After two scrimmages, 1 thing we know, 3 TBD

[IthacaMatt]

My worry is the defensive side of the ball...there really isn't any. We play to loose and allow to many open looks from three. If they hadn't been such a poor shooting team, they might have kept it close ACC games are going to be nail biters unless they can tighten up the D and then when they do, don't get blown by. Keep their man in front of them and stay close so you can get a hand in their face on shots. They look like they are playing some sort of "prevent" man to man. I don't like it. Offensively I feel you are pretty spot on, I have the same basic impressions.

That seems a little harsh when they maintained a 35 point lead for 3/4 of the game. Slippery Rock didn't get their 2nd basket of the 2nd half until there were only 7 minutes left in the game.

 

[IthacaMatt]

One of the commentators put it best last season. He's a one play per possession guy. He'll block the shot, but not get the rebound. He'll catch the pass, but struggle making the move to get a good shot up.

Great comment. I agree. Needs much more effort on the defensive end, especially rebounding.

 

[sutomcat]

He looked like his shins or ankles were hurting.

He had at least one major collision where a Rock player took out his legs. Was icing a knee on the bench in the second half. Not sure if it was because of that play or some general issue with the knee.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I don’t know how the season will go, but this TEAM is night and day better than last year. Effort, ball movement, rebounding and the ability to push the ball and make fast breaks look easy is a whole lot better. This team actually makes a fast break look normal and not a freaking adventure. We’ve seen about five minutes with the actual starting five on the floor together. People need to chill trying to nick pick every little thing based on two exhibition games, but I guess that’s what the forum is for. What we are seeing from Freeman is who he is. He’s not a bruiser, powerful low post player or a great rebounder. He’s a skilled guy who has a good feel for how to play with his skills, not what people’s expectations of what he should be.

 

[FireballPhil]

That seems a little harsh when they maintained a 35 point lead for 3/4 of the game. Slippery Rock didn't get their 2nd basket of the 2nd half until there were only 7 minutes left in the game.

Slippery Rock had plenty of good looks at the basket, they just plain missed them. They also had multiple easy cuts to the basket, including an inbound play with like 2 seconds left on the clock. Against a better team this will not work, period. It will lead to many closer than they should be games, and a few What games when we don't hit 50% from 3. I do agree much of this is the personnel was due to testing rotations and it should get better as things settle down.

 

[Sbucketball]

Slippery Rock had plenty of good looks at the basket, they just plain missed them. They also had multiple easy cuts to the basket, including an inbound play with like 2 seconds left on the clock. Against a better team this will not work, period. It will lead to many closer than they should be games, and a few What games when we don't hit 50% from 3. I do agree much of this is the personnel was due to testing rotations and it should get better as things settle down.

Yeah they could have built a fire station with all those bricks.

 

[billsin01]

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misses cross court pass to give up 3 pointer (couldve easily stolen if a little aware)

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loses man who then assists for layup

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blatantly pushes man in back for no reason - offensive foul

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part of team defense beaten back door for layup...

WHy is he so far from hoop???

his help defense is atrocious...if I was his coach he would be instructed to stay within 5 feet of the hoop at all times

you cant protect the rim if you arent near the rim...thats the biggest issue I see with him POSITIONING is very bad. i truly dont get it. he cannot play team defense? or hes being told to ONLY guard his man???

opponents consistenyl get way too many layups with him on the floor...it makes no sense

all of thes things happend in 5 minutes in the 1st half! (came into the game with 5 point lead left with 7 point lead...but he get stats! smh)

once freeman came on the cuse blew the game open...no coincidence...

a lot of these breakdowns by naheem dont show up in the boxscore...hes a guy who benefits greatly from the blindspots in analytics. in my humble opinion.

I think the whole point is the stay within 5-feet of the hoop comment. If you’re going to play him you’re going to need to be creative with your defense.