Minford 64 @ Eastern 61 OT

[Eaglesnest]

Congrats to a very good Minford squad. Agreed...no excuses here either(about Thornsberry not playing). I was just wandering what was wrong with him? Thanks for the info.

[bystander]

Thornberry's mom says he sees a doc tomorrow and will know more then.

Eagles gave a good fight---knew Minford wouldn't win as big as predicted--they just didn't show the game everyone has talked them up to be last night.

Poor foul shooting and poor decisions are costing us losses when we should be pulling these games out. I've said it before and here goes again---some of these boys need to mature in the game and they are running out of time---when you're taking 3 pointers at the end of a close game (holiday tournament) instead of passing to a wide open guy standing right under the bucket is just immaturity and questionably selfishness, but none the less its costing "w's".

Also, one player needs to leave his "bad" attitude at home---it not only reflects the team, but Eastern fans who are supporting them. I'm surprised he didn't get T'd last night.

East coach scouted last night---lets be ready for them!!!!

[OneBunter]

Though our Eastern Boys took another tough loss, they played very hard and with much heart. Being at the game last night I would definitely have to say if we would have hit our foul shots during regulation I believe the game would have been ours.

In what I am about to express below is in no way a cut on the boys or the coaching staff, it is merley my opinion and observation, from being an ex-basketball player and running the point in high school and college.


One thing I did notice is that our post guys are not flashing to the ball. They get in one spot and are like statues and our perimeter guys rarely look at them or get the ball to them inside. In listening last night to the coach all I was hearing was rotate the ball around the perimeter, which is great but our perimeter guys need to be looking inside more and I have not seen that in the few games i have been to. I also noticed we have one post man standing in the middle of the foul line at the top of the key, but we never get him the ball or he does not set any picks for the guards to cut to the bucket. It also seems to me that he is keeping our point guard from penetrating down the middle, then losing the opportunity to dump off to one of the postman when he gets double teamed. We do not have that consistent outside shooter to be passing the ball around the perimeter and not moving towards the bucket. We also miss many opportunities off the fast break, for we do not look up the floor. It also seems that a few of our players are hesitant to shoot when they do have that open shot.

I also do not understand why we continue to throw the ball into our guy in the corner when the opposing team is pressing us full court. They know where the ball is going, so it looks if the guy on the ball is there to keep us from going deep, but actually he is decoying and trapping, then we end up throwing the ball away. I always thought it was a golden rule never get the ball into the corner on a press??
Also why do we not flash someone to the middle on our full court press breaker???
Why do we not pick up and down on our press breaker?? The guy that sets the pick then rolls right back to the ball (would make it easier to get the ball in) in the middle of the floor, which makes it a little harder to trap and it also gives us more open passing lanes to break the press. This would also not allow opposing teams to get into there trap as quickly as they did last night.

Another thing I see is our point guards are always bringing the ball up the right or left side (right mostly) this impairs us from utilizing the whole court. Teams are picking up on this and they are sagging in to one side, which is taking us out of our offense. It also is allowing opposing teams to guard the our one or two men on the side the ball is coming down on and allowing the others to take away the opposite passing lanes. If you actually watch 90% of our plays go to the right. If any team scouts us and the coaches are seeing this, then it is easy to defend. Our guards need to bring the ball up the middle of the floor on the fast break as well as walking it up the floor. It will allow them to see the floor much better.

[live4sport]

geez-----anything else you want to get off your chest??

maybe you should coach a team--- or relax a little.

[Eaglesnest]

Onebunter,

I see some of the issues on your list. The main issue that I see is lack of basketball "instict." In other words, I haven't been to a practice, but it would be hard for me to believe that the coaches instruct the post players to stand in one spot.....that guards should only go right....and go to the corner against a press adn never pick for each other.....and never look in the post or go triple threat position when they catch it.

If things are not natural, then players "forget" in the heat of a game situation.

But, I think if the Eagles keep their heads up, these close losses against teams that were supposed to walk over all them should only give them the confidence that they can play with and beat most every team on the remainder of their schedule. IF they play smart and knock down open shots and free throws.

[tiger_balla]

Any word on Thornsberry's injury? An earlier post said he was to see the doctor today.

[OSU Alumni 2000]

I think OneBunter brought up some good points. The Coaches probably don't tell the players to do that, but i havent heard them say anything to the boys during game. The only thing i hear him yell at the boys for is bad shots or turnovers.

And I also agree with Eaglesnest, they dont have very good basketball instincts. A few of the boys do, but as a whole, it is not very good

[OneBunter]

What I am about to say is again an obersvation, no means of anything derogatory towards the coaches or the players. I know the coaches are teaching the boys the right things.

I am just confused about this phrase of Basketball Instinct. The reason I bring this up is most of these players have been around the game since biddy ball, as well as, they have been to camps over their high school careers. Most of them probably play alot over the summer and participate in open gyms, so what is it going to take for them to get that basketball instinct?

It looked like they had that basketball instinct to me tonight against East!