Thoughts on squad: Does anyone else see what I see?

Here are my thoughts on the squad, let me know what you think, maybe others see what I see.

-I think their offensive philosophy is flawed, doesn't fit the squad, and it's slowly turning into watching an NBA team.
 
-St. John's utilizes no screens to free their best scorer/shooter (D'Angelo Harrison) and get him in space, instead they give him the ball 30 feet away and say go. He is put under too much pressure trying to go 1 on 1 almost every possession.

-Never once has a big setting a high screen rolled to the basket. Only a flare out (Jakarr) or just turn and watch (Obekpa).

-When they run a 1-4 High Motion or Princeton or 4 out 1 in or whatever the hell they want to call it, cutters never present themselves as threats, hell they never look at the ball. The first play I'd input is flex, or my high school boy's team calls it, 'BC'. Gets everyone involved and can create a few easy baskets a game. But it doesn't matter what they run, they need to cut with a purpose and not just go through the motions. I'm not saying they need to leashed completely but they need more structure than there is right now.

-Team hasn't got a clue what to do when fronted against a zone defense. Their big (really evident with Obekpa today) will sit below the opposite block the ball is on, on the baseline. Then they'll just move slightly back and fourth but make no effort to flash up to get the ball.

-Defensively I actually don't mind the 1-3-1 matchup and the man to man they usually run.

-I think they should press more. With their athleticism and someone like Obekpa in centerfield, they can really put some pressure on with their great wing defenders like Dom Pointer and Amir Garrett. It'll get these guys going at a higher defensive tempo which is where I think they'll do better. Halfcourt, we can stick with our 1-3-1 and man. We have a better bench this year so we can give some guys spells when they're tired.

-Whether it's the staff not emphasizing at all/enough or whether it's laziness by the players, there needs to a priority on rebounding. We have the athletes, now we need the will to rebound. All they have to do is body up, box out. They'll realize it will make their job easier if they try to get in front to get a rebound rather than rely on athleticism and length to tip the ball around.

-Offensively, whether they rebound or not isn't a big deal to me so be it as there are no leakouts and easy baskets in transition.

-Amir Garrett needs to learn to go up with the right hand. When around the basket, he will only go to left side of basket. If he is on right, he'll go under to the other side, or finish with left on right side.

These are all the thoughts I can think of right now. I think these are fundamental issues with the program that if not fixed, they will never go far in the postseason (BIG East or NCAA or NIT).



I spaced this out to make it easier to read* Dave

Oh I forgot to add one thing.
Our bigs need to learn how to front bigger guys with more consistency. They get backed down by Lubick and Eugene Teague because they are stronger. We shouldn't even allow them the chance at the ball. We should front bigger (wider/heavier) guys and make teams lob over where help can come. Dom Pointer really has done a good job with that, especially against DePaul and Melvin. I'd rather get beat on a lob then getting physically backed down constantly.

Fronting a guy is rarely a good move, but unfortunately on our team we have to do it sometimes. That's where this this team desperately needs a low post beefy type player. At least someone who can hold there own.

Fronting a guy is rarely a good move, but unfortunately on our team we have to do it sometimes. That's where this this team desperately needs a low post beefy type player. At least someone who can hold there own.

I agree it isn't the best move but based on our personnel and how we've had Eugene Teague beat us up, and Lubick among others, we need to change something. Even if it's just a few times early on, it gives players something else to think about.

Someone needs to teach Sampson how to pull-up for a short jumper. Also not to dribble when hes under the basket with the ball

Agree with most of your post. Rarely is there ever any kind of screen or cut or back door or even a simple pick and roll.  If there were, not just DLo but Marco may be scoring 15 to 20 points per game.  As to why this is happening, well coach has surrounded himself with NBA player developers so naturally their inclination is to run an NBA style offense. That will usually work well when you are talently superior to your opponent but when you are on equal to less then equal footing, success may be sporadic at best.

Not saying there is anything wrong with this philosophy but it is what it is.

We got decent shots. We just missed them. Who cares how many picks were set. If we weren't getting good shots. Then it would be more of a problem

we get good shots when we're not running down the clock.  we miss them.

maybe we should set screens for the free throw shooters.

Our shot selection is terrible.  Part of that is i dont think we create good shots, but team is also impatient.  Look at the first possession.  Harrison wins the tip has three guys around him and hoists up a three with 4 other guys behind half court.  Most of his shots were contested, off balance, or from NBA range.  Is harrison really a 33% 3pt shooter?  He is this year b/c his shot selection is terrible and he makes it hard for himself.  IN his defense he is rarely wide open for a look from deep, it's coaches job to create more open looks for him and reign him in.  Im tired of Fast break threes and one pass shoot an nba three early in the shot clock. 

I would love to see Malik boote hounding the opposing point. We don't shake up the opposing teams on defense like we should with these athletes that we have. When have seen the opposition shaken up by our intense on ball defense? So much dribbling and wasted seconds . Move without the ball and get into things quicker.get the ball down low. We have so so few easy baskets.

All of the flaws noted in this thread can be rectified by improved coaching only.

The biggest offseason move Lavin will need to make is to hire a highly skilled offensive strategist.
Forget about Jermaine lawrence, if Jakar and everyone else returns, the kids currently on the team, a year older, and with much improved coaching, can be a top 15-20 squad next season.

Now that Lawrence has committed to Cinci, Is anyone else here concerned with the lack of the teams front court depth?  We could still use a banger and more up front if any of our payers get injured.  I know we will have Gift, but many eleven he should be a little used reserve at est.

Now that Lawrence has committed to Cinci, Is anyone else here concerned with the lack of the teams front court depth?  We could still use a banger and more up front if any of our payers get injured.  I know we will have Gift, but many eleven he should be a little used reserve at est.

Extremely concerned.

This team is playing w out a PF, and there no reason for that other than horrible judgement.

I would love to see Malik boote hounding the opposing point. We don't shake up the opposing teams on defense like we should with these athletes that we have. When have seen the opposition shaken up by our intense on ball defense? So much dribbling and wasted seconds . Move without the ball and get into things quicker.get the ball down low. We have so so few easy baskets.

Uh, Malik graduated to years ago. Maybe you can catch him playing a pick up game. I would prefer to see a Derrick Rose type hounding the opposing pt g.

Cogent thoughts by author of this thread. You are going nowhere as a poster on these boards.

STJ1, nice post.
I completely agree with you on the lazy cutting, and not knowing what to do against a zone.   

But I also think that some of our problems won't be solved by more experience or different game planning.   I'm not 100% convinced our pieces fit, or ever will really. 
We're short, and we don't shoot well. 
Athleticism and running and attacking make for a good sound clip - but what does it break down to?   Now that we have the horses, are we scoring anymore in transition than we did last year?  Or two years ago when we had slower less athletic holdevers from Norm?    We're thinner.  We looked better in midnight madness, but I really question whether you can go all in on combo athletes like we have and eschew shooting and size.

There have been running, athletic, teams who've done really well.. but when you look under the hood; they're actually not that different from a traditional lineup.

UNLV in the 90s and Kentucky last year are probably the best examples.   
Except we're really nothing like them.    UK last year had a real center in Davis at 6'10-6'11, and then put out a 6'9 Terrence Jones at 250lbs, a 6'8 230lbs Darius Miller, and 6'7 230lb MKG ... that's more height, and a lot more bulk than our lineup.  And while not sharp shooters... they all shot +70% from the line, and could hit a jumper given the space.
And the UNLV team in 90-91 could shoot with the best of them!   

I'm all for playing an exciting style, and trying to get out in transition.   But we can't keep being small AND poor shooters.   That's not a combo that works, no matter what the game plan is. 

STJ1, nice post.
I completely agree with you on the lazy cutting, and not knowing what to do against a zone.   

But I also think that some of our problems won't be solved by more experience or different game planning.   I'm not 100% convinced our pieces fit, or ever will really. 
We're short, and we don't shoot well. 
Athleticism and running and attacking make for a good sound clip - but what does it break down to?   Now that we have the horses, are we scoring anymore in transition than we did last year?  Or two years ago when we had slower less athletic holdevers from Norm?    We're thinner.  We looked better in midnight madness, but I really question whether you can go all in on combo athletes like we have and eschew shooting and size.

There have been running, athletic, teams who've done really well.. but when you look under the hood; they're actually not that different from a traditional lineup.

UNLV in the 90s and Kentucky last year are probably the best examples.   
Except we're really nothing like them.    UK last year had a real center in Davis at 6'10-6'11, and then put out a 6'9 Terrence Jones at 250lbs, a 6'8 230lbs Darius Miller, and 6'7 230lb MKG ... that's more height, and a lot more bulk than our lineup.  And while not sharp shooters... they all shot +70% from the line, and could hit a jumper given the space.
And the UNLV team in 90-91 could shoot with the best of them!   

I'm all for playing an exciting style, and trying to get out in transition.   But we can't keep being small AND poor shooters.   That's not a combo that works, no matter what the game plan is. 

Well stated Desco!