Cowboy Dennis said:
Here's what Efren shot. It left an easy return safety for Hall. I don't quite understand a guy who is such an offensive player not banking the 2 and sending the cueball uptable. Maybe something was dead to Buddys pocket
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I looked at that shot but really didn't like it, not really doing much to put Hall in trouble. Reyes position is too strong to allow Hall to have an easy escape. Taking the intentional is a very strong shot, especially the way the balls are positioned in this layout. Imo Reyes doesn't take enough intentionals, which is a mistake when you consider his ball running skills.
Probably the reason he didn't bank the 2 ball was because of the angle that he had. It looks like to me that if you bank the 2 ball with the intentions of sending it toward the balls on his side the cue ball will travel high on the side rail, sending it across the corner toward the opposite corner pocket. He can possibly leave a shot on the 10 ball, or a shot on one of the stripes that are positioned up table, not to mention the possibility of scratching cross corner.
It's crucial to protect the 5 ball at any expense, particularly when you have the offensive skills of an upper echelon player. Repositioning the cue ball in the stack (intentional scratch) should be a strong consideration in positions like this one.
Billy I.