is good scoop gone forever?

[Millhouse]

he had a good year and he stifled his true basketball nature for much longer than I ever thought he could

but is that over and done with?

i said before the year that i don't think a team with scoop running the show for 3/4 of the game can get past the sweet 16. i want to be wrong.

it's crazy that they can be 32-2 and i still find myself thinking about next year.

 

[RMH44]

he had a good year and he stifled his true basketball nature for much longer than I ever thought he could

but is that over and done with?

i said before the year that i don't think a team with scoop running the show for 3/4 of the game can get past the sweet 16. i want to be wrong.

it's crazy that they can be 32-2 and i still find myself thinking about next year.

I think Good Scoop made a cameo in the 2nd half...he even hit some big FT's. Hopefully we've seen the last of his alter ego.

 

[kirbivore]

The difference is the first 32 games "bad scoop" would get a lot of pine time. Hasn't happened the last 2 games.

 

[orangemass]

2nd half was a glimpse of good scoop... Hopefully he can build on that...

 

[RF2044]

Scoop was a huge reason we won today. He was invisible the first half, but had a very solid second half.

I didn't see any evidence of bad scoop today.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

he had a good year and he stifled his true basketball nature for much longer than I ever thought he could

but is that over and done with?

i said before the year that i don't think a team with scoop running the show for 3/4 of the game can get past the sweet 16. i want to be wrong.

it's crazy that they can be 32-2 and i still find myself thinking about next year.

He had a good second half. His 3 wasn't falling but 7 assists vs 3 TO's, a couple of steals and perfect from the charity stripe. I don't think today is the day to get on Scoop too much.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

Scoop was fine - not far from a double double with only 3 turnovers - the problem was Triche, Fair, Rak and KJ's deep shooting

 

[hoopsupstate]

People have to stop bitching about Scoop. We flat out lose this game without him today. He had a very solid second half. Where was Waiters in the second half? He plays like a scared rabbit when teams press at the end of games. He wants no part of handling the ball. He doesn't trust himself at the foul line and he doesn't want to look bad. He runs away from the ball. Triche was the only player who wanted the ball against their press. This is not new for Waiters today, he has been doing this all year.

The biggest problem with this team and they usually figure it at some point in the game is shot selection. They have a lot of freedom but are not always smart enough to figure it out for themselves. They have to attack the basket and not settle for jump shots. When they take good, solid shots, they have teammates who are in good position to offensive rebound. That's how we got back in the game. They also have to stay focused on defense and not lose track of shooters. They get caught watching and not locating shooters. Waiters foul of a three point shooter at the end of the game is an example when Southerland fell asleep and Dion had to try to run at the shooter. In that situation, give up the two but don't even let them get a three point shot off. Guard them out to 25 feet if you have to. They didn't prove they could consistently beat us inside the foul line. Being intense means playing hard and smart. We haven't done this for 40 minutes all year long.

 

[Ghost]

I thought Scoop was shaky to start, shaky to end it (he should have come to the ball on the press one possession, and had a bad TO on another), but was fairly solid otherwise especially in the second half.

Plus he hit those free throws.

 

[billsin01]

he had a good year and he stifled his true basketball nature for much longer than I ever thought he could

but is that over and done with?

i said before the year that i don't think a team with scoop running the show for 3/4 of the game can get past the sweet 16. i want to be wrong.

it's crazy that they can be 32-2 and i still find myself thinking about next year.

The good scoop/bad scoop thing is a tired refrain as far as I'm concerned. I won't bother trying to convince you that Scoop is any good but let's be clear about a couple things:

1) If this team doesn't get to the Elite 8 it might have something to do with Scoop but being a team that struggles to get open shots, is streaky when it does get open looks, struggles to rebound, lost a 7-foot future NBA center with quick feet and 3 blocks per game, the fact that the 'other' senior leader is every bit as inconsistent as Scoop, etc. may have something to do with it as well. I mean, Scoop could be a factor, I suppose, but seriously.

2) I'm not sure why it's hard to believe a team with scoop could make the elite 8 since they already reached the sweet 16 before falling in a tight game to the eventual national runner-up without Onuaku. Do they win that game with Onuaku? I don't know. Do they win if they're matched up with someone other than Butler? i don't know. But it's not really hard to believe that team could have been an Elite 8 team.

 

[orangehomer]

he had a good year and he stifled his true basketball nature for much longer than I ever thought he could

but is that over and done with?

i said before the year that i don't think a team with scoop running the show for 3/4 of the game can get past the sweet 16. i want to be wrong.

it's crazy that they can be 32-2 and i still find myself thinking about next year.

it's a shame that you are wasting your time thinking this way. i bet if you did a poll of coaches, regarding who would like to have scoop on their roster, virtually every coach would take him.

 

[rrlbees]

Scoop was a huge reason we won today. He was invisible the first half, but had a very solid second half.

I didn't see any evidence of bad scoop today.

2nd half? How about us finally having the lead and up 5-7 points and he does a shake and the ale at the top of the key early in the shot clock when you want a solid shot and he takes the fall away 3 ans air balls it. How about driving to the basket and not taking a layup and to everyones surprise he passes up an easy shot? Or just after that when he tried to dribble through 4 defenders and lost the ball? Or maybe the 2 times we almost didn't get the ball in bounds and instead if coming to the ball he's standing around at halfcourt? Or lastly the two 3's he was completely responsible for giving up because he gave his 10% effort on defense and didn't even try to get up on the shooter. People focus too much on stats to determine good or bad. Scoop did his fair share, along with others, to try to give that game away. The brainfarts are endless.



Sent from my DROIDX

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

Scoop is rarely very good... good scoop to me, means few turnovers and "What" shots. I didn't think he was that bad today. He took one really bad pull up 3 in the 2nd half without passing the ball...and a bad turnover early trying to press the ball down court.

 

[Flora'cuse]

Scoop needs to sit. He should be our 4th option at guard.

Why JB plays him is beyond me. - Actually it's not beyond me - JB plays him because JB is a loyal man and there is nothing wrong with that... ... ... but it's going to cost us, eventually, if he doesn't sit scoop more. Brandon is a better guard and a Brandon/Dion back court is a better back court.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Scoop needs to sit. He should be our 4th option at guard.
.

This is just nuts

 

[RF2044]

2nd half? How about us finally having the lead and up 5-7 points and he does a shake and the ale at the top of the key early in the shot clock when you want a solid shot and he takes the fall away 3 ans air balls it. How about driving to the basket and not taking a layup and to everyones surprise he passes up an easy shot? Or just after that when he tried to dribble through 4 defenders and lost the ball? Or maybe the 2 times we almost didn't get the ball in bounds and instead if coming to the ball he's standing around at halfcourt? Or lastly the two 3's he was completely responsible for giving up because he gave his 10% effort on defense and didn't even try to get up on the shooter. People focus too much on stats to determine good or bad. Scoop did his fair share, along with others, to try to give that game away. The brainfarts are endless.



Sent from my DROIDX

I don't focus on stats--I focus on plays. And Scoop made a bunch of plays yesterday in the second half that were a big reason for why we won. Your lopsided recount above fails to mention Scoop's early 7 points to single handedly erase the UNCA lead, or how him taking the ball to the rim set the tone for how the team was going to play in the second half--most notably on the dish for the old fashioned three point play attempt to Rak, or how after sucking at the FT line all year, he knocked down four important free throws at the end to help close out the game.

I am not suggesting that he played perfectly. Frankly, the three point attempt you mention got me out of my chair--why take that shot; you can get that kind of shot any time? But some act like if he doesn't play complete mistake free ball, with the outcome of every play resulting in a top 10 play on sportscenter that it is evidence of "Bad Scoop."

There were a lot of culprits yesterday with plenty of blame to go around for the poor performance. Frankly, I don't understand how after laying eggs in NYC, Scoop and Kris could come out and demonstrate such an utter lack of intensity in the first half. And what's wrong with CJ? How about everyone named named James Southerland going 2-18 from three point range? And what about the poor execution at the end of the game [including the poor inbound display that plagued us over the game's last two minutes]?

 

[Millhouse]

But some act like if he doesn't play complete mistake free ball, with the outcome of every play resulting in a top 10 play on sportscenter that it is evidence of "Bad Scoop."

straw man

if you think he played as smart as he has most of the year, I don't know what to tell you.

not every post has to be comprehensive. cj fair's meltdown is shocking and disappointing. triche can't really disappoint me, he can only pleasantly surprise me from time to time. and joseph needs to play big the whole game.

 

[RF2044]

straw man

if you think he played as smart as he has most of the year, I don't know what to tell you.

not every post has to be comprehensive. cj fair's meltdown is shocking and disappointing. triche can't really disappoint me, he can only pleasantly surprise me from time to time. and joseph needs to play big the whole game.

You must have missed the part where I was critical of Scoop's play in the first half, as well as his decision making on several plays--the same way you apparently missed out on the positive things Scoop did to contribute to yesterday's win in your original post.

 

[Orangello]

I have become convinced that the shelf life of Good Scoop is akin to buying milk on its expiration date. It could get you through the whole week without a problem or you could be spitting out the first bite of your Cocoa Krispies in total disgust.

 

[Flora'cuse]

Scoop needs to sit. He should be our 4th option at guard.

This is just nuts

We'll never know - 'cause JB keeps him in way too long. Gimme Brandon/Deon/MCW.

At the end of the game Scoop was afraid to come to the ball when they were pressing us on our in-bounds after a made basket, or throwing the ball away. He needs to sit the last 3 mins of the game. But we'll never know.

Scoop was not good - Put Brandon In! He's better in pressure situations. Look at the last 5 games.

Why do you think there are all these "Good Scoop" / "Bad Scoop" threads on this and other sites? Gimme Brandon/Deon/MCW ... ... ... ... ... but we may never know. Come on JB - Give us a chance!

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The way I see it, each game we see Bad Scoop we have a better chance of getting Good Scoop the next game.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

2nd half? How about us finally having the lead and up 5-7 points and he does a shake and the ale at the top of the key early in the shot clock when you want a solid shot and he takes the fall away 3 ans air balls it. How about driving to the basket and not taking a layup and to everyones surprise he passes up an easy shot? Or just after that when he tried to dribble through 4 defenders and lost the ball? Or maybe the 2 times we almost didn't get the ball in bounds and instead if coming to the ball he's standing around at halfcourt? Or lastly the two 3's he was completely responsible for giving up because he gave his 10% effort on defense and didn't even try to get up on the shooter. People focus too much on stats to determine good or bad. Scoop did his fair share, along with others, to try to give that game away. The brainfarts are endless.

Sent from my DROIDX

Your comments about his lack of effort on the defensive end are right on point and what really bothers me about Scoop the most. He just doesn't contest the three pointers (WHICH ARE WHAT KEPT UNCA IN THE GAME) and hasn't done a good job of this for his entire career. He does dribble too much and get himself into terrible situations as well.

He does make some big shots and steps up on occasion, and I know JB says he's the only guard who actually runs the offense (I'm going to stay away from this debate), but I truly don't see how using MCW a bit more would hurt our chances any more than watching another three pointer sail over Scoop's head.

 

[Madbiker]

Did you folks not see his poor defense at the top of the zone. He was lazy all game getting to 3 pt shooters. He never has his hands up. He just turns to watch the shot. He was beat off the dribble a dozen times on penetration into the lane. JB won't take him out because we need his play making. But come on his D was awful.

 

[BlueCurtain]

Did you folks not see his poor defense at the top of the zone. He was lazy all game getting to 3 pt shooters. He never has his hands up. He just turns to watch the shot. JB won't take him out because we need his play making.

That's been Scoop's staple on defense his entire career. I can see living or dying with it if there are no other options, but not when the guard rotation is 4-deep. JB won't take him out because he has this made-up rule about riding senior experience even when they stink.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

That's been Scoop's staple on defense his entire career. I can see living or dying with it if there are no other options, but not when the guard rotation is 4-deep. JB won't take him out because he has this made-up rule about riding senior experience even when they stink.

I've also heard that JB engages in an impressive mental calculus when determining if a substitution will appease a crowd that may or may not be aware of a coach's mistake. Could you confirm that, Blue?