C
Cougs_RuleI really have been trying to understand what is going on with this guy. I don't have hard data or conclusions, but more of a working theory.
Watching him close last night, he was doing well in the first half staying out of foul trouble. But he also had been fairly neutralized offensively by their bigger, stronger post players. (Coincidentally, he would end up with ZERO rebounds for the night.)
So, when Brandon started forcing the issue offensively and did not get the foul calls he was hoping for, he would get more than just frustrated, he seemed almost indignant if not daring of the refs to call something. I could imagine a mental process of, "hey, if they aren't going to call those hard bumps on them, they better darn well not call them on me." And so, he starts swiping at the ball--a very high risk behavior that leads to Fouls.
His first foul was a bit bogus. He was straight up under the basket, but sometimes that just happens. Can't remember his second foul that came in the second half, but iirc, it was on D out top (like his fifth foul) rotating off a screen. Then his third foul, after getting knocked around in the paint on O was a swipe/reach. Just a stupid stupid foul that got him a seat on the bench. And has done so many times in his career.
HIS fifth foul was rather questionable as Hellavadova just kept driving into him on the switch. Bogus that Brandon got sent packing on that lame foul and Dellalymphoma didn't get sent packing when he charged into Austin for the second time.
I really struggle to know why this guy sabotages himself and/or breaks down mentally and gets stupid preventable fouls. I get that it is very challenging to play against bigger, more Dominating posts. It is really hard to stick to your game. And he tried hard, for which he deserves credit. Bt he hurts his team and his NBA stock when he does this stupid, almost arrogant kind of behavior.
Maybe it was his sprained ankle, but he seemed to have most of his moves. And yes, he scored, what 15 points with some critical buckets. But he was doing better this year after a slow start and it just hurts his team when he self destructs. I wish him all the best and hope he gets drafted. He has a lot of talent. I just wish he could have learned by now that you cannot foul with impunity. It has consequences.
Watching him close last night, he was doing well in the first half staying out of foul trouble. But he also had been fairly neutralized offensively by their bigger, stronger post players. (Coincidentally, he would end up with ZERO rebounds for the night.)
So, when Brandon started forcing the issue offensively and did not get the foul calls he was hoping for, he would get more than just frustrated, he seemed almost indignant if not daring of the refs to call something. I could imagine a mental process of, "hey, if they aren't going to call those hard bumps on them, they better darn well not call them on me." And so, he starts swiping at the ball--a very high risk behavior that leads to Fouls.
His first foul was a bit bogus. He was straight up under the basket, but sometimes that just happens. Can't remember his second foul that came in the second half, but iirc, it was on D out top (like his fifth foul) rotating off a screen. Then his third foul, after getting knocked around in the paint on O was a swipe/reach. Just a stupid stupid foul that got him a seat on the bench. And has done so many times in his career.
HIS fifth foul was rather questionable as Hellavadova just kept driving into him on the switch. Bogus that Brandon got sent packing on that lame foul and Dellalymphoma didn't get sent packing when he charged into Austin for the second time.
I really struggle to know why this guy sabotages himself and/or breaks down mentally and gets stupid preventable fouls. I get that it is very challenging to play against bigger, more Dominating posts. It is really hard to stick to your game. And he tried hard, for which he deserves credit. Bt he hurts his team and his NBA stock when he does this stupid, almost arrogant kind of behavior.
Maybe it was his sprained ankle, but he seemed to have most of his moves. And yes, he scored, what 15 points with some critical buckets. But he was doing better this year after a slow start and it just hurts his team when he self destructs. I wish him all the best and hope he gets drafted. He has a lot of talent. I just wish he could have learned by now that you cannot foul with impunity. It has consequences.