Well when we score 121 it's fair to expect a win, but not when we give up 134. Despite some players alternating good and bad games, we had enough O firepower, but three quarters of 30+ points against were the result of some defensive lapses that reared their head.
The issues in the first half were O rebounding against, FT disparity, and their hitting open 3s (they made 6 in the 1st Q alone to our 4). We actually ended up making one more 3 than they did, and we made 6 more FTs by the end of the game (we started the first half only 5-6, finished overall with 20-23).
Our two main guys were terrific once again. LMA, despite being doubled often, still led us from the 3 at 5-9 and scored 21 on 7-12, 2-2FTs, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block. DeMar was flat out scorching in a variety of ways, reading defenses, getting to his spots, driving physically, finishing with fundamentals while tying LMA for team-high 9 boards, getting a team-high 2 O boards, team-high 13-14FTs, and even hit a 3. Team-high 9 assists and a steal, and it all made for a complete game.
Bryn stepped up with 21 on 7-12 including some solid drives and floaters, 4-8 from 3, and 3-4FTs for his second consecutive solid game. Given his struggles, it stands out, so credit to him.
LMA had Rudy as solid big support who led the bench with 13 points on 5-12. Jakob pitched in with 6 on 3-4, but his efficiency is offset by few FGs. He's still mostly a defensive help (3 blocks). But Trey once again swung from solid contributor to disappearing act (1-5, 3 rebounds, 2 assists). He had some wide open looks that he looked unnerved by and took way too long in releasing his shot with his too-deliberate release. Just let it fly.
So DeMar had Bryn's help, but our three PGs combined for 17 points. Whereas DJ and Patty shot well, they didn't put it up enough. Derrick's shot once again disappeared (1-6). In some ways he's regressed a bit this season, still very steady and smart and defensively responsible, and he does take his 3s a bit more, but he's still not assertive enough and his finishing around the rim - too many missed bunnies lacking fundamentals - needs improving. Also, none of our guards outside of DeMar (and Bryn who was fouled on 3s) got to the FT line. Some were blocked, a couple maybe should have gotten calls, but on the whole it was too imbalanced. Lonnie had a performance (1-5) that reminds fans expecting greatness simply with more minutes that he is in fact a work in progress, and has a lot to learn. Tons of athleticism, but not always the best decisions in how to best use it for himself or the team.
They were quick in getting to the ball and though we passed well out of doubles, we did take some contested shots or too early in the clock that were more forced from not being able to make good to great passes rather than opportunistic ones at times. Still, we did make some adjustments and moved better for some weak side and trailing cuts that gave us open looks. But there too little of these. The post-game commentators talked about how they were able to impose their style of game on us, and that was largely true, as we did not do enough of what helped us succeed in the previous two games.
But it was really the other end of the game that did us in. We got out rebounded handily 49-37, including 11-5 on O boards. They missed 22 3s so there were plenty of opportunities for us to practice yet we somehow had a hard time remembering that long shots produce long rebounds, and we gave up multiple chances and multiple second chance points off of them. It also didn't help that we fouled them on some of their putback makes, and that there were several 6-point swings against where in we missed a 3 and had once scored on us on the next possession.
Although we made one more 3 in total, it's when these occurred that had us behind for much of the game and expending energy catching up. They made their 3s in clumps that were deflating just about every time we brought the game to within five or so points. Starting out the 2nd and 4th Qs with 13-3 and 8-0 runs against were not the game plan on either end, and though we made runs of our own like when we finished the 2nd Q on a 13-5 run, it was tough to keep playing from behind when giving up big runs. Our bench outscored theirs 26-17 in the first half, but they finished with a 40-35 edge.
Their pace affected us on both ends. They put up 13 more FGs over all and made 10 more shots. They also had 5 steals and we turned it over 11 times on which we gave up 17 points. I thought we did a better job in the first half in collapsing our D on their drives, but they kicked out and kept making their 3s which opened up space for their P&Rs which we had trouble defending once again. Bryn got switched on often, but even DJ wasn't effective in stopping their crafty young PG. As a matter of fact, DJ played only the first two minutes of the 3rd Q, but did get subbed in in the 4th Q. Lessons through sitting.
They ended up with a 56-36 points in the paint advantage. It didn't help that when we missed shots or they stole the ball they beat us down the court for easier buckets, losing on the fast break 22-9. So the old culprits of giving up O boards, transition D, P&R defense returned.
A minor point of game class, but I didn't like their taking and making a shot on their final possession when the game was at hand. We dribbled it out.
Some things to clean up, then, namely being stronger in running out to contest the 3s, being smarter about rebound trajectories and positioning, transition defense, ball protection, and maintaining focus. The result speaks to how each of these wavered in intensity and effort. Nothing we can't fix, as we've shown we're capable of better in all these areas.
NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS
