Double Clutch
Years ago
Adelaide's defence
After last night I thought this deserves a topic of it's own.
I am totally exasperated at how good our D was against Melbourne and the contrast against Brisbane. Sure Melbourne aren't deadly from the arc which makes it easier when trying to double down on a star centre but there is a list of fundamentals missing last night which I would call unacceptable to under 18 division 2 teams.
- Bradtke goes to the free throw line early. Both Dusty and Cooper don't box out on the second shot. Bradtke is a 63% free throw shooter and made his first shot. Don't blame it on fatigue or being in the cold either on Saturday night, this was in the first minute of the game. Brannen got the O board and scored.
- Oscar getting exposed by Black. That wouldn't be an embarrassment in itself, except the first move Black used to blow past Oscar was the smallest of head-fakes I've ever seen. It wasn't even really a move, Oscar was just flat-footed. I know with a switching D we get these miss-matches and it becomes hard for guys like Oscar to defend quicker 2 guards off the dribble but using a head-fake to get in the middle of the lane at NBL level shouldn't occur. Then Oscar has a flash-back to 3 years ago and lightly taps Black on the shoulder when he's already around him and gives up the 3 point play. At least Oscar bounced back offensively, which he couldn't do 3 years ago.
- We go to a zone early to stop easy lay-ups. So what in the hell was Farley doing allowing the offensive player to drive at his hip, then proceeding to not move his feet, reach around for a steal, doesn't come up with it, and then starts to leak back out past the 3 point line for a fast break. He doesn't hustle back into the contest and even if help D comes we then have a 3 point shooter wide open on the extra pass as we have one less player recovering to close out and locate.
- Our weak-side help was non-existent the entire first half except when Rees came on. I think some of the cuts for lay-ups were meant to be flashes to the high post, but when the weak-side didn't move in the man D guys found themselves wide open. How can players be so lazy?
- In one possession Dusty was defending someone on the foul line extended to the 3 point line. Dusty's man passed to the short corner and Dusty turned and faced the short corner with his back to his man. He didn't double, he didn't apply any pressure to the passing lanes, he just turned and faced the ball. What the hell was that supposed to achieve? Of course Dusty's man then proceeded to cut back-door and score an easy lay-up. What happened to some defensive fundamentals? Stay in defensive position low, locating your man and the ball? Fair enough if you are going to double the short corner do it, don't just stand and watch a metre away.
- As has been mentioned before, Farley just walking into screens and not fighting thru them. Black must love playing against Adelaide.
- When fronting the post no pressure is applied to the passer, making the lob easy. Joey even called a time-out later for when they pull out of transition to run a back-screen in the lane and against the switching D the lob will be open.
I could keep going but the point is our D was non-existent last night, and for such a big game too. How can so many guys be willing to get hands in the shot pocket, double down aggressively, locate shooters and play good weak-side help in Adelaide, then throw that all out the window less than a week later north of the border I have no idea. That's what is so frustrating, while this team has no great individual defenders other than maybe Mark Nash it is very capable of getting the job done when all ten guys come to play. Last night at times the team just looked disinterested in winning the game. It's also times like this that Smyth's personality works against him as I would wish he gives the players a bit of a blast right now because after last night's performance they need it. Watching that game I couldn't help but feel sorry for guys like Nash, Rees and Maher and also for the fans who travelled to Brisbane spending a lot of cash to see such a pathetic defensive effort.
Playing like this on the road Adelaide won't be a top two team. I'm still hoping we can go somewhere in the finals, and the hope is there because when the team comes to play defensively they are great. Let's just hope they come to play this Friday night.
