It's not just poor defense.

[RomanHawk]

We all recognize the problem on defense, but Fran claims an expertise on offense that I don't think exists.

Yesterday we went 6 minutes and 22 seconds without scoring a single point. At our normal offensive
rate, that's 14 lost points. Yes Garza was on the bench. That allows the defense to concentrate even more on our perimeter shooters. So what is the counter to that? Rushing shots? Poor shot selection? Hoping that our shooters get hot?

It seems to me that the offensive focus in that circumstance should shift to getting guys going to the basket. At least we would score SOME points on free throws. We have guys on the bench that can do that; but better had they been given more PT in earlier games. But do we have the "system" to do that? Even with Garza's points, without checking, I'm guessing that IND outscored us in the paint. And their paint points were almost uncontested compared to Garza's struggles. Why? Because they have a system.

In virtually all of our losses, we have one or more long dry spells. Overall we score a lot of points because of pace and relying on individual player skills. But a well designed offensive scheme or system that can be adjusted to fit the circumstance and provide consistency? NO

 

[perryhawk]

Where is our offensive efficiency rated nationally?

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Having as bad a D as they do puts even more pressure on the O side of the equation.
If they are not going to improve on D, which we have no evidence to suggest they will, then they cannot afford scoring droughts of several minutes and expect to win.

 

[DewHawk]

Another thought is, in addition to crap defense, is the fact that FM never changes his overall game strategy so by mid-season everybody is gaming against his now old and repeated game plan. The offense looked totally out of synch the entire game IMHO.

 

[DewHawk]

Another thought, Rutgers will win by 10/15 points Wednesday IMO. They have changed starters and improved their team chemistry with the changes. FM would never do such a thing other than injuries.

 

[Pepperman]

Where is our offensive efficiency rated nationally?

i think he means when Garza sits, or at least noted it yesterday as Garza sat? This is very worrisome for the future too, as the Hawks don’t seem to have a natural “creator” on offense. We’ve seen this in year’s past too.

 

[ZumaHawk]

OP I think some of this makes sense. With that being said IMO there’s more to it at this time of year. No CJ....Garza isn’t shooting quite as well.....teams have seen a lot of film on us....defense isn’t the best...free throws all of a sudden have left us....subs are good one game and then don’t even score 1 point! Tough every game at this time as well. Confidence may be a factor too.

 

[24 so far]

Having as bad a D as they do puts even more pressure on the O side of the equation.
If they are not going to improve on D, which we have no evidence to suggest they will, then they cannot afford scoring droughts of several minutes and expect to win.

When this year started I thought this is a team where we Finally don't have to worry about prolonged scoring droughts. Well, that hasn't been the case, I guess it's gonna happen no matter what. Sigh.

 

[perryhawk]

i think he means when Garza sits, or at least noted it yesterday as Garza sat? This is very worrisome for the future too, as the Hawks don’t seem to have a natural “creator” on offense. We’ve seen this in year’s past too.

Understood.....I just don't think the answers are simple. First, as mentioned above when the defense is poor it just puts way more pressure on the offense....so we have to play better defense. I thought that we did play much better in yesterday's game against Indiana....and still lost. That would seem to support the OPs statement..but of course, we were missing an important cog with CJ out. Then you have Luka getting hosed by the refs, having to sit a huge chunk of the first half, use of the bench/rotation, etc. etc etc.....like everyone, I am very frustrated right now.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

We miss CJ, but against IU we had 5 assists. We got ZERO field goals from our subs off the bench. That and getting killed on the boards and for loose balls, is all you need to know to understand how poorly we played.

 

[Rudolph]

Iowa got good shots, the shots they wanted, for the most part yesterday. Iowa struggles not having a shot-creator on the floor, for sure. CJ might be the best late-clock player, but he needs to be healthy. But he creates his own shot better than anybody not named Luka.

Many, many possessions last night ended with good shots by the guys you want taking them. Nunge had a bunch, just couldn't finish anything.

Also, the defense was pretty good last night. Indiana won, aside from Luka's foul woes, in large part to winning nearly every 50/50 ball. Lotta offensive rebounds they came up with where the ball just seemed to find them, long rebounds from bad three-point misses, misses created by good D.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Some of the decisions the guards have made lately with post feeds are mind boggling. If it's not there, it's not there. What is he going to do with a pass he catches under the basket with the out of bounds line, the backboard and 2-3 defenders collapsing on him? It's almost impossible to have a guy like Garza get the attention he does and not be able to find an open shooter. Clear one side and let Joe T. or Ulis attack or get Garza out of the paint and run some pick and pop stuff---something, anything other than going through these brutal scoring droughts.