It would be more accurate to grade the kids on the positions they played for the game. Smith played PG and Knox played the 2. (Also shouldn’t he pass the ball to the open man? Why be critical of that? That’s what a good PG does)
A PG: I look at his ability to run the offense (i.e. ball handling, creating plays, & decision making), his ability to play defense, and then to a lesser extent scoring. I would give Smith an A- overall. He did have an off game shooting; I didn’t see the defense being the ENTIRE cause of it, but Knox did put great pressure on him. Why didn’t e have more points? It could’ve just been one of those nights, or the beating he took around the rack. He did miss about 5 min when he came out for what looked like leg cramps, and those could’ve affected him in the 2cnd half? He did what his team needed from him, and DLS didn’t need any more points; they needed him to run the team. I like the fact that he wasn’t forcing any shots; he took open lanes, and open shots. Bottom-line 3 points with 9 assists (I guess I miss counted), and 5 steals in a 23-point win, for a PG.
A shooting guard: which is what Knox played, I would grade more on scoring, then defense and support of his teammates. I would give him a B overall for the game. He couldn't figure out how to be effective offensively against Rivera's defense (Rivera has a few inches on him, but Knox still needs to be able to overcome that (I believe he can). Why couldn’t he? Maybe it just was an off night; maybe it is due to playing teams who don’t play team defense (just about everybody in the BVAL). On offense he had a tough defender on him, and tuned the ball over a few times, and he needed to have a bigger game than 7 points for his team to have had a chance to win. He did do a solid job on Smith defensively, didn’t give him anything easy.
I wish Knox would have ran the point, I think he would have done it better than the 2 guys they had running it, (The back up was a turn over waiting to happen, and their starter kept trying to get fancy, and every time he did Smith just poked the ball out). It would have been a treat to see Knox vs. Smith on both ends.
Rivera gets the A+, obvious player of the game. Blocked 2-3 of Knox’s shots, caused him to turn it over a few times and always had pressure on him for a great defensive effort on a great offensive player. On offense he had 23 points, and a number of assists (He also had a great game vs. Antioch).
Heard Antioch pulled one out from Pittsburgh in a messy one, keeping their second place hopes alive. Anyone have some insight on that one?
No so fast! Some of your points are valid, then some are way off.
This what I agree with: Rivera gets an A+, he had an outstanding game.
This what I disagree with: Smith gets an A-? For what? Isn't this the same player who went up to Oregon and averaged 16 ppg, about 8 assists pg, and about 2-3 steals? And this was against better over-all talent than Heritage has, right? The stats he put up in Oregon were in A to A- range. What he did last Friday, was no where near A-
territory. Knox played very good defense on Smith and held him to 3 points. With the shooters that DLS has, you can probably plug any
reasonable pg in there and they will get you at least 5-6 assists. I would say Smith gets a B in Heritage game.
I also disagree with your point of a 2 guard not playing defense:
Most 2 guards are probably the most atheletic players on the team, and they are required on occasion to guard the best player on the opposing team, and score points. In my opinion Knox did half of that.
He held the best player on DLS to 3 points, but he didn't score nearly enough from that 2 guard position.
Someone said both players did not have their best game. That I can agree with. But you stating Smith gets an A-, and Knox a B is crazy.
I know you are a DLS supporter (that's great!) and by now you know I am a Heritage supporter (that's great as well), and your analysis is pretty good, but I just have a difference of opinion as I stated above.