In Reply to: Tough game for the Bruins but they didn't give up and made it posted by traprh on February 11, 2025 at 21:44:12
First off, props to Michigan. I had my doubts early on, but at this point, they look poised to win the conference. Huge congratulations to first-year coach May—no matter how the season ends, he’s had a fantastic year.
Now, onto the Bruins. You have to respect the fight in this team. One thing’s for sure: Nick can’t question their toughness. That said, as hard as it is to admit, we’re a flawed team.
Our two best offensive players come with significant issues. Mack is exactly what his name suggests—a small Mack truck. He’s got one thing on his mind: getting to the rim at all costs. Sometimes that works brilliantly; other times, it’s disastrous. Then there’s Bilodeau, whose defensive struggles speak for themselves.
Ironically, defense is our biggest weakness. I know we’re ranked somewhere in the top 10 in defensive rating, depending on the source, but the truth is, our frontcourt just isn’t good. I love Dailey, but he’s not a strong defender either—his lift is limited, and I have real concerns about his strength and lateral movement. Our struggles down low put us in scramble mode, which leads to what we saw last night. Our guards are excellent defenders who can create havoc, which explains our strong turnover numbers and overall defensive rating. But when it comes to guarding the frontcourt, we’re overmatched. I love Mara, but strength is an issue for him too. Nick questioned the team’s toughness, but honestly, no amount of toughness makes up for getting physically overpowered. If your opponent is significantly stronger, they’re going to dominate you—simple as that (with rare exceptions).
Early on, some questioned our shooting. In my opinion, this is actually one of the best shooting teams in recent history. The real problem? We struggle to generate open looks. There’s no one consistently creating opportunities. Only one player can reliably break down the defense off the dribble—but once he does, he’s not passing
Bottom line—we have flaws, and that includes our coach. His composure on the sidelines can be shaky, and that technical foul hurt us. That said, we’re still a good team, and he’s a good coach. We’re definitely a Top 25 squad and should be able to make a bit of a run, but matchups will be key.