whats with malachi's drives

[STEVEHOLT]

Is he slower than he looks or something? Seems like at least once a game he has a clear path for a dunk...explodes to the hoop..yet by the time he gets there he's met by not one..but multiple defenders, and ultimately flips up some garbage towards the rim .

Just seems like he should be finishing stronger with his fast twitchiness.

i would even accept a strong layup if dunking is out.

but this show of flipping up crap at the rim after toasting your defender is getting old.

 

[Dcuse]

Is he slower than he looks or something? Seems like at least once a game he has a clear path for a dunk...explodes to the hoop..yet by the time he gets there he's met by not one..but multiple defenders, and ultimately flips up some garbage towards the rim .

Just seems like he should be finishing stronger with his fast twitchiness.

i would even accept a strong layup if dunking is out.

but this show of flipping up crap at the rim after toasting your defender is getting old.

Never mind his drives. What's with his shot?

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Eh, he gets to the line a lot.

 

[OrangeDW]

He...not gone?

 

[br801]

Is he slower than he looks or something? Seems like at least once a game he has a clear path for a dunk...explodes to the hoop..yet by the time he gets there he's met by not one..but multiple defenders, and ultimately flips up some garbage towards the rim .

Just seems like he should be finishing stronger with his fast twitchiness.

i would even accept a strong layup if dunking is out.

but this show of flipping up crap at the rim after toasting your defender is getting old.

It might just be a matter of figuring out how to finish decisively after he beats his man. He gets to the basket and draws contact better than anyone on this team right now, and that's pretty impressive for a freshman. I think once he finishes hard a few times and realizes he can do it, his offensive game will move to another level.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

It might just be a matter of figuring out how to finish decisively after he beats his man. He gets to the basket and draws contact better than anyone on this team right now, and that's pretty impressive for a freshman. I think once he finishes hard a few times and realizes he can do it, his offensive game will move to another level.

Yeah, I think he does pretty well for how young a player he is. I mean, he came in billed as just a shooter. He's actually a really crafty driver too, and is really effective setting up teammates and getting to the line. He'll keep improving. Sky's the limit.

 

[Briancuse]

Its his audition for the Nba.

 

[br801]

Yeah, I think he does pretty well for how young a player he is. I mean, he came in billed as just a shooter. He's actually a really crafty driver too, and is really effective setting up teammates and getting to the line. He'll keep improving. Sky's the limit.

Absolutely. And while he has room to improve as a defender, his rebounding has also impressed me.

 

[shandeezy7]

I actually think I've only seen him dunk like once or twice in a game. Think it's a strength issue, because he seems athletic enough. Guy needs to put on a solid 20-25 lbs I think.

 

[Brooky03]

I think he's just not an above the rim player. So, when he gets in the lane, he can't finish over/through guys, he has to go around them.

 

[SoBeCuse]

It might just be a matter of figuring out how to finish decisively after he beats his man. He gets to the basket and draws contact better than anyone on this team right now, and that's pretty impressive for a freshman. I think once he finishes hard a few times and realizes he can do it, his offensive game will move to another level.

Agreed. We're lucky he drives.

 

[pulaski74]

Never mind his drives. What's with his shot?

Well, is he one and done now?

 

[STEVEHOLT]

the strange thing about it is he has an explosive first step which usually means you are just an explosive player. its as if his first step exhausts his power source.

 

[Newhouser]

his shot is streaky and his shot selection is often crazy, but Saturday I thought his drives and drops were our best looks.

 

[Consigliere]

Bright side is he has shown some creative passing off his drives. Comparing his game back to November he's much more well rounded offensively now and has me much more comfortable about not having a "pure" point guard next year. Going to be a drop-off from two fifth year seniors but may not be all that steep.

 

[Nicknack]

Yeah, legitimate point being that he rarely seems to finish drives to the hoop. However, and a big however, he has an excellent ability to draw fouls when he drives. When he drives, typically good things happen. It would certainly be nice if he would finish some of them but getting to the line or dishing off for an assist is a great second option.

 

[TheCusian]

The amount of players who can go by someone at the 3pt line and get to the rim before the help comes is a very short list. He gets fouled a lot. And that is very good.

 

[Ghost]

He's like reverse G, G seems overly concerned with the monster dunk at times. Mal seems like his primary concern is converting/taking the foul and avoiding his shot being blocked. He rarely, if ever, tries to straight up challenge a shot blocker by elevating.

 

[Cusefan0307]

He's got a great first step, but I don't think he's an elite leaper. He's more smooth/skilled than an elite athlete.

 

[VaBeachOrFan]

He's like reverse G, G seems overly concerned with the monster dunk at times. Mal seems like his primary concern is converting/taking the foul and avoiding his shot being blocked. He rarely, if ever, tries to straight up challenge a shot blocker by elevating.

Unfortunately, both of them finish poorly and are shaky on resulting FTs as well. What drills are there to improve finishing moves?-VBOF

 

[SoBeCuse]

his shot is streaky and his shot selection is often crazy, but Saturday I thought his drives and drops were our best looks.

Aboslutely.

 

[Fly Rodder]

If Malachi was shooting 35% from three AND driving past people and throwing down monster dunks, he would most assuredly be ... gone. Those guys are rare and usually don't last a year.

The P5 freshman this season who shoot as many threes as Malachi and at a similar 3p% are Jamal Murray (lottery), Brandon Ingram (lottery), Bryant Crawford, and Malik Beasley (first rounder). And of those guys, Mal gets to the line as often or more than them. It seems like some people don't realize how good Malachi really is. Is he ready for the NBA? I don't know and there isn't much NBA buzz about him, but freshman who play as well as he has generally don't stick around long.

 

[Jasoncuse]

He's one of the best driving/slashing guards we've had in a while, when you include his ability to draw fouls and finish a good chunk of the time. His first step and slick crossover help him make up for a lack of elite athleticism.

Also, has he dunked yet? I can't remember a dunk from him.

 

[chlywtr]

Also, has he dunked yet? I can't remember a dunk from him.

Pre-game warmups of the ND game

 

[Toga]

He can be a slick interior passer on his drives.