Some random thoughts from yesterdays game

[jordoo]

Grant has a better post game than any power forward we have had in a long while. He needs to add strength but he showed some back to the basket work usually ending in quik spins and shots. He also knows how to finish in traffic, has a good handle for a 4, can slash and shoot jumpers. The only guys recently who have been power forwards that had a post game were really centers that we were stretching into 4's. Imagine when Grant starts to put the power in power forward and sarts dunking all over people. He plays much like CJ did as a freshman, always ready, more productive with more minutes but he's a better defensively and longer.

MCW finishing at the hoop is all about pace. He misses at full speed straight line layups all the time. When he has better pace and glides in the air for half a secound or has to fade one way or adjust he is much more effective. He hasn't yet figured out how to finish at full speed like Scoop and Dion were great at. He either needs to develop that skill or slow it down a tick. I also wonder why he doesn't rise above and try to throw it down when he has a step and a lane. This would at least get him to the foul line.

Cooney may play the best defense out top of any first year player that I can remember. MCW as well since both have been here a season although MCW got some time. Cooney looks crazy out there and it really disrupts the other team. If he could ever relax and stop thinking about his shot we would really have another needed weapon that could offset some of what we are missing without James. The second 3 Cooney made shows why he could be prolific. Slow it down and watch his setup, form and most specifically his release.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Cooney's second shot reminded me an awful lot of GMac. But it wasn't a perfect shot - he was drifting to the left and that's why the ball hit the left side of the rim on the way down. That first shot was perfect though, because as I said in a different thread, he had no time to think about it. Just received the ball and went straight up and shot. Squared to the rim, feet set, everything was just about perfect. I don't know if you can say the best defense - Dion was actually really good when he wanted to be - great length to poke away passes and had more jump shot blocks than I can remember from a guard. I still think Triche plays the most consistently good defense, but I'm especially glad to see that TC understands that for him to be on the floor for any real time, he needs to make good decisions on the defensive end.

I'm also extremely excited for what Grant brings to the table. If he can shoot from outside consistently, I'm thinking we only get one more year of his services. His length and athleticism has to be exactly what the NBA is looking for. I see a little Hak in him with that length and I expect some nearly comparable highlight reel dunks as he continues to grow. I think the difference from Hak is that he looks like the kind of kid who could actually put some weight on from lifting.

 

[Ghost]

I voted "NO" to the poll, but your post is still here.....odd.

 

[jordoo]

I voted "NO" to the poll, but your post is still here.....odd.

One of my laptops makes me post with a poll the other doesn't . . . . . andI'm too lazy to figure out why.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

One of my laptops makes me post with a poll the other doesn't . . . . . andI'm too lazy to figure out why.

You need to be in compatibility view for this site.

 

[Ghost]

Cooney is the perfect experiment for this board. If we had four guards, he's the kid that would be getting zero minutes (other than mop-up duty) by now due to his struggles.

Half the board would be arguing he clearly isn't ready for primetime yet and no amount of court time is going to get him there, while the other half would be starting threads after every game we didn't win by more than 5 points that if only JB gave Cooney more minutes he would gain confidence and be the three point shooter we needed to win the title!

 

[jordoo]

VT I agree his second shot wasn't perfect but thats why he could be so good he hits it while fading in the air because his mechanics are very good (when as you poingt out he's just shooting and not thinking) and his release is fast, straight and efficient. As far as Cooney's defense he gets his hands on a lot of balls but rarely gambles to do so like Dion or Scoop. I think Cooney plays position D first and then anticipats the pass well after that. Also agree that Brandonplays very good consistent D and that Dion was perhaps our best gaurd aver at blocking jumpers.

Agree about Grant being able to add weight as well. He has some wide shoulders.

 

[jordoo]

You need to be in compatibility view for this site.

Where do I find this.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Cooney is the perfect experiment for this board. If we had four guards, he's the kid that would be getting zero minutes (other than mop-up duty) by now due to his struggles.

Half the board would be arguing he clearly isn't ready for primetime yet and no amount of court time is going to get him there, while the other half would be starting threads after every game we didn't win by more than 5 points that if only JB gave Cooney more minutes he would gain confidence and be the three point shooter we needed to win the title!

Indeed. You could feel it from the crowd yesterday as well (and that was with me watching on the laptop). Has any other guard ever gotten the cheer that Cooney did when he made those two threes? I don't want to call it racism, but some on here do seem to love our slightly less athletic white guards. I'm hoping that cheer was more because the crowd, being such a knowledgeable group of college hoops fans, understood that Cooney's struggling confidence was going to be boosted thanks to those two shots and we will need him to be on the floor due to situations just like yesterday.

 

[Ghost]

Indeed. You could feel it from the crowd yesterday as well (and that was with me watching on the laptop). Has any other guard ever gotten the cheer that Cooney did when he made those two threes? I don't want to call it racism, but some on here do seem to love our slightly less athletic white guards. I'm hoping that cheer was more because the crowd, being such a knowledgeable group of college hoops fans, understood that Cooney's struggling confidence was going to be boosted thanks to those two shots and we will need him to be on the floor due to situations just like yesterday.

I think Mookie got similar treatment even before he became sort of a sideshow act during mop-up time.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I think Mookie got similar treatment even before he became sort of a sideshow act during mop-up time.

Well, that makes me feel better overall - clearly our fans just have an extremely high bball IQ.

 

[jordoo]

I think Mookie got similar treatment even before he became sort of a sideshow act during mop-up time.

But Mookie made them at a +40% clip and was looking to shoot everytime he got in until very late in his career. It was a different type of cheer IMO.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Where do I find this.

Depends on the browser, but the icon looks like a little broken sheet of paper. On Internet Explorer 9, it's up on the left near the refresh arrow thing next to the x.

 

[Orange Barrel]

Indeed. You could feel it from the crowd yesterday as well (and that was with me watching on the laptop). Has any other guard ever gotten the cheer that Cooney did when he made those two threes? I don't want to call it racism, but some on here do seem to love our slightly less athletic white guards. I'm hoping that cheer was more because the crowd, being such a knowledgeable group of college hoops fans, understood that Cooney's struggling confidence was going to be boosted thanks to those two shots and we will need him to be on the floor due to situations just like yesterday.

I don't think it has anything to do with him being white and I certainly wouldn't consider him slightly less athletic. The kid is in great shape and is always all over the court.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I don't think it has anything to do with him being white and I certainly wouldn't consider him slightly less athletic. The kid is in great shape and is always all over the court.

Well, he's played in the same backcourt as Scoop, Dion, MCW, and Brandon. He's probably as athletic as Scoop (heck maybe more), but he's not in the same league as Dion and MCW and Brandon is more athletic as well. I was just comparing him to those on the same team. I'm hoping to see some of the athleticism I have heard about, but I live in VT and am relegated to watching on a laptop most of the time.

 

[jordoo]

Depends on the browser, but the icon looks like a little broken sheet of paper. On Internet Explorer 9, it's up on the left near the refresh arrow thing next to the x.

Got it thanks. Firefox on one computer Internet explorer on this one, that was the difference.

 

[cusetown1]

One of my laptops makes me post with a poll the other doesn't . . . . . andI'm too lazy to figure out why.

It's fine, I'm beginning to like the random polls. I voted yes. I just made up a question in my head.

 

[jordoo]

Another thought if Triche and MCW got any of the bump calls that Archidiochino (spl?) got yesterday out on the perimeter they would draw quite a few fouls.

 

[bballbeadle]

Indeed. You could feel it from the crowd yesterday as well (and that was with me watching on the laptop). Has any other guard ever gotten the cheer that Cooney did when he made those two threes? I don't want to call it racism, but some on here do seem to love our slightly less athletic white guards. I'm hoping that cheer was more because the crowd, being such a knowledgeable group of college hoops fans, understood that Cooney's struggling confidence was going to be boosted thanks to those two shots and we will need him to be on the floor due to situations just like yesterday.

It was NOT racism. It was what you suggested about our knowledgeable crowd. We know Cooney needs to get his confidence up. It was also why we went so crazy when DaJuan showed some aggression.

 

[Orangezoo]

grant is like a high bball iq and stronger hak. he has it all really its just about putting it together and getting stronger.

 

[Garbs]

Grant > Southerland

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[pearl31]

Grant > Southerland

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right now, or eventually?

 

[Garbs]

right now, or eventually?

Now

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[pearl31]

Now

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I hope so, but I tend to doubt it.

 

[sutomcat]

Now

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Statistically, this is not true; James is better at most of the key stats in production per minute. But against a good man to man defense, I think Jerami has an advantage in that he is usually going to be matched against a 4 against whom is has a major advantage in quickness and athletic ability. We saw him leverage that for some big points Saturday.

Against a zone, I think JS has a big advantage right now. While Grant is hitting a really good percentage of the 3s he takes (41.7%), he is not good at getting opening/getting off 3s right now. That will come with experience (though I don't see him even becoming a 3 point specialist). JS hits for a slightly lower percentage (37.5%) but shoots about 3 times more 3s per minute than JG does right now. He is by far our best weapon against a zone.

Was surprised Nova did not zone us. UL uses the 2-3 a lot and I expect them to zone us/press us all game long. I hope MCW and BT get a good night of rest before the game. It is going to be a tough test for them.