Why Didn't Buford Attack Jackson on the Blocks?

• karen lotz

  

  wildcats20;687161 wrote:Ever seen him play defense?

  Is that a trick question?
• vball10set

  wildcats20;687161 wrote:Ever seen him play defense?

  
  I've been watching him ever since he was a freshman in high school, so yes....he may not be as aggressive as Craft or Lighty, but he's smart and usually gets himself in good position--how often do you hear his name get called for getting beat defensively? I agree that's he's not one that Matta would use as a stopper on another teams' scorer, but to call him lazy? I think not.
• Prescott

  which is why they didn't have Buford in the post more in a hostile road game against a top 10 team.

  Well, with all that you said they did it once and it resulted in 2 free throws for Buford and a foul on Jackson.

  He is the most dominant post scorer in the country, and you want him to shoot jumpers?

  Nobody said this. What I want is for Buford to take advantage of a mis-match, which would have forced Painter to do something he didn't want to do.Buford had an 8" height advantage. If he can't score or draw a foul with that kind of an advantage he shouldn't be playing D1 basketball.
• Laley23

  

  It would honestly be easier for Buford to just drive and rise over Jackson. With that height advantage, it would be like shooting an open jumper.
• karen lotz

  

  You said yourself that the OSU coaches aren't incompetent. There is a reason they don't post Buford up. Part of that includes the fact that it will either clog the lane for Sullinger or it will force Sullinger to move away from the basket, where he as been the most dominant player in the country. Again, opposing coaches would love for Sullinger to spend more time at the top of the key.
• Prescott

  It would honestly be easier for Buford to just drive and rise over Jackson.

  I disagree. The minute Buford puts the ball on the floor he loses his advantage.
  
  

  Again, opposing coaches would love for Sullinger to spend more time at the top of the key.

  Would they also love watching Buford score at will against their midget defender?
• Laley23

  

  Prescott;687249 wrote:I disagree. The minute Buford puts the ball on the floor he loses his advantage.
  

  
  Have you ever played basketball? The pull-up jumper is one of the easiest shots in the game when you can just rise and not worry about a defender. Not to mention Buford has one of the best mid range games/shots in basketball. I cant believe you honestly wanted a guy who never posts up to do so just because he had a height advantage, when there are other ways to exploit such an advantage in ways he is comfortable.
• Prescott

  Have you ever played basketball?

  Yes, I have, coach. I agree with you about the pull up jumper, it's getting to the spot with the ball that negates Bufords advantage. When he dribbles, Jackson has the advantage.
  

  I cant believe you honestly wanted a guy who never posts up to do so just because he had a height advantage, when there are other ways to exploit such an advantage in ways he is comfortable.

  
  
  I'm sorry, I don't consider taking advantage of a smaller defender with your back to the basket to be all that difficult for a D1 basketball player. To say Buford NEVER posts up is false. He did post up in the Purdue game and drew a two shot foul. It worked. Why not keep going to the well?
  
  If Bo Ryan's players have a post game, I feel reasonably confident that developing a post game is part of OSU's teaching process.
• karen lotz

  

  lol I saw Sullinger hit a turn around, fade away three one time. Does that mean Matta should keep going to that well too?
• wildcats20

  

  lol I saw Sullinger hit a turn around, fade away three one time. Does that mean Matta should keep going to that well too?

  According to some, yes.
• september63

  

  I agree more with the thinking that bringing Buford down low just brings another defender down low, thus allowing the double team on Sullinger to happen more quickly. If it says anything, maybe Thad isnt comfortable with Buford's ability to quickly react when the double team presents itself in the paint.
• karen lotz

  

  exactly, its not as simple as saying "You are tall, go into the post, catch a pass, make a move, realize where a double team is coming from, fight through the double team, make the right pass out of the double team." It doesn't work like that.
• Cleveland Buck

  

  I wasn't even talking about posting up exclusively. With the thread of his jumper he should be able to beat anyone off the dribble and get to the rim. He doesn't do it though, he just dribbles a few times and fires. That is why I said he is lazy. Also, as long as Lauderdale and Sullinger aren't out there at the same time, there is no reason that a guy like Buford or Lighty couldn't work on one block with Sullinger on the other block. If they leave to help on Buford or Lighty, then Sullinger is wide open for a pass or offensive board. If they collapse the whole defense inside, you kick it out to the shooters. You can have more than one guy on the post for an offense to work, in fact, you should.
• Ankle Breaker

  

  I'll side with Prescott on this one. Buford, although not having an accomplished post up game, is 6'6". Jackson is 5'9". IMO, you don't need to be have a very good post up game to present problems for Purdue in that situation. Sully could have gone out to 15' opposite of Buford and the Boilers would've had to respect him from there. A big part of basketball is finding your mismatches and exploiting them. Lighty was awful yesterday but he was making an effort. Buford was standing around away from the basket - which is where Jackson would be more effective guarding him - and he was.
• september63

  

  Someone tell Thad Motta about creating these mismatches you speak of. We all agree, mismatches are a part of the game. Our point is this, NO one on the OC knows more about winning college basketball games than Mr. Motta!!
• Prescott

  Someone tell Thad Motta about creating these mismatches you speak of.

  Matta didn't have to create anything.Painter handed it to him.
• Ankle Breaker

  

  september63;687403 wrote:Someone tell Thad Motta about creating these mismatches you speak of. We all agree, mismatches are a part of the game. Our point is this, NO one on the OC knows more about winning college basketball games than Mr. Motta!!

  
  While I am agree with you 100% and am certain that Thad Matta has forgotten more than I ever knew about basketball, I would be willing to be he will make an adjustment if/when the Bucks play Purdue again. But we shall see. This is an opinion board and I believe the Bucks would have been better served taking advantage of that mismatch. That's all.
  
  I'm 6'2 and nearly 55 years old, not having played a competitive game of hoops in a decade. But if I were to get in a game today and someone standing 5'5 was guarding me (same differential between Buford and Jackson), the first thing I'd do is take them down to the block. And a credit card can't even be slid under my feet anymore when I jump. Or if I were trying to check someone who was 6'11(again, the same height differential), I'd be thrilled if they went and stood out by the arc. Get my drift?
• Laley23

  

  Ankle Breaker;687422 wrote:
  I'm 6'2 and nearly 55 years old, not having played a competitive game of hoops in a decade. But if I were to get in a game today and someone standing 5'5 was guarding me (same differential between Buford and Jackson), the first thing I'd do is take them down to the block. And a credit card can't even be slid under my feet anymore when I jump. Or if I were trying to check someone who was 6'11(again, the same height differential), I'd be thrilled if they went and stood out by the arc. Get my drift?

  
  Thats fine, but can Buford pass out of the post when he is doubled? I watched him at Libbey for 4 years...kid has no post game. He was always guarded by guys who were smaller, by quite a bit, and he didnt post. When he did, they run the double at him. If he wasnt looking, turnover. If he was looking...he was able to get rid of the ball, but usually didnt make great passes, and it isnt like Purdue was gonna run a defender that was on Diebs at him, it wouldve been Lighty or someone else. Buford in HS was a shooter, slasher, and a very good pull up player. That was his bread and butter and best move imo. 1 or 2 dribbles, rise, and fire.
  
  Then you have the whole crowded post. If Buford did score over Jackson a few times, it isnt as if Johnson or whoever was on Sully wasnt going to sag off and help. Buford making a post pass to an open Sully is a win for Purdue, as I would venture to bet it results in a TO more often than 2 pts. Buford having to put the ball on the floor in the post is going to result in turnovers. Sully stepping out to 15-17 feet...even if he hits the jumpers, is a win for Purdue. If you told Painter that Sully was going to be taking jump shots he would be ecstatic, no matter the reason they were coming.
  
  I also think, and this is somewhat unrelated, that Painter didnt want Jackson on Craft because the post entry pass would be too easy with his shortness.
• september63

  

  Laley23;688031 wrote:Thats fine, but can Buford pass out of the post when he is doubled? I watched him at Libbey for 4 years...kid has no post game. He was always guarded by guys who were smaller, by quite a bit, and he didnt post. When he did, they run the double at him. If he wasnt looking, turnover. If he was looking...he was able to get rid of the ball, but usually didnt make great passes, and it isnt like Purdue was gonna run a defender that was on Diebs at him, it wouldve been Lighty or someone else. Buford in HS was a shooter, slasher, and a very good pull up player. That was his bread and butter and best move imo. 1 or 2 dribbles, rise, and fire.
  
  Then you have the whole crowded post. If Buford did score over Jackson a few times, it isnt as if Johnson or whoever was on Sully wasnt going to sag off and help. Buford making a post pass to an open Sully is a win for Purdue, as I would venture to bet it results in a TO more often than 2 pts. Buford having to put the ball on the floor in the post is going to result in turnovers. Sully stepping out to 15-17 feet...even if he hits the jumpers, is a win for Purdue. If you told Painter that Sully was going to be taking jump shots he would be ecstatic, no matter the reason they were coming.
  
  I also think, and this is somewhat unrelated, that Painter didnt want Jackson on Craft because the post entry pass would be too easy with his shortness.

  
  That is pretty precise. I tried to say this earlier, but not that well.
• karen lotz

  

  september63;688042 wrote:That is pretty precise. I tried to say this earlier, but not that well.

  
  
  I tried as well but figured it wasn't that hard to understand so I didn't go into detail. Hopefully Lalely's explanation is good enough for everyone.
• Laley23

  

  I mean, I agree with what others are arguing for. But this isnt rec ball, you cant just post up and have the time and space to find your bearings on the court while turning to find the basket, etc. Im sure if Buford had enough skills or enough wherewithall to post guys up, he would have done it by now, even against guys who can match his height.
• Prescott

  I watched him at Libbey for 4 years...kid has no post game.

  So, you don't think Buford is a different player now than he was when he 15? I guess OSU's coaching staff, doesn't coach their guys up.
• Laley23

  

  Prescott;688123 wrote:So, you don't think Buford is a different player now than he was when he 15? I guess OSU's coaching staff, doesn't coach their guys up.

  
  Different, probably not much. He is much better, but not much different. Why would he work on a post game for more than like an hour all season? It would be a complete waste of time. How many other games have you wanted him to be in the post?
  
  And come on, you really chose age 15? As if when I said watched him for 4 years meant only actually watched him as a 15 year old?
  
  I would doubt Buford even has much of a weight/muscle advantage over Jackson. SO backing him down wouldnt have worked well. It would essentially be a turnaround jumper. If thats the case Id rather him shoot it facing up in rhythm than finding the rim blind on the turnaround.
• Ankle Breaker

  

  Laley23;688129 wrote:Different, probably not much. He is much better, but not much different. Why would he work on a post game for more than like an hour all season? It would be a complete waste of time. How many other games have you wanted him to be in the post?
  
  And come on, you really chose age 15? As if when I said watched him for 4 years meant only actually watched him as a 15 year old?
  
  I would doubt Buford even has much of a weight/muscle advantage over Jackson. SO backing him down wouldnt have worked well. It would essentially be a turnaround jumper. If thats the case Id rather him shoot it facing up in rhythm than finding the rim blind on the turnaround.

  
  I see where you are coming from - makes sense. However, I'd like to see the OSU coaching staff take about 15-20 minutes and work on Buford in this one situation and see if he isn't capable of learning what to do when doubled. I believe he could do it. The only time he tried it in the game last Saturday, he drew a foul on Jackson. Perhaps we will see in the Big 10 tourney - only time will tell.
• Prescott

  Why would he work on a post game for more than like an hour all season?

  Because smart people work on their weaknesses, so that those weaknesses become a strength.
  

  I would doubt Buford even has much of a weight/muscle advantage over Jackson. SO backing him down wouldnt have worked well. It would essentially be a turnaround jumper. If thats the case Id rather him shoot it facing up in rhythm than finding the rim blind on the turnaround.

  8" and 40 lbs seems pretty substantial to me and that doesn't take into account Buford's overall length, which, IMO, is pretty substantial as well.
  
  http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/jackson_lewis00.html
  
  http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1568522
  
  I guess we can agree to disagree.