Game Thread: Kentucky at Tennessee

[Joneslab]

I know this isn't the first year. I still hate it. NBA offenses don't work the way he wants ours to.

Still don't think there's a ton to worry about with this offense.

Kentucky is at the elite level in a few different offensive metrics, including the best of the bunch (Pomeroy). We lead the SEC in points per game, assists per game, field goal percentage, and three point percentage. Third in free throw percentage.

Whatever you're seeing with our offense doesn't seem like it's actually happening on the court. This is a borderline great offensive team.

We are not a great team overall however, at least not on February 16th. Defensively we give up some stuff. We aren't deep at guard. We're still searching for consistency at PF. We have a point guard who can't shoot and when teams slough those teamwide ~great offensive numbers go down. We have a shooting guard who's prone to injury.

So things aren't absolutely perfect the way they were in, say, 2012. But I still put this team up there in the top quarter of what we've seen from Cal.

[Spiritof96]

Whatever you're seeing with our offense doesn't seem like it's actually happening on the court. This is a borderline great offensive team.

That's absurd. The numbers don't tell you how we generated the numbers. My beef is that Cal's offense (if you can call it that) is sub-optimal, at times antiquated, and he is reluctant to change.

Exhibit A. Why can't the offense create open looks for Grady!?! ESPECIALLY when we don't have Washington at full strength to beat his man and create an open 18 footer? When we have more talent, play with intensity, and are shooting the ball well it doesn't matter. Come March it will matter and the stupid weave at the top of the key and praying for Oscar to put back a flailing bad shot won't work.

[Joneslab]

That's absurd. The numbers don't tell you how we generated the numbers. My beef is that Cal's offense (if you can call it that) is sub-optimal, at times antiquated, and he is reluctant to change.

Well I think it just comes back to dudes. If you've got dudes then the thing works. We're running the same offense--or at least parts of it--as we were last year.

Exhibit A. Why can't the offense create open looks for Grady!?! ESPECIALLY when we don't have Washington at full strength to beat his man and create an open 18 footer? When we have more talent, play with intensity, and are shooting the ball well it doesn't matter. Come March it will matter and the stupid weave at the top of the key and praying for Oscar to put back a flailing bad shot won't work.

Grady is getting the treatment that a lot of elite shooters get: the other team's best is on him virtually every night. When he comes off a screen, you get a hard hedge and then they'll rush two guys at him. When he tries to come through screens tight he has to do it with a forearm in his chest.

It doesn't hurt us all the time, though, even if he can't spring loose. The way they laser focus on him helps the others. I've noticed Oscar gets a lot of clean looks because they can't double down off of Grady.

He definitely gets most of his clean looks when he runs in transition. But the thing about Kellan Grady that I don't think enough people talk about is that he's super fast. And of course his reputation makes guys jump out of their shoes when he throws those fakes.

[Joneslab]

Grady is at 73 three pointers. He probably isn't going to get to Jodie Meeks 117 but I think he could match or maybe pass Malik Monk at 104.

He's 15th all time in single-season percentage.

[Spiritof96]

Well I think it just comes back to dudes. If you've got dudes then the thing works. We're running the same offense--or at least parts of it--as we were last year.

I know, this is my complaint.

[Joneslab]

I know, this is my complaint.

I've had the same complaint at times but I also think it's a common issue with all coaches. They all need talent.

I would rather have a traditional college offense here. Screens and cuts, movement, ballet-like precision. Clearly that isn't Cal's bag.

It hasn't hurt this particular team. Maybe they could be even better with a different style or whatever but they've been very good for the most part and have put up super solid numbers. I don't think he's ever had a team lead the league in all the offensive categories this one has. Plus, it's a tough SEC.

[Ratt]

The only UK players in the Cal era I've not liked are probably B.J. Boston, Ashton Hagans, and Ryan Harrow. Darius Miller was rough to watch for me before he turned into the Miller who was awesome.

If you put the jersey on I'll usually give you the benefit of the doubt. It's easy to give the benefit of the doubt when you play on a team that's in the top five in the nation, but even on our so-so teams I'll try to find a way to root for you.

I like Wheeler, don't love him. He's had some phenomenal games. He's obviously limited. Without TyTy in there and with Grady completely bottled up like last night, he tends to press and he isn't the kind of player who can press and be successful.

But the main thing about him is this: we go nowhere without him. It's kind of like the guys who were clamoring all year for Marquis Teague and Andrew Harrison to be benched. It's a total and complete waste of time.

Great take Will. Team definitely needs a healthy TyTy

[Lighthouse]

Great take Will. Team definitely needs a healthy TyTy

For sure! And we need either Brooks to be consistent or Toppin to start. Brooks was a liability on defense. His good things, hit his 6 FT's and had 3 steals.

[85 Fly]

We had a nice winning streak run, but for THIS team all of the starting puzzle pieces have to be on the floor then they look like a well oiled machine. We just looked out of character from shooting, to fifty million turn overs, just sloppy...really surprised the score was not worse-28piece like we gave them Lol Gotta sit TyTy, he had no business playing-regroup with the players we have going forward (until TyTy hopefully comes back)!

[Joneslab]

My streak is broken on starting game threads. Somebody else needs to take up the mantle for Saturday's game. I'm tainted.