re: Quick thoughts on the hoops game tonight (LSU wins 76-67)

Problem is we are not a well coached team. We do not protect the ball, we do not block out, we do not stop dribble penetration, etc... We win b/c our players are much better than the other teams.
Their offense worked the ball until they got a miss match that they could exploit. They had 2 6-4 forwards and beat us on the boards.

The defense needs lots of help!! Especially blocking the lanes they let them drive way to deep and could easily just stand in there and take the charge which we did a couple times but need to do it much more. Have to be more aggressive with rebounds and when there is a ball lose!!! We did better with ball handeling and didn't turn it over much but still need to improve on that also. LSU really needs to take these games/practices more seriously and if they do we will be very good once SEC starts. Need to hustle more period!!! Especially Martin.... Go Tigers!!!

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is it just me or does JJ not seem engaged some of the time- Tonight he looked like he went to the TJ school of bench coaching

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Probably said the same things about John Wooden

Score would be cool in the title. I have since found out, but just saying....

Greatly improved? I wish we were slightly better defensively. Gave SHSU driving lanes for days and mickey had no help on the defensive glass. This team cant guard their own shadow, play way too out of control at times though i agree the layoff had something to do with it. Talent is clearly there to win games, we'll do better when martin is defending someone his own size. Btw, jarell, you arent KD breh...stahp shooting fallaway jumpers pls

When TQ and mickey are on, we are at our best

It was game that took place coming off a 9 day layoff. It probably should have been expected that the team would have some "rust." That said, they continued to have some of the same glaring issues they've had throughout Jones' tenure.

Being out-rebounded this game isn't a huge concern IMO. LSU is one of the best rebounding teams in the SEC. The reason it did not look like it tonight was that SHSU played with much more effort on the glass (especially the offensive side). Last night's problems are fixed with just better effort.

They once more continue to have the same defensive problems. Personally, I think 50% of the problems could be fixed by them just getting into good guarding position. Far too often LSU players (especially, but not exclusively, Martin) are just standing flat-footed and lunging at the ball handler. It doesn't take much to blow by LSU's defenders off the dribble. So much so that it really seems like the philosophy is to funnel the ball TO THE GOAL where it is assumed Mickey will alter/block the shot. Plus, once they're beaten, there seems to be very little emphasis to help or recover. This problem falls SQUARELY on Jones and his staff. Game after game after game we see the same issues on defense, yet no one seems to give a shite about fixing it.

On offense they allow themselves to get bogged down in the half court at times. There really isn't a ton of movement away from the ball. Many times the half-court offense is essentially asking guys to beat their defender one-on-one. The fortunate thing is that LSU has guys who can do so. Still, you'd like to see guys work away from the ball to get themselves in position to get good looks.

I still think the UMass and WVU games are more the exception that the norm for this team. LSU wants to play a hectic up-and-down game. They thrive in that style. The reality is that that most of the opponents the rest of the way will play more like SHSU than WVU. They HAVE to improve and become comfortable playing in the half-court

One very bright spot from last night. FT shooting won the game for LSU. Huge improvement from last year. Far too many time they struggled to put teams away at the line last season. This year they're winning games at the line. TQ was 7-7!!

In sum: It could have been a lot worse. However LSU won a game against a decent opponent where they clearly did not play their best, and lost one of their key players for 1/2 the game. That the second time in a row they have won a game where a significant contributor had limited time on the court.

If both he and Gray is out too long then Patterson and Odo can bring the ball up court.

Epps has been nicked up basically all year

Zeal we already have 2 losses.