Just some observations on my mind this week!
https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/02/...nt-shot-the-defensive-difference-in-cam-lard/
https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/02/...nt-shot-the-defensive-difference-in-cam-lard/
Haaland: Wigg's 3, Lard's defense, & more
- Thread starter khaal53
- Start date
Lard is out best defensive post. Anyone who thinks Jacobson is better hasn't been paying attention and the numbers prove it. The math dictates that since Lard is blocking alot of shots he's altering many more which the numbers show.
I don't think its a coincidence that 2 of the games he missed are the two games where the other team blew by us for multiple easy layups. Now they just need to figure out a way to keep him out of foul trouble and to figure out why these refs keep calling ticky-tack fouls.
I don't think its a coincidence that 2 of the games he missed are the two games where the other team blew by us for multiple easy layups. Now they just need to figure out a way to keep him out of foul trouble and to figure out why these refs keep calling ticky-tack fouls.
That sounds like more of a guard problem. And from the article, one could also say that your anecdote is missing the point that teams tend to get into the lane more when Lard is in. As much as that could be tactical, it could also be that Lard still struggles when his man is setting screens.
Have you considered that Lard’s per possession numbers are better because he exposes himself to more fouls? Keeping Lard out of foul trouble would have a high overlap with less rim protection.
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Observationally I would agree with you on Lard's defense, but the numbers to me do not bear that out that clearly. Of course a shot blocker vs. a non-shot blocker is going to give up a lower FG% of shots at the rim. Conversely, if you do a good job denying position, that's going to show up as a lower rate of shots at the rim, which is the case for Jacobson vs. Lard by a significant margin.
What this data tells me is that with Jacobson in ISU is giving up a higher percentage of long twos vs. shots at the rim. With Lard in ISU gives up a higher percentage of shots at the rim vs. long twos. I do not buy the fact that ISUs plays defense in a way that encourages shots at the rim when Lard is in. He gets called for a lot fouls. Even with a great shot blocker, shots at the rim mean a high rate of fouls and FT opportunities, where on long twos that is almost non-existent.
Put another way - an attempt at the rim typically means a defensive breakdown in some way - either from penetration or allowing a post player to get position on you.
When Lard comes in Wigginton typically comes in at the same time and he has a really hard time keeping his man out of the paint.
Agree, I thought of that as a factor, but a couple things - vs. OU Wigginton was really good on D while the other guards, even TH struggled. I'm thinking he's getting confidence in the foot and better able to use his explosiveness on the defensive end of the court. Also, as both Lard and Wigginton play more minutes, and the lineups for the other four around Jacobson and Lard become more random, that should equalize. So, to this point I think that is a factor and may be reflected in those stats, but I'd expect that to lessen over time.
Great job by Haaland on these lineup stats too. It would be interesting to see the same for opponents, which may shed some light on the defensive differences between the posts. Regardless, both guys are playing their ass off, making plays and will be huge for ISU down the stretch.
Agree.
Lard is a great defender, sometimes, and a liability at times. The DRtg is a flawed metric, but imo it’s flawed to someone that gets individual stops like blocks. Jacobson is still better in that rating. Our best defensive lineup is one in which everyone just does their job, and Jacobson greatly contributes to that.
Teams as a whole recognize that Lard is a shot blocker but is extremely foul prone so they do the right thing and emphasize taking it to him when he is in the game. Take it to the body of a shot blocker is always the right thing to do rather than let him come from off the ball and block a shot. Teams take it to him and get him in foul trouble when he is in so he is quickly out of the game. Those attempts are where Lard is - by the rim.
Another way to look at Lindell's 3 point shooting is recognizing when he was trying to find his shot after coming back from injury. If you take out just the two games after he came back from injury when he was clearly not shooting like himself (combined 1-11) he has shot .411 from the arc in the rest of the games (11 games, both before and after the injury). This is right in line with the shooting we saw from Lindell last year (.401). It might even be a touch better when you consider that last year that included 12 non-con games and 19 conference games. This year it is a slightly better average against 2 non-con (including one against a ranked foe) and 9 conference*.
*Again excluding the two "getting back into shooting form" games.
*Again excluding the two "getting back into shooting form" games.
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