Will the switching work against UNC?
Duke has always employed switching on screens to keep man-to-man pressure on ball-handlers, but this season it's been used more extensively than I can recall in prior years. On almost every on-the-ball screen (and some off-the-ball screens), regardless of who the players involved are, Duke's defense switches. It's been a very successful strategy so far, and is partly responsible for the high number of takeaways for the Devils. But it has resulted in several situations where Singler/Thomas/McClure is guarding the point well above the top of the arc, and Paulus/Scheyer/Smith are left one-on-one with the opponent's big. The hard foul by Paulus on Costner in the first half came after a switch, and he had been iso'd against Costner a couple times before that as well.
My question is whether this tactic can be effective against UNC. The thought of Hansbrough posting up on Paulus is somewhat frightening, and could lead to either lots of layups/free throws for Hansbrough or open looks for other Tar Heels as the defense rotates to help. Similarly, letting Lawson loose to go one on one against Singler or King isn't a happy thought either.
Those who are more tactically inclined than I - what are your thoughts on the likely use and success of this strategy against Carolina? Given UNC's heavy preference to shooting 2s rather than 3s, do you think Duke will send the perimeter players under screens to stay with their man, rather than switch? On the whole, what's the best defensive strategy against a talented post and a point guard that doesn't turn the ball over (20:1 A/to ratio in the last 2 games)? Front the post and try to turn the back of the ball-handler? Spring traps out of screens? Double down on every entry pass? Matchup zone? Hard forearm to Hansbrough's nose? (kidding)
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You're all jealous hypocrites. - Titus on Laettner
You see those guys? Animals. They're animals. - SIU Coach Chris Lowery, on Duke