CSNbbs

With the usual reservations (CofC is not a good offensive team, we haven't played a conference team with a strong inside game, etc.), it appears we may need to change the way we measure the Tribe's success.

I feel that for the first time since the Parkhill era (more Bruce than Barry actually), this team is based on defensive performance. For decades a W&M defensive stop seems to have relied on a missed open shot by the other team, with the rebound bouncing the right way. At the end of the game, we fans would want the ball in the Tribe's possession, even if we were down rather than the ball in the opposition's possession, even if we were up. (Not that it worked out well in the Championship game last year.)

Now when I watch a Tribe game, I focus on points allowed by ten-minute increments; allowing 15 or fewer is the goal while allowing 10 or fewer rates a superior grade.

For example, yesterday the increments were 11,12,5 & 17.

Long-time Redskins fans experienced the same whiplash effect when the "we will outscore them" Jurgensen Redskins were supplanted by the "hold em, offense and the defense will win it" Allen Redskins. It's a new way of thinking and the fans have to adjust just as the players do.

(01-04-2015 10:27 AM)tribeinexile Wrote: [ -> ]With the usual reservations (CofC is not a good offensive team, we haven't played a conference team with a strong inside game, etc.), it appears we may need to change the way we measure the Tribe's success.

I feel that for the first time since the Parkhill era (more Bruce than Barry actually), this team is based on defensive performance. For decades a W&M defensive stop seems to have relied on a missed open shot by the other team, with the rebound bouncing the right way. At the end of the game, we fans would want the ball in the Tribe's possession, even if we were down rather than the ball in the opposition's possession, even if we were up. (Not that it worked out well in the Championship game last year.)

Now when I watch a Tribe game, I focus on points allowed by ten-minute increments; allowing 15 or fewer is the goal while allowing 10 or fewer rates a superior grade.

For example, yesterday the increments were 11,12,5 & 17.

Long-time Redskins fans experienced the same whiplash effect when the "we will outscore them" Jurgensen Redskins were supplanted by the "hold em, offense and the defense will win it" Allen Redskins. It's a new way of thinking and the fans have to adjust just as the players do.

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Way too complicated for me - I prefer when we just outscore the opponent from the get-go, and keep piling it on!!!! [like yesterday]

We have frequently run into the problem where we go 5 out of 10 minutes without a basket. Defense is the only thing keeping us in those games. Shaver has never been an offensive minded coach. His first three seasons were a harsh lesson in trying to force the players into a system instead of making a playbook around the players. He wanted to run on offense and pressure on defense, and we didn't have the athletes for either. I also think that when he switched to the matchup zone from 90' pressure he found that when he has the athletes for the latter, the former can be a real bear for opposing offenses.

I will actually be in Williamsburg this week for both games. I wonder at which game they will have a halftime ceremony to give me the "Worst Post of the Year" award? (See my original post below.)