Defense on the Last Play

[GGGG]

Horrid.

Jimmy gets out of position...and no one steps up.  For the life of me I can't figure out how they could have played that worse.

[Daniel]

Yep.  No help defense on that one.  Butler was probably thinking his guy was going to his right like he usually does, but nothing but a huge open lane to the hoop.
Ugh

[Blackhat]

Terrible rotation (no rotation I should say) by the D.


But after 39 minutes of watching that sh.t on D I wasn't surprised.   Buzz still has a lot to learn on how to coach defense.  

[Canadian Dimes]

Butler is a terrible defender and unfortunately has been terrible for the last 5 games

[punchystones]

How about a double or something.....force someone to beat you.  Or at least contest the shot on defense instead of giving up an effen layup by their star player.

[Moonboots]

Felt like Cubi should have doubled down on the block and taken a chance with a kickout and a three if that's the route Pondexter wanted to take. Just don't let him get a good look at the basket.

[marquetteff03]

What was Lazar thinking? Was he thinking? Was he told to completely open the lane for the best player in the Pac 10 to go 1 on 1 with Jimmy?

[HylianHero]

Or Lazar could have moved over instead of standing still in the lane while Pondexter scored right next to him.

[NCMUFan]

Pondexter had a great move on that play.  Jimmy was clearly playing him to the inside and Pondexter used his body to shield Jimmy out for an easy 4 footer.  Tough assignment.

[romey]

Yeah, watch the slow motion replay of that.  I know it couldn't have been Lazar's intent, but when you watch it, he boxes out the entire backside to "clear the lane" for Pondexter and then just helplessly watches him take the layup.

[wojosdojo]

Yea not good. However on the other end... Why did DJO miss that ball?! It reminding me of FSU game. We get something there or lazar hits the 3 and we win. Sad, but like Buzz said, if Washington made us play them we'd lose.. They made is play at the tempo we never play and we lost.

[punchystones]

I agree guarding him on the last play is a very tough assignment but isn't it the coaches's job to force them to beat you another way than just having their best player clear out that side of the floor and go one v one?

[AlumKCof93]

I don't blame Jimmy, Lazar dropped the ball there by watching instead of rotating over

[Boone]

What defense? Was obvious Pondexter wasn't giving it up...someone should have helped.

[BaltimoreMC]

to me, it looked like jimmy thought his man was going to pull up for a jumper and he was getting in position to contest.  His man then went towards the hoop instead for a relatively easy shot.  But there should have also been some sort of rotation

[muPARTY]

I don't blame Jimmy, Lazar dropped the ball there by watching instead of rotating over

i don't blame either.  watching it on dvr, lazar's guy (#11 M. Bryan-Amaning, 6'9, 11pt) was on the opposite block.  he had to stay there, had he slid over, that would have created an open passing lane for an easy dunk or lay-up from Amaning.

i saw the error as lying with Acker.  he stood in the key, above lazar, while his man (#1 v. overton, 5'11, 8pt) was in the far corner.  he then got caught up among the trees while watching the play unfold, briefly getting caught up with lazar.  his guy cut the baseline, was pretty much a no factor.  even if he was, Mo would have been out of position to guard him anyway.

should have happened IMO:  Mo moves the lane in front of lazar, with his man being a no factor in the far corner.  he slides to the box to help jimmy and at least impede pondexter.  lazar stays put to prevent the dish to his 6'9 man AND acker's guy who's cutting the baseline behind lazar.  he at least would have prevented that underhand scoop shot that was taken

[WxWarrior]

Yea not good. However on the other end... Why did DJO miss that ball?! It reminding me of FSU game. We get something there or lazar hits the 3 and we win.

I wondered the same thing.  If you look at the replay the ball was just barely tipped by a UW player before reaching DJO.  Just enough to misdirect it.

[CTWarrior]

We've seen this lack of help defense cost in the postseason before.  Big East tourney against Nova last year, with McNeal contributing the brain freeze