JAN 8 - Clay at Eastern SOC I

[my2cents]

As I had feared, Coach T made no changes to the program that he has run for that past three years over the Christmas break. Clay still can not get the ball inbounds and took 2 or 3 five second call. Why, because they have no play set up to get someone open. As was said on this site two years ago and last year, it is helter skelter. Every man for himself. It would be comical if it weren't so sad for the team. Two of the 5 second calls were back to back and came at a point when Clay pulled to within 10 points after being down 18. Coach T never called a timeout to save the ball, and I am pretty sure he took some Time outs home with him again. I guess he will cash them all in someday. Clay got 2 ten second violations and again, no TO's to save the ball. Coach T pulled out all starters at the end of the first half for the last 3 minutes, and pulled his big men towards the end. I thought he would press since they were down and needed to get the ball, but Clay never pressed one time all night. Why?, Clay's man to man press doesn't work and since Coach T refuses to play zone he knows they can't steal the ball from another team. The players were flat and you can tell they have no passion or confidence in themselves or their team and that is a reflection on the coach. It is amazing to watch teams like Eastern run set plays and get nice back door cuts for layups (Heres a hint for the coach, your man to man defense hasn't worked for that past 3 years, give it up and try something else) and then watch Clay's offense which is basically 1 against 5 on their classic pass and weave and try to create something on your own. How many times did our big men turn to ball over at the top of the key trying to create. Why would you have a 6-5 or 6-6 kid out at the top of the key handling the ball like a guard?
Eastern is a well coached and very team oriented program. The two teams matched up pretty well, coaching made the difference. Now let's hear it from WWH who told me what a great job the coach was doing, and that the problem was Clay has no talent.

[Hoggy]

Congrats to the Eagles!

Thank you SOCFAN1430, I got lucky.

[Noexcuses]

Excellent job by Coach Whitt last night in the freshman game, he matched up the boys well and is really becoming a quality coach. Good job Panthers!!!!!
Good Luck Monday night playing the Falcons at Clay!!!!

[my2cents]

My take on the game is and was they are both basically the same teams from last year and they split last year. I think Clay's coach is the weakest link in the game. I remember at least years 22 point loss he didn't even get them out of the locker room at half time until the refs had handed the ball to Eastern at half court. He forces them to play man to man all the time against faster smaller teams and has no press break or press (other than man to man) that works.

If Clay packs it in a bit on defense and plays some zone with the big men they have, it will be a close game. They can't have 28 TO's and go 1 for 14 from the three point line. If they try to play man to man the whole game and the coach thinks that taking open three point shots is a good idea, even though your 1 for 14 for the night, Eastern will win by 20+ points.
BTW, I only saw two post picking Clay and I think they might be "Very close" to the team. I checked out the Eastern School website to try and find out who they have won and lost to, but they only had the schedule. That is why I assumed the played NB.

PS. I was not cutting you about the "grasp", I am just saying don't expect parents and fans to get on here and pick Eastern to win. We all have to at least give the kids the confidence that they can win. I don't think anyone picked Clay to win last year over Symmes Valley or Eastern and yet they beat both of them, in only a 6 win season.

Clay's games are easy to predict, because nothing ever changes.

Something should be said about the conditioon of Easterns floor. With three games being played and all the people walking across the floor between games and at halftime the floor was like a skating rink in the varisty game. I watched the film and Clay had at least 5 travel calls from sliding with the ball. Didn't seem to affect Eastern, maybe because they stay in control, but it was a factor. Eastern might want to look into sweeping the floor between games and at halftime. Especially with the salt tracked in from outside.

[Eaglesnest]

Congrats to the Eagles on another impressive win. This team continues to amaze. Keep up the good work!

[TripleDouble]

[/quote]
Something should be said about the conditioon of Easterns floor. With three games being played and all the people walking across the floor between games and at halftime the floor was like a skating rink in the varisty game. I watched the film and Clay had at least 5 travel calls from sliding with the ball. Didn't seem to affect Eastern, maybe because they stay in control, but it was a factor. Eastern might want to look into sweeping the floor between games and at halftime. Especially with the salt tracked in from outside.[/quote]

If it effected the Clay players, but the floor did not bother the Eastern players. I believe that is the definition of home court advantage

[live4sport]

Just out of curiosity---how would a floor affect one team and not the other? If it's slick then it is slick for everyone.

[my2cents]

I didn't insinuate it was an advantage. Clay's offense is so helter skelter that they tend to slide on the floor more than Eastern. I watched the tape and saw at least 5 sliding travels called on Clay. There might have been one against Eastern. The main point about the floor is Eastern might want to sweep the floor between games and halftime just for the safety of their players.

[live4sport]

I agree it should be swept between games.

[claypantherfan]

Yeah it cold have helped it was pretty slick

[Hoggy]

That is what makes the Eagle's Nest worth 10 points!

The eagles have talons and do not slip around like panthers, vikings, tartans, Indians amd bobcats.

[my2cents]

Panthers and Bobcats have claws too you know!

Hoggy, you were right on the money about the avg points, but I also said if Clay played they way they always do since Coach T has came here, they would lose by 20+. So we were both right.

[Hoggy]

True.....but the Eagle's talons have been specially prepared with some non-slip Atomic plant residue. We aren't quite sure why the mysterious glow is from, but it sure does work. lol

Yeah, I know you all are getting frustrated with the system, or an individual, but hang in there partner. The Eagles have to come to your court next.

It has been a pleasure chatting with you. Looking forward to the next game.

[my2cents]

Hopefully for Clay it will be a repeat of last year. After a 22 point loss at the Nest they won at home by 5 points.

The most frustrating thing to watch it the fact that the current Jr and Sr on Clay used to beat Eastern by 30 points in Jr High under Coach Richards (who was turned down for the job). This years senior class only lost 1 game in 7th, 8th and 9th grade and this years Jr players won 80% of their Jr High games. Usually if you have success in Jr High it carries over to your high school program. All that has changed is the coach.

[WWH]

As I had feared, Coach T made no changes to the program that he has run for that past three years over the Christmas break. Clay still can not get the ball inbounds and took 2 or 3 five second call. Why, because they have no play set up to get someone open. As was said on this site two years ago and last year, it is helter skelter. Every man for himself. It would be comical if it weren't so sad for the team. Two of the 5 second calls were back to back and came at a point when Clay pulled to within 10 points after being down 18. Coach T never called a timeout to save the ball, and I am pretty sure he took some Time outs home with him again. I guess he will cash them all in someday. Clay got 2 ten second violations and again, no TO's to save the ball. Coach T pulled out all starters at the end of the first half for the last 3 minutes, and pulled his big men towards the end. I thought he would press since they were down and needed to get the ball, but Clay never pressed one time all night. Why?, Clay's man to man press doesn't work and since Coach T refuses to play zone he knows they can't steal the ball from another team. The players were flat and you can tell they have no passion or confidence in themselves or their team and that is a reflection on the coach. It is amazing to watch teams like Eastern run set plays and get nice back door cuts for layups (Heres a hint for the coach, your man to man defense hasn't worked for that past 3 years, give it up and try something else) and then watch Clay's offense which is basically 1 against 5 on their classic pass and weave and try to create something on your own. How many times did our big men turn to ball over at the top of the key trying to create. Why would you have a 6-5 or 6-6 kid out at the top of the key handling the ball like a guard?
Eastern is a well coached and very team oriented program. The two teams matched up pretty well, coaching made the difference. Now let's hear it from WWH who told me what a great job the coach was doing, and that the problem was Clay has no talent.

Great talent aside, the willingness to work has never been there. Why should they work, you give them every excuse not too. Your asking kids to do something they are unwilling to do the work for. Thus, the skill is not there either. It's obvious you are a parent or someone with an emotional connection with the program. Why don't you try something new, shut up !!!

[my2cents]

As I expected, another very informative and insightful post from WWH. I asked you to watch the game and then debate what was right or wrong, and all you got is "Shut Up". It's not just me that is upset and your buddy Coach T is going to be in the hot seat. Maybe you can show up and defend him then since your opinion now is to just shut up while he runs the program into the ground. Clay basketball is becoming a joke and the administration doesn't seem to care.

BTW, great deduction Sherlock, that I am a parent or someone emotionally connected. Why else would I care.

As far as work goes, do you ever go to a practice? They practiced everyday over Christmas break and bust their butts, only to come back with the same BS program that hasn't worked since Coach T got here. Of course the boys are frustrated, they have played ball long enough to know that what they are made to do isn't going to work. To bad you and the coach can't seem to figure that out.

[Bluebasketball01]

im a bystander just watching and the sophomores from last year are not any better than they were last year. i wonder if they all just played video games over the summer or golfed. because i can tell they sure didnt play basketball . the point guard keeps dribbling behind his back when it is not necessary and goes east and west only. the other guard keeps carrying the ball and the other sophomore likes giving elbows. everybody thinks these guys have so much talent because of there junior high record. the other teams got better and they didnt. its called work ethic and they dont have it. ballhandling is on the individual when they dont work on their ball skills. they turn the ball over and thats the problem . no coaching change can cure that problem.

[Waterdog]

BBasketball01, I am certain there are kids on the team, who golfed, played video games and so on. There were also kids on the team who attended camps and played ball every chance they got, but you cannot impress anyone with the method of play the Coach T uses. The Clay boys beat Waverly on their own without the coach to start off the season.

[SOCFAN1430]

My2cents. I have not yet seen your Panthers play this yr and don't know about the quality of coach you have. I can assure you that this years group of juniors and seniors at Clay never beat Eastern by 30 points. I can recall a few games that went down to the wire and were decided by 6-8 points and less. Aside from all of that they were good jr high teams

[my2cents]

Bball, I'll give you the fact that they don't have a true point guard, so as a coach what would you do. How about keeping 2 boys back to bring the ball up the court, or even three and let them pass it up instead of trying to dribble it up. It's not rocket science, yet the coach thinks that everyone can beat the press on their own. So it is TO's and layups. So it is in fact up to the coach to know the skill level of each player and use their strengths and avoid their weakness.

SOC fan, not that it's a big deal, but I'll get back to you on that one.