Itās certainly possible Bliss could actually be our best defender at SG - but I wouldnāt feel confident putting him there based on the now.
Besides, a healthy Rohde defends the 1-2 pretty well. Itās when he starts getting pushed farther down in the lineup that it becomes a bigger issue.
I will say for folks down on the idea of our defensive potential this year - the idea of a five-man lineup where Rohde is the shortest guy on the floor is pretty intriguing IMO. Warley and Saunders unlock the option to play a lot of huge lineups if weāre willing to do so - and Iāll reiterate for probably the way-too-manyth time; Warley is a huge asset as a defender on the ball and when teams played against FSU, they would intentionally take advantage of their āswitch everythingā defense to get Warley far away from the ball handler.
Teams wonāt be able to do that to us often if weāre playing him there.
*Of course, there are a million lineup options weāll use regularly where Warleyās not on the ball and Saunders is at the 4 or 5 where Iām in agreement the defense will probably be underwhelming.
I think Blissās defense will the trajectory of Devon Hall. Not the quickest guy but will pick up the positional stuff really well and will be dogged.
Princeton is more off-ball movement. Looks like they are trying to get a lot of side-to-side ball movement and then setting ball screens everywhere. Clip 2 is a curl/roll action that is basically Blocker-Mover but with much better weakside spacing.
I liked that in the same play in clip 3, TJ Power was both a screen setter and a driver, ended up making the play that led to the bucket.
In some ways, I donāt care so much about the particular sets they run and more about their offensive process. Iām hoping for quick decision-making, more risk-taking to open up better shots, and a willingness to attack in early transition. So far so good as far as the clips go. Seems like the balance has shifted away from off-ball movement to on-ball actions too. Probably a better fit for this roster.
Rohde reminding everyone what he can do when he is willing to attack with his dribble too, that skip pass in the 3rd clip was sweet.
Thatās helpful, was thinking about that last clip where A rob sets up as a screener, but I guess there isnāt much else going on with him besides ball screens.
Still think its funny that when we added Rohde his transfer tape had like 3 things heās really bad at and 2 things heās better at and our offensive focus was all in the 3 categories Rohde was bad at (Catch and shoot, I forget the other 2). That and Tonyās unwillingness to reduce minutes until the end of szn really left a bad taste in my mouth especially when I was a Rohde defender to begin the season (hence my consistant whinning and wanting him off the team since I doubted we would change much offensively and Tony would also change his approach in the varying leashes he gives different players).
Hope that the new offensive changes highlight Rohdeās strengths more and that his comfortableness both at UVA and in a new scheme help him out AND that if he ever does struggle some Tony is willing to go to his bench.
Kinda funny that in my trying to find the piece to fit in to a Warley McKneely ______ Saunders Buchanan lineup, the best piece that would fit in there is a Rohde at 36-37% from 3ā¦ letās hope he just gets back to 32-33%
Is it a screen when the guy with the ball doesnt use it and just dribbles east west away from the basket? It seems to be in all college basketball where those screens dont add much. Watch Isaiah Thomas use a high screen back in the day
