Tacko Fall discusses the biggest difference between the NCAA, NBA game

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/05/tacko-fall-discusses-the-biggest-difference-between-the-ncaa-nba-game/




Tacko Fall discusses the biggest difference between the NCAA, NBA game




By: Quenton S. Albertie | 2 hours ago




Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall isn’t a lead-footed big man that lumbers around the court, even if he’s 7-foot-7 and 310 pounds. In fact, early in the offseason — when the Celtics traveled to Las Vegas for Summer League practices — Fall’s mobility was complimented by Celtics assistant coach Scott Morrison.

That said, there’s a marked difference between the NBA and the NCAA game to Fall that revolves around how well he’s able to move around the court.

Speaking to reporters after practice on Friday, Fall says “in college, I used to stay in the the paint most of the time. Here, I noticed I’m moving a lot more than I’ve had had in the past. That’s something I’ve worked on a lot during the summer.”

Though NCAA head coaches go through pains to make sure that they’re playing a style of basketball that’s en vogue on the offensive end, college defenses seem to be far more basic than the defensive schemes found in the NBA, although last season saw a surprising number of NBA teams playing zone defense — a defense usually found at the high school or college level.

“Drop” schemes that see big men drop back into the paint when defending pick-and-rolls are one of the most simplistic ways to guard the action. When screeners — usually big men — make contact with the opposing guard, the player that’s guarding them “drops back” in anticipation of a potential lob or dump-off pass inside.

In the NBA, the problem is that the screen may not be coming from a center and that the center may not be taking his shots inside the paint but instead from the three-point arc. While the NCAA tries to mimic the small-ball, perimeter-oriented style of play that’s taken the league by storm, there are plenty of coaches and programs that either find more comfort in a more traditional offense or don’t have the personnel that will allow them to mimic the NBA’s style of play.

Even powerhouse programs can find themselves in such a situation, as Duke did last season with a traditional big in Marques Bolden replacing New Age centers in Wendell Carter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that Fall is relatively inexperienced in terms of being asked to step out onto the perimeter to defend smaller players or even centers — whether he’s rotating or defending the pick-and-roll — even if it’s briefly. Especially at 7-foot-7, as Fall’s size is usually used to intimidate to players trying to get a shot up around the rim.

In college, it was just easier — perhaps even smarter — to ask Fall to man the paint.

After all, in instances like when Fall’s UCF Knights faced Zion Williamson’s Duke Blue Devils in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, there’s far more benefit to Fall being in position to protect the rim than to have him chasing players around the floor or trying to stop a spot-up shooter.

Fall’s saving grace, in terms of his ability to be a mobile defender, won’t be the mobility that he already possesses though that will undoubtedly help. His size, as it has been throughout his basketball career, will allow him to have a far easier job containing players on the perimeter and creating chaos inside the arc than he otherwise may have.

With an 8-foot-4 wingspan, opposing ball-handlers will have plenty of trouble trying to get past Fall without a screen being set; even if they try to shake him with an advanced dribble, they have to go nearly four feet in either direction just to get around an immobile Fall. Should he slide his feet well enough, then said player’s best decision would be to give the ball up and relocate.

They’re certainly going to be at a disadvantage if they try to launch a three over his outstretched hands, as Fall’s 10-foot-2 standing reach would likely cloak their vision.

Against certain players, ones who have limitless range and great ball-handling ability (think Trae Young, Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard), asking Fall to step out on the perimeter could be foolhardy. However, the bulk of NBA teams don’t possess a guard with the type of three-point prowess displayed by the aforementioned players.

For Fall, aside from experience (always the best teacher), learning how to utilize his unique size and sharpening his defensive technique, play recognition will be key. He can have all the physical tools required of him but if he doesn’t have the awareness, then he’s going to be running around like a headless chicken.

One of the most intelligent players on the team off the court, his natural intellect should make it easier for him to assess defensive rotations. Further, if he recognizes the opposing player’s tendencies or opposing team’s plays, then he could both communicate what he sees to his teammates and try to wreak havoc in passing (or driving) lanes with his extraordinary length.

One of the most intriguing players to come through the Celtics’ doors, Fall isn’t a shoo-in to make Boston’s final roster but his development could see him turn into an impact sooner rather than later. That’s what the Celtics hope, of course, and why they’re so heavily invested in the Senegalese center.

For now, Fall must meld together his experiences, abilities and intelligence as much as possible in order to make it through the training camp cuts.

He’s shown plenty of promise early on.



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