It's funny when you watch a game over where you know the outcome. Me and OldT really picked apart each possession. I can assure you - sixe had nothing to do with that loss - nothing. Some thoughts:
A. We missed five or so uncontested or mildly contested layups/dunks. We were clean to the cup on all of them (3 Darrun, 2 Daniel) and they just didn't go down...
B. It's funny how bounces matter. If you look at Dylan Ennis's last three point effort, the ball went off the rim to the right. If it comes back straight, JVP had clear inside position after his roll to the hoop after setting the ball screen for Dylan. If the ball kicks left, Josh Hart is right there for the putback with Turner watching behind him. Of course, the ball kicks to the right where Arch was on the perimeter and his defender (Lee) was in clear position for an easy rebound.
C. Malik Abu played his guts out. He came into the game averaging 6.1 points and had 13. His effort was out of control and frankly, and I love JVP, he just outhearted JVP - just out toughed him, just worked harder. JVP has had an outstanding career, but Abu's intensity level was at another level. Frankly, it wasn't about how JVP played. Abu was just on another planet effort wise - would have done that to anyone that night.
D. The three point effort - or our paltry three point shooting until Darrun got hot late - had little or nothing to do with NC State's defense. They didn't leave Arch - ever. When we ball screened we tried to get Anya involved because he didn't move at all - horrendous ball screen defense. Probably four times in the game, Ochefu ball screened for Darrun. Darrun's defender when under the screen - Anya was 10 feet away and Darrun just missed an uncontested three that he frequently makes. It happens - just wasn't our night.
E. They denied and never left Arch all night. Made him do it off the dribble if he was going to do it...
F. Josh and Kris missed clean threes that they made in NYC.
G. Lennard Freeman did a great job switching/blitzing ball screens - especially on Arch.
H. It wasn't the sixe of the NC State bigs. It was their athleticism or quickness or fast twitch muscles that gave Daniel and JVP and Kris trouble. Whether it was their second jump or their quickness to tie us up on rebounds or their quickness guarding our guards on switches - they were more Donte Cunningham type bigs than they were defined by their sixe.
I. Daniel is really good. I've never been an Ochefu fan, but boy did he improve. He played lousy against NC State, but still was a presence and was really good. It's exciting who he can be next year. he really did compete, just got outquicked, out-fast twitched, out toughed by Abu and Freeman.
J. Barbers quickness, Lacey's ability off the bounce were differentiators. Our guards hung in there, but it was a push in the backcourt and we usually win the backcourt.
We lost the game because of the quickness/toughness/effort of the NC State front court and us missing shots we normally make. Make no more or no less of it. We will be back.
