Final: Bradley 55 Portland 57

[Da Coach]

Story and box score from BradleyBraves.com

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25965&SPID=1498&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205851475&DB_OEM_ID=3400

And the game story from Dave Reynolds-

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x65619775/LIVE-Bradley-vs-Portland

Coach Ford suggests the final play did not have Will shhoting a three as the primary plan.

[Rusty 54]

Do our guards care that they are poor shooters? I would be embarrassed if I was a guard and the option for a 3 at the end of a game went to the center. Tough two days.

[BuB]

Lappas and Gottlieb were saying it was a designed play that was called. They ran the replay about three or four times after the game ended. Either it was well defended or it ended up in the wrong player's hands.

I tend to believe Geno called a timeout to set up our last play against a zone defense. That is what Portland was playing late in the game. I give credit to their coach in coming out of the timeout playing man to man defense. It made our guys improvise. WE may be the guy the play was drawn up for but I am not sure shooting a 3 was the first option.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I tend to believe Geno called a timeout to set up our last play against a zone defense. That is what Portland was playing late in the game. I give credit to their coach in coming out of the timeout playing man to man defense. It made our guys improvise. WE may be the guy the play was drawn up for but I am not sure shooting a 3 was the first option.

What typically happens in a case like this is you call for two sets. One against the zone, and another if they switch to man. It's important to force the issue just enough so that the defense can be identified and the according play can be run. Based on what Geno said in the paper, it sounded like the first option was defended and Will was another option in the set.

[tornado]

What's everyone's assessment 12 games into the season?

Here's mine...

#1 ...We are who we are - we are not a good outside-shooting team but...we have power in the paint and we have some strength, skill, experience, and athleticism at every position.
I believe if we limit turnovers and sloppy play, feed the low post, and then nail our FT's - we can still finish at least 4th, 5th, or 6th in the Valley - and I HOPE even better.

#2 ...Half the MVC has even less than we have.... so let's look forward - not back and start the MVC race off believing we can contend with every team in the league.

#3 ... with our RPI & SOS - we were never going to be on anyone's short list for at-large bids - so let's just go earn respect by taking the games one at a time and playing to our strength.
I like the guys we have and I am going to be pulling for them every game - GO BRAVES!

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Expectations are a funny thing. Going into the year, I had Bradley for 7-5 through the first 12 games. However, after starting 8-2, I'm a little disappointed that they didn't get to at least 9-3. Regardless, the conference schedule is going to be a grind. The Braves will see A LOT of zone, and will have to win some games on defense and grit, because it's hard to win basketball games when you shoot less than 40% from the field.

[wily coyote]

Me too!

So far at least 3 of us like the shot chosen. Unfortunatly it didn't go down. WE was the ONLY one who should have shot the three. We've seen the rest of the guys shoot three's and it AIN'T pretty. I think we were going for the win and not OT. I also agree with that. I think this was a winable game but it sure shows our lack of talent. Portland was BAD. We still have a long ways to go with what Geno was left with. Hard to be patient but BETTER days are ahead.

[wily coyote]

Like I said, I don't think Egolf coming off that screen was option 1 or even option 2. I think it was the third option and without a timeout we were able to at least run the play and get a shot off to win the game. Yes, not the ideal shot, but it had a chance

Disagree 100% .I think WE was the intended shooter and I think Geno was going for the W. Totally agree with both decisions if those were the case.

[wily coyote]

I don't see how they could have known, other than guessing and acting like they knew it was a designed play. They were broadcasting from the opposite side of the court, and could not have possibly heard what was called.
If that was the best shot a team can get with 10 sec left and a full timeout then it was a disaster doomed to fail. Nonetheless, I agree that the game should never have come down to that circumstance. We blew a number of chances to take control of the game.

One nice thig about message boards,we can agree to disagree and I do this one. If we were told to go for the win then who else would you want taking the last shot? WE is the ONLY one who should have taken it and he did.Just didn't go in,can't fault the play just that the shot didn't go in.

[JMM28]

#1 ...We are who we are - we are not a good outside-shooting team but...we have power in the paint and we have some strength, skill, experience, and athleticism at every position.
I believe if we limit turnovers and sloppy play, feed the low post, and then nail our FT's - we can still finish at least 4th, 5th, or 6th in the Valley - and I HOPE even better.

Agreed. Hopefully BU can find ways to score when the zones starting packing it in and daring them to shoot from outside.

At this point there is no reason to put a body on DSE, Walt, or Jake past about 18 feet.

The free throw shooting has been a nice point.

[AZ BU Fan]

Would have preferred BU try and go inside for the tie, with opportunity to shoot FT's to tie (or possibly win with 3 pt play)... But I did not get a chance to watch or listen to the game and am only an arm chair coach...

BU didn't get too many opportunities to win with last second shots last season, so this could be new territory for them!




Players can't always make shots, but, they can always play hard and smart. Learn from these two games in Vegas Braves and continue to bring it 100% every game... No regrets with losses if players go all out...

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I don't think that Geno wanted anything to do with a second consecutive overtime game. Shoot for the win and be done with it.

[Bravesfan]

I don't see how they could have known, other than guessing and acting like they knew it was a designed play. They were broadcasting from the opposite side of the court, and could not have possibly heard what was called.
If that was the best shot a team can get with 10 sec left and a full timeout then it was a disaster doomed to fail. Nonetheless, I agree that the game should never have come down to that circumstance. We blew a number of chances to take control of the game.

I guess Lappas was using his coaching experience, and Gottlieb was recalling his playing experience in coming up with their assessment. But like you said, if the team doesn't throw up desperation shots all second half, the game would not have come down to this play.

[Bravesfan]

Not to be disagreeable Bravesfan, but I think the last 2 nights have shown that our improved record (8-4 vs. 5-7) has as much to do with other circumstances than it does with improvement. No doubt we are a bit improved, but playing as many really weak and poorly coached opponents as we have this season has given the false impression, championed by the cheerleaders at the PJS that we are light years better. This team, unfortunately, has still got too many weak areas that have not been dealt with to see satisfying improvement this year. Hopefully that will change next year.
I think I have been realistic in assessing this year's team. I predicted they would be 8-4 at this point, though I did think we'd lose at CMU, and win tonight's game against Portland.

Well I think we both agree that Bradley will struggle to get to .500 in Valley play because of the step up in opponent quality, which I totally agree has made our record as about as inflatable as Wisconsin's and Mississippi's (sorry Indiana St.!). But we'll see if we can Bradley's Valley win total will be around 7 or 8 games or closer to 3 or 4. I think we have improved enough to win no worse than 4 or 5 games, and two of them better be against Missouri St. We'll sneak up on a two or three mid level teams like we did against UNI and InSt. last year. Hopefully we get at least one or two road wins as well, which should get us to 6 or 7 wins. So I still think 7 or 8 wins despite our weak non-conference schedule is obtainable, whether it actually happens or not. Not saying this makes for a great season, but hopefully the games will be a bit more competitive for the fans.

[Bravesfan]

What's everyone's assessment 12 games into the season?

Here's mine...

#1 ...We are who we are - we are not a good outside-shooting team but...we have power in the paint and we have some strength, skill, experience, and athleticism at every position.
I believe if we limit turnovers and sloppy play, feed the low post, and then nail our FT's - we can still finish at least 4th, 5th, or 6th in the Valley - and I HOPE even better.

#2 ...Half the MVC has even less than we have.... so let's look forward - not back and start the MVC race off believing we can contend with every team in the league.

#3 ... with our RPI & SOS - we were never going to be on anyone's short list for at-large bids - so let's just go earn respect by taking the games one at a time and playing to our strength.
I like the guys we have and I am going to be pulling for them every game - GO BRAVES!

I totally agree, though 7 or 8 Valley wins is probably the most realistic goal for now. If they can finish 4th or better, great. I hope they prove us wrong!

Actually your first point should have been restated as follows:

"They are (Portland) who we thought they were. And we let them off the hook!"