Personally think blocked shots are too high. I can understand why they would be high in a lesser skilled version of the NBA (if we even are this) but with the pace so fast I really struggle to see how most bigs would have the energy or be in position to block a decent amount of shots each game. I don't have the stats but I reckon we have around 5 or 6 who could average more than the league leader in the nba........ Also if the pace is to remain the same I wouldn't mind seeing fatigue increased and having more emphasis on a deeper rotation. Less guys on 36 minutes a game and more on 30
Yeah, we're about 1.5 blocks over the league team average so that's something that I'm trying to get a handle on too - but not without making all the centres in the league less influential. We're lucky to have a league deep in centre talent (at least defensively), so I think that having a higher block count is more indicative of the league, and it rewards those centers who did develop their player into awesome rim protectors. I think having so little 3pt shooting in previous seasons saw their totals inflated too, which helped their improvement. Yeah, I'd reeeeally love for some players to play less minutes too (selectors seem to be under the impression that their starters NEED to play 36 minutes), but because we don't have deep rosters players are going to play more and they're needed to play more. It's a delicate balance.
Agree that we have alot of great rim protectors. Maybe then you could decrease dunk/layup/close shot tendencies slightly and increase 3pt tendencies as a result of a league wide adjustment to respecting these blockers? This would encourage people to take more 3pt attempts, train in 3pters/perimeter defense and also could possibly decrease the amount of blocked shots but not the % of inside shots blocked. Would really punish teams like the Mustangs who have nothing better then league average perimeter defenders and rely on a tough inside. Which irl is an adjustment which would be made by many teams against many teams in this league.
I think that's the kind of adjustment that should be made by teams and players tbh. I don't think I should be dictating the way the league progresses, that should be something that happen through teams coming up with something new to beat. Like we saw the Ocelots do something different and play a big lineup with a center who basically got out of the way on offense, but provided a massive boost on defence to such a point that the Ocelots became this offensive juggernaut. This season the Parrots have tried to replicate it, but teams are beating them with quicker lineups. I don't think this is a designed tactic (people still seem to think that Downes = big = better), but guys are exploiting this a bit and the fact that Chewie does more on offence than Downes means Downes has to play a little more outside than he did last season, so he hasn't been as effective. The Hurricanes are also running small ball with success (at times)
Yeah fair point. Part of the reason I don't start Burridge (who I feel could be a good offensive big) especially when he was outperforming Read, is because I don't want him getting annihilated by the premier shot blockers in the league which I could see happening. I do think Burridge would combine better with myself then Read but the gap is closing due to Ready somehow finding ways to score.
This is great discussion! I think small ball has really been used a lot this year due to the lack of quality power forwards. I am certainly a purist when it comes to placing player into positions but I guess the Ocelots had no real choice but to play small ball. Also would capping the minutes a player can play to lets say 32 be a more beneficial for the league, if there were players on each team?
Small ball just offers so much efficiency offensively with spacing, especially if you have a ball handler at the 3 or 4. Love watching big boppers go at it but sadly the pack the paint strategy means on the very best offensive players can make it work these days. No jumpshot = No massive offensive production for bigs in current schemes
And you certainly notice it in this league too. Who are our best scoring bigs? Hunt - mid range jumper Weaver - can shoot out to the 3 Hall - probably as a pure a post player we have Ames - range to 3 Downes - range to 3 Force - range to 3 Vince - pure jump shooter McDougal - jumper out to 3 One straight out post player. Guys like Hunt, Force and McDougal stay more in the post, but they can nail a jumper if they need to. Makes them elite.
Makes it more clearer Mousey. So that's why most PF struggle. On another note are their games on tonight?
Nah, that's not the reason a lot of 4s struggle. That's because they're mainly inactive. The active guys are among our best players. Your game already went up.
