Starling had the least efficient season for a starting shooting guard going back to 04-05

[Cstate]

Without even talking about the defensive side of the ball……..if someone can explain to me the logic in bringing a “shooting” guard back for yet another year with these career FG%, 3pt%, and FT% numbers, I’m all ears. I mean 38 threes for the entire season, come on. All while averaging north of 34 minutes per game.

 

[upperdeck]

How does someone measure efficiency anyway?

 

[Nicknack]

I can look past the offensive inefficiency. Echoing comments made already, but he was the focus of every opponent, because he had to be our #1 option especially when Donnie went out. No one else on the team was a threat to penetrate. I assume the staff was also in his ear to be aggressive and be “the guy”. I just don’t think he has the mindset to be in that role. If he’s a 3rd or 4th option, I think he can be useful.

I can't really look past his inefficiencies regardless of what option he is or that he would draw the other team's best defender. His decision making to continue to chuck and heave shot after shot was very poor. We had other guys who could score so he didn't have to do that. If he could accept a lesser role, I'd like him back too but I don't really see that happening from him or Red coaching him to do it.

 

[Red2003]

With that being said I’m afraid if he comes back, Red will lean on him heavily. Depending on who we pick up in the portal, Starling will be the go to scorer. For better or worse.

The fear. JJ has also been injured alot and those free throws too. Painful.

 

[pearl31]

How does someone measure efficiency anyway?

COMPUTER

 

[Scooch]

How does someone measure efficiency anyway?

Math.

 

[Scooch]

The lack of defense was disappointing. You would think with his athleticism, he could stay in front of someone or at least do what Judah did last year and average a couple steals/game.

In each of the 2 ACCT games there were possessions where he'd get in a crouch and frantically move side-to-side horizontally while his guy was a couple feet in front. Then the guy would blow right by him. It was a textbook example of false hustle leading to defensive ineptitude.

 

[tptcuse]

It's crazy that a shoulder injury messed up his shooting mechanics so badly. How is it seemingly impossible for him to regain his form from high school?

Almost hard to believe they are the same person.

 

[Cusefan0307]

It's crazy that a shoulder injury messed up his shooting mechanics so badly. How is it seemingly impossible for him to regain his form from high school?

I think GMac was starting to make strides with him last year. Obviously he left this year and he went backwards.

 

[PoppyHart]

With JJ taking 15-25 shots per game, there's not a lot left for other players, and we are likely going to be very bad again next year. Red is not going to drop him down to 10-15 minutes per game. He is not an elite shooter, defender, or facilitator. Given Red's ineptitude for roster management and in game coaching, JJ cannot be part of the team, and Red will likely revert back to ISO hero ball if we slump at all.

Aren’t we relying on Kline to hammer this home?

 

[PoppyHart]

I can look past the offensive inefficiency. Echoing comments made already, but he was the focus of every opponent, because he had to be our #1 option especially when Donnie went out. No one else on the team was a threat to penetrate. I assume the staff was also in his ear to be aggressive and be “the guy”. I just don’t think he has the mindset to be in that role. If he’s a 3rd or 4th option, I think he can be useful.

The lack of defense was disappointing. You would think with his athleticism, he could stay in front of someone or at least do what Judah did last year and average a couple steals/game.

Right now, I’m hoping he comes back and can find a smaller role. That’s mostly me being pragmatic since I can’t see us getting 5-6 new portal guys that are better.

Cuffe was a threat to penetrate. Albeit a threat to us!

 

[PoppyHart]

How does someone measure efficiency anyway?

By height?

 

[upperdeck]

I just mean is a pure numbers or weighted numbers or what?

 

[jgeorge322]

JJ has little help on offense, that hurts, his defense though is inexcusable

 

[Cusefan0307]

I just mean is a pure numbers or weighted numbers or what?

The formula for TS% is: (Points Scored) / (2 * (Field Goals Attempted + 0.44 * Free Throws Attempted)).

 

[IthacaMatt]

The lack of defense was disappointing. You would think with his athleticism, he could stay in front of someone or at least do what Judah did last year and average a couple steals/game.

Yeah, he lacks the fundamental instinct of keeping the other guy in front of him. He let's the guy get alongside him almost every time. Once you have a defender on your hip, he's cooked.

 

[MikeSU02]

Can’t have those type of inefficient numbers on the volume he puts up.

I get the there is blame to go around, but it just can’t be the case.

 

[sufandu]

I hope we don't move on from JJ. I hope we can put some players around him that allow him to have a decreased role. We've seen this film too much the last few years, a guy that would be a good role player is asked to do/be more than he can be and is killed for it. We look back so fondly on guys Brandon Triche and Andy Rautins. Would they be viewed as highly if they had been asked to be the #1 guy instead of a good piece on a well balanced roster? JJ isn't living up to the MAA tag, but I don't necessarily want to see him go.

 

[PoppyHart]

I hope we don't move on from JJ. I hope we can put some players around him that allow him to have a decreased role. We've seen this film too much the last few years, a guy that would be a good role player is asked to do/be more than he can be and is killed for it. We look back so fondly on guys Brandon Triche and Andy Rautins. Would they be viewed as highly if they had been asked to be the #1 guy instead of a good piece on a well balanced roster? JJ isn't living up to the MAA tag, but I don't necessarily want to see him go.

Unless your PG can shoot the lights out, it seems like a fools errand.

 

[sufandu]

Unless your PG can shoot the lights out, it seems like a fools errand.

I'm not suggesting the team be built around him, just that you don't have to get rid of him to add pieces that diminish his responsibility. We're already scheduled to have plenty of turnover to reshape the roster. If we found a do it all 3 like Dalton Knecht with Tennessee last year, a center that was productive on both ends, and a PG that could run the offense and be a good shooter, JJ could fit in. And I don't think any of them would have to be lights out shooters. I think JJ's shooting could improve to serviceable enough with less responsibility to complement other good shooters. Would his defense be good enough though? I don't know. Again, it would depend on the other pieces. He's good enough to play a role. I like the idea of a local kid that wants to be here sticking around as long as he's a good teammate and accepts whatever role is best for the team.

 

[Janner]

Here is my hot take/grenade im rolling into the forum for fun discussion, not only will JJ be back next year but he'll be our starting point guard... have a great rest of your day everyone!

 

[PoppyHart]

I'm not suggesting the team be built around him, just that you don't have to get rid of him to add pieces that diminish his responsibility. We're already scheduled to have plenty of turnover to reshape the roster. If we found a do it all 3 like Dalton Knecht with Tennessee last year, a center that was productive on both ends, and a PG that could run the offense and be a good shooter, JJ could fit in. And I don't think any of them would have to be lights out shooters. I think JJ's shooting could improve to serviceable enough with less responsibility to complement other good shooters. Would his defense be good enough though? I don't know. Again, it would depend on the other pieces. He's good enough to play a role. I like the idea of a local kid that wants to be here sticking around as long as he's a good teammate and accepts whatever role is best for the team.

Would you “offer” him a 30-50% paycut to account for his decreased role?
Would he take it?

 

[sufandu]

Would you “offer” him a 30-50% paycut to account for his decreased role?
Would he take it?

Maybe and I don't know. It partly depends on what is happening in the market. This year everyone hot paid a lot more than a lot more than last year or the previous year. If the market jumps and he makes the same or gets a proportionally smaller increase, that's a defacto pay cut.

There are numerous factors in that decision. How much do we have? It should be more now that schools can start chipping in directly. How much is everyone else getting? Who are we going after in the portal? How much do we need to offer them?

I offer him what I think he's worth and it's up to him to decide if he wants to stay. If he's as bad as everyone thinks, another team won't offer him more, right?

 

[LAorange44]

Here is my hot take/grenade im rolling into the forum for fun discussion, not only will JJ be back next year but he'll be our starting point guard... have a great rest of your day everyone!

Wouldn’t be surprised. Very on brand for us. He would need to make a Michael Gbineje level jump if we are going to be competitive. That’s been my take on it for the last few months as well.