sick fucks.
One More, Small, Random Thought: As ridiculous as many of the calls against our team were, and as absurd as many of the non-calls on the VCU players were, I still have to give Rams credit for playing a tough, efficient game against us. Maynor was 5 for 15 on FG’s, which is well below his average this season, and that whole team held together perfectly and was absolutely in this game through the final buzzer. Coach Grant has done a phenomenal job at VCU in a relatively short period of time.
Love My Bruins
Class of 66 is really beginning to grow on me
Alright, I’ve been around here long enough now that I’m really beginning to appreciate Class of 66. Not necessarily my style all the time – but his passion for Bruin athletics has to be unquestioned.
I also don’t get how some BN fans continue to be so critical with JH and CBH. I know they are public figures and that leaves them vulnerable to criticism – but they are our own! CBH has been an unbelievable Godsend to this program – and we should be begging JH to come back next year if we want any chance to go deep in the tourney next year.
This year’s team is not the same as the last three years (that should be fairly obvious). We have some real personnel limitations – but CBH has gotten the most out of some players that I didn’t think could be real contributors (ND in particular). I also think that PAA has grown leaps and bounds. He is not the most skilled big man in the game most nights – but he competes like an absolute BenBall Warrior – I love his courage and tenacity.
Finally, will the JH bashers finally shut the fuck up! I work with adolescents in South Orange County – and some kids were talking about their bracket just outside of my office. One of the kids that obviously reads a lot about college basketball started spouting off about how UCLA sucks and that JH is a total dud. It made me sick to my stomach – and I had a very therapeutic debate with the young man. In my discussion with him it was obvious that his thoughts were merely regurgitation’s of what he has read in the MSM and random college BB blogs. He was not armed with any facts – just baseless opinions.
What we write on this site has an impact on how people view UCLA athletics. I get as amped up as anyone watching UCLA sports – and yell and scream and curse at my television. However, in public – you would never – ever – hear me say anything negative about UCLA athletics. I hope that the way that I talk about UCLA and the way that I represent this great university – inspires people to become fans, students, and/or advocates of how great this sacred university is and can be. JH is our BenBall Warrior – and I do not question his desire to win for UCLA. He may be playing out of position – and he may not be as aggressive as we would like – but he is simply executing the role that has been carved out for him on this particular team. If he decides to come back – there will be a whole lot of crow-eating that supposed UCLA basketball fans should digest – because his talents will be undeniable as he lets his full arsenal of BenBall tools and weapons come to fruition.
by freudianslip on Mar 20, 2009 3:33 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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