Defense and the 30 Second Clock

[Chescat]

I took a different angle on the effects of the 30 second clock. Imagine this new clock with Pitt's great defensive teams several years ago. We often strangled our opponent's offensive attempts and made them work to even get off a shot in the required time. If those Pitt teams had a 30 second clock with which to work, they might have held teams to even lower point totals. It would have worked to Pitt's favor back in the day. I doubt it would have affected our offense very much since we were a deliberate offense anyway. We'd have just taken the first good, open look before 30 seconds instead of 35.

Fast forward to today...I'm sure Dixon would love to see his defense force the opposition into rushed and bad shots at the end of 30 seconds. Unfortunately our defense is so bad with this cast of characters that I can't see how we can take advantage of the new clock unless there is a major defensive transformation with our current players (I doubt it LOL). IMO, in the half court offensive set, we'll still go for the best first open shot and the clock'' won't be that much of a problem. Despite all the thoughts on the new 35 second rule and it's effects, maybe we ought to be looking at how great defensive teams are going to make it work for them on the defensive side. If I were coaching, I'd be looking for an advantage not only offensively, but certainly defensively with the new clock rules.

 

[KiwiJeff]

A shorter clock clock helps Pitt I think for this exact reason. Our defense doesn't have to defend as long. Won't help a whole lot probably, but 5 fewer seconds to break down. But if anything, the 5 seconds helps our defense more than it hurts our offense.

 

[Chescat]

A shorter clock clock helps Pitt I think for this exact reason. Our defense doesn't have to defend as long. Won't help a whole lot probably, but 5 fewer seconds to break down. But if anything, the 5 seconds helps our defense more than it hurts our offense.

I agree with your response in that it fits with Jamie's approach on the defensive end. My only problem is, could he do anything differently on the defensive side with the players he has. IMO there's not one "lock down"
type of player on the team.

 

[KiwiJeff]

I'd say defense is a team effort. One not need a lock down defensive player if everyone plays good team defense. We sucked at team (help) defense last year. We were beyond stink.

 

[Chescat]

I'd say defense is a team effort." One not need a lock down defensive player if everyone plays good team defense. We sucked at team (help) defense last year. We were beyond stink.

Yeah, you're right...we did "suck at team (help) defense last year." I'm sure
you'll agree that our individual man on man defense was as bad if not worse.
The guards (all of em) continually were beaten off the dribble. The same was true for Artis, and Jeter. Jones had one game where he held a top player in check ( early tournament game) but that seemed to be an exception. Young at least made an attempt down low, but eventually he was worn down by size and numbers. IMO, if you don't have the basics down in man to man situations, it's going to be tough to master "help" and also "rotating on D."
These guys looked basically clueless with these concepts.

 

[Harve74]

Yeah, you're right...we did "suck at team (help) defense last year." I'm sure
you'll agree that our individual man on man defense was as bad if not worse.
The guards (all of em) continually were beaten off the dribble. The same was true for Artis, and Jeter. Jones had one game where he held a top player in check ( early tournament game) but that seemed to be an exception. Young at least made an attempt down low, but eventually he was worn down by size and numbers. IMO, if you don't have the basics down in man to man situations, it's going to be tough to master "help" and also "rotating on D."
These guys looked basically clueless with these concepts.

One thing that REALLY bothered me was that EVERY time former Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio did one of our games as a commentator, he used the telestrator to show how we played virtually EVERY pick and roll and switch wrong.One or both defenders seemingly always went the wrong way on the screen. If Gaudio is right, and it is possible he wasn't, because different teams defend screens differently, Young, Artis and Jeter have a long way to go.

I will say that for much of the season, the only defense worse than our M2M was our Zone. There was some improvement in midseason, but Artis never really improved defensively.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

A shorter clock clock helps Pitt I think for this exact reason. Our defense doesn't have to defend as long. Won't help a whole lot probably, but 5 fewer seconds to break down. But if anything, the 5 seconds helps our defense more than it hurts our offense.

I wish I said that.