The Usual Suspects

The twelve survivors of the Pan-Am Trials played together last night for the first time without the Grim Reaper of roster cuts hanging over their heads. The operative word here is together. When the right amalgam of players were on the floor at the same time, Team USA torched the visiting Philly area pro’s and former college stars. The combination of PG Eric Maynor, PG Drew Neitzel, SG Wayne Ellington, PF D.J. White and PF Joey Dorsey obliterated the opposition 26-5 on one particular run. Though this lineup seems small with both Neitzel and Maynor in at the same time, size was not a question. Joey Dorsey’s Evander Holyfield-esque shoulders could compensate for a perceived lack of size anyway.

Neitzel is the key to this puzzle as the ultimate combo guard. He can bring the ball up the floor without getting his pocket picked. Some Team USA guards struggled to get the ball over half-court with the smothering defense of the LA Clipper guard Dawan Robinson and even worse, former Bonnie Marques Green. Green, a 5’5’’ pigeon-toed ball hawk, might have ten steals in two days – just from taking the cookies of ball handlers in the backcourt. However, Neitzel blew by him on a number of occasions. “The key is not to dance with the ball, just make a quick move and try to get by him – keep him on his heels.” Neitzel has the verve to handle both the physical pressure of someone like Green and the mental pressure of a big stage. “Going up in the Big Ten you see those kind of guys night in and night out,” said Neitzel. “There are some great defenders in that league. My own teammates, I go up against Travis Walton another point guard who is one of the best defenders if not the best in our conference.”

(Neitzel, #6, staying with the incredibly quick Marques Green)

While he and Maynor assisted each other in breaking the press, Neitzel moved to the two and Maynor to the point when Team USA ran their half-court set. “I think they’re gonna have me play both – you know, combo guard. When I’m out there with Eric [Maynor] or somebody, I play the two a bit – kinda look for my shot more,” said Neitzel. “But I’m still a combo guard even at the point. I’m gonna distribute but still do some scoring,” he added. It's no surprise that he looked incredibly comfortable pulling the trigger - coming into the Trials he was the second leading scorer only to Tennessee's Chris Lofton. Let’s not forget Neitzel's sophomore season though: when MSU had some legit scorers to bode, he averaged nearly six assists per outing. Within a four minute span he found Ellington for two of three triples, hit G/F Shan Foster for another three and put the exclamation point on with one of his own. “It’s fun when you play with such talented guys as these guys who can knock down the open shot and make plays,” said Neitzel.

(Neitzel, #6, drilling a leaner from the elbow)

The question we asked yesterday after G/F Bryce Taylor and SG Josh Carter were cut was whether Team USA could defend at a level suitable to Coach Wright's demands when giving up size to bigger guards. The answer is simply yes. Save for C Roy Hibbert, everyone on the floor takes Coach Wright’s “chesting the dribble” technique to heart. Both Ellington and SG Derrick Low forced bigger opponents into taking off-balanced leaners even when they had the edge in transition.

Another tenet of Team USA defense is switching on screens. As one would imagine, it’s not advantageous for D.J. White to try to stop Dawan Robinson on the perimeter. It’s even worse when Neitzel is caught in the paint on Jason Fraser. Neitzel threw his body in front of the 6’9’’ big-man and drove his legs back to box out even though no shot had been taken. We love this about Neitzel – he embodies Wright’s “don’t give them a darn thing” mentality. “Just fight – fight for your life,” said the MSU guard about his approach to stopping players who are almost a foot taller. “You gotta do whatever it takes – bite, scratch, claw, do whatever it takes to get him outta there. If you gotta push him, whatever it takes, worst case you get a foul – it’s not the end of the world. You just don’t wanna give up an offensive rebound or let him catch the ball in there – just make him work for it.” He is a winner.

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Some notes: NBA 50 Great Billy Cunningham sat courtside last night, watching Wayne Ellington dismantle the opposition as the Kangaroo Kid’s former 76ers standout Andrew Toney routinely did against the Celtics. Cunningham shook hands with Memphis head coach John Calipari before exiting. Calipari presumably attended to support his starting center and our pick as the next human-highlight reel, Joey Dorsey. Also in attendance was ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla.

SG Derrick Low’s pump fake is so good he could deke you out of your chair right now. He sent Jason Fraser flying from the corner of the court to the laps of NBA scouts on the sideline. He finished that possession by taking two dribbles and kissing a leaner in off the glass. His Washington State teammate G/F Kyle Weaver excels on the other side of the floor. He is the consensus best perimeter defender on the team. However, his game falters with the ball. He stuffed a much bigger opponent within feet of the basket, only to rush the ball up the floor and throw an errant pass to D.J. White in the lane – it was a microcosm for his game. Check out this article the real Andy Katz wrote about these two Cougars.

ESPN Deportes will carry 160 hours of coverage of the Pan-Am Games. Some websites note that ESPN or ESPN2 will air the semi-finals and finals of the basketball event even though ESPN’s TV listings do not indicate that they will televise the Games anywhere but Deportes.

Big Things Poppin' (Later Tonight)

There wasn’t too much burn this morning, as Coach Wright and his staff dissected the team’s defensive approach for the majority of the two hours. But there’s always a method to the madness with Wright. Rumors are that during the second chapter of today’s double session, Team USA will run against some local players including Duke’s Gerald Henderson and Villanova alum Jason Fraser. We also expect to see UNC Coach Roy Williams in attendance to support his stud shooting guard, Wayne Ellington.

Even with the limited action, Ellington gave the crowd something to ogle. During warm-ups, he and SG Derrick Low traded shots at the same basket. Wayne was ridiculous, stroking twenty-one consecutive jumpers from elbow to elbow. Low held up his end too, knocking down nine in a row. Plain and simple, these guys are good.

(Ellington is poised to start at the 2 in Rio)

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However, POM honors (Player of the Morning) go to PG Scottie Reynolds. As the only player familiar with the Jay Wright experience, Reynolds didn’t seem disturbed by his interjections. While most everyone else struggled to get into some sort of flow, Scottie’s game (and his mouth) were off and running. After yesterday’s half-court hedge from C Roy Hibbert on Reynolds, the little-man knifed in between the 7-footer and another defender to break into the lane for a pretty leaner when the same situation arose.

(Scottie Reynolds, left, a guy who rarely looks flustered)

PG Drew Neitzel gave the usual gritty performance in the AM. He hit a long three from the wing with a man in his face to put his team up. On the other side of the ball, he got caught on a screen and switched over to guard PF Joey Dorsey on the block. As any guard should have in that situation, Neitzel put his body in front of Dorsey’s and wrapped both of his arms behind to hold the big fella and prevent him from getting position. Two possessions later, he went back on the offensive, zipping a pass to G/F Kyle Weaver at the rim, who then dropped it back to PF D.J. White for a monstrous slam. G/F Bryce Taylor made the whole thing possible by diving on the floor for a loose ball.

Dorsey is making a push to surpass PG Eric Maynor as our favorite player at the Trials. While everyone on the floor keeps a straight face when Coach Wright speaks, Dorsey is all smiles. Going through the motions on an out-of-bounds play, Wright told Dorsey that if he catches the ball at the elbow, he sure as heck doesn’t want Dorsey taking that shot. The big man laughed and made the crowd into his audience, joking that “He’s killin’ my confidence man!” Minutes later Dorsey caught a pass at the elbow with 2.4 seconds to play in a tie game. He took the shot. Wright was mad – but only for a minute, as he couldn’t stay angry with the forward.

Practice is closed tonight - which means that we can expect some serious scrimmaging. Remember, the roster still needs to be trimmed from 14 to 12. We'll be back later with updates on the possible cuts and more.

Attitude Adjustment

Without sixteen of the original thirty players at the Trials, the already spacious Gooding Arena looked a whole lot less crowded this afternoon. The remaining fourteen made it through three days of grueling practices and furious competition, and can now look forward to the real challenge – winning it all. Coach Wright dictated the tempo of today’s practice, teaching the subtleties of the “Quick” offense (a high ball screen from a post player for a pick and roll or three-pointer from a “replacing” wing) and preaching the ethos of USA basketball: not giving the opponent a darn thing. He villainized the competition down “there,” telling the players how “they” run certain plays, implying a certain subversive intent. He drew upon the conventional perception of American basketball players as unable to shoot and defensively lazy, mobilizing his players to dig deeper and drive their bodies beyond the frenetic pace which has characterized the Trials so far.

(Wright speaking with Boeheim after last night's Trials concluded)

The Arena buzzed all afternoon with commendation for Wright’s coaching. I've never seen someone communicate a mentality to his players like Wright. He gave the fourteen guys on the floor an identity, one inextricably linked to a tough, defensive-minded attitude bent on flawlessness. He doesn't raise his voice when mistakes happen; he simply said that he doesn't want the "bullshit" and shows everyone how to do things the right way. Wright ran the floor with the players during a modified five-on-five, stopping play to reinforce the “ball-you-man” approach of off-ball defense. He also talked about “chesting the dribble” and “reading your man’s chest” because “international referees protect the shooter.” G/F Bryce Taylor worked as his dummy for the lesson, moving his feet quickly as PG Eric Maynor played the role of the devious international player. Wright emphasized that if Maynor were one of “them,” he would lead his dribble with his shoulder and try to jump into the American defender. Taylor had to resist the urge of the stereotypical U.S. player to “get up and punch shots,” as Wright put it. He defended Maynor by keeping his chest directly in front of him with his hands up and pulling off of him when he tried to draw contact on his shot. Both Taylor and SG Josh Carter executed this technique immaculately throughout the day.

Carter’s on-ball, fire-blanket quality defense suffocated his opponents consistently. He brought Coach Wright’s teeth-gritting defensive attitude to life by keeping his chest on the ball-handler and staying at that very close proximity without using his hands or committing a foul. Carter also made two top plays: he lured G/F Kyle Weaver into sending the ball out to the wing, and picked it once he did; minutes later he closed out and blocked a jumpshooter in the corner. After last night’s practice, Carter noted that “this weekend hasn’t been great for me shooting, but hopefully I did some other stuff so I’ll make the team.” Today’s D could have protected his spot when the roster is trimmed from 14 to 12.

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Some other notes from today’s practice: On two occasions, 7-footer C Roy Hibbert hedged on a screen at the top of the key, shuffling with PG Scottie Reynolds all the way to half court. Watching Hibb hustle back to his man in the post was a beautiful thing.

Thankfully, the shooting woes have curtailed. SG Wayne Ellington swooshed a three on a catch-and-shoot. On the other side of the floor, Kyle Weaver caught the fire, followed by a Josh Carter 3 and then a fourth successive longball from Bryce Taylor.

F James Gist played his way onto this team with freakish athleticism and a serviceable jumper. He sprung off the baseline for a two-handed slam in which both of his hands were around the top of the square on the backboard. Later, he came down the floor and followed an Eric Maynor miss with a rim-rocking tip-dunk. As with PF Joey Dorsey, these plays are the ones etched into our memories and make it easy to forget the turnarounds he hit from the high post.

Bryce Taylor continues to impress on both sides of the floor. Georgetown Assistant Coach and Haverford alum Robert Burke ’88 recalled Taylor’s performance against the Hoyas last season: “Bryce Taylor might be a better defender than people realize. He guarded Jeff Green at points and can stack up against opponents at number of different positions. He’s a really talented guy that a lot of people on the East Coast don’t know about.”

The Last Episode

When the Trials convened, Coach Jay Wright established that he did not want battles for spots on the roster to overshadow battles for playing time. “It’s better for us to see some practice now thinking about what type of team we’re going to be and how we’re going to play rather than practice and after it think about who’s going to make the team,” noted Wright after tonight’s session. Frankly, it appeared that Wright’s message was very clear to both the media and the players. Tonight’s concluding episode of the Pan-Am tryouts looked a whole lot like a start to the next chapter. A group of players have established themselves as a cut above the rest in their individual play and most importantly, their cooperation with the other players who are headed to Rio. Thus when the Tommy T look-alike, Jim Boeheim, pensively sat and watched for the last time, his decisions were basically already made for him – between those who synched with their teammates and those who were still trying to locate their own game.

(Doesn't Boeheim, center in reddish shirt, have that Quaker look?)

SG Derrick Low jived with everyone on the floor. Whether it was PG Sherron Collins finding him spotting up on the break or getting the ball on a kick-out from any number of big men, Low was the reliable shooter this team has been looking for. With time expiring, PG Eric Maynor took one dribble off of a screen to the top of the key, and looking like he was about to rain in the same shot that he beat Duke on, he ‘ooped it to PF Richard Hendrix for the flush. But Maynor left too much time on the clock. In less than the five seconds on the clock, the blue squad inbounded to Low who pumped SF Tasmin Mitchell into the seats before stepping through and draining the game-winning 3 à la G Gerry McNamara.

The other standout two-guard, Wayne Ellington, consistently brings the best out in his teammates by freeing himself from defenders on quick cuts. G/F Bryce Taylor fed him on a backdoor cut for an And 1 reverse lay-in. He manages to get almost two full steps of separation from defenders when coming off of baseline V-cuts.

(Ellington splitting two defenders for an aerial lay-in)

After Taylor found Ellington on a number of occasions, he came back in his next shift as the beneficiary of PG Scottie Reynolds’s dishes. They started their run with a give-and-go BT 3-ball. Reynolds has been the most vocal man on the floor since the moment everyone walked in the doors of the Gardner Center. He let out a solid “uuhhh” when Bryce drilled that three. Reynolds also has some great nicknames for his teammates. He abbreviates PG Mario Chalmers’ name to “Rio,” which I initially thought he called him because he was destined to make the team. He calls Wayne Ellington “Weave”. Not sure what that one’s all about.

The bell tolls for fourteen to live until tomorrow’s announcement.

Waking up from the Nightmare on Elm Street: Day Two PM

As fate would have it, Friday the 13^th was a crazy day of basketball in the Gooding Arena. The morning session was Freddie Krueger ugly. Both Jonathan Tannenwald of Soft Pretzel Logic and Dick Weiss echoed our concerns about the level of play in their respective blogs. But when the Pan-Am’sters came back at 5 PM for round two, they salvaged the day. Like the end to any nightmare, somebody woke up. Three white team guards, PG Drew Neitzel, SG Eric Devendorf and SG Wayne Ellington were the first to stir. Right out of the gates, Neitzel hit a three off the dribble. Devendorf found Ellington on a back door cut for a reverse lay-up to set the Tar Heel guard off on a cascade of points. He drained a 12 footer from the baseline, followed it with another mid-range jumper and then put the white team on top comfortably with a spot-up three.

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Practice remained hotly contested from that point forward. SF Bryce Taylor dove head first after a loose ball at center court, only to be buried underneath a massive scrum. Coach Wright loved the energy, stepping onto the floor to join everyone on the bench who stood up in applause.

(Taylor's body was eventually excavated from the pile)

However, the competition for that possession was child’s play in comparison to the ongoing war for the roster spots of the guards. Ten guys are in the hunt, all vying to play the 1 and 2 – and determining the ones with the inside edge depends mostly on who you ask. During yesterday’s opening ceremonies and today’s morning chapter, the guards really seemed to be pressing. Washington State coach Tony Bennett remarked that it was clear just how hard everyone was trying. But their effort didn’t necessarily translate into points – that is, until tonight.

Ellington was the first to break out of the slumber, showing the coaches and scouts alike that he can blow by quicksanded defenders who do a better job watching his explosive first step than staying with it. But he doesn’t need to take the ball to the tin – he just separates and elevates for his smooth shot. Tonight’s performance probably seats him as the favorite two-guard.

However, Eric Devendorf can’t be too far behind. Ignoring his connection to selection committee head Jim Boeheim for just a moment, Devendorf garners respect from everyone in the arena for the manifestation of his attitude in his game. He truly embodies his David Ortiz beard and tattoo-covered arms. It’s not a chip on his shoulder, but an inherent toughness that drives him to seek the ball and respond whenever his man puts the ball in the basket on the other end. He and Big East rival PG Scottie Reynolds had a few heated trips when guarding each other, in which neither wanted to give the other any room to breathe. When Reynolds slinked off of him or didn’t make it back in time on a fast break, Devendorf buried a couple of baseline jumpers.

(Eric Devendorf looks like a G and plays like one too)

Of these ten guards – Ellington, Devendorf, Reynolds, PG Sherron Collins, PG Mario Chalmers, Neitzel, SG Derrick Low, SG Chris Lofton, SG Josh Carter and PG Eric Maynor, we were most impressed with Maynor, and he yet again concludes the night’s tip sheet. Pat yourself on the back if you called him a sleeper going in to the Trials. While Chalmers and Collins are the no-doubt two best guys to start a fast break, they didn’t have Maynor’s composure in transition or in a half-court set. His distribution was extraordinary; he hit PF Jon Brockman for an ‘oop, found the big man again for an open jumper and then set up Alonzo Gee for two three’s. Maynor even created assists where they had no business being. After his defender closed out on him, Maynor swung the ball to Jon Brockman, who despite being a career 0% three-point shooter, swooshed one from downtown.

Unfortunately, it looks like SG DeMarcus Nelson’s run is over. He has a serious wrap around his right wrist and thumb, which prohibited him from participating in today's second session. While we don’t have the official diagnosis yet, the words “4 to 6 weeks” came out of his mouth after the night cap.

We expect to see the roster trimmed to sixteen by Sunday and twelve shortly thereafter. If this fabled unlucky day is a sign of things to come, the discussions in the selection committee’s conference room may become as impassioned as the battles on the floor.

Honk Once for Big Men, Honk Twice for Swingmen

With the NBA Draft looming less than two weeks away, the pressure is on virtually every NBA GM to do the most with their selection. Portland GM Kevin Pritchard is in the unique position of deciding what to do with the first choice. The argument amounts to a discussion of college basketball’s two most dynamic underage all-stars. C Greg Oden, (Ohio State) 19, and SF Kevin Durant, (Texas) 18, are the two possibilities when the Trailblazers select first on June 28^th. While the Blazers try to address this dilemma with algorithms and computations that could make Bruce Partridge’s head spin, and a series of extensive interviews with these two incredibly talented All-Americans, their decision boils down to whether they want to build their franchise around a post-player or a swingman.

Just as Pritchard must make this decision about the focus of his team, the USA Basketball selection committee, headed by Hall of Fame Syracuse coach, Jim Boeheim shoulders the tough task of evaluating talent and prioritizing the positions best suited for a gold medal run through the Pan-American Games. While Boeheim and his staff will select an entire team as opposed to a single player, each addition to the roster will address the same question that Pritchard is facing. Will we find success with big-bodied post-play, or will a guard-based, face-the-basket approach put more points on the board?

In the post-Jordan era, many teams find it difficult to pass on scorers who do their damage from the perimeter. Psychology professionals might term this “Bowieism,” as it was Portland’s choice back in 1984 to pass on MJ with the second pick in favor of the 7’1’’ Kentucky Wildcat, Sam Bowie. Bowie spent eleven injury-riddled years in the NBA, bouncing around the league. In 2007, Greg Oden looks much more like the first big man drafted in ’84, Akeem Olajuwon, than the one who followed.

(Bowie wears 54 for Kentucky, as he defends Houston's #45 Akeem Olajuwon. They were picks 1 and 2 during the stacked 1984 draft, which also included Jordan, John Stockton, Charles Barkley and Sam Perkins.)

Just as we expect Kevin Pritchard to make the sensible decision and go with Oden for the first pick, Jim Boeheim & co. will likely follow suit two weeks after the Draft in putting the burden of USA Basketball on the broad shoulders of the big men. While the U.S. boasts dead-eye shooters like Tennessee SG Chris Lofton, 20.8 ppg, 47.9% from the field and 42% from downtown in ’07, and UNC Tar Heel slasher SF Wayne Ellington, their games largely depend on a frontcourt presence. Roy Williams' system in Chapel Hill relies on filtering the ball through C Tyler Hansbrough's hands. His aggressiveness opens up passing lanes for Ellington, who scores the majority of his points on mid-range jumpers or open three's after good ball movement. If the ball did not enter the post, defenders would not be forced to collapse toward the middle, and there would be little room for shooters to find their shot. Ellington can look back to the Georgetown/UNC battle on March 25th, when the Hoyas' frontcourt of PF Jeff Green and C Roy Hibbert "started" the offense, demanding the attention of double-teams and finding the open man. The result, a GTown win 96-84 and five Hoyas in double-figures.

Even though Green is opting for MSG on the 28th instead of the GIAC on the 12th, NC State PF Brandon Costner can fill that role as the smaller, yet equally dangerous post partner. With his smooth south-paw style, Costner is most comfortable with his back to the basket, scoring frequently on a sweet left-handed baby hook. He also can face the basket and even finish with his off-hand. At 6'8'' 230, he will complement Hibbert the way Green, 6'9'' 235 did during the season.

Even if BC's jumper isn't what Green's is, his aggressive style of play will alleviate some of the pressure off of Hibbert, who isn't quite used to being the go-to-guy. Costner comes from a system in which head coach Sidney Lowe (pictured below) made his post-game the priority. Finding the seam in a zone and being able to spot the open man will suit Costner well during the Pan-Am games, where international competition will likely try to limit the U.S.’s athleticism with a healthy helping of zone defense.

If Boeheim had the opportunity, he would undoubtedly save a spot for both Oden and Durant. However, if he were in Kevin Pritchard’s position and could only select one for his team, know that he'd support the big-man philosophy and let the 7-footer roam the center of Jay Wright's defense.