Quote:
Originally Posted by rserina
Not necessarily. I have never been a fan of feeding the post in late game scenarios. It is just too easy to defend. You can front and send help from the backside or you can keep the offensive player from establishing post position (b/c no official is going to call an off ball foul in that situation) or you can gap the post entry pass. Plus, I don't think any team is going to foul intentionally in those situations, even if it is a bad free throw shooter. If he is going in for a dunk or something, then maybe, but not if he is just getting an entry pass (which in the last minute of a game is without question one of the hardest things to do in college basketball).
But most of those things will hold for Murphy, too. He will have a very tough time establishing post position in those situations and because he isn't a threat on the pick and roll or for a lob, you don't have to worry about anything but him posting. If you are playing Murphy at the five in those situations, I want him out high in a pick and pop situation because it will open us up off the bounce--and that I think is the real underlying issue. Donovan goes to great lengths to argue that scoring in the paint isn't just about post entry feeds as much as about dribble penetration. Most of our poor possessions in late game situations have come when the ball stops with a perimeter player and ends in a jump shot or maybe a lateral pass.
Just to think of a few good late game finishes, they mostly occurred off dribble penetration, not post feeds or pull up jumpers. Miller's runner against Butler (after Dupay lost the ball trying to do the same), Brewer's dribble weave in the SECCG against South Carolina that resulted in the Noah tip in, the failed lob to Noah that resulted in the Brewer three point play against Georgetown, the Calathes runner against FSU, the Parsons three against South Carolina that was created by Walker pushing the ball into the lane on the break. Sure, you had Roberson's transition three against UGA and Walker's crazy three in Athens a couple of years ago, but it seems to me what we have missed the last two seasons or so as been guys being aggressive with ball penetration in those situations.
With Murphy spacing the floor, three able dribble penetrators in Wilbekin, Boynton, and Rosario, and a great finisher in Young, we should be able to get a good shot in those situations.
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Because we shoot the ball so well from behind the arc, I'm not convinced that we couldn't swing an angle to get an entry pass to Murphy on the block. The question is can he post up and hold space. I think I've seen enough of him to say yes I think he could. And I do think he would be good and finding an open shooter if he does get the quick double, which I'm not sure he would get in the first place (unless he started having some success).
I think we could get an entry pass in to Murphy, late or early. He uses his body well and has very nice hands, very good and soft on the catch.
As for the lob play, you just don't see many ally oop dunks to win the game. I guess I'm saying regarding the lob, I don't seee that being a big factor in him not getting a chance in this scenario.
As for the pick and pop scenario you mentioned, I like it. But you wouldn't be able to do it every time with Murphy playing the 5. You would have to post him up some for it to be effective. I think both could go exist and would have to for either to be successful in getting good looks consistently.
As for other game finishers (or half finishers, same idea in many respects), there are a slew from entries into Horford that closed out halves. I remember we had to go to Horford against Purdue in the second round to finish them off. I can't recall if he had to hit THE LAST shot, but situationally, it was similar. Haslem used to get key touches in the post down the stretch as did Bonner.
And staying on the dribble penetration, to be clear I am a bigger fan of it as opposed to dumping it in the post and letting a big work to win the game. However, we don't have a guy who you can just roll it out to who can break people down off the dribble consistently. I think Boynton, Rosario and Scottie can do this, just not consistently enough. It's why we were so deadly in late game with Green. He could break down the defender in one on one and penetrate and dish or shoot or get fouled (and it was automatic when he went to the line). And I know this is nit picky, but Parson's 3 agains South Carolina was really more of a transition 3. That was pretty chaotic.
And lastly, I do think Young is a great finisher, just not in end-game situations. His free throw shooting is just not dependable. Again, I love Young. I am not slamming him. We all have limitations, one of his is free throws.
Lastly, I know this thread has evolved into a late-game scenario thread. I just want to say that was only one of the items I addressed in the OP. I also meant to plainly say that Murphy needs to get the ball more in the paint, regardless of the time of the game. He has a nice post game.
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