Point guard situation this year vs. last year

[gogators73]

Note: Please do NOT turn this into negative comments about Walker. The kid played as hard as anyone on the team, made big time shots, and was a terrific PG for us.

Do you like the PG situation more this year? I LOVED what Erv brought to us with his ability to hit 3's from the half court line but I think us not jacking up 3's has helped a bit. Kenny still has shot up some questionable ones but besides that between Boynton and Wilbekin we've had really good PG play. They can't set up people like Erv did but I think with Wilbekin's added defense it makes up for it.

So do you like the PG more now or last year?

[tim]

This year, definitely. I've been really impressed with Boynton's play at point. I just think it fits into our "team" aspect better for some reason.

But like you said that's not anything against Erv.

[philnotfil]

Better defense from the point this year is huge.

[gatorbogey]

still collating.

will say that i thought PG play might be a liability this season. thus far, that's been disproven.

trading some defense for offense.

[Gatuar]

I'm not really confident in ball handling when we face a backcourt that can really pressure the dribble. Especially with Boynton....

but defensively way better

[phideltdj]

The defense is the major difference...as Erv was just too small and whoever he matched up with could easily get a look or post him up. It would at times put us in scramble mode trying to help out...and really hurt us against teams like Kentucky that had great length. Now you are adding an elite defender and our defense has really turned it up and is playing great. Scottie can score as well so it doesn't seem to hurt as much on the offensive end and our defense has led to more easy baskets than we were getting last year.

[GatoRella]

Replacing E-Walk who was a defensive liability (through no fault of his own) with Scottie "Tenacious D" Wilbekin is the main difference.

[rserina]

It is a definite tradeoff. What Walker brought to the table was his ability to shoot off the high ball screen, which is the basis of our entire offense. He could penetrate and pass, but Wilbekin can do those fine, as well. What neither Wilbekin nor Boynton can do is shoot off the ball screen and that is partly why our offense has been less efficient shooting the ball than in many past years. With Walker, our shooting, floor spacing, and in general our scoring ability were better.

That being said, what Wilbekin and Boynton bring to the table in terms of defense, size, and athleticism negate that loss. Those two guys give us nice size at the front of the zone, an ability to match up with bigger guards, to score in the lane, to make post entry passes, to rebound then ball (Boynton has really improved on tha front, no matter how much Donovan makes fun of him for it), and even to finish in transition. Our press is better, our half court defense is better (both man and zone), and I think out transition and paint offense are better, the latter because those guys can penetrate and score or simply get the ball to to the post.

If our frontcourt weren't playing so well on both ends, I think the benefits of Wilbekin/Boynton at the one would be mitigated a bit, but as it stands the combination of makes our defense stellar and our offense more than sufficient.

[cmarcum]

The difference is obviously on the defensive side...try as he might erv was never able to stop guys from shooting over the top of him or throwing the ball over him on the press...you see how suffocating our defense is because there are no more bailouts...even well coached teams like wisconsin can barely get consistent good looks on offense

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by rserina

What neither Wilbekin nor Boynton can do is shoot off the ball screen and that is partly why our offense has been less efficient shooting the ball than in many past years.

Interesting insight. Are we sure that Boynton can't shoot off the ball screen? Seems like the kid can (and will) shoot whenever you give him three microns of space.

[Go2gtr]

With an extra elite defender on the court we can switch to a zone more frequently than with Erving and keep a team off balance switching from man to different zones. Hamilton, while offensively challenged, cited how much trouble the various defenses Billy threw at him caused. They were practically shut down completely. Buzz Williams was stunned by how effective we were against his normally powerful team.

The capper is that we have the most effective press I've seen maybe ever under Billy. This defense is leading to so many points that losing Erving's long-range threes will not be noticed. We have five legitimate 3-point shooters which includes one of the best defense stretchers in Murphy who now can work effectively in the blocks as well. Add the offensive contributions now of Yegeute and Prather (who seems like he wants to become a three point shooter himself) and it's a complete offensive team who can out-rebound almost every team we play.

And I haven't even mentioned Patric who seems born again hard.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by GatorRade

Interesting insight. Are we sure that Boynton can't shoot off the ball screen? Seems like the kid can (and will) shoot whenever you give him three microns of space.

Good question. There is a difference between shooting off the dribble and shooting off the screen. Boynton can definitely shoot off the bounce, but he struggles more off the ball screen. What makes him good off the bounce is his strength. The kid can just square his shoulder and power the ball up with his legs no matter what his starting angle is. But for whatever reason he is less confident reading the defense and shooting off the screen. Part of that is because he spent the better part of the last three years playing off the ball where he can catch and shoot, or at least catch with the intent of setting up his shot.

At least that's how I see it. I am sure Tupac would disagree and, of course, he is right.

[HALLGATOR]

Through 7 games this year teams are scoring an average of 48.5 points against us. Last year through 7 games they were scoring an average of 65.7. Even when you figure in that we had losses to Ohio State and Syracuse who are better teams than any we have faced this year we are still faring much better than last season.

[ApexNC]

I agree with the consensus....it's a trade off of better defense for more limited offense. The offense this year has been fine, but does not run nearly as smoothly without Walker. IF we can maintain the defensive dominance, I think the tradeoff will be fine. In fact, it seems so far that the gain in defense has very much out weighed any loss in offensive efficiency. Hopefully as the year goes on the parts will mesh on offense. If so, this team will be a title threat.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by Go2gtr

who seems born again hard.

That just sounds weird...

[Ahab]

I was a bit worried about our scoring ability this year but so far, it's been fine. Murphy has really blossomed and Patric, Yuegette and Prather all look more confident. Not to mention Frazier who has given us another outside shooter in the rotation.

[gatordd]

like everyone said, Not to bash Erv but he was a defensive liability. Doesn't seem like we have missed a beat on offense.

Again as others have said pressure in the backcourt worries me but I think Scottie and KB can handle it. Scottie was dribbling too much in the first half against FSU. Settled down in the second.

Great team - real chance to win it all which is all you can ask for. Go gators

[xenythx]

Last year we needed Erv's offensive abilities and penetration to set other guys up with shots. This year we seem to have many more guys that can create their own shot. Even Will is showing major flashes of an offensive game he didn't have last year.

What remains to be seen is how well Scottie handles the press against a team with big and strong guards.

[gatorbogey]

really good discussion going on here....

[InstiGATOR1]

I am not sure there has been a drop off in offense at all. UF is down slightly in efficiency compared to the final numbers last year, but has faced some traditionally tougher defenses, Wisconsin and Marquette, than last year. We shall see over the course of the season.