The Downside | Syracusefan.com

The Downside

SWC75

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- In a pre-game interview Jimmy Larranaga called Syracuse “a great offensive team”. But are we? We’ve got one really good outside shooter in Trevor Cooney. CJ Fair can occasionally make one from out there. Tyler Ennis hasn’t hit one since the St. John’s game. Fair is trying to display a one-on-one game for the NBA but has a weak handle. Grant can maneuver around the basket but away from it he is mediocre. And we have still have no real inside scorer. Christmas can get some put backs but Keita is useless offensively. Miami is a very good defensive team and took away our options , one by one, until we were reduced to feeding the ball to Keita- Keita!- to try and score. We went from a dunk by Grant with 1:43 left in the first half to a three pointer by Fair with 8:50 gone in the second half- 10 minutes and 33 seconds- without a field goal. No, we are not a great offensive team. We need somebody who can catch and finish inside as a cure for a team that extends its defense against us.


- We are famous for playing a great zone defense but we again proved that we don’t know how to attack one. I continue to maintain that CJ Fair is the guy we need at the top of the key, not Jerami Grant. Grant hit that one 15 footer but CJ is much better from that range. When we first saw him making an impact a couple of years ago, it was from the top of then key. People were comparing him to Josh Pace with his ability to slip through the defense from that spot for floaters that always seemed to go in. Now we have him putting up jump shots from the side and Grant up top and it’s not working very well.


- Cooney was 2 for 12, all three pointers. Yes, you are going to have nights like that. But he has the skills to drive to the basket when his shot is not working. And he should certainly be capable of a pull-up jumper. He actually got a lot of open shots in the second half but he rushed them. What sometimes happens when you are closely guarded is that when you get open shots, you tend to hurry them even when you dot’ have to and I think that happened to Trevor today. I just hope there is no carry-over.


- Baye Keita, after a couple of productive games, slipped back into his “I’m not really here” mode. He missed his only two shots. He did manage a couple of rebounds, (I don’t remember them), and let some alley-oops go past him for scores. It was his third scoreless game. He has two more in which he’s scored one point, (no field goals), and six other games in which he scored 2 points, (and one of those was on free throws). “But we can’t expect Keita to score a lot for us.” No we can’t.


- With Keita we are going 4 on 5 offensively, (and sometimes defensively). When Gbinije is in there, it’s 3 on 5. Cooney had a lousy shooting game but the minute he left it, Miami stopped guarding G-man and went after everyone else and we had no offense at all. JB had to pull him back out after 4 minutes. What happened to this guy?


Sure, it’s against high school kids. But the basket is still 10 feet tall. And if the other team isn’t guarding him, shouldn’t he have been able to do some of these things?


- We only played 7 guys and only 5 of them scored. My Three Sons had their shots but they didn’t take enough advantage of them. And putting Grant into the starting line-up means that our leading reserves, Keita and Gbinije, are not offensive guys. Thus in this game, our bench scoring was zero.

- We nearly lost this game in the Dome. Our next opponent is a team that beat this team. And we’ll be playing in their place, the first of 9 ACC road games where we will be playing, not in the big city arenas we are used to in the Big East but on-campus sites with the opponents fans and students breathing down our guy’s necks.


- In that interview, Larranaga said that they’d lost their top 7 scorers from last year: 5 were seniors, one jumped to the pros early and another was injured. Can you imagine what last year’s Miami team would have done to us today? And we see ourselves as a #2 team nationally, a potential NCAA champion? Like JB says, we have a lot of work to do.
 
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I think we are a terrific offensive team. Not perfect. But we can drive and score. We can hit the outside shot and score. We can post grant or fair and score. Rak and coleman are still working to get there. Our guys are human and will have bad shooting days. Let's look at it this way. Who is a much better offensive team?
 
I think we are a terrific offensive team. Not perfect. But we can drive and score. We can hit the outside shot and score. We can post grant or fair and score. Rak and coleman are still working to get there. Our guys are human and will have bad shooting days. Let's look at it this way. Who is a much better offensive team?

We have certainly had better offensive teams. 2003 and 2010 were much better.
 
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- With Keita we are going 4 on 5 offensively, (and sometimes defensively). When Gbinije is in there, it’s 3 on 5. Cooney had a lousy shooting game but the minute he left it, Miami stopped guarding G-man and went after everyone else and we had no offense at all. JB had to pull him back out after 4 minutes. What happened to this guy?

I would like to see more offensively from G. His handle is a tad shaky against the press, and he hasn't shown much in the half-court either. He also seems incredibly gun-shy when he is open - hopefully he has a wake-up game somewhere along the line.
 
We have certainly had been offensive teams. 2003 and 2010 were much better.
No question we have had better offensive teams. But those teams had their moments as well. Those two, were better than this team. But this team is good. Just wasn't today.
 
Well I totally agree with your second paragraph. CJ is the answer at the high post. I got ripped in another thread by two posters for trying to explain that same concept. CJ is better equipped to attack from that point. We only tried it once against E.Michigans zone and never tried it today, and I was watching the game. Nice post as always.
 
Everyone is concentrating on our team's performance but I think Miami played a very good game defensively.
 
We have certainly had better offensive teams. 2003 and 2010 were much better.

Not according to Pomeroy (an objective measure of offensive efficiency). As of the OE measure before this game (will drop tomorrow but probably not below any other team), it was the best SU offensive team since he started measuring in 03. 09 and 12 were the next best, then 10, 03 and 05 were tied.
 
Well I totally agree with your second paragraph. CJ is the answer at the high post. I got ripped in another thread by two posters for trying to explain that same concept. CJ is better equipped to attack from that point. We only tried it once against E.Michigans zone and never tried it today, and I was watching the game. Nice post as always.

I agree with you agreeing.

Cj at the post

Rock blocking out, ready to catch a pass

Grant cutting to the basket for the layup or top ten dunk

Give Cj the option to take the shot or dish it to someone more open.
 
Not according to Pomeroy (an objective measure of offensive efficiency). As of the OE measure before this game (will drop tomorrow but probably not below any other team), it was the best SU offensive team since he started measuring in 03. 09 and 12 were the next best, then 10, 03 and 05 were tied.


2010 would have fed the ball from Ratuins to Onukau and Jackson and they would have destroyed this team inside. AO would have fouled their big out in the first half. When they collapsed in, they would have gotten the ball back out to Rautins and Johnson for 3 pointers. Then Joseph, Triche and Jardine would have cut through the gaps as they tried to guard inside and out at the same time.

2003 had Warrick and Anthony dominating at the forward positions with GMAC on the outside and Duany from medium range, with Forth setting picks all over the place.

With this team, Miami guarded Ennis and Fair and we couldn't find anyone who could make them pay for it.
 
2010 would have fed the ball from Ratuins to Onukau and Jackson and they would have destroyed this team inside. AO would have fouled their big out in the first half. When they collapsed in, they would have gotten the ball back out to Rautins and Johnson for 3 pointers. Then Joseph, Triche and Jardine would have cut through the gaps as they tried to guard inside and out at the same time.

2003 had Warrick and Anthony dominating at the forward positions with GMAC on the outside and Duany from medium range, with Forth setting picks all over the place.

With this team, Miami guarded Ennis and Fair and we couldn't find anyone who could make them pay for it.

2010 team had a major turnover problem, and not what you would want against 2014 who turns over teams better than any other SU team, even in a year where TOs are significantly down.

2014 has a higher eFG than 2003, gets more offensive rbs, turns over the ball significantly less and gets to the line more often.
 
Well I totally agree with your second paragraph. CJ is the answer at the high post. I got ripped in another thread by two posters for trying to explain that same concept. CJ is better equipped to attack from that point. We only tried it once against E.Michigans zone and never tried it today, and I was watching the game. Nice post as always.
Only problem with CJ at the top of the key is then there is only one potential shooter from three (Cooney). Grant can't shoot from the corner... That side of the zone sags in and clogs the lane even more.
 
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We went from a dunk by Grant with 1:43 left in the first half to a three pointer by Fair with 8:50 gone in the second half- 10 minutes and 33 seconds- without a field goal.

Damn, I was at the game today and remember looking up at the clock at one point while I was still standing and clapping and realized it had been nearly 8 minutes and we still hadn't scored a FG.
My hands still hurt from clapping that long (plus, the longer it went, I found I was clapping harder and harder).
I went nuts when CJ finally hit that 3 - I think that was probably the key basket of the game. Finally gave our offense some life again.
 
I did not see this game, but if Trevor isn't hitting & we need more O, how about a big line-up of:

X - C
JG - PF
TR - SF
CJ - 2G
TE - PG

Not much outside punch, but as OP says - CJ could attack from top of the key & there would be a lot of big bodies available for cleanup duty. Sounded like the type of game where this might work. Why didn't TR get any run - he looked real good last time out ?

Also, I have said all along that we need a second trey threat if we are to go deep. Betting it all on one guy might work 4 or 5 times out of six, but that isn't enough. We have guys with potential - CJ hit his share last year & needs to hit a few more this season, if MG has any sort of a stroke he needs to start showing it, Buss and Johnson can hit from outside & need to be utilized more. TE has a nice stroke - he should be able to hit one or two a game to keep em honest.

I love this team, but I do not see an NC in the cards unless a 2nd trey threat is developed be it from one guy or from several chipping in from game to game.
 
I did not see this game, but if Trevor isn't hitting & we need more O, how about a big line-up of:

X - C
JG - PF
TR - SF
CJ - 2G
TE - PG

Not much outside punch, but as OP says - CJ could attack from top of the key & there would be a lot of big bodies available for cleanup duty. Sounded like the type of game where this might work. Why didn't TR get any run - he looked real good last time out ?

Also, I have said all along that we need a second trey threat if we are to go deep. Betting it all on one guy might work 4 or 5 times out of six, but that isn't enough. We have guys with potential - CJ hit his share last year & needs to hit a few more this season, if MG has any sort of a stroke he needs to start showing it, Buss and Johnson can hit from outside & need to be utilized more. TE has a nice stroke - he should be able to hit one or two a game to keep em honest.

I love this team, but I do not see an NC in the cards unless a 2nd trey threat is developed be it from one guy or from several chipping in from game to game.

While I do agree another threat from 3 would be nice, I don't think it is detrimental to win a NC.
 
I think we are a terrific offensive team. Not perfect. But we can drive and score. We can hit the outside shot and score. We can post grant or fair and score. Rak and coleman are still working to get there. Our guys are human and will have bad shooting days. Let's look at it this way. Who is a much better offensive team?
AZ
 
newmexicuse said:
I did not see this game, but if Trevor isn't hitting & we need more O, how about a big line-up of: X - C JG - PF TR - SF CJ - 2G TE - PG Not much outside punch, but as OP says - CJ could attack from top of the key & there would be a lot of big bodies available for cleanup duty. Sounded like the type of game where this might work. Why didn't TR get any run - he looked real good last time out ? Also, I have said all along that we need a second trey threat if we are to go deep. Betting it all on one guy might work 4 or 5 times out of six, but that isn't enough. We have guys with potential - CJ hit his share last year & needs to hit a few more this season, if MG has any sort of a stroke he needs to start showing it, Buss and Johnson can hit from outside & need to be utilized more. TE has a nice stroke - he should be able to hit one or two a game to keep em honest. I love this team, but I do not see an NC in the cards unless a 2nd trey threat is developed be it from one guy or from several chipping in from game to game.

If Trevor isn't hitting then he needs to keep shooting. Shooters go through things like this all the time but can get back in rhythm at any time. Taking Trevor out for Roberson for offensive purposes is like taking Tom Hanks out of a movie and replacing him for Louie Anderson for star power. Doesn't make any sense at all to take Cooney out to get the offense rolling. Just him being out there opens up lanes for others.
 
Agree with your points on Cooney, he is capable of driving and he should drive. It will add another dimension to his game and maybe get a defender or 2 in foul trouble. If opposing teams aren't sure what TC will do, he will be harder to guard.
 
couple points.
hey i've never been a fan of stall ball but to take the air out with only a three point lead and 90 seconds left and then not even get a shot off simply infuriates me. sooo stoopid !!! charge that turnover to JB.
secondly once again when you see grant is guarding the high 3 point line and someone flashes a man to the stripe to occupy raxmas , that baseline alleyoop pass is gonna be open all day long. fortunately for us miami was only good but not great at it's execution. this may be a point where rax needs to get vocal underneath.
 
The 2003 team actually had 3 guys hovering around 35-40% from 3 (GMac, Melo, Duany), and Pace and Edelin's creative driving/midrange as well. Lots of firepower that year.
 
Only problem with CJ at the top of the key is then there is only one potential shooter from three (Cooney). Grant can't shoot from the corner... That side of the zone sags in a clogs the lane even more.

Right. CJ would be fine at the high post, if we had a perimeter player to replace CJ. We don't. So, the best combination is what the coaches are doing.

Another observation. Some were saying that Baylor and others played us M2M because they could see a zone would not work against our line-up. Appears E Mich & now Miami didn't get that memo.
 
couple points.
hey i've never been a fan of stall ball but to take the air out with only a three point lead and 90 seconds left and then not even get a shot off simply infuriates me. sooo stoopid !!! charge that turnover to JB.

I'm not a fan of stall ball either, but it does seem to work.
What frustrates me about our stall ball is how they don't move the ball around or even move around at all until under 10 seconds on the shot clock and then it seems like they are scrambling to find some sort of opening for a decent shot and usually end up shooting something out of control (or hoping for a foul?).
Just seems to me they need to start running whatever play they have setup a bit earlier in the clock so they have time for a few more options before the shot clock expires and they have to heave up a prayer instead of a good shot.
 
I did not see this game, but if Trevor isn't hitting & we need more O, how about a big line-up of:

X - C
JG - PF
TR - SF
CJ - 2G
TE - PG

Not much outside punch, but as OP says - CJ could attack from top of the key & there would be a lot of big bodies available for cleanup duty. Sounded like the type of game where this might work. Why didn't TR get any run - he looked real good last time out ?

Also, I have said all along that we need a second trey threat if we are to go deep. Betting it all on one guy might work 4 or 5 times out of six, but that isn't enough. We have guys with potential - CJ hit his share last year & needs to hit a few more this season, if MG has any sort of a stroke he needs to start showing it, Buss and Johnson can hit from outside & need to be utilized more. TE has a nice stroke - he should be able to hit one or two a game to keep em honest.

I love this team, but I do not see an NC in the cards unless a 2nd trey threat is developed be it from one guy or from several chipping in from game to game.


I cringe when I think of My Three Sons being in the game against a team like Miami. So does JB. That may be the achilles heel of this team. Other than Tyler Ennis, the new guys have not shown enough to be trusted in a game like this. So we wind up playing 7 guys, two of whom don't score. We needed somebody else to give us something from those three guys.
 
I would like to see more offensively from G. His handle is a tad shaky against the press, and he hasn't shown much in the half-court either. He also seems incredibly gun-shy when he is open - hopefully he has a wake-up game somewhere along the line.

I'd like to see him getting a couple shorter shots to clear his mind early and then see him take a three or two. Definitely need him to become a threat on O because as he is often coupled with BMK, there just isn't enough offense on the court when they are out there. Even if he does make the defense better.
 

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