2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

[IPC]

Cone needs to improve his schemes on PnR. I saw that we gave up open lanes and open threes too much on PnR.

[C2Hamm]

Cone needs to improve his schemes on PnR. I saw that we gave up open lanes and open threes too much on PnR.

I read somewhere that PBA 3pti% sn't good as a league
so you can get away with that there

[IPC]

I read somewhere that PBA 3pt# isn't good as a league
so you can get away with that there

Not in FIBA. Against SoKor in 2017, we gave up 14-21 from 3, and we got knocked out. Against Indonesia in 2022, we gave up 13-31, and we lost the gold medal.

We don't defend as many pick-and-rolls in the PBA too, so we hardly had to scheme.

[IPC]

Offense is passable but defense sucks. Better teams will not miss that many open 3s.

gilas can neither defend nor shoot 3s

tamayo & amos are prolly not gonna be part of the rotation.

Junemar can score but always liability on defense always a prime target in PnR

And now there's two of them in the middle.

if only edu, junemar at kai can fuse into one

This is a big reason why I think it would have been better for us to get a good defender at 4/5 as our NP after JB. In case AJ's injured, at least we have another big to help Kai out. 4, so Kai could get reps. 5, so that if Kai sits and AJ's out, we have a big who can anchor the defense.

In the alternative, I hope our locals can defend better as a team. Maybe some scheme adjustments here and there.

The trend for our team is, if we can't defend, we get knocked out early, or in the SEA Games, lose the gold.

[Rds]

So how was the game? Saw in the highlights the game was pretty close. But in the 4th we couldnt get close. Junemar cant move his feet at this point. He just sticks with screener giving an opennlane to the other. For some reason it wasnt as bad in the Asian games. But still it’s a big liability in the end game.

I like Kai taking open perimeter shots and taking a dribble or two. He wont be a post up threat against these beefy Euros so he needs to take advantage of his length and mobility against them.

Not too many 3s as expected. Didnt see much from Newsome. This is not the PBA where he had physical and athletic advantages to overcome the hitch in his shot. Good thing Heading might join after Latvia.

[Metta]

Cone needs to improve his schemes on PnR. I saw that we gave up open lanes and open threes too much on PnR.

It's definitely a weakness without Edu or a NP big.

For this squad without either, it's a work in progress. And the JMF and Kai twin tower combo is not getting massacred as much as most expect. They're trying out different things like no more drop defense, and we're also prioritizing tall lineups. This is what this practice games are for, we get to try out different things against a Euro-level team (which we need to do more often).

At the end of the day, the goal is to score more than the opponent. At our level (especially without Edu or an NP big), we can only do so much and take away some things and not everything.

On Newsome, hopefully he maintains this form for many more years (amazing block).

Overall, I like how the team is playing in terms of effort and chemistry (CTC forte).

[IPC]

It's definitely a weakness without Edu or a NP big.

For this squad without either, it's a work in progress. And the JMF and Kai twin tower combo is not getting massacred as much as most expect. They're trying out different things like no more drop defense, and we're also prioritizing tall lineups. This is what this practice games are for, we get to try out different things against a Euro-level team (which we need to do more often).

At the end of the day, the goal is to score more than the opponent. At our level (especially without Edu or an NP big), we can only do so much and take away some things and not everything.

On Newsome, hopefully he maintains this form for many more years (amazing block).

Overall, I like how the team is playing in terms of effort and chemistry (CTC forte).

My only doubt about outscoring the opponent is that it never worked out for us in the past in big games because our defense was piss-poor. I already mentioned SoKor and Lebanon in 2017, and Indonesia in 2022. Where our defense went, we went. That's why I never had faith in that approach.

I think that it has to work first against teams like Japan, Iran, SoKor, Jordan, Lebanon, China, and NZ before it can be a viable formula.

[reamily]

These Turkey team they wanted to make sure these group of guys are strong as this line up i stheir only hope for Eurobasket and World Cup qualification.. not their nba stars

[Metta]

So how was the game? Saw in the highlights the game was pretty close. But in the 4th we couldnt get close. Junemar cant move his feet at this point. He just sticks with screener giving an opennlane to the other. For some reason it wasnt as bad in the Asian games. But still it’s a big liability in the end game.

You may have seen them do the no more drop defense experiment. The big stays with his man and rim protection is the task of the other guys. That needs a lot of ability and familiarity from the other guys (which will take time). It's like we've already accepted that JMF and Kai won't be effective drop-defenders at this level.

Obviously, with a complete lineup (with either Edu or a big NP), this will not be how we will defend majority of the time. They're probably giving them the reps doing this because at some point it will have to be used (in situations).

[Metta]

My only doubt about outscoring the opponent is that it never worked out for us in the past in big games because our defense was piss-poor. I already mentioned SoKor and Lebanon in 2017, and Indonesia in 2022. Where our defense went, we went. That's why I never had faith in that approach.

I think that it has to work first against teams like Japan, Iran, SoKor, Jordan, Lebanon, China, and NZ before it can be a viable formula.

When I say "we have to score more than them" doesn't mean we will try to "outgun" them (offensively). It can also mean we do it defensively...make it low-scoring with us just making enough points at the end.

[Rds]

You may have seen them do the no more drop defense experiment. The big stays with his man and rim protection is the task of the other guys. That needs a lot of ability and familiarity from the other guys (which will take time). It's like we've already accepted that JMF and Kai won't be effective drop-defenders at this level.

Obviously, with a complete lineup (with either Edu or a big NP), this will not be how we will defend majority of the time. They're probably giving them the reps doing this because at some point it will have to be used (in situations).

Those are big ifs. Edu’s availability will always be a big if. Even Kawhi seems to play more games than him. There is no big NP coming. Boatright is 6’9.5 with a lesser wingspan. He will offer no rim protection at all at this level. Kouame is the only answer. But Im not sure what level of embarassment will convince SMC to get him. This was Turkey B team. I expect Latvia and Georgia to be stronger. I hope the result won’t be worse.

The no drop defense is scary. It worked a bit now but teams will take advantage. And again at close games JF will be a liability because they know they can get an open shot by PNRing him.

Having Kai mightve helped. But it seems he has his own problems. Im glad Tim is making him shoot the open 3.

It seems the broken leg affected JFs laterals. He cant even do a decent drop. When at his short lived fastest he was even asked by Tab to switch in the OQT.

[Metta]

Those are big ifs. Edu’s availability will always be a big if. Even Kawhi seems to play more games than him. There is no big NP coming. Boatright is 6’9.5 with a lesser wingspan. He will offer no rim protection at all at this level. Kouame is the only answer. But Im not sure what level of embarassment will convince SMC to get him. This was Turkey B team. I expect Latvia and Georgia to be stronger. I hope the result won’t be worse.

Yes it is, but it is what it is. I personally would want a young, 2-way playing NP big. But this is the roster now.

I don't exactly close the door on Boatwright's fit with the team. Just like how on paper, the JMF and Kai combo will get massacred, so far it hasn't (and there is still some room for improvement from the other guys in terms of helping them). If Boat can provide some semblance of Blatche on D and then lights-out on offense, it will be interesting.

We can only judge them from the game and roster last night (so no need for IFs). Who here was expecting us to win, even it this is "team B"? In hindsight, did we have a chance to win...absolutely. What we don't want is results where it's obvious we did not have a chance.

[IPC]

When I say "we have to score more than them" doesn't mean we will try to "outgun" them (offensively). It can also mean we do it defensively...make it low-scoring with us just making enough points at the end.

And that's how we go past knockouts. Make it ugly for opponents.

I just hope we can defend better as a team.

[Metta]

And that's how we go past knockouts. Make it ugly for opponents.

I just hope we can defend better as a team.

In our lineups without Edu and a defensive NP big, the whole team will have to collectively step up in terms of D. That's why I pay attention to effort and team chemistry, which is why I said so far they look good on that front.

Somewhere along the lines of how it was when we had slim Blatche.

[IPC]

In our lineups without Edu and a defensive NP big, the whole team will have to collectively step up in terms of D. That's why I pay attention to effort and team chemistry, which is why I said so far they look good on that front.

Somewhere along the lines of how it was when we had slim Blatche.

I'll see in the actual games, but the fact that it hasn't a disaster is a credit to Cone and the team. I liked the defensive rotations (bar PnR defense) in the Mustangs game, I'd like to see them (and improved PnR defense) later on in games that matter.