I have taken sometime to think about this and I do believe that Pope is using his roster wrong.
What also is wrong is that these players do not fit Pope's system nor does Pope system seem to work.
When you dig down to the root what makes a coach great? A) He demands his players to fit his system or else (discipline: See Nick Saban). OR B) He adapts and changes his system to fit the strengths of his players. (again see Nick Saban. This is about coaching philosophy and I don't want to hear people complain I am bringing in a foot ball coach. Saban demanded his players to fit his system and when his system broke because the game changed he adapted. This applies to any coach in any sport.
The Proposal
It is clear from last year to this year, Pope doesn't discipline his players well that we know of because of consistency issues. Examples: Oweh's body language (though they seemed "better", lack of effort in rebounding last night, lack of motion offense)
Bruce Pearl is correct. We do have a lot of role players and 6th men on this roster.
So that leaves us with Option B) Pope HAS to adapt and quickly formulate a system that works best FOR his current roster.
As a team full of role players and 6th men, why not use these players strengths to fit a specific role for the team. Think of a role as a body part and when the team plays a cohesive unit, better team ball can help.
Note: One reason why I think we have selfish players are these reasons in no order: 1) Lack of Discipline, 2) Does not fit Pope's System and 3) NIL selfish reasons (See #1). and 4) Not using players to their strengths.
What is the solution? It's to come up with an offensive scheme that utilizes the strengths of the players as they are role players. Make them buy into it because it allows them to already be good at what they do.
So I am going to highlight 3 players I think are being used wrong and how their role change can have immediate impact on the game.
Pope's Issues
1. His off brand platoon substitutions kills us. We do NOT have the talent for that compared to some of Cal's teams in the past. The rotation MUST tighten.
2. Discipline on Hustle and Effort: Pope must demand that. If you do not give it and mess up more than 2 or 3 times that cost a run, you're riding the pine.
3. Strength and Conditioning: It seems like either our strength and conditioning is not worked on or if it is, the coach is clearly bad. This needs to improve in order to fit #1.
4. Analytics: Pope needs to feel the game when he coaches. After watching this year and last, its clear that he doesn't feel the game. He relies on analytics mostly. And if he does feel the game, he doesn't trust his instincts and/or he allows this to overrule things. (Last night against UNC, Pope kept a decently tighter 2nd half, but the reason why we couldn't score is because of his offensive scheme).
(I am sure there are more but for the sake of the length of this thread, it will end here)
Defense Solution
Primary Defense: 121 Defense:
What I remember from last night's game, our 121 defense I think, created some good traps and turnovers and steals. This should be our Primary defense. However, this defense did open up some fast break points for UNC's 3 ball. Which should be worked on. This defense should be used 60% of the time.
Secondary Defense 1A: Man to Man
This is what should be used intermittently to swap up the defense to not become predictable. This defense should be used 40% of the time. This should be the defense when a team is good at 3 point offense.
Secondary Defense 1B: Zone
Zone defense should also be used based off a team who drives the ball and has a big inside presence. This should have been used last night more. This is something that should be used in the game intermittently but more depending on the team. Used 40% of the time depending.
Offense Solution
Initially I was going to suggest a full Motion offense, but our basketball IQ on this team is super low (as it seems). This offense relies on reading and reacting.
Spread Ball Screen Offense + 5 Out Motion+ Zoom Action Offense.
Spread Ball Screen Offense = 4 shooters outside, 1 big screens, back door cuts from the corner when defenders shade too high.
5 Out Motion = Everyone is spaced on the perimeter, backdoor cuts when defenders deny, slot pick and roles and easy drive and kick.
Zoom Action = (What we try to currently do: This should be used intermittently because it doesn't fully work all the time with this roster.) Shooter comes off a down screen on the wing, move straight into a dribble handoff from a big at the top.
These offensive schemes when used in tandem can create better ball movement. When this team moves the ball well on offense we win games.
These spread the floor well and can create many opportunities for scoring when you don't have elite talent. Back door cuts and pick and roll can help alleviate that.
If Pope can incorporate this somehow this season and see how this can potentially fix some offensive woes and use players to their role potential it can work.
Starters
Aberdeen
Chandler
Oweh
Williams
Moreno
Off the Bench
Jasper
Jelly
Mo D
1st Sub Pattern
Jasper in for Chandler or Oweh (depending whose doing worse)
MO D in for Chander/Oweh or Williams
2nd Sub Pattern
Jelly in for Moreno and/or Williams
Jasper stays in and transitions to the 1 from the 2.
Garrison only plays breather/foul trouble minutes
Noah only plays for breather/foul trouble minutes
POPE IS USING THESE 3 PLAYERS WRONG
MO D
Diobante is being used wrong. He should play the 4 and his sole role is to get rebounds and offensive push backs. He clearly cant shoot the three which is fine. He would work well in the Spread Screen Offense. if Jelly is in for Moreno because he can shoot the three. MO D needs to be our trash guy, the bruiser. Needs to stay within 15 foot (foul line) to the trim. That is HIS ROLE.
Jasper Johnson
Jasper is clearly NOT a Point Guard. There are people on this forum trashing him saying he's not very good. He's not YET. But he has massive potential offensively. Jasper is an offensive minded player and his mentality is to score. Sure it may seem selfish and I get that, and it probably is to a certain extent. When you go back and watch, when Jasper gets his first bucket, 3 or a drive he's more willing to pass. Why? Because his bucket sparks his offensive mentality to go. Sometimes it takes defense or other things. But for Jasper specifically he needs to get a bucket.
This is why Jasper has to play the 2 and be a quick sub in first. So he can get going. Once he gets going when Aberdeen is in foul trouble or needs a rest, he better transition to the 1.
In addition, Jasper has CLEAR chemistry and LIKES to play with Moreno. Those 2 should play at least 20 minutes a game together.
Jasper is one of the creative players on the team and can create his own shot of the dribble. He can shoot the three as well.
The offenses listed above can be custom made to help Jasper get in his offensive rhythm. Jasper's role is clearly Offense but he will have to suck it up and play the 1 for now when Aberdeen is not in the game.
Jelly
He is clearly a good Small Forward to Power Forward to Center. But he needs to play the Wing 4 or Center. He needs to get Garrison's minutes because last night when given a chance, Jelly did a great job against Wilson. He is a very versatile player. Jelly would work well in the 5 out motion and in the Spread 4 out if he's playing with Moreno/MO D. Jelly should be used a lot and his ROLE should be a versatile role.
To me these are the 3 clear ways to immediately fix issues offensively.
--
We do not have a clear PG again this year due to Lowe being injured. So Aberdeen has the ability to be a PG, he's more of a Combo Guard (1 and 2)
Kam Williams has potential but not being used well. The 5 out motion and 4 out spread can work in the favor for William's style of play.
This is it for now without this thread being a novel. I hope this all makes sense.
What also is wrong is that these players do not fit Pope's system nor does Pope system seem to work.
When you dig down to the root what makes a coach great? A) He demands his players to fit his system or else (discipline: See Nick Saban). OR B) He adapts and changes his system to fit the strengths of his players. (again see Nick Saban. This is about coaching philosophy and I don't want to hear people complain I am bringing in a foot ball coach. Saban demanded his players to fit his system and when his system broke because the game changed he adapted. This applies to any coach in any sport.
The Proposal
It is clear from last year to this year, Pope doesn't discipline his players well that we know of because of consistency issues. Examples: Oweh's body language (though they seemed "better", lack of effort in rebounding last night, lack of motion offense)
Bruce Pearl is correct. We do have a lot of role players and 6th men on this roster.
So that leaves us with Option B) Pope HAS to adapt and quickly formulate a system that works best FOR his current roster.
As a team full of role players and 6th men, why not use these players strengths to fit a specific role for the team. Think of a role as a body part and when the team plays a cohesive unit, better team ball can help.
Note: One reason why I think we have selfish players are these reasons in no order: 1) Lack of Discipline, 2) Does not fit Pope's System and 3) NIL selfish reasons (See #1). and 4) Not using players to their strengths.
What is the solution? It's to come up with an offensive scheme that utilizes the strengths of the players as they are role players. Make them buy into it because it allows them to already be good at what they do.
So I am going to highlight 3 players I think are being used wrong and how their role change can have immediate impact on the game.
Pope's Issues
1. His off brand platoon substitutions kills us. We do NOT have the talent for that compared to some of Cal's teams in the past. The rotation MUST tighten.
2. Discipline on Hustle and Effort: Pope must demand that. If you do not give it and mess up more than 2 or 3 times that cost a run, you're riding the pine.
3. Strength and Conditioning: It seems like either our strength and conditioning is not worked on or if it is, the coach is clearly bad. This needs to improve in order to fit #1.
4. Analytics: Pope needs to feel the game when he coaches. After watching this year and last, its clear that he doesn't feel the game. He relies on analytics mostly. And if he does feel the game, he doesn't trust his instincts and/or he allows this to overrule things. (Last night against UNC, Pope kept a decently tighter 2nd half, but the reason why we couldn't score is because of his offensive scheme).
(I am sure there are more but for the sake of the length of this thread, it will end here)
Defense Solution
Primary Defense: 121 Defense:
What I remember from last night's game, our 121 defense I think, created some good traps and turnovers and steals. This should be our Primary defense. However, this defense did open up some fast break points for UNC's 3 ball. Which should be worked on. This defense should be used 60% of the time.
Secondary Defense 1A: Man to Man
This is what should be used intermittently to swap up the defense to not become predictable. This defense should be used 40% of the time. This should be the defense when a team is good at 3 point offense.
Secondary Defense 1B: Zone
Zone defense should also be used based off a team who drives the ball and has a big inside presence. This should have been used last night more. This is something that should be used in the game intermittently but more depending on the team. Used 40% of the time depending.
Offense Solution
Initially I was going to suggest a full Motion offense, but our basketball IQ on this team is super low (as it seems). This offense relies on reading and reacting.
Spread Ball Screen Offense + 5 Out Motion+ Zoom Action Offense.
Spread Ball Screen Offense = 4 shooters outside, 1 big screens, back door cuts from the corner when defenders shade too high.
5 Out Motion = Everyone is spaced on the perimeter, backdoor cuts when defenders deny, slot pick and roles and easy drive and kick.
Zoom Action = (What we try to currently do: This should be used intermittently because it doesn't fully work all the time with this roster.) Shooter comes off a down screen on the wing, move straight into a dribble handoff from a big at the top.
These offensive schemes when used in tandem can create better ball movement. When this team moves the ball well on offense we win games.
These spread the floor well and can create many opportunities for scoring when you don't have elite talent. Back door cuts and pick and roll can help alleviate that.
If Pope can incorporate this somehow this season and see how this can potentially fix some offensive woes and use players to their role potential it can work.
Starters
Aberdeen
Chandler
Oweh
Williams
Moreno
Off the Bench
Jasper
Jelly
Mo D
1st Sub Pattern
Jasper in for Chandler or Oweh (depending whose doing worse)
MO D in for Chander/Oweh or Williams
2nd Sub Pattern
Jelly in for Moreno and/or Williams
Jasper stays in and transitions to the 1 from the 2.
Garrison only plays breather/foul trouble minutes
Noah only plays for breather/foul trouble minutes
POPE IS USING THESE 3 PLAYERS WRONG
MO D
Diobante is being used wrong. He should play the 4 and his sole role is to get rebounds and offensive push backs. He clearly cant shoot the three which is fine. He would work well in the Spread Screen Offense. if Jelly is in for Moreno because he can shoot the three. MO D needs to be our trash guy, the bruiser. Needs to stay within 15 foot (foul line) to the trim. That is HIS ROLE.
Jasper Johnson
Jasper is clearly NOT a Point Guard. There are people on this forum trashing him saying he's not very good. He's not YET. But he has massive potential offensively. Jasper is an offensive minded player and his mentality is to score. Sure it may seem selfish and I get that, and it probably is to a certain extent. When you go back and watch, when Jasper gets his first bucket, 3 or a drive he's more willing to pass. Why? Because his bucket sparks his offensive mentality to go. Sometimes it takes defense or other things. But for Jasper specifically he needs to get a bucket.
This is why Jasper has to play the 2 and be a quick sub in first. So he can get going. Once he gets going when Aberdeen is in foul trouble or needs a rest, he better transition to the 1.
In addition, Jasper has CLEAR chemistry and LIKES to play with Moreno. Those 2 should play at least 20 minutes a game together.
Jasper is one of the creative players on the team and can create his own shot of the dribble. He can shoot the three as well.
The offenses listed above can be custom made to help Jasper get in his offensive rhythm. Jasper's role is clearly Offense but he will have to suck it up and play the 1 for now when Aberdeen is not in the game.
Jelly
He is clearly a good Small Forward to Power Forward to Center. But he needs to play the Wing 4 or Center. He needs to get Garrison's minutes because last night when given a chance, Jelly did a great job against Wilson. He is a very versatile player. Jelly would work well in the 5 out motion and in the Spread 4 out if he's playing with Moreno/MO D. Jelly should be used a lot and his ROLE should be a versatile role.
To me these are the 3 clear ways to immediately fix issues offensively.
--
We do not have a clear PG again this year due to Lowe being injured. So Aberdeen has the ability to be a PG, he's more of a Combo Guard (1 and 2)
Kam Williams has potential but not being used well. The 5 out motion and 4 out spread can work in the favor for William's style of play.
This is it for now without this thread being a novel. I hope this all makes sense.
