As Gonzaga fans, it seems one of our favorite pastimes is
ragging on our team about perimeter defense.
Contested, uncontested, half-court, off-balance circus shots all falling
in for three; we have seen it all. Our favorable tourney seeding could very well hinge on two
crucial games this week, at St. Mary’s and San Francisco. It just so happens that these two teams favor
the long ball. All I can hope is that we
really are as good as most analysts and CBB experts say we are and believe that
our inside-out game works, our perimeter defense can disrupt enough shots that
they don’t fall, and that we have worked hard this week on rebounding and
defending the pick and roll.
However, unable to shake the uneasy feeling about the
possible outcomes for these games, I decided to review St. Mary’s and San
Francisco’s season, hoping to assuage my fears about their proficiency at
connecting with the 3 ball. I also
checked to see overall this season the percentage of three pointers that were
shot and made against us.
- 37.8 percent of all St. Mary’s shots are three pointers, connecting on 39.5 percent (207/524)
- 36 percent of all San Francisco’s shots are three pointers, connecting on 40.6 percent (189/465)
- 30 percent of all Gonzaga’s shots are three pointers, connecting on 38.5 percent (162/421)
- We have shot fewer treys this year than St. Mary’s and San Francisco. St. Mary’s has taken 103 more 3 point attempts than us, and San Francisco has attempted 44 more than us.
- 37.4 percent of our opponents shot selection against us have been three pointers, connecting on just 32.8 percent. 515 three pointers have been attempted against us.
So, does this really help define if we are lousy at
perimeter defense? Maybe on any given
night but I think overall we have been performing much better. Am I more relaxed about the games this
week? Maybe. I might be able to sleep tonight knowing that
teams are not blowing us out of the gyms with three point precision.
Then again, I read a story about Rivalry Week and how Moraga
has been talking about this game since November. When the entire town and student body wait
all season for the Big Dogs to come to town, anything can happen, especially
the three point half-court off balance circus shot that wins the game….for
us….by Rem! It is about time a little
luck falls our way.
4 comments:
This is a great way for our readers to get their point of views across!
Great article GonzagaPride! Very insightful, and well researched. I am always concerned about the 3 ball as well, as it is the great equalizer in college bball!
Loved it!
The big problem I have with our 3-point defense is this:
When you watch teams that defend the 3 well, what you see is quick, sharp defensive rotations. Controlled chaos. Early, hard close outs, forcing the would-be shooter to put the ball on the floor.
Gonzaga doesn't do that. At this point, it's partly by design, and partly because we don't have bigs that protect the rim. Mostly, however, I think that it's just emphasis. Gonzaga is happy to give up semi-contested threes.
The problem is when someone gets hot.
I was getting so tired of threes raining down on us that before games a song always seemed to be playing in my head, "Who'll stop the raaaaaaaaain?"
The fear of the next sniper hitting bombs from the parking lot, blindfolded, was always with me.
There is improvement this season, as the stats will attest to. Few had previously set up his defense to play the odds that we would win by packing the paint, and making teams beat us by the three.
He has finally come around, it seems, to understanding that teams were using his philosophy against him and we were at times vulnerable.
While I am pleased at what appears to be improved D at the three, I am less than estatic with our pick & roll D and getting out rebounded.
Thanks for fantastic write-up Gonzagapride!!~ :o)
The Zags used to apply this approach. It sucks when it gets turned around on us.
I call it, "Getting Zagged"
mjc
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