@Bosthawk Great post. I'd really welcome the possession by possession post if you ever have the desire after a game this season. Watching games like you have really does give an insight into a player, and the team. There were certain instances where Traylor was really good, of course. Usually are. And for what it's worth, there are times when he is blocking out, but there are times when he whiffs, or gets lazy -- see 2:25 of second half. This is how possessions are lost. i watched Traylor religiously last season (not exclusively, but when I re-watched games, I'd rewind and find him). To be honest, his lack of effort on the boards turned my stomach.
Here's a great example. Go to 2:25 of the second half. Watch Traylor's attempted box out. The shot goes up from the far wing. Traylor is in the middle of the lane with a big guy to his left. Traylor watches the shot an leans on the Vandy defender. This is just absolutely horrible. Look where Traylor ends up -- it's what @drgnslayr has referred to and detailed. And see the result. The ball comes off long and the offensive player can get to the ball, and creates a new possession for Vandy. Proper technique is for Traylor, instead of going his left hip to the Vandy player's right hip, to put his but into the right thigh of the Vandy player and get him moving to the baseline. This seals the box out. And that eliminates Vandy's possession. The rebounding area for the Vandy player is now substantially limited.
Now, the reason I'm more hyper focused on Traylor's lack of effort and proper technique is because his rebound rates are so low. This is why the guy drives me crazy. If he'd just use proper technique -- much like Lucas -- he'd be a much more valuable player. But as @drgnslayr has pointed out, it ain't happening.
Regarding Traylor and his shot down low -- he simply isn't worth feeding most of the time. The risk/reward isn't there. He should stay in the high spot. His ability to make those shots is much worse than our rate of shooting threes, given the point value of the shot. Like the example you pointed out. He was wiped out by his defender. Luckily, Lucas cleaned it up.
What you have reported here is, essentially, all of our bigs have lapses on defense. This is very accurate. And this is why I came here last season and was very vocal for Cliff. He'd make a big, stupid mistake. Perhaps one so big that no other post guy would make it. But the rest of his time he was pretty good, had long arms, would rebound -- and the other guys (Lucas, Ellis, Traylor) would make mistakes too. It seemed that folks that really tried hard to back Self would latch on to Cliff's mistakes without seeing Cliff's positives and the mistakes of others.
I think you are dead on right about Mickelson. He hustles every minute he plays -- he plays hard. He's long. He offers a better total package than Traylor or Lucas. The reason why I feel confident with Mick is I watched him play in the WUGs. Sold. Nothing he has done this season has changed that opinion. I feel bad for Mickelson and how Self has essentially wasted his Kansas career. You said it right -- "We all know we need a real rim protector." Mick can offer a good option there.
By the way, in re-watching games, is there any player more impressive than Frank Mason? Easily the most impressive player to me last season.
Here's something fun (I find it fun at least) -- go to 12:00 of the second half. Set play from a basic box set. Double screen across the top at the free throw line for Graham who drives around the left key area and scores. Now, teams will scout that. What will Self do? I'd bet that later we see that same play but Ellis or Traylor bolts from the double screen (perhaps going around the near high post man, thus a side screen to create some space) to the hoop for the lob from Graham. Anyway, that's what I'd do, but that's how plays can evolve after teams recognize them from scouting. That sort of stuff is a pretty cool see.
Re-watching great teams, coached by great coaches, is as good of a learning experience one could have with this great game. Last season, I watched the recording of the Gonzaga/BYU game at the end of the season. Took me nearly three hours. There are games that I can look back on where I felt that my basketball IQ increased. That is the most recent one. Incredible from an offensive perspective, contrasting approaches, just so much great scheming and offensive diversity in a game with a low number of three pointers. I also watched Duke a number of times last season, and their use of Okafer and the three point line was truly impressive. It was perhaps the best balance a team could have, inside and out. It's why I picked them to win the title before the tourney (my only correct pick in quite a while).
Great stuff. Keep it coming.
