I'm definitely not an expert in the teachings of Tim Grgurich. However, when I was a youth, I attended camps where Grg helped teach defensive fundamentals. Even 30 years later, the stuff he taught us/me, I haven't forgotten and I still coach the stuff he taught me all those years ago.
One of the main things I remember is that you do everything possible to keep your man in front. Reaching in on a dribbler is a definite no no....because you have to shift your weight forward to reach in, and even a slow dribbler can get by you when your moving forward into a dribbler.
What I've noticed, recently with this team, particularly the last 3 games, is that the defenders are staying in front and the pressure is constant. With guys like McCaw, Morgan and Jones....there's absolutely no reason this shouldn't be one of the best defensive teams in the country. Previously though, Morgan, Jones, and Seagars, in particular, haven't stayed in front like they should....their defensive positioning has been much better recently.
I know this hasn't been just a Simon thing. The stuff you see out there is stuff Grg preaches....and I got to think that this is a Stacey adjustment. Whatever the cause of it, I'm happy to see it.
By the by....don't mistake Grg's disdain for defenders' reaching in on a dribbler to mean Grg preached passive defense....not at all. He wanted the pressure to be tight on the ball...if the dribble got by you, he wanted a full out sprint to get back in front and maintain the pressure. However, when the dribble is picked up, Grg preached you to get your whole body up in the defenders space and to track the ball...that's where you get steals
One of the main things I remember is that you do everything possible to keep your man in front. Reaching in on a dribbler is a definite no no....because you have to shift your weight forward to reach in, and even a slow dribbler can get by you when your moving forward into a dribbler.
What I've noticed, recently with this team, particularly the last 3 games, is that the defenders are staying in front and the pressure is constant. With guys like McCaw, Morgan and Jones....there's absolutely no reason this shouldn't be one of the best defensive teams in the country. Previously though, Morgan, Jones, and Seagars, in particular, haven't stayed in front like they should....their defensive positioning has been much better recently.
I know this hasn't been just a Simon thing. The stuff you see out there is stuff Grg preaches....and I got to think that this is a Stacey adjustment. Whatever the cause of it, I'm happy to see it.
By the by....don't mistake Grg's disdain for defenders' reaching in on a dribbler to mean Grg preached passive defense....not at all. He wanted the pressure to be tight on the ball...if the dribble got by you, he wanted a full out sprint to get back in front and maintain the pressure. However, when the dribble is picked up, Grg preached you to get your whole body up in the defenders space and to track the ball...that's where you get steals
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