re: Question for Bama basketball fans

quote:

---

The good news for the Tide is that three-point shooting against UConn is more important than having an elite center

---

You're right, and this sounds really simplistic because it is, but it depends on how many shots Alabama makes.

But before you call me an idiot (or afterwards), let me explain.

When an opponent's physical big posts up, backs someone down, and makes a contested left-handed layup, while he's flexing under the basket kissing his biceps, watch Alabama pushing the ball back to midcourt, looking for a transition three.

The thing about Oats being a former math teacher is that he's always focused on statistical efficiencies, like house odds at Las Vegas. He might give up a contested two, but if he can outpace you on points-per-possession (PPP), there's a chance his team can be in position to win.

Sometimes that's scoring rim twos, sometimes it's slashing and dishing for threes. But they've got to fall, and if enough of them do, his team can gain a slight advantage. Just like the house can take your money over the course of several hours at blackjack, the hope is that those small advantages add up across the game.

People think his system is do-or-die from three, and it's really not. It's all about offensive and defensive efficiencies, but the shots still have to fall, and the defense still has to get stops.