post tactics

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>]

Lots of good commentary here from Joe, Alex and Kestutis. I just want to
add a thought or two.

It seems to me that shot blocking is a key variable in the effectiveness of
fronting the post. I also heard Hubie last night discuss how Miami always
fronts the post. I think the key to remember in discussing Miami is that
they DO have the defensive player of the year in Alonzo Mourning and this
enhances their strategy in two ways: 

1) When Mourning is NOT the fronting player he is available to block any
attempted shot after a successful lob pass. 

2) When Mourning IS the fronting player it makes the lob pass all the more
difficult to execute because you have to get it over an accomplished shot
blocker.

As I recall, Joe was alluding specifically about the constant, inflexible
use of fronting in connection with Vitaly (the presumed 290 lb individual).
Joe was not discussing the validity of fronting per se, nor described
fronting as some kind of "weird Pitino innovation". I think what Joe was
getting at was that fronting with Vitaly is an example of Pitino
reflexively using a potentially valuable strategy without necessarily
reckoning fully with all the relevant factors. 

Vitaly may possess many of qualities one looks for in a starting center
(size, strength, stamina, mobility, a willingness to mix it up) but we all
acknowledge that shot-blocking is not one of them. Strength is useful not
only in dislodging players from the post (now considered illegal) it is
also useful in keeping opposing players away from the hoop - no lay-ups -
and off the boards - no put-backs (during Pitino's first year our frontline
was "nudged" under the hoop time and again during rebounding action). Hence
fronting with Vitaly wastes his key asset (his strength) while it
highlights his key weakness (his lack of shot-blocking). If Battie were on
the floor as well. . . it might be different. 

I won't rehash the percentages argument that both Joe and Kestutis marshal
so well, but I would reiterate a point made by both: neither I nor anyone
else who has gone "negative" on certain Pitino tactics is asking him to
give them up for good - what we all want I think is some consideration of
both the appropriateness and the predictability of the given defensive
tactic.

Let's remind Chris Ford why he's with the Clippers tonight with a good old
fashioned a@@whipping!
-Tom Murphy