[washingtonismoney]

On one hand the score might seem unfair--the team was up 14 in the first half and was even throughout most of the second--but on the other it\'s totally fair: for this Stanford team, being five points down is like being fifteen down. There\'s just not enough offense on the team versus competent opponents.

The problem is that the team\'s best player--Dwight Powell--is not a take-charge offensive player. Powell was one of the few players to have an efficient day, going 3-6 and getting nine points with some pretty passing (he was denied a couple extra assists by lousy finishing), and had another outstanding day on the the defensive end. The other problem is in the Stanford backcourt: Jarrett Mann doesn\'t shoot and can\'t finish; Aaron Bright is intelligent in running the team but can\'t really work himself open for jump shots--and that would suggest he should go inside, but he has neither the bulk nor the hops to finish against anything other than an unguarded basket. The sixth man, Anthony Brown, had a decent game by most standards which made it superlative by today\'s poor offensive standards; it\'s he and Randle, next year, who will have to do the offensive heavy lifting.

There isn\'t enough shooting on the team. The starting five features only one real shooter, and you won\'t get spacing that way; no spacing, no room to attack.

That said, the team does do some things demonstrably well: it defends well and is very organized--Ken Pomeroy ranks the team 30th in defense, which is a major feat for such a young team--which when combined with its poor offensive displays, makes watching Stanford basketball a frustrating experience.

[washingtonismoney]

On one hand the score might seem unfair--the team was up 14 in the first half and was even throughout most of the second--but on the other it\'s totally fair: for this Stanford team, being five points down is like being fifteen down. There\'s just not enough offense on the team versus competent opponents.

The problem is that the team\'s best player--Dwight Powell--is not a take-charge offensive player. Powell was one of the few players to have an efficient day, going 3-6 and getting nine points with some pretty passing (he was denied a couple extra assists by lousy finishing), and had another outstanding day on the the defensive end. The other problem is in the Stanford backcourt: Jarrett Mann doesn\'t shoot and can\'t finish; Aaron Bright is intelligent in running the team but can\'t really work himself open for jump shots--and that would suggest he should go inside, but he has neither the bulk nor the hops to finish against anything other than an unguarded basket. The sixth man, Anthony Brown, had a decent game by most standards which made it superlative by today\'s poor offensive standards; it\'s he and Randle, next year, who will have to do the offensive heavy lifting.

There isn\'t enough shooting on the team. The starting five features only one real shooter, and you won\'t get spacing that way; no spacing, no room to attack.

That said, the team does do some things demonstrably well: it defends well and is very organized--Ken Pomeroy ranks the team 30th in defense, which is a major feat for such a young team--which when combined with its poor offensive displays, makes watching Stanford basketball a frustrating experience.