re: Let me show you what good perimeter D looks like

an MSB favotrite

#NeverForgetBubba

I understand your point and want them to play better defense as well but this is an awful take. a bunch of blocked threes isn't an example of what LSU needs to do better

About half of those gifs were late in the shot clock scenarios where the defender KNEW the offensively player had to get a shot off and/or just a poor selection by the offense.

If you want to watch GREAT defense, take a look at this video of Texas Tech

LINK

Two things you'll notice:

1. They do everything possible to try to keep drivers out of the middle of the lane. That's priority #1. However...

2. If a guy does drive on them they don't just stand and watch open shooters. They start looking immediately to find open guys on the perimeter and close out to them quickly.

In short, it's not by accident Chris Beard took a historically bad/average program to the Elite 8 and NCAAT Championship game in just his second and third years at the school.

That said, LSU doesn't have to be Texas Tech level good defensively because they are a TREMENDOUS offensive team. And they have been every year under Wade (with this year being the best). But in no way, shape or form should the discrepancy between their offensive production and defensive production be THIS bad (#3 offense vs. #181 defense).

quote:

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Since the existence of KenPom's rankings in 2002, no team has won the national championship that has been ranked lower than 20th in adjusted defensive efficiency. The teams that survived this criteria from the previous list are:

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Now, defensive efficiency isn't the ONLY measure to predict the best teams. Another is having an efficient and balanced offense. On that, you could argue NO TEAM IN AMERICA has a more balanced offense than LSU. But you can't be THIS horrible defensively. It is THE reason Wade's teams have played in so many close games over the last two years, regardless of quality of opponent. In sum, they can score on ANYONE. But they can't stop anyone from scoring.

IMO, getting the offensive part right is the most difficult. That's because it takes very talent scorers AND great execution to be an elite offense. Wade has that. Defense on the other hand takes effort and commitment to being a good defensive team. Clearly Wade isn't committed to putting even a good defensive team on the floor. Otherwise they would be much better.

Defense is all about effort.