ADVERTISEMENT

Is Cam a problem in end of game defense?

NickRU714

Heisman Winner
Aug 18, 2009
10,983
9,784
113
Our last 3 real defensive possessions:

  1. 61-61 with 2:10 left. They pass around outside until Cam is defending at the top. He stops a drive. They pass off and we switch Cam. Guy drives right past him but misses shot (Clif!) ends up a jump ball.
  2. The zone defense after a timeout (Cam off the court). Enough said.
  3. 63-61 after the missed layup. They walk it up and pass around to iso Cam at the top again. Wave off a screen from Clifs man. Step back 3 to seal the game.

Maybe it's nothing.
But I've watched a lot of NBA games where you specifically pass and screen to end up with a specific defender on an island.
Looked like that in those 2 possessions.
 
“….makes us wonder if he’s not a BIG player.”
Speak for yourself

I have no doubt that, if used properly and not asked to do more than he is capable of (eg, run point guard in the big ten) that he can be a solid 10-15 ppg (with the occasional game above or below depending upon whether he gets hot).

Btw - to address the OP, pike has made late game offense / defense subs between him and miller a number of times this year. So yes - he is not the quickest on ball defender. Late in games expect him to be subbed out and miller put in his place on defensive possessions
 
Our last 3 real defensive possessions:

  1. 61-61 with 2:10 left. They pass around outside until Cam is defending at the top. He stops a drive. They pass off and we switch Cam. Guy drives right past him but misses shot (Clif!) ends up a jump ball.
  2. The zone defense after a timeout (Cam off the court). Enough said.
  3. 63-61 after the missed layup. They walk it up and pass around to iso Cam at the top again. Wave off a screen from Clifs man. Step back 3 to seal the game.

Maybe it's nothing.
But I've watched a lot of NBA games where you specifically pass and screen to end up with a specific defender on an island.
Looked like that in those 2 possessions.
Well you can say that Cam will get beat by faster twitchy point guards if he is playing them or isolated on an island but he wouldn’t be alone. However , his BB. IQ allows him to make steals get deflections and jump into the passing lanes that makes his defense serviceable. Let’s see if in conference he can maintain being 2nd in the country in steals .
He is too valuable on offense to be too concerned about an occasional blow by . Think about it , last night he had only 3 points , after leading us with 17 points a game, and if only 1 three goes down when Miami was making their run , and he had plenty of open looks , we probably win the game. His overall game , smarts and usual good shooting and defense are much more positive than his ability to get beat by point guards one on one. .
 
ADVERTISEMENT