I think some of us have over valued previous wins where we really got hot shooting from the outside (at least I know I did). This team wasn't up 20 simply because they were hot from 3. They played a beautiful inside out game and really for much of the game played an NBA style offense. To me the big key to this are Ben and Zimm, both of those guys have great court vision and are terrific passers. Trying to stop them both is freaking devastating to a team's defense. Guys don't just stand around the perimeter looking for an open lane to drive or to shoot a 3. There is constant movement on the floor. And although McCaw missed the shot that 5 pass play was a thing of beauty.
I've criticized CDR plenty, but that may have been his best coaching job ever. I've been critical of his substitution patterns in the past, but last night he gave the bench plenty of run. I liked how Cornish took that dumb shot and CDR pulled his ASAP. I like his use of Poyser in particular, especially at the end when we needed a defensive stop. Also like him getting the ball to Zimm in the midst of that drought.
Yes letting a 20 point lead slip was disappointing and we got away from our offensive game for a stretch (they stood around and stopped passing), but in some ways that stretch showed why this team is different. They never gave up on D, some of those shots Oregon hit was just them getting hot and it wasn't bad perimeter D. They continued to play hard and make it tough on them without many second chances either. Zimm had two defensive lapses where he didn't put his entire body in front of the guy, he stood at like an angle and the player was able to go past him to the basket. Hopefully he gets that cleaned up, but those are the only real defensive lapses that stood out to me.
Don't want to get too crazy yet, but this team has the POTENTIAL to be as good or maybe better than Lon's in '07. Our depth is huge. Seagars is the key, he keeps improving as he has the last two games and this team has special potential.
I've criticized CDR plenty, but that may have been his best coaching job ever. I've been critical of his substitution patterns in the past, but last night he gave the bench plenty of run. I liked how Cornish took that dumb shot and CDR pulled his ASAP. I like his use of Poyser in particular, especially at the end when we needed a defensive stop. Also like him getting the ball to Zimm in the midst of that drought.
Yes letting a 20 point lead slip was disappointing and we got away from our offensive game for a stretch (they stood around and stopped passing), but in some ways that stretch showed why this team is different. They never gave up on D, some of those shots Oregon hit was just them getting hot and it wasn't bad perimeter D. They continued to play hard and make it tough on them without many second chances either. Zimm had two defensive lapses where he didn't put his entire body in front of the guy, he stood at like an angle and the player was able to go past him to the basket. Hopefully he gets that cleaned up, but those are the only real defensive lapses that stood out to me.
Don't want to get too crazy yet, but this team has the POTENTIAL to be as good or maybe better than Lon's in '07. Our depth is huge. Seagars is the key, he keeps improving as he has the last two games and this team has special potential.
