Some thoughts on today's game:
- The main thing that struck me is how much different we are from last year. It shouldn't have been a surprise, but it really jumped out at me how much length and athleticism we've lost without Hilliard, JVP, and Ennis. (And I don't think those were areas in which we could stand to give up very much.) Of course, Brunson and the maturation of others may make up for it.
- Arch and Brunson probably will play effectively with each other on the offensive end, but I have concerns about defense when they're out there together. They kind of reminded me of Reynolds and Fisher playing together. I especially did not like the look with the two of them at the top of a 2-3 zone. I simply don't believe they can cover enough ground around the arc with their lack of length.
- For that reason among others, I don't understand why we keep getting indications that Jay is so interested in playing zone this year. The shot clock is shorter, but our team looks even less equipped to do it right.
- I continue to think we need Bridges to come on as our 7th man. The top 6 will be very good. I think Reynolds is our best option as a backup 5, but I don't see him and Ochefu playing together very much. That leaves Bridges and DiVincenzo, and while DiVincenzo may be doing what he does better than Bridges is doing what he does, I think we are more in need what Bridges can offer - chiefly, length. Bridges did a few nice things today (3s and playing the point of the 1-2-2 press), but there's no doubt he's a work in progress. I was glad Jay had him out there a fair amount.
- We started out in a man-to-man press - not terribly aggressive, mostly designed to bleed the shot clock, I thought. Only when Bridges came in did we move to our familiar 1-2-2 look. Hart played the point of that press some later on, but I'm not sure Jay is comfortable with the 1-2-2 look with our starters out there.
- We may turn out to be as good as we were last year (although I doubt we will be), but in any event, we're going to have to get the job done differently. Last year looked pretty similar to the year before, just switching out Bell for Booth, but there will be a much bigger adjustment now. We all know what this team should be able to do well - score. We're going to need to do that very, very well and then also learn how to make some adjustments on the other end and on the boards.
