Kentucky vs. Vandy: Game Thread

[JFCats22]

I totally disagree with this. I can't remember another kid who loafs and gets beat on defense more than Boston. He plays only because he can score points, (and he has to take a ton of shots to do so) and is an adequate rebounder and that's it. When Allen plays he get's beat on defense but it's not because he doesn't hustle and try to defend. He's just very quick and usually guards someone who is.

Disagree and don't believe all you want. But, you are wrong. All of the data and analytics back it up. It's not just one metric that says Allen is a terrible defender, it's every metric available.

[Lighthouse]

Disagree and don't believe all you want. But, you are wrong. All of the data and analytics back it up. It's not just one metric that says Allen is a terrible defender, it's every metric available.

I don't use metrics, I use my eyes and I'm not wrong!

[Catsrock]

Not true at all regarding Boston. He’s not a great defender but he is significantly better than Allen. Allen is the worst on the team.

Look at the DRtg and Defensive win share per player.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...ucky/2021.html

That DRtg is some good stuff. Here’s this from they guy who came up with it (if my attachment works).

In essenence individual DRtg is team DRtg divided by # of players on the team.

Bottom line...if BJ’s guy wants to go by him...he goes by him. If he wants to shoot from outside...he gets it off clean then BJ jumps out at him too late.

[Joneslab]

I thought Boston had a hard time defensively early on. Like everything else about his game, he had some bad AAU habits. Haven’t noticed it a ton recently.

Ironically I thought Allen was okay his first three or four games. Has really struggled recently on defense, which makes sense: the word on him is out and there’s more game tape to scout from.

[Catsrock]

Perhaps I am judging BJ too harshly because he was our highest ranked recruit. But I don’t think so. The first 3 or 4 minutes the other night I was pumping my fist and excited for him as he got off to a hot start. Of course he then wound up 4 for 14 shooting.

But 2 or 3 times every single game I lose my mind because we’re in a half court defense for 20 seconds or more and then instantly our opponent scores a wide open dunk/layup. It seems to me that more often than not it’s BJ who lost his man. Of course half the problem there is there’s rarely any help defense unless Jackson gets there in time for a block.

Also our season has been full of games where we’re in it with 8 minutes to go then we shut down and lose by 10 or 12. A huge part of the late collapse has been our guards get colorblind and throw the ball away at an unreal rate. But the defense has collapsed just as alarmingly. It has also seemed to me that BJ is always in in these stretches and pretty regularly it’s been his guy who goes off down the stretch to beat us.

I’m quite convinced he’s as major defensive liability. For a guy with his length he can seem to stay in front of guys with average speed and skills.

[Joneslab]

I've noticed that Sarr has his back turned a lot and gets beat. Has about two plays a game where he'll be standing in one place, his man will be in another...dunk.

We have no consistent players who are good all the way through games. Some of them can give us things for spurts but then they'll just fade away. Sometimes they'll give us a solid game but then they'll come out the next night and get 4 points and 1 rebound.

Such is life when you're following a mediocre basketball team.

[85 Fly]

CA Basketball Side note- Saw on B/R docuseries exec produced by Mav Carter & LeBron coming out 2/26/21.
The Life & Times of Sierra Canyon Trailblazers. I'm sure they will show cover playoff game Sierra (Boston) vs Mater Dei (Askew).

TRAILER

https://youtu.be/khAHvsLwi8Q

[Catsrock]

I've noticed that Sarr has his back turned a lot and gets beat. Has about two plays a game where he'll be standing in one place, his man will be in another...dunk.

We have no consistent players who are good all the way through games. Some of them can give us things for spurts but then they'll just fade away. Sometimes they'll give us a solid game but then they'll come out the next night and get 4 points and 1 rebound.

Such is life when you're following a mediocre basketball team.

Interesting observation about Sarr. And I cannot disagree. Similar to Nick Richards his 1st couple of years. Although Nick was often just out of position to begin with. As if he just didn’t understand defensive positioning. But with Sarr you’re saying he’s in position but loses focus for just a second and his guy is gone? In a man to man defense (which we are always in) you certainly cannot lose contact with a good player for a split second.

Maybe this is part of Sarr seeing himself even defensively as a guard and not having to keep in contact with an opponent on the block. That seems strange though. With his size surely he’s always been used as in inside defender. Maybe they played a lot of zone at Wake?