Coaching Moves?

[beastie]

Public comments in the Missoulian

“I think we have some guys who get impatient with our offense and the coaches have really been stressing we need to execute our offense all the way through, not give up on it,” said Strait, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds. “They stressed at the beginning of the game that we need to get the ball inside, need to pound it inside.”

Players calling out players?

Tinkle said. “For whatever reason, we weren't focused on our game plan. We came out and wanted to go 94 feet of pressure. We didn't do it the first four times we scored. I thought we came out and played very soft on both ends.”


Isn't players focussing on the game plan the coaches responsibility? The team playing soft? A reflection on the coaching staff?

Why do they make these comments public? I hope someone has a talk with Straight about the beginning of the finger pointing.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Here is my thought as to what I would like to see the staff try. Posted it under the Portland game thread too. I think this is a good thread to discuss the good and bad for the GRIZ thus far this year.

The frustration/disappointment lies in only playing 1 complete game this year, CSU. I do feel we played against WSU too, despite the outcome. We have a no business losing to Portland. I can handle the L's, but getting outrebounded by Portland and CSF is ridiculous!

Rest of this month, I want to see a few things. (1) Get the damn ball inside. (2) Ball pressure CET, Graves, and Rundles (when healthy). (3) GO Big, with Qvale getting more minutes, and working Vanderjagt into the mix. Seriously, have only those 2 play center for 30 minutes. Let them develop, let them grow. (4) We have a luxury of size unlike any BSC team, if we want an identity, establish that identity of being big and intimidating. Not only are Qvale and Vanderjagt legit 7 footers, but they both can move for big men. I honestly do not care how many points they average together. I cannot help but think the defense, rebounding, and intimidation alone would make this team much better.

As it is, signs of late appear the GRIZ are struggling and slow. If we are going to be slow and struggle, what does it hurt to go BIG?
Qvale has proven to be a very solid rebounder and shotblocker. I have seen Vanderjagt play often enough in practice and limited gametime to have seen he too is solid rebounding and shotblocking. Problem is he is not as strong as they would like. That may come with time or not. Fact is one cannot coach 7'. An average strength Vanderjagt is more effective than a 6'3" 2 man.

Use Staudacher strictly as a 2, and run picks for him to get him free for what he does best. Get Staudacher in there when teams have collapsed in the paint. Until he learns to use the dribble better, he is ineffective in the role they have him in now.

If we go big why not go box and 1 or triangle and 2? CET, Graves, and Rundles (healthy) have what it takes to be pain in the ass defenders on and off the ball. Take away the passing lanes with these guys, if they get burned so be it, Qvale has proven to me he patrols the paint well, and I believe Vanderjagt could too if the GRIZ would just let him play.

I felt this way last year and feel it this year too. We have to give big a chance. Without a true 3, we have to get creative this year. In 08 this is not a problem, McGillis, Taylor are both more than capable of being the 2/3 swingman. Selvig, I do not care what position he would play, just get him on the court. As for Hurley, his size is perfect for the 3. Mathias Ward also has the skill set for a 3.

If the GRIZ do not get creative sooner than later we will struggle this year. This very well could be a big rollercoaster ride this year. I am hoping for the best. God Knows we have the talent, it is just a matter of utilizing it properly with the absence of a true 3. Please Wayne, GO BIG rest of OOC schedule! :thumb: :beer2:

 

[mtgrizrule]

Anyone with any idea how hurt Rundles is? Seems to me he at best 75% right now.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Anyone with any idea how hurt Rundles is? Seems to me he at best 75% right now.

No, not sure how hurt he is, but considering he played 27 minutes yesterday it couldn't be that bad. Plus, since he played 27 minutes, I do not know why he didn't start in the first place.

But, on the other side of the coin, maybe Tinkle is adding too much risk in making the injury worse or risking another more serious injury by playing him too long. Hope not.

There is a long break, so Rundles injury should hopefully get better. Play Dec 15th next.

 

[WashGriz]

Here are some thoughts.

QVALE NEEDS MORE MINUTES !! Now is the time to bring him along for conf. play.

Someone posted a while back when Tinks pulled Martin for casting a 30 footer and a poster compared Martin to a cow and eating...If you just give him a green light to shot is like giving a cow a green light to eat..
he will eventually explode " I am parphasing the comment BUT
when ET, Rundles and Martin go... 6 For 26 last night I think that poster was right on !

I am not an expert on the last few games BUT i saw all three in Spokane...so here are few more comments.

Th guys on the radio had a telling comment late in the second
half last night..Staud's passed up a shot and hit Martin and he hit a three The accouncers said It was one of the first times that night that.THEY MADE THE EXTRA PASS !!.....That extra pass is the key to
this whole slump thing...Most of the time the extra pass needs
to go to the big dogs inside.

Yes Mtgrizzrule....Stuads is better 2..But a comment from the
Spokane tourney, it looks like the coaches can see (and I agree)
he is the best passer into the post and He played Kyle Weaver
and Bouldin VERY tough on D. The coaches are giving him the
toughest D assignments and have him throwing in the ball for
a reason. So Staudacker needs to be on the floor somewhere
but Stauds needs to get involved more on offense.

Leadership.. I was REALLY impressed in Spokane with Rundles floor leadership AND how he was playing BUT once his tow started bothering him..it is like it effected his whole game.

Leadership has to come from Andrew and Jordo..(hard to come from the grazing on grass cows) I think they WILL do just that ..And I think they will take 2 of 3 in Cali next week. The big guys will
step up..they have been callling for the ball and they will get it
and SCORE often. I think Qvale will be one of the Big guys to step
UP and push the team in the right direction !

 

[bobaloo]

Who is the good cop bad cop? The coaches preach a game plan and nobody listens. Somebody has to get the attention of the players or bench whoever is causing a disruption in the flow of the game. I really believe that once Martin graduates we will see marked improvement in the motion of the offense. He lacks quickness and only relies on the 3 for the most part for his contribution in the game. I do not believe he tries to penetrate and kick the ball out. Need to pass the ball quicker. I don't think he provides senior leadership. If he is on with the 3 then we think what a game but that doesn't work every game. I really believe he is one dimensional in the overall scheme of the game. I agree that we have to give some other players more minutes because our rebounding is very weak. We don't jump well under the basket. Need bigger bodies to compensate for lack of athleticism under the basket. If we don't get focused I can see a 9-7 Big Sky record. We have talent just not getting the most out of it in game situations. I do think lack of quickness is hurting playing good D. We have to rely on the other team having a poor shooting night. However I do like the future for griz basketball!

 

[robomomo]

Hard to argue liking the future of grizzly basketball, but it's also frustrating to see that talent we have underperform. Strait is shooting a ridiculous % and needs more touches. Jordan needs a true inside outside game, the threat of taking it all the way to the rim will free up the perimeter shooters and strait. Martin needs to come off the bench for a scoring spark. 20 minutes a game is too much time...I would rather have a non-scoring backcourt that could get the ball down low than watch our overmatched backcourt throw up 15 threes a game night in and out when we have people shooting 66% in the paint. We have yet to be overmatched inside the circle this year, Pargo, WSU, CSF and Portland all beat u on the perimeter. I hope it comes together. Hate to think what our record would be with Krysto.

 

[WashGriz]

I agree Bobaloo..WE Really need a pass First point gaurd. One
that makes his whole team better. Some one to make some Stockton..esk type passes on the drive. Hey well maybe Stockton
can. .(ha ha) in the future can make those. Martins D is not there, he might be trying but not quick enough for sure.
The future does look bright Jordo's senior year might be "the year"
but this year we can learn a lot on the fly and who knows !!

 

[diacanthus]

Two years ago, Strait was one of the dominate players in the BSC. Last year , if I believe, the griz set a record for most 3 point attempts, while Straits numbers were down. Shot selection is hurting the griz. We aren't playing to our advantage, which is our size. I agree with all the previous post. We need to go big, make the extra pass, and get better shot selection. Hopefully that will limit the long rebounds and allow us to have our bigs in position to grab a few more rebounds .

 

[AtHomeInTheDahlbergDen]

Here's what I wrote elsewhere: I believe we have to either go big or go small, no more 'tweener lineups that force us to play the other team's game. We can go big with Qvale-Strait-Jordo-Martin-Cam and squash teams while potentially taking our lumps on the defensive end. One thing is for sure, teams will have to live or die by the outside shot because it'll be tough driving on those bigs. If we go small we toss in the slashers and go with a lineup like Strait-Jordo-Cam-Graves-Martin/Elgin-Taylor. Graves, who is potentially the most athletic player on the team needs to get minutes against smaller quick teams. He also needs minutes when we're trying to press. With Cam not starting and Tinks trying to press, it would've made sense to start Graves.

 

[robomomo]

easy solution...Bench Martin and find a 2 guard who can pass to the blocks. Martin is way too slow and small do anything but jack up 3's.