Posted by thewizard17 on 12/17/2015 3:27:00 PM (view original):
No doubt you have a chance to win the NT. I think this is one case where you can throw the ratings out the window and look at his results and what you've accomplished so far. I'm actually interested in knowing the science of how you're winning games.

My strategy with this team is I have good IQ and quality depth. Run uptempo and help with lack of reb with minus.  My PG 96 DEF rating helps. Also running motion without a superstar. I have 3 guys in the upper 60's in PER and 2 LP guys, one 77 and one 88 in LP rating.  Keep it very simple with distro and make little tweaks here and there. FCP doesn't hurt either, just wish my DEF ratings were a little higher

It's possible defensive ratings when it comes to success "could be" slightly overhyped. I've won 2 NT and quite a few final fours at D-3 with just an average defense.

Posted by the0nlyis on 12/17/2015 3:11:00 PM (view original):

Posted by terps17321 on 12/17/2015 3:05:00 PM (view original):

Posted by brianxavier on 12/17/2015 1:42:00 PM (view original):
one final thought - the biggest problem I see if the #1 jinx... I've seen so many team ranked #1 for long periods go on and lose in the NT.  Kids get a big head and play down to their competition I guess. But that's the way it is in this business with 18-21 yr olds... 

LOL

or don't know what to change, I had that happen last season in Phelan started 23-0 then lost 3 in 4 or something changed my strategy and used it to make my run.  Losing can sometimes help unless you are clearly the best team and coach, since you can see what to change/expect and how to plan based on losses.  Those 35-0 truly are insane when they happen

Well I finally lost, but really don't understand why besides TJ is a better coach than me. Had 17 TO's against a zone, didn't have more than 17 against FCP teams like scoop's team.  I lost it at the FT line where I knew someday that was going to bite me in the ***.  He had 3 upperclassmen, so I thought even against a zone I had more quality depth. He did play slowdown, but besides that I don't know what to change. I have my best defenders starting, have some good shooters coming off the bench, lack of REB off the bench could present a problem too. That's been my problem since I started playing like 7 years ago, don't know what to change when start losing and can't figure out sometimes why I lost and what to change to make a difference. Oh well, pretty soon I'll be king of wins with no championships.

Posted by thewizard17 on 12/17/2015 3:41:00 PM (view original):
It's possible defensive ratings when it comes to success "could be" slightly overhyped. I've won 2 NT and quite a few final fours at D-3 with just an average defense.

But I don't have that elite scorer like pepwaves told me in the coaches corner. So if my def doesn't hold up I can't rely on that 1 or 2 guys to take this team on it's back, I have to rely on multiple guys. I just don't understand how I have 17 TO's against a zone. I think I match up better against FCP and m2m teams because I have like 6 guys with B or better FT ratings

hey, you got the loss out of the way.  rarely do folks run the table.  you lost to a quality team on the road - it happens.  especially, like others have said, with a very, very good - but maybe not bullet proof team.

Posted by carl3298 on 12/18/2015 12:30:00 AM (view original):
hey, you got the loss out of the way.  rarely do folks run the table.  you lost to a quality team on the road - it happens.  especially, like others have said, with a very, very good - but maybe not bullet proof team.

Yeah, I wasn't planning on going undefeated, but you're right TJ is a real good coach.  Getting the loss out of the way is good, but if I want to learn from that or make changes I just don't know what to change from that game

maybe going uptempo played into his hands.  He killed you at the FT line and also beat you with rebounds, and even won the TO battle (the only reason you would want to go uptempo in the first place - to force more TOs).  

Perhaps if you actually went normal tempo he wouldn't have such an advantage on the FTs.  I would even consider going slow tempo and see what happens a few times... knowing the sub patterns at different tempos might provide some insight....  it's always hard given such small samples to know what may have been random vs. something that you controlled as the coach but the time to experiment is now - not during the NT.  

I also see that all your leading scorers/best players are starting - perhaps you can fiddle with bringing someone good off the bench.  one of the big advantages of press is lots of PT for everyone - so you could bring a great scorer off the bench and maybe increase your overall offensive efficiency.   there is definitely a big drop off for your bench players - but perhaps mixing some lesser players as starters and bringing a better player off the bench will give an improved overall bench performance and not hurt as much with the starters.  take one of your bad def guys and put him in a position to guard a non-factor on offense and see what happens.  definitely try now some changes with some good opponents - it may cost a loss but you are still going to be a top 3 seed it looks like... so it won't hurt overall (although I can't see the projection report).  

given your weaker bench, I would consider going normal or slow tempo for sure.  even if you don't change starters it will give the more qualify players increased PT.

Posted by brianxavier on 12/18/2015 4:48:00 PM (view original):
maybe going uptempo played into his hands.  He killed you at the FT line and also beat you with rebounds, and even won the TO battle (the only reason you would want to go uptempo in the first place - to force more TOs).  

Perhaps if you actually went normal tempo he wouldn't have such an advantage on the FTs.  I would even consider going slow tempo and see what happens a few times... knowing the sub patterns at different tempos might provide some insight....  it's always hard given such small samples to know what may have been random vs. something that you controlled as the coach but the time to experiment is now - not during the NT.  

I also see that all your leading scorers/best players are starting - perhaps you can fiddle with bringing someone good off the bench.  one of the big advantages of press is lots of PT for everyone - so you could bring a great scorer off the bench and maybe increase your overall offensive efficiency.   there is definitely a big drop off for your bench players - but perhaps mixing some lesser players as starters and bringing a better player off the bench will give an improved overall bench performance and not hurt as much with the starters.  take one of your bad def guys and put him in a position to guard a non-factor on offense and see what happens.  definitely try now some changes with some good opponents - it may cost a loss but you are still going to be a top 3 seed it looks like... so it won't hurt overall (although I can't see the projection report).  

given your weaker bench, I would consider going normal or slow tempo for sure.  even if you don't change starters it will give the more qualify players increased PT.

Thanks for the insight brian. Does putting a guy off the bench at getting tired keep him in longer or will the starter still come in when fresh?  If I put a lesser guy starting, but want my bench player to get more time will that strategy work?
Thanks again

its all about the starter (if using fatigue). Starter will return when he hits the fresh threshold next deadball I believe. All reserve fatigue setting would or should do is determine if the #3 guy comes in if the #2 guy hits his limit before #1 is ready to return - and then further adjusted for things like personal fouls and injuries...

Posted by dacj501 on 12/21/2015 2:42:00 PM (view original):
its all about the starter (if using fatigue). Starter will return when he hits the fresh threshold next deadball I believe. All reserve fatigue setting would or should do is determine if the #3 guy comes in if the #2 guy hits his limit before #1 is ready to return - and then further adjusted for things like personal fouls and injuries...

Thanks dac