MCW...

[orangefan13]

If Fab is out and Southerland is having a cold shooting night I wonder if going with a three guard lineup with MCW for a few minutes could help with KJo's slashing ability.

We got all of our scoring from the perimeter off the dribble last game or shooting threes. Even Fair had to step out futher to knock down a shot.
If Southerland isn't knocking them down. Or Fair has a tough time forcing things in the post with no offense presense helping, I imagine it wouldn't be a bad idea.

On the defensive end I doubt we have practiced for it, but quick ball movement off the dribble leading to quick good passing goes along way when your bigs aren't getting good inside position for a quick dish and shot. Triangle offense becomes quadrilateral .

CJ is a hesitation shooter when he doesn't attack the rim or get his jumper off quick he doesn't quite give us the explosivness that someone like Southerland can. With Mel0 in the game CJ becomes more explosive and we give a hard 5 man transition punch on offense.

WVU has Kilici(only 6'9 and slower), and Kevin Jones in the backline. Everyone else is younger in the backline we should be able to shred their youth with speed or alittle muscle(Rak) in the paint.
Same goes with their guards outside of Bryant they are all freshmen.

Two seniors two jr's no sophmores is all WV has and one of their Jr's barely even plays. Would like to see Southerland step up again though if Fab is out. He gives us that 4th transition offensive threat in the lineup. Home game hes a Jr. Its time!

 

[dasher]

No

 

[ljmilman]

The 3 guard lineup you're talking about would be MCW, 2 out of Dion/Scoop/Brandon, Kris, and 1 of Christmas/Keita?

Are there less functional combinations of current SU players? Yes. Would I go with this lineup? Only if something (injury/foul trouble) forced my hand severely.

 

[orangefan13]

I see why you guys say no and I can understand the thought.
But thets just look at our team the last two games without Melo.

The first game We got killed by ND the second we hung on to a 2-4 point lead the entire second half to the five minute mark. It isn't exactly not broke.

KJO, Triche, and Scoop practically ran a direct line offense against Cincy. It wasn't much of a triangle (which is a big part of the problem). To create passing lanes you are better running a triangle offense and usually thats what good teams run.

We won the cincy game because of Triche.
Late in the cincy game Triche spaced out more and gave us three huge buckets by running the triangle offense.

1.Triche ran baseline and sideline which gave KJo a drive to the basket for a bucket.
2.Triche ran a baseline rollaround screen for a three.
3.And Triche got into the post which freed up Rak to go outside and make a low post pass to Triche.
4. Triche knocked a pass away and got out in transition for a dish pass to KJo.

The transition ball movement offense from Scoop, KJO and Triche that came from better spacing late in the game and converting on it was the difference. But, we ran that for 5 minutes not 40.

Our best offense against cincy was down the stretch and JB saved those Triche routes inside for late in the game. Opponents are going to realize that set and when they do you are going to have a harder time getting looks to look like a great look.


The second point I was making was James is a transition scorer CJ hasn't been this year. So when James isn't in we only have a three man transition offense. I love CJ but he doesn't have the dribble drive or outside shot to give us that forth where MCW or a three guard lineup might be able to.

MCW is our tallest guard at 6'5 and our other three guards are very strong for guards for boxing out. On top of that, all four have a motor to play scrappy and battle for loose balls. All three can get a hand high enough to disrupt the view at a opponents look at that rim.