2014/15 Line up

[redfazed]

Updated line-up, assuming we get Lawrence.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Lawrence
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F -Thomas
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I really think Pointer will be redshirted if Lawrence is added. Lavin has already talked about liking three guard sets, and Balamou and Lawrence will both be able to give minutes there. Christian Jones could play the three in a pinch. Another year of development couldn't hurt and he'd have three to four less experienced guards to compete with in 2015-2016.

He def does like his 3 guard sets but I wonder, assuming that JL wants to play the 3, if the primary lineup isn't Jordan/Harrison/Lawrence/Thomas/Obekpa. Having 3 guards on the floor along with JL away from the basket, we get zero second chance opps.

I think it all depends on how much offense Lawrence can provide at small forward. I know he wants to play there but he has to produce at least as much as Sampson did last year.

Granted, he was only a freshman (and injured), but here is what the Cincy blog had to say about it:

“Jermaine Lawrence clearly fancied himself a perimeter player this season, but its clear he is simply not good one. Justin Jackson and Yancy Gates before him also thought that they were assassins from 18 feet early in their careers. In the end they both went to the block, however grudgingly, and thrived. That is where Lawrence is heading, whether he knows it or not.”

http://www.downthedrive.com/2014/3/...basketball-jermaine-lawrence-season-in-review

 

[sirvoo]

Updated line-up, assuming we get Lawrence.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Lawrence
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F -Thomas
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I really think Pointer will be redshirted if Lawrence is added. Lavin has already talked about liking three guard sets, and Balamou and Lawrence will both be able to give minutes there. Christian Jones could play the three in a pinch. Another year of development couldn't hurt and he'd have three to four less experienced guards to compete with in 2015-2016.

He def does like his 3 guard sets but I wonder, assuming that JL wants to play the 3, if the primary lineup isn't Jordan/Harrison/Lawrence/Thomas/Obekpa. Having 3 guards on the floor along with JL away from the basket, we get zero second chance opps.

I think it all depends on how much offense Lawrence can provide at small forward. I know he wants to play there but he has to produce at least as much as Sampson did last year.

Granted, he was only a freshman (and injured), but here is what the Cincy blog had to say about it:

“Jermaine Lawrence clearly fancied himself a perimeter player this season, but its clear he is simply not good one. Justin Jackson and Yancy Gates before him also thought that they were assassins from 18 feet early in their careers. In the end they both went to the block, however grudgingly, and thrived. That is where Lawrence is heading, whether he knows it or not.”

http://www.downthedrive.com/2014/3/...basketball-jermaine-lawrence-season-in-review

If he's coming here I guarantee Greene is the one of the lineup. JL is not looking to play 4 so it would be Keith Thomas starting at PF and JL at the 3 with Jordan and Dlo in the backcourt.

 

[redfazed]

Updated line-up, assuming we get Lawrence.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Lawrence
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F -Thomas
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I really think Pointer will be redshirted if Lawrence is added. Lavin has already talked about liking three guard sets, and Balamou and Lawrence will both be able to give minutes there. Christian Jones could play the three in a pinch. Another year of development couldn't hurt and he'd have three to four less experienced guards to compete with in 2015-2016.

He def does like his 3 guard sets but I wonder, assuming that JL wants to play the 3, if the primary lineup isn't Jordan/Harrison/Lawrence/Thomas/Obekpa. Having 3 guards on the floor along with JL away from the basket, we get zero second chance opps.

I think it all depends on how much offense Lawrence can provide at small forward. I know he wants to play there but he has to produce at least as much as Sampson did last year.

Granted, he was only a freshman (and injured), but here is what the Cincy blog had to say about it:

“Jermaine Lawrence clearly fancied himself a perimeter player this season, but its clear he is simply not good one. Justin Jackson and Yancy Gates before him also thought that they were assassins from 18 feet early in their careers. In the end they both went to the block, however grudgingly, and thrived. That is where Lawrence is heading, whether he knows it or not.”

http://www.downthedrive.com/2014/3/...basketball-jermaine-lawrence-season-in-review

If he's coming here I guarantee Greene is the one of the lineup. JL is not looking to play 4 so it would be Keith Thomas starting at PF and JL at the 3 with Jordan and Dlo in the backcourt.

If he can play the 3 successfully then all the power to him it, would be great for us. Worse case scenario is that he eventually winds up at the 4, and at 6'9" with his talent would not be a bad outcome at all either.

 

[frank61]

We have to get him first. Then we can figure where he will play.

 

[Section3]

Updated line-up, assuming we get Lawrence.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Lawrence
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F -Thomas
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I really think Pointer will be redshirted if Lawrence is added. Lavin has already talked about liking three guard sets, and Balamou and Lawrence will both be able to give minutes there. Christian Jones could play the three in a pinch. Another year of development couldn't hurt and he'd have three to four less experienced guards to compete with in 2015-2016.

He def does like his 3 guard sets but I wonder, assuming that JL wants to play the 3, if the primary lineup isn't Jordan/Harrison/Lawrence/Thomas/Obekpa. Having 3 guards on the floor along with JL away from the basket, we get zero second chance opps.

I think it all depends on how much offense Lawrence can provide at small forward. I know he wants to play there but he has to produce at least as much as Sampson did last year.

Granted, he was only a freshman (and injured), but here is what the Cincy blog had to say about it:

“Jermaine Lawrence clearly fancied himself a perimeter player this season, but its clear he is simply not good one. Justin Jackson and Yancy Gates before him also thought that they were assassins from 18 feet early in their careers. In the end they both went to the block, however grudgingly, and thrived. That is where Lawrence is heading, whether he knows it or not.”

http://www.downthedrive.com/2014/3/...basketball-jermaine-lawrence-season-in-review

If he's coming here I guarantee Greene is the one of the lineup. JL is not looking to play 4 so it would be Keith Thomas starting at PF and JL at the 3 with Jordan and Dlo in the backcourt.

Exactly...Greene would have to come off bench...for all the flak Lavin gets he was prepared to have Greene off bench at beginning of last season...unfortunately Branch started slow and Sanchez didnt have a role...so Greene found his way back into the starting lineup

 

[Marillac]

I hate big lineups--give me a third guard any day of the week--but I think it could work with Lawrence at the three and Thomas at the four with Obekpa at the five. Given how good Jordan (unreal) and Harrison (very solid) are at hitting the glass, that line up could instantly make the team different if Lawrence can be the athletic jumping jack to complement the two space carvers.

I also cant imagine Lawrence having a problem playing the four defensively....I think he just wants a chance to flash some skills on offense. Lavin is the coach of his dreams because he doesn't really believe in positions. I'm sure we'll see plenty of Lawrence at the four with Thomas, ADR, or Obekpa at the five.

It's much more fun to speculate about a player we don't have yet that hasn't been granted a waiver than to wait and see how it ends up.

 

[TobinGrad]

Posters here seem to have Thomas pegged as a starter. But i think Christian Jones gets the nod due to his offensive potential. Thomas still gets 25+ mpg i think, as he will be primary backup for both PF and Center (Adonis not going to see floor much).

 

[L J S A]

Posters here seem to have Thomas pegged as a starter. But i think Christian Jones gets the nod due to his offensive potential. Thomas still gets 25+ mpg i think, as he will be primary backup for both PF and Center (Adonis not going to see floor much).

We need rebounding, and I'm not sure CJ has any aptitude in that department.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Posters here seem to have Thomas pegged as a starter. But i think Christian Jones gets the nod due to his offensive potential. Thomas still gets 25+ mpg i think, as he will be primary backup for both PF and Center (Adonis not going to see floor much).

We need rebounding, and I'm not sure CJ has any aptitude in that department.

A 6'9 sf would help aid in that, not to mention two great rebounding guards. It would be really interesting to see Rysheed, dlo, Lawerence, and CJ 1-4 from an offesnive stand point. I would even throw Branch in for 3 guards sets with Lawerence and Jones manning the 4 and 5 for small periods.

 

[cappy105]

unfortunately we dont have anyone that can hit a jumper with any consistency. I love having these bodies but like i said before, Darrick Wood would have been a great pick up.

 

[cappy105]

im not complaining....if we ger Lawrence we are light years away from where we were only a couple of weeks ago. We didnt have any big men, now if we get him we are stacked! Hopefully with all these big bodies we will crash the boards hard and take high % shots. We dont have to worry so much about foul trouble with all these guys. If it all plays through, come tourny time we will be in trouble, thats when guard play comes in.

 

[STJClass_2013]

I like the idea of Thomas and Obekpa. Obekpa can go for every block Thomas goes after every board. They should compliment each other nicely. Making a tough front court.

Branch, Harrison and Jordan would be my starting guards. Unless Pointer plays hungry and plays up to his potential. Branch seemed to help Jordan last year and two solid passers with Harrison, hopefully an improved Obekpa and another low post presence in Thomas, and Jones.

Thomas sounds like he is playing with a chip on his shoulder. Hope that rubs off on the rest of this team. Light a fire under their asses.

 

[redfazed]

As was the case last year, this is a team that is going and live and die by Harrison, IMO. If he's cold, we lose.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Thomas
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

 

[SI1996]

As was the case last year, this is a team that is going and live and die by Harrison, IMO. If he's cold, we lose.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Thomas
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I hope Jordan is more assertive in his second season. I think if he comes out flat we are doomed. He's our quarterback.

 

[redfazed]

As was the case last year, this is a team that is going and live and die by Harrison, IMO. If he's cold, we lose.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Thomas
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I hope Jordan is more assertive in his second season. I think if he comes out flat we are doomed. He's our quarterback.

I fully expect Jordan to show improvement this year, maybe quite a lot. He was starting to ramp it up last season. But our fate is still tied to Harrison's shooting capabilities on any given day, since there is no other shooter, with the possible exception of Greene.

 

[Mean Gene]

As was the case last year, this is a team that is going and live and die by Harrison, IMO. If he's cold, we lose.

Starters:
G- Jordan
G- Harrison
G- Greene
F- Thomas
C- Obekpa

Bench:
G- Branch
G- Balamou
F- Pointer
F- Jones
C- ADR

I hope Jordan is more assertive in his second season. I think if he comes out flat we are doomed. He's our quarterback.

I fully expect Jordan to show improvement this year, maybe quite a lot. He was starting to ramp it up last season. But our fate is still tied to Harrison's shooting capabilities on any given day, since there is no other shooter, with the possible exception of Greene.

At times Jordan showed a nice stroke from 3. He just needs a little more confidence. I think Jordan becomes a consistent 3pt shooter this year. His ability to take the ball to the hoop is already very good and should get even better as he improves his 3pt shot and the defense has to play him out there. I think this team goes as far as Harrison and Jordan can take them. A little defense, rebounding and scoring from Obepka, Thomas, Jones and ADR and we will be ok. If we can somehow land another wing player to play the SF position and we can be really good. I just don't think that Pointer has it in him. Look how far Villanova went one year playing 4 guards and Dante Cunningham.

 

[STJClass_2013]

If this team Ives and dies with Harrison I think we won't make the tournament. This year is a full team effort I expect Harrison to be the leading scorer but I think we have to have more people scoring.

 

[JackofVirginia]

Pointer's problem is twofold. His lack of outside shooting skills is magnified by the lack of any SJU big men having an offensive game. When he has been on the court with CO you are basically playing 3 vs. 5 and his offensive negatives stand out.
If SJU can develop a big man who is can score inside Pointer will not be called on to score as much and the other parts of his game will look better.

If you can't score, you have to create possessions on offense (rebounding). He doesn't. Simple as that. If he can limit the turnovers and directly and/or indirectly create 3-4 possessions on offense with hustle, it's a different story.

Don't think good opposing coaches don't know this about Dom. Don't cover him on offense and let his man leak out after the shot, because he won't follow it. In general, St. John's won't hit the offensive glass, so opposing coaches can have their guards get out with the shot. When he is in the game we are going to get zoned by a good coach. His man will cheat to the lane to stop Jordan. When the shot goes up, he'l have a clear path to the basket. If he stands on the perimeter again...we're done.

And I thought it was me. Always wondered why we didn't stay around for offensive boards, maybe Lavin insisted they all get back on defense. Didn't make sense. Let Harrison and Jordan fall back while Thomas, Obekpa and Jones hit the boards. Afterall, we certainly need some easy buckets, especially with our lights out shooters.

 

[Jack Williams]

Dom claims he's been working on that jumper. Paris Horne was commenting on one of Phil's Instagram pictures and told Dom he needs to come show him his jumper cause he doesn't believe he has one. Dom said alright. Maybe Dom has been putting some work in on his jay, and also I find it really cool that guys like PHorne still reach out to the players.

 

[Marillac]

Dom claims he's been working on that jumper. Paris Horne was commenting on one of Phil's Instagram pictures and told Dom he needs to come show him his jumper cause he doesn't believe he has one. Dom said alright. Maybe Dom has been putting some work in on his jay, and also I find it really cool that guys like PHorne still reach out to the players.

If he's only working on his jumper we are in trouble. He needs a complete role change. Less jumpers and more crashing the glass. Less smacking the floor and screaming and more actual defense.