Dynamic Duo: Scary as Hell for Defenses

[n.ogdencat]

Zach Braxton and Joel Bolomboy on the court simultaneously is going to cause some serious issues for defenses. Braxton's biggest issues coming into camp last fall were defense and conditioning. From what I understand, the coaches weren't worried about him offensively. If that is the case, then opposing teams really need to be worried. Teams would double Joel, which by the end of the season he was recognizing and figuring out how to break; either by passing, dribbling, or shooting. We all know how good Joel is and he has steadily improved each season. If Zach comes in and is as lethal as billed, then opposing teams really need to be worried. Teams won't be able to double either post player. Weber is going to be a scary offensive team. We all know that Jeremy can shoot, Richardson will only get better and if he is on, YIKES. He is a guy who can hit 4 or 5 3's per game. Gittens can shoot and slash and if you get Zach or Joel out of the game Weber has talent in the wings with Hill, Dallas, and Nzekwesi.

Coach best be working on how to beat the Zone...that is really the only option teams can use to play Weber straight up.

 

[oldrunner]

With the subtraction of the worst outside shooter on our guard line, and the addition of a few higher percentage outside shooters, I am hoping that we will have a much improved zone attack.

If the combination of Braxton and Bolomboy turns out the way we think it might, teams may have to help down from the guard line on them, and that will leave guys wide open from the three point line. I'm hoping for a 'pick your poison' sort of situation.

With the players we have this year, I'm hoping that Randy plays more guys. I would like to see 10 or 11 guys playing, at least for 2/3s of the season. I think it would do two things; keep the guys fresh for the stretch run, and develop depth on the bench for injury and foul situations.

 

[Webergrad02]

Teams would double Joel, which by the end of the season he was recognizing and figuring out how to break; either by passing, dribbling, or shooting.

Or by playing outside in and bombing 3 pointers.

 

[oldrunner]

You make it sound like Joel was jacking up 3s out of a double team. That, absolutely, never happened. He took very few 3s, and when he did, they were wide open. He hit a high percentage for how sparingly he took them. If they are going to leave him wide open out there, he should take them. He earned his license to take them. To be an effective 3 point shooter you need to make 35% or better. That is the equivalent of shooting about 54% on 2s. When we have guys shooting over 40% on their 3s, that is really good. If you can do that as a team, it's a huge weapon.

 

[SWWeatherCat]

You make it sound like Joel was jacking up 3s out of a double team. That, absolutely, never happened. He took very few 3s, and when he did, they were wide open. He hit a high percentage for how sparingly he took them. If they are going to leave him wide open out there, he should take them. He earned his license to take them. To be an effective 3 point shooter you need to make 35% or better. That is the equivalent of shooting about 54% on 2s. When we have guys shooting over 40% on their 3s, that is really good. If you can do that as a team, it's a huge weapon.

You're right about how sparingly Joel shot the 3, even though that has no coloration to the percentage he shot. I want Joel shooting the 3 sparingly because they desperately need inside presence, even a better mid-range presence, not 4-5 players standing on the three point line.

It's great when the stats reinforce what you thought you saw throughout the season-- 3PT offense needed to be setup more for Gittens, Golden wasn't able to live up to his billing as a shooter, and Golden and Senglin could have been more selective with their 3PT shot. Turn 70-80 of those Golden/Senglin missed attempts into higher percentage 2PT shots and I like the results better.

 

[oldrunner]

Those are all respectable 3 point shooting number. However, I think we are set up to do better this year. With Bolomboy and Hill able to hit the 3 if left open, it forces defenders to move with them and clear the paint for others. They really don't have to take that many of them. Bolomboy will have a good year, but a beneficiary of his ability to shoot will be Braxton. All of our bigs are going to benefit from an improved ability to hit the outside shot.

Braxton is a very good passer from the post. With the new expansion of the charge arc, interior passing is going to be a bigger part of the game. I am very optimistic about how Braxton and Bolomboy will compliment each other while playing side by side. I think Dallas and Nzekwesi could have great freshman years as well. I'm hopeful that Hill can bring his game up to where he is more consistent.

 

[oldrunner]

Watching the team play in a pick up game last week, I am very encouraged with Braxton's development. He is in much, much, much better condition this summer, he is playing with confidence, and is poised to have a great freshman year. He really brings a lot to the table and with his improved conditioning he can really show it now. Bolomboy has put on another 15 pounds of muscle and his game seems to have moved up a notch. He was a handful before and with a strong post player next to him, he will be even more dangerous. I think that the tactic of doubling on our post players will not work well for teams like SUU this season.

Braxton is an excellent passer out of the post, I am hoping that Bolomboy will have improved in that area as well.

It is impossible to tell right now, but I think our post defense should be improved. It sure can't get much worse. The only problem I see with our post players is depth. We will have a couple of freshmen on the bench who may or may not be ready for D1 ball. We just won't know until well into the season. The depth on our guard line is significant, but unproven.

 

[Webergrad02]

This year will be a huge measuring stick for Braxton. We will find out how well he can defend going against Bruenig & Jois. I am trying my best to lay off the Kool-Aid and keep my expectations reasonable this year. But I too think we will be hard to match up with inside. You can't double both of them. If Braxton becomes an offensive power in the post, maybe the stretch 4 with Joel will make us amazing. It is just hard to see such a good offensive rebounder play far away from the basket.

 

[oldrunner]

Joel will not be sitting on the three point line. No PF playing for Randy's system will ever do that. My guess would be that Joel will be out there about 10% of the time and that he would shoot from there less than that. The value of having a PF who can hit that shot, is that the defender has to respect it and cover it. That, in turn, opens up other play inside the paint. BTW, Joel is not a fundamental rebounder. He is an athletic rebounder. He is just as effective coming from the outside to get the ball as he is at sitting on the block to get the ball. He doesn't block out as well as he just runs to the ball. Watch closely and you will see that we usually send just one and sometimes two to the offensive glass. everyone else is getting back on defense. We don't want to give up many fast break buckets. Most teams send all five after defensive boards.

 

[n.ogdencat]

Joel playing the 4 is what is important to me. Heaven's last year seeing him try to play the 5 was hard to watch at times. He is a definite 4 and when playing next to another big, he really shines. When Hajek was playing, Joel was far more comfortable and Weber was a better team having those two on the floor. We have heard a lot about Braxton and his potential. We all were able to witness a bit of that potential in the Purple and White game and have heard he has only improved his game. Hopefully, he will be ready to go. I've heard that he is going to be the starting 5 and in that role, I can see him getting between 20-25 a game. I really think Rahe needs another Big like Braxton, kinda like Hajek was for Tres, but he knows best.