Ball Screen Defense/switching

[Sbee]

that's how Michigan shot 58% from 3, a killer #. our work on screens was terrible and Michigan has guys that knock down open shots, they have a lot of guys that do that. not one shot was made over Harris, it was all Ellis, Kaminski, Byrd, etc.

MSU usually switches with everyone other than the 5 spot, so if BJ is playing the 4 and they switch on a PG, he takes the PG. we have the luxury of having a guy who can guard 4 spots.

good example is Walton's first 3, their first trip down the court. they get a switch on Kaminski so he's left alone on Walton. I'd assume he's sagging off because he's worried more about the drive than the shot, giving him a somewhat open 3. Walton stops, Kaminski can't close out, 3-0 michigan. I get the risk taken in that situation. We just need to get much, much better with Byrd, KK, Ellis, on those plays.

 

[Spartanmack]

I seem to recall Harris fighting through, going over the top on a few screens, not switching - pretty sure one of them was even highlighted and replayed by the announcers...

 

[Sbee]

he did, we don't always switch, it's just spots 1-4 are switchable, you don't switch costello on walton but in general everything else is fair game if they call it out. we went under ball screens a lot vs Michigan last year, sometimes over this year.

either way, a lot of those 3's were open due to good screens and very poor communication by our guys. the one lavert hit in the corner was just a fog out by Byrd. It's hard to believe he may have been our best available defender at the 4 but with DV in foul trouble i couldn't think of anyone else.