PAA League, 15U Division, Kilauea gym
Lethargic? Maybe. But the Tar Heels stayed close all game, tied it up and finished with a 10-4 run to beat us. We didn't play great, we didn't play bad. Some notes before I download the game video (thank you, Eric Murobayashi!):
>> We needed to put a lid on the Tar Heels' 3-point shooters, and we did most of the time. We'll learn (quickly, I hope) that closing out doesn't mean standing there with a hand at chest level. It means completely challenging the shooter with a hand up to the sky, and forcing him to dribble. Especially a team like this that has always relied on the 3.
>> We attacked through the low post early with effectiveness, but didn't go there late because I called a lot of high post plays. Tar Heels did a good job adjusting and planting double-team help in the paint.
>> Turnovers. The slower pace means each possession is more important and we had some giveaways in the final 3 minutes. Anu had some miscues and it wasn't until after the game that he told me he couldn't feel his arm (left forearm), which he had bruised at practice earlier today. That's the kind of stuff a coach needs to know, so please let me know before, not afterward.
>> Fatigue. This was our first game since returning from Kona, where we played with great intensity. But I was tired myself from a super busy stretch of work, staying up late (until 5 or 6 am). I didn't bring enough intensity and energy and the rest of the team fed off that to a large extent.
Compounding that problem is that three of our guys had football practice in the afternoon, and I know two of them had nothing to eat before the game. We need to plan better for this, and normally we do. This time we didn't and it had an effect. We'll fix it.
Finally, it's a little bit strange coming back to Oahu and playing short games again. In Kona, it was stop-clock action all the way, 8 minutes per quarter, long and fun games. In PAA, it's a short game with running clock through everything but time outs. We'll get readjusted.
Hopefully, we all get more rest and more food in our bellies before late games like this (7:45 pm). I'm going to get us back to a fast pace so we can get more out of our bench. Players win games and coaches lose games. This one is very clearly on me.
I hope we meet the Tar Heels again in the playoffs. It's going to be an interesting run to the title game. That's where I see us going.
WE LUB THIS GAME!
Next: Thursday, 5:00 pm - Practice at Makiki Park.
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