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Men's basketball: Lobos' Giddens turns to post play to boost offense

By Jeremy Fowler
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

J.R. Giddens has added some new weapons to his arsenal.

Lately, you can catch the University of New Mexico guard posting up, back to the basket from 5-to-10 feet out like a power forward. There's also Giddens the point guard, Giddens the shooting guard, Giddens the drive-to-the-basket scorer and Giddens the post defender.

San Diego State (12-5, 1-2 in Mountain West Conference) might have to prepare for the different faces of Giddens as the Lobos (12-7, 1-3 in MWC) head to California for Wednesday's game.

"(Assistant coach Duane) Broussard said I need to be an ironman - ready to do anything on any night," said Giddens, who's averaging 18.3 points per game. "They'll give me an assignment right before the game, and it can be different every time. Recently it's been me in the post."

Instead of relying on the 3-point shot, Giddens used post work to spark a 26-point outing in the Lobos' 86-82 win Saturday over Utah.

The 6-foot-5 Giddens, who missed the previous two games with an ankle sprain, said he's been working on his post play in practice.

This makes sense, considering the two primary posts, 6-8 Aaron Johnson and 6-9 Daniel Faris, average a combined 12.1 points per game.

Forty-four percent of UNM's field-goal attempts are from beyond the 3-point line, which is a tough way to survive when shots aren't falling.

"I'm an athletic guard, so I need to start getting to the rack more, whether that's from posting up or taking it to the basket," Giddens said.

Coach Ritchie McKay revels in Giddens' versatility.

"He's a very efficient scorer in a variety of places on the floor," McKay said. "We'll put him wherever we have the advantage on the defense."

Giddens in the post isn't a new development. He scored on consecutive post-up moves from the baseline against UTEP on Dec. 3. Then the Lobos seemingly abandoned the strategy - until the Utah game.

More than halfway through the season, Giddens said it's time to re-evaluate.

Especially when you're shooting 30 percent from the 3-point line.

"The shot in the post is a better-percentage shot than those 3s I'm jacking up," Giddens said. "Some of those in recent games were forced, no doubt.

"As long as I play inside-out, kind of how (Michael) Jordan and Kobe (Bryant) do, I'll be fine. Those guys play great with their backs to the basket."

Despite a designed play here and there, Giddens said he still has "great freedom" to pace the offense during games.

That's something he says he won't abuse anymore, citing his shot selection and performance from Saturday's game - 9-of-18 from the field, 2-of-5 from 3, 13 rebounds.

"If teams try to double-team me in the post or put pressure on me, they'll pick their poison," Giddens said. "I can kick it out to our shooters or take it to the basket. Our shooters are great."

Practice report: The Martin Luther King holiday didn't detract the Lobos from waking up early for work.

UNM practiced at 9 a.m. on Monday. McKay left at 11 to catch a flight.

The practice was open to the media. The Tribune was the only outlet that viewed practice.

Forward Daniel Faris said the early practice paled in comparison to the schedule of previous weeks.

"We've had some 5 a.m. practices, so those aren't fun," Faris said.