Raivio needs screens

After watching Duke hold Gonzaga star Derek Raivio to one basket (Thursday night), I have to tell the good people of Spokane and Gonzaga what I’ve kept to myself three years. That is, if Mark Few wants to unleash Raivio’s true scoring power, he’s going to have to design more plays to bring screens out to him.

I know Few wants Raivio to weave back and forth on his own to generate space and get free for a shot – as other Gonzaga guards have done with some success over the years – but the bottom line is that quick guards and forwards can stay with him as Duke did and prevent him from getting open looks at the basket.

Couple this with the fact that Raivio’s slight build (most would agree) doesn’t enhance his ability to create space all by himself, and you have a recipe for low scoring.

With all due respect, I love Gonzaga and am a big fan, and I watched Raivio in high school regularly and (seemingly) effortlessly score 30 points a game with players coming out to set a screen on his defender.

Especially effective plays to help Raivio, and he only needs a smidgeon of help, would be a screen by (David) Pendergraft or (Sean) Mallon or one of the post players. They create space with their size and their (switching) defenders should be slightly slower than other defenders, and not as able to impede an open Raivio shot.

Sometimes Gonzaga needs reliable outside scoring by a scoring machine, and these screens would help give this team that weapon.

Bill Back

Vancouver, Wash.