Slumps

[Jasoncuse]

Besides the obvious one against Louisville, we've got a couple of guys in major shooting slumps.

Southerland is 4-25 from 3 in our last 8 games, and just 8-38 in BE play overall.
BT is just 6-25 from deep in our last 9, and 25-60 from the floor. After hitting double digits in each of our first 4 BE games, he's done it just 3 times since.

It would be nice to get Triche going, even if he's not putting up huge point totals. We need him to start knocking down those 3's he's been missing. Getting his feet set, squared up and not forcing them up in transition would be a big plus.

 

[SoBristol]

My observation is that Triche is taking good shots within the offense (but not hitting), and shots he takes in transition aren't the issue (his made 3s have come in transition). It isn't easy to identify what he is doing that isn't working (his form looks good) or what he should try to get out of his slump. Maybe look more for mid-range pull-ups or drive moves to get himself going.

In contrast, Southerland tends to take deep 3s from the top, early in the clock, at his first opportunity, and it seems rushed. He might look to be more patient, take a mid-range shot or two, fake that long-range shot and pass the ball. Get more into the flow of the offense and try to improve his shot selection. Sometimes, it seems like he expects he has 3 minutes on the floor and needs to launch his shots at the first chance he gets. But it isn't working for him.

 

[General20]

My observation is that Triche is taking good shots within the offense (but not hitting), and shots he takes in transition aren't the issue (his made 3s have come in transition). It isn't easy to identify what he is doing that isn't working (his form looks good) or what he should try to get out of his slump. Maybe look more for mid-range pull-ups or drive moves to get himself going.

In contrast, Southerland tends to take deep 3s from the top, early in the clock, at his first opportunity, and it seems rushed. He might look to be more patient, take a mid-range shot or two, fake that long-range shot and pass the ball. Get more into the flow of the offense and try to improve his shot selection. Sometimes, it seems like he expects he has 3 minutes on the floor and needs to launch his shots at the first chance he gets. But it isn't working for him.

Really good observations.

I think Triche is what he is. Which is a good shooter, but not a great one. As you say, its hard to put your finger on what needs to change because overall he is a good decision maker and he takes good shots. For me, its enough to know that on any given night Triche can go off and win a game single handed. Those other games Waiters and Jardine have to step up.

I think Southerland has three problems. First, he seems to be a great shooter when he's got a lot of time to shoot, but a terrible shooter when he is rushed - as you say. The solution to this is to only have him take shots when he is wide open, there are still enough of those opportunities. Lately he is missing those too, though. I think there are two reasons. First, the guy is concentrating on getting stronger and being able to play defense. He needs to do that to be on the court, but I think it has hurt his shooting. If you are really increasing your strength its easy to throw off your shooting touch. Second, Southerland is playing a lot more minutes than he ever has before, its possible that the grind of the season is getting to him.

 

[Marsh01]

I think confidence also plays a big part with these 2. Im not so much worried about Brandon because he can score other ways. James is so one dimensional that he literally becomes irrelevant to the game (unless we press) if his shot is off because he cant score any other way.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Besides the obvious one against Louisville, we've got a couple of guys in major shooting slumps.

Southerland is 4-25 from 3 in our last 8 games, and just 8-38 in BE play overall.
BT is just 6-25 from deep in our last 9, and 25-60 from the floor. After hitting double digits in each of our first 4 BE games, he's done it just 3 times since.

James's shots generally aren't bad. They just aren't falling. I think JB has green-lighted him to shoot whenever he is open in the hope that he'll come out of his slump

I think Brandon's issue is that his form is a little off. On a number of occasions, I have noticed him leaning forward or backward instead of going straight up with his jumper. I'm sure he is aware and is putting in the reps in practice so in time the issue will probably resolve itself. It seems most noticeable on fast breaks where he pulls up but has slight lean forward.
It would be nice to get Triche going, even if he's not putting up huge point totals. We need him to start knocking down those 3's he's been missing. Getting his feet set, squared up and not forcing them up in transition would be a big plus.

 

[sutomcat]

Besides the obvious one against Louisville, we've got a couple of guys in major shooting slumps.

Southerland is 4-25 from 3 in our last 8 games, and just 8-38 in BE play overall.
BT is just 6-25 from deep in our last 9, and 25-60 from the floor. After hitting double digits in each of our first 4 BE games, he's done it just 3 times since.

It would be nice to get Triche going, even if he's not putting up huge point totals. We need him to start knocking down those 3's he's been missing. Getting his feet set, squared up and not forcing them up in transition would be a big plus.

For the record, BT is 16-45 from the 3 point circle in BE play...

 

[jdubs30]

Triche has been fabulous with the pullup transition 3's, reminds me a lot of Ben Gordon in that way.

 

[SoBristol]

You can't expect BT (or any shooter) to have exactly perfect form for every shot. Lean, square up -- and so forth. Other guys who have shot well for us over the years weren't always in perfect form.
I usually think "confidence" isn't much of an analysis, but it might apply more to BT than others. He does OK when he feels his "number" is called by Scoop. It seems to help when he can share the ball, take a turn or two at PG, or when he can get something in transition. Hard to say -- just hope he can have one of his better games tonight and get ready for March.