Rebound anchor and paint hammer. He gives the Bulldogs their adult strength.
How he helps us
He ends possessions, finishes around the rim, and stabilizes their physical profile. The 13 RPG is not cosmetic. It is the backbone of their ability to survive mediocre defensive disruption and still win.
How opponents guard him
Hit him early. Box him before the shot gets there. Make catches difficult and make every finish over length and contact. If he is involved in screen-and-dive action, tag him early and make someone else beat you.
How opponents attack him
This is the cleanest structural target on the Bulldogs. Pull him away from the rim. Make him defend ball screens, guard in space, and choose between helping and recovering. If you can get him in early foul trouble, you change their whole team.
Assignment priority
Their coverage priorityHigh in the paint, medium away from it.
Their attack targetHigh. This is the best way to bend their structure.
Our role for him
Interior anchor · hammer
Takes all elite interior scorers (Semler, Macdonald, Blount). Foul budget: 3 by H2. If fouled late, he should have the ball at the stripe.
What he brings
13 RPG (league top-3)
59% FG
Best team FT% at 71% (5/7) — late-game target
Things to manage
Never attempts a three — spacing liability in PnR drop
Foul budget matters most for him
From the Bulldogs playbook
Late-game free throws
Ranked #1 in the late-game FT order — a safer option at the line. Best FT shooter available — 71% on full-season sample
Bulldogs are the cleanest offense in the league when the ball moves and the floor stays spaced. The team wins with shot quality, not chaos. The offense should look connected, not rushed. The defense does not need to create a ton of steals if the team rebounds,…