Better, but will it be good enough?

[Cusefan0307]

Mind boggling that we’re going into another year without a slasher.

White didn’t play and that’s his game.

 

[DoctahLexus]

White didn’t play and that’s his game.

Also plenty of 1v1/getting to the rim in these highlights from Kingz last year. He has a good handle. Just because he did not show it much in the Buffalo game does not mean he cannot do it.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Also plenty of 1v1/getting to the rim in these highlights from Kingz last year. He has a good handle. Just because he did not show it much in the Buffalo game does not mean he cannot do it.

Agreed. Kingz got the short end of the minutes. He looked good at the start of both halves and was immediately pulled. Somehow that's seen as a negative for him.

 

[AngryOtto]

Donnie was fine once they ran some p and r with him and George. I was struck in general by the lack of any sort of structured offense… they ran almost no pick and roll with George even though he’s know for that. They ran no high post with Freeman even though he is ideal for that type of role and offense. We saw very little drive and kick. Instead we saw a lot of dribble handoffs, but the few times they had some structure to the offense they almost always got a high quality open shot.

I am guessing (hoping) they are saving the structure for the games that count.

That has been a concern I have had with Red as the coach. They seem to play very few designed plays. It almost seems like pickup basketball at the park. This was shown again when Red did not call a timeout at the end of the half to set up a play. Why would you not work on situational basketball at that point and run a designed play.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Agreed. Kingz got the short end of the minutes. He looked good at the start of both halves and was immediately pulled. Somehow that's seen as a negative for him.

Exactly. I think Kingz gave us the best minutes of the starters. No mistakes, no lapses on defense, good shots and efficiencies.

Played the least of the starters but was 3-4, made his 1st and only 3, 4 rebounds, and I believe Buffalo fouled him 5 times (someone can check the box score for me on that one though).

Rewatch the game and tell me where he made mistakes cuz I didn't see any. He's a RS Senior and is ready to hit it already, I think he has the 3 locked up.

Sidenote it makes me throw up sometimes thinking about what Bell gave us last year at the 3 compared to what we have this year.

 

[sufan59]

Mind boggling that we’re going into another year without a slasher.

Mind boggling that this is your concern. JJ, Kingz, Freeman, and White all have this skill. My concern is not about not having slashers or even guys that can go iso. It’s relying to much on that and not running sets to get wide open threes and higher percentage shots. The team has the talent to score in many different ways.

 

[Orangezoo]

Exactly. I think Kingz gave us the best minutes of the starters. No mistakes, no lapses on defense, good shots and efficiencies.

Played the least of the starters but was 3-4, made his 1st and only 3, 4 rebounds, and I believe Buffalo fouled him 5 times (someone can check the box score for me on that one though).

Rewatch the game and tell me where he made mistakes cuz I didn't see any. He's a RS Senior and is ready to hit it already, I think he has the 3 locked up.

Sidenote it makes me throw up sometimes thinking about what Bell gave us last year at the 3 compared to what we have this year.

I look forward to people reversing their takes and being over the top optimistic( which will be overkill just like the pessimism after Buffalo) when we look much different the next two games with Sadiq back and the first exhibition out of the way.

 

[Blanko97]

Mind boggling that this is your concern. JJ, Kingz, Freeman, and White all have this skill. My concern is not about not having slashers or even guys that can go iso. It’s relying to much on that and not running sets to get wide open threes and higher percentage shots. The team has the talent to score in many different ways.

You maybe had me with JJ and white, but Kingz and freeman are most certainly not slashers. I dont think freeman has even showed the potential to be that, let alone actually proved it on the court. Perhaps white is fantastic but JJ is limited. He can run past tier 2 defenders but just like last year he fails to be able to consistently get by upper echelon defenders. A true slasher is some like Kris joseph, CJ fair or Judah, who can get the rim essentially at will.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Exactly. I think Kingz gave us the best minutes of the starters. No mistakes, no lapses on defense, good shots and efficiencies.

Played the least of the starters but was 3-4, made his 1st and only 3, 4 rebounds, and I believe Buffalo fouled him 5 times (someone can check the box score for me on that one though).

Rewatch the game and tell me where he made mistakes cuz I didn't see any. He's a RS Senior and is ready to hit it already, I think he has the 3 locked up.

Sidenote it makes me throw up sometimes thinking about what Bell gave us last year at the 3 compared to what we have this year.

i agree i think kingz is really good. the best lineup might turn out to be kingz taking jjs spot and going with some of the other forwards getting more time. but i doubt red would even entertain that idea

something like - george, kingz, white, betsey, freeman (assuming the opponent doesnt have a dangerous interior presence forcing kyle in there)

george and freeman running pick and roll with kingz and betsey ready to be options with white crashing the glass ...could work well

whatever happens kingz needs a lot of volume...hes so crafty and such a good shooter...but he doesnt go get his shot. he plays within the team. so the team needs to accomodate that and force feed him, imo

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

They know what they have in Kingz, he’s very efficient. They were trying different lineup combos.

 

[CardiacCuse]

They know what they have in Kingz, he’s very efficient. They were trying different lineup combos.

yeah i saw that but the constant subbing doesnt really show much imo

should have tried different lineups but with an extended run for each...it was too much

 

[cusefan88]

I think with JJ they are going to need to make sure he's playing with 2-3 threats from deep on the floor so that defenses can't help off him and his driving game can be featured.

 

[Orange315]

Been thinking about lineups. Feel like George, Anthony, Betsey, White and Freeman would be hard to stop.

 

[007]

but JJ is limtied. He can run past tier 2 defenders but just like last year he fails to be able to consistently get by upper echelon defenders.

And yet JJ averaged 17/game in ACC play...

JJ is a scorer and I think his game will play up with George at PG and better talent on the floor this season.

I think the board analysts will also be surprised to see Red set up JJ as one of the go to options at the end of games even with the bump in talent.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Been thinking about lineups. Feel like George, Anthony, Betsey, White and Freeman would be hard to stop.

Replace White with Kingz and everyone can hit a 3. Like that lineup though.

 

[Blanko97]

And yet JJ averaged 17/game in ACC play...

JJ is a scorer and I think his game will play up with George at PG and better talent on the floor this season.

I think the board analysts will also be surprised to see Red set up JJ as one of the go to options at the end of games even with the bump in talent.

on 16 shots a game...

 

[grepal]

White didn’t play and that’s his game.

JJ is a pretty good slasher. I was not upset with the scrimmage. very sloppy but first game against another school and we played fast and that does create turnovers. I like the up tempo and i hope we start to take better care of the rock.

 

[tbonezone]

on 16 shots a game...

and 12 points last 2 minutes every lost cause when the defense backs off. . think we all saw last season where jj will lead us. outside the damn bubble .outside the damn bathtub even. hoping forwards donnie and sadiq bring some inside game . unless jj's somehow learned over the summer to distribute the ball , cut down his turnovers play some defense and shoot it deep ...

why am i excited ?

 

[grepal]

and 12 points last 2 minutes every lost cause when the defense backs off. . think we all saw last season where jj will lead us. outside the damn bubble .outside the damn bathtub even. hoping forwards donnie and sadiq bring some inside game . unless jj's somehow learned over the summer to distribute the ball , cut down his turnovers play some defense and shoot it deep ...

why am i excited ?

I am excited every year. Always look forward to the season, to game days and providing unwavering support. Take it easy on JJ. He has more support this year.

 

[DomeHolmes]

Also plenty of 1v1/getting to the rim in these highlights from Kingz last year. He has a good handle. Just because he did not show it much in the Buffalo game does not mean he cannot do it.

I had not seen that video. Certainly has the ability. As others have said, would love to see a lineup of George, Kingz, Betsy, Freeman, Kyle/White.

 

[JonB]

JJ can definitely be frustrating, however, looking at our team this year and what I saw Saturday, he appears to be the only guy that can consistently put the ball on the floor and get to the rim in a half court set. (Waiting on bigger sample size from George).

Hopefully with better options this year, when he draws help, he will make better decisions whether to shoot or pass.

I’ll back this up. I think Sadiq White is going to be able to get by players also. He’s pretty quick.

 

[JonB]

Mind boggling that we’re going into another year without a slasher.

We have white, and JJ. Freeman can slash too.

 

[Blanko97]

We have white, and JJ. Freeman can slash too.

im fine being wrong, but I don’t think I saw freeman slash once last year. His game was almost entirely some slow drives that ended in step backs, 3 pointers and the occasional post up. Most everything else came from dump offs in the lane

 

[SUFan44]

Update. I'm not sure it will be good enough. And I say this knowing the players are a whole lot better than they were overall last year.

 

[DomeHolmes]

The first 70 minutes of the preseason, Definitely not good enough. The last 10 minutes, plenty good enough.

Can we play like that consistently? Can George step up his game to help facilitate it?