Now thatfs more like it. Duke walked into a hostile environment, kept it close for a half and then took over in the final 20 minutes. After opening up a quick 13-point lead with only seven and a half minutes gone by in the second period, Clemson was able to get back within seven, but that was as close it ever got. Duke just never let up and Clemson had no answer, other than Trevor Booker (of course).
SO WHAT DID I SEE?
Coach K decided that losing on the road ends here. How do I know? Because Singler, Scheyer and Smith played a combined 117 minutes. Singler and Scheyer played a full 40, while Nolan sat for three minutes, but that was just because he picked up two early fouls.
The Devils basically became a six-man rotation tonight. Thatfs how important this win was. Andre Dawkins saw no action tonight, while Mason Plumlee only got eight minutes on the court. Now if youfve been reading this blog (and I know you have), I donft agree with the strategy at all, no matter how much it paid off tonight. Let me explain.
What has been Dukefs problems over the years? If youfre a fan, you can easily pinpoint three of them. A) Not enough speed to handle quick guards. B) No inside game. C) Tired legs come March.
While Duke was really unable to address gAh, the Devils now have plenty of size, each capable of doing something positive inside the paint. That size also helps out some with gAh because it allows the Duke guards to get tough on the outside, because the inside guys can handle their own. However, that still leaves gCh.
No matter how good Duke looks NOW, no matter how many games they win NOW, the same storyline is going to reappear. That is, come March Duke will be burned out. This Duke team wonft have any legs left come tournament time. Itfs been a stigma for a while now and letfs be honest, if Nolan, Kyle and Jon are going to keep playing 37-40 minutes per game in a brutal ACC, what kind of shape are they really going to be in come March Madness?
This is why Ifve stressed the importance of not cutting the freshmanfs minutes. Even if Mason struggles at the defensive end, even if Dawkinsf shot isnft falling, at the very least, they need to play to help keep the big three fresh for later in the season.
Am I wrong? Please tell me if I amcthatfs all Ifm going to say about that. No more negativity after a big win.
Itfs time to start giving props to Nolan Smith. For whatever reason hefs sort of runs under the radar, despite having a stunningly great year. Tonight he was the man, scoring 22 (on 8-14 shooting), including three big baskets during Dukefs second half run. This is nothing new of course, as Nolan has scored 20 or more in seven of his last 10 games.
Whatfs best about Nolanfs offensive play is the fact that hefs not living on the three-point line, jacking up 3fs all day. Only 26% of his shots have been threes this season and hefs actually been shooting less now than at the beginning of the season. Whatfs most impressive is that hefs getting better as the season goes along. In his first five games, he averaged a solid 17.4ppg, but he had to shoot an average of 16 shoots per game to do it. Since then, hefs reduced his shots to 11.75 shots per game, but in that time his scoring has gone up to 19ppg.
So whatfs going on? Well, like Gerald Henderson last year, Nolan has really turned himself into an all-around player in his junior campaign. While hefs not as athletic as Henderson was (who really can be?), hefs opportunistic, taking advantage of mismatches and lazy defense to get into the paint where he has developed a solid mid-range game. Hefs also mastered the ability to take what the defense is giving him. If they back off him out on top, hefs not shy to take a three (in fact, hefs better than Henderson at that), but when they come in tight, he has no objection taking on his defender one-on-one.
Twice during the Clemson game, he took the base line and when the big man stepped up, he threw up a floater from the edge. Seriously, how often do you see floaters from the side? Never. This is what Ifm talking about when I talk about smartfs. How many times over the years have you seen a Duke player take a charge because the opponent refuses to pull up? Too many to remember. Now count, how often does Nolan get called for charging. In fact, there is almost never any contact (something Scheyer looks for when he goes in). Nolan just lets go of the ball at the right time.
If I had to be critical with one thing in Nolanfs gamecIfd have to say that when he drives, you know hefs going in for the score. From time to time, it will only help if he can deliver a pass to a sitting big man from time-to-time.
One turnover in the second half. Now thatfs a freaking stat. The irony is, it was committed by Jon Scheyer. After a brutal first half that saw Duke struggle with the pressure by committing 11 turnovers (as did Clemson), the Devils turned it over one, single time in the second half. Thatfs pretty amazing considering that the Tigers press a full 60 minutes. Although technically they didnft, which gets me to my next point.
Defense wins championship and defense is the best way to handle a press. Thank the gos that the Blue Devils rediscovered theirs after being embarrassed by NC State the other night. Duke held Clemson to 37.5% shooting and for the second time this season, the Tigers failed to hit 50 against Duke.This is key against Clemson because they ONLY press after a made basket and free throw. This means the Tigers were only able to press Duke on 20 of Dukefs 62 possessions.
Speaking of Clemson, the one person you canft blame is Trevor Booker. He was the second straight big, strong forward to have a good scoring night against Duke (going 10-14 Saturday night). He finished with 22. Hell, Tracy Smith and Booker against Duke have combined to shoot 20-26 this past week. Ugh.
Yet, you canft win with one player and thatfs what Clemson tried to accomplish tonight. As Booker hit 10-14, the rest of his crew went a stunning 8-34 (including 2-13 from long distance).
Yet, despite the numbers Booker put up, I actually want to compliment Lance Thomas on his defense tonight. Herefs the deal, Thomas actually did a fine job against Booker. From the beginning of the second half to about the 2:50 mark, Thomas was locked up on Booker. During that time, Clemsonfs big man actually only attempted only three shots (making two).
The fact is, it was Lancef D that kept the ball out of Bookerfs hands in the second half (Note: Booker scored three easy ones in the final 2:50 when Duke was more focused on guarding the three-point line).
The thing about Thomas is, when hefs not falling all over the floor like the
