Interesting WWL Article On Dragovic

and I quite obviously lost my cool after witnessing that around the back pass, which I regret. But I’m committed to trusting CBH’s opinion, and if he stands by the guy, then so do I, and I guess that’s the best I can do as Bruin fan.

I wasn’t around for the game time thread yesterday so I didn’t get a chance to defend that play when it happened but I didn’t see anything wrong with it. Anyone who has played ball knows that sometimes you gotta take what the defense gives you. Sometimes that means a behind the back dribble, sometimes that means a reverse layup, sometimes that means a spin move and sometimes that means a behind the back pass. All of the aformentioned plays can look risky but they’re only really risky if the player is making that play just for the sake of being flashy aka forcing it. Aside from that, Drago made the pass because RN looked to be open for an easy dunk/layup. I’ll take a potential And 1 dunk from a bulky forward in that situation all day.

Immediately, in the game day thread I said that the pass was appropriate because of the defender on him.

No one criticized RN for not throwing down the dunk and making it. Under that circumstance, if he had made the dunk, missing the “and 1” would have meant nothing.

Ollie, after my comment in the thread, you pointed out that ND should have simply kept the ball and taken the foul because he is the better foul shooter; I backed off and agreed — sounded right to me (but I then knew the outcome of RN’s play and foul shots).

Now, others point out that he may have been trapped and/or stripped and the pass might have been essential — which was my initial position.

Hmm, good point.

So, are we criticizing ND because in the heat of the moment, with no time to be a second guesser, and without knowing that RN would not throw down the dunk, he decided to pass?

Easy to analyze the crap out of this with hindsight and time.

He had to make a decision quickly.

And, it was a beautiful pass.

sjh

PS. And, where is the discussion about how our golden bull, RN, couldn’t go strong enough to the hoop to take advantage of it?

I’m not criticizing RN in any way. I like him and his game and don’t fault him, in any way, for missing. Just pointing out that the criticism of some seems pre-ordained — even on a good play, while others are given the benefit of the doubt.

This is a very good article and it highlights what I think is the base of the frustration with ND — he came here to learn some D and apparently hasn’t.

IIRC- when ND was being recruited there was some thought he go pro, directly — that he had that skill base.

In part, I think he came here because he knew that he had never really played D and understood that he would need to if he wanted to become a NBA player (not that D is at the top of their requirements but it is becoming more of a factor in hiring decisions.)

In my mind, the question is why he hasn’t become a better defender. And, I suppose the answer has something to do with the fact that he is too slow to play CBH man D. The zone suits him better.

It’s not that he cannot learn. He’s become a better rebounder, has developed some inside game, and his passes are much better (yes, including the disputed behind the back pass).

Good article and worth reading.