2018 superlatives
- Thread starter Amaseinyourface
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[quote="MCNPA" post=296677]I must have looked at the wrong stat. Regardless, point remains, we have a phenomenal rebounding backcourt. Just gotta get Clark and Keita to do the same thing...[/quote]
We just need Clark and Keita to box out their man so the guards can grab the defensive rebounds.
We just need Clark and Keita to box out their man so the guards can grab the defensive rebounds.
On paper, with Heron, we’ll have a prolific scoring quartet of Ponds, Heron, Figueroa, and Simon that are adept at both perimeter shooting and drives to the basket. Add Clark, Keita, and Dixon to the mix and we may have the highest scoring—and most successful—St. John’s team in decades.
[quote="Chicago Days" post=296793]On paper, with Heron, we’ll have a prolific scoring quartet of Ponds, Heron, Figueroa, and Simon that are adept at both perimeter shooting and drives to the basket. Add Clark, Keita, and Dixon to the mix and we may have the highest scoring—and most successful—St. John’s team in decades.[/quote]
That potential is definitely there. Having a bunch of guys that can score is great but chemistry is what differentiates a team. Let's see how unselfish our guys are. That is the core of good chemistry. The difference between a team with good chemistry and one that is lacking can be the difference between a high scoring team that wins or loses.
That potential is definitely there. Having a bunch of guys that can score is great but chemistry is what differentiates a team. Let's see how unselfish our guys are. That is the core of good chemistry. The difference between a team with good chemistry and one that is lacking can be the difference between a high scoring team that wins or loses.
[quote="Paultzman" post=296794]https://twitter.com/si_ncaabb/status/1047161849114968064?s=21[/quote]
Not sure who will broadcast the game. But could easily see this as a College Game Day event between two highly ranked teams towards the end of the season.
Not sure who will broadcast the game. But could easily see this as a College Game Day event between two highly ranked teams towards the end of the season.
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Ray Morgan
Well-known member
[quote="Paul Massell" post=296798][quote="Chicago Days" post=296793]On paper, with Heron, we’ll have a prolific scoring quartet of Ponds, Heron, Figueroa, and Simon that are adept at both perimeter shooting and drives to the basket. Add Clark, Keita, and Dixon to the mix and we may have the highest scoring—and most successful—St. John’s team in decades.[/quote]
That potential is definitely there. Having a bunch of guys that can score is great but chemistry is what differentiates a team. Let's see how unselfish our guys are. That is the core of good chemistry. The difference between a team with good chemistry and one that is lacking can be the difference between a high scoring team that wins or loses.[/quote]
Big question mark is how good they will be defending the 3 and will they limit opponents to one shot. That was where last year's team had problems. Staff has to get guys to commit to playing hard nosed defense. First time in a long while, since before Obekpa was here, that we have no rim protector. Maybe not the worst thing, since our bigs were often out of position to rebound the basketball.
That potential is definitely there. Having a bunch of guys that can score is great but chemistry is what differentiates a team. Let's see how unselfish our guys are. That is the core of good chemistry. The difference between a team with good chemistry and one that is lacking can be the difference between a high scoring team that wins or loses.[/quote]
Big question mark is how good they will be defending the 3 and will they limit opponents to one shot. That was where last year's team had problems. Staff has to get guys to commit to playing hard nosed defense. First time in a long while, since before Obekpa was here, that we have no rim protector. Maybe not the worst thing, since our bigs were often out of position to rebound the basketball.
[quote="Paul Massell" post=296798][quote="Chicago Days" post=296793]On paper, with Heron, we’ll have a prolific scoring quartet of Ponds, Heron, Figueroa, and Simon that are adept at both perimeter shooting and drives to the basket. Add Clark, Keita, and Dixon to the mix and we may have the highest scoring—and most successful—St. John’s team in decades.[/quote]
That potential is definitely there. Having a bunch of guys that can score is great but chemistry is what differentiates a team. Let's see how unselfish our guys are. That is the core of good chemistry. The difference between a team with good chemistry and one that is lacking can be the difference between a high scoring team that wins or loses.[/quote]
Great points, Paul. I think ‘circumstances’ may be the catalyst to team chemistry for us in 2018-19. Ponds has to show he can share the ball at PG and play hard defense not ‘just’ score. Heron has to show he can partner with an equally potent scorer, share the ball, and create, while playing great D.
This fits with Simon’s and Figueroa’s great skill sets of passing and creating, and Dixon is a solid and dependable guard as well.
Clark and Keita should markedly improve our rebounding, interior defense, and benefit from great passing from the guards / wings.
We shall see, but we do have the ingredients to great success this coming season.
That potential is definitely there. Having a bunch of guys that can score is great but chemistry is what differentiates a team. Let's see how unselfish our guys are. That is the core of good chemistry. The difference between a team with good chemistry and one that is lacking can be the difference between a high scoring team that wins or loses.[/quote]
Great points, Paul. I think ‘circumstances’ may be the catalyst to team chemistry for us in 2018-19. Ponds has to show he can share the ball at PG and play hard defense not ‘just’ score. Heron has to show he can partner with an equally potent scorer, share the ball, and create, while playing great D.
This fits with Simon’s and Figueroa’s great skill sets of passing and creating, and Dixon is a solid and dependable guard as well.
Clark and Keita should markedly improve our rebounding, interior defense, and benefit from great passing from the guards / wings.
We shall see, but we do have the ingredients to great success this coming season.
[quote="Redman#13" post=296799]
Not sure who will broadcast the game. But could easily see this as a College Game Day event between two highly ranked teams towards the end of the season.[/quote]
Schedule on team site indicates it'll either be on ESPN or ESPN2.
Not sure who will broadcast the game. But could easily see this as a College Game Day event between two highly ranked teams towards the end of the season.[/quote]
Schedule on team site indicates it'll either be on ESPN or ESPN2.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=296789]Gut feeling.......if eligible, Heron will be our leading scorer. If this comes with an increase in efficiency and additional assists for Ponds, it could work out for everyone.[/quote]
Agree it may be best for everyone. Have to hope Shamorie sees it that way. I think he will. The average height of a NBA off guard is over 6'5. PG average is around 6'2. I don't know if that is measured height at the NBA combines, or listed height, which usually inflates actual height by an inch or so. Then there is wingspan, etc, which matters also to scouts. Shamorie's NBA hopes are more likely to happen if he shows he is effective at running an offense, distributing the ball, and defending other quick guards. Heron is a natural 2, so he will be playing his true position. Seems like a win-win for Ponds and Heron. One ball, 2 NBA dreams. Shamorie has always played the game and carried himself with a lot of maturity and a lot of smarts. He knows what to work on this season. and has a great supporting cast to make him look good. Lots of scorers to feed the ball to. Big season for him, and St. John's, just a little over a month away. It's hard not to get excited.
Agree it may be best for everyone. Have to hope Shamorie sees it that way. I think he will. The average height of a NBA off guard is over 6'5. PG average is around 6'2. I don't know if that is measured height at the NBA combines, or listed height, which usually inflates actual height by an inch or so. Then there is wingspan, etc, which matters also to scouts. Shamorie's NBA hopes are more likely to happen if he shows he is effective at running an offense, distributing the ball, and defending other quick guards. Heron is a natural 2, so he will be playing his true position. Seems like a win-win for Ponds and Heron. One ball, 2 NBA dreams. Shamorie has always played the game and carried himself with a lot of maturity and a lot of smarts. He knows what to work on this season. and has a great supporting cast to make him look good. Lots of scorers to feed the ball to. Big season for him, and St. John's, just a little over a month away. It's hard not to get excited.
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[quote="Chicago Days" post=296802]
Clark and Keita should markedly improve our rebounding, interior defense, and benefit from great passing from the guards / wings.
We shall see, but we do have the ingredients to great success this coming season.[/quote]
I'd love to see Clark's rebounding numbers go up but I'm not expecting it. Heron will give us another rebounding guard. (Simon was our leading rebounder and Ponds was third) I'd love to assume we get another 7 a game from Simon and if Keita can give us 8 or 9 that would be a nice boost overall.
Big concern for me is how Keita handles defensive anchor. Owens got better at staying out of foul trouble but it took him a while to get there and the defense from the guards was an issue. I think Simon was a factor in that improvement (for Owens) from the previous year and I expect improvement from Ponds and Heron gives us a lot more size. So hopefully less pressure on Keita.
Clark and Keita should markedly improve our rebounding, interior defense, and benefit from great passing from the guards / wings.
We shall see, but we do have the ingredients to great success this coming season.[/quote]
I'd love to see Clark's rebounding numbers go up but I'm not expecting it. Heron will give us another rebounding guard. (Simon was our leading rebounder and Ponds was third) I'd love to assume we get another 7 a game from Simon and if Keita can give us 8 or 9 that would be a nice boost overall.
Big concern for me is how Keita handles defensive anchor. Owens got better at staying out of foul trouble but it took him a while to get there and the defense from the guards was an issue. I think Simon was a factor in that improvement (for Owens) from the previous year and I expect improvement from Ponds and Heron gives us a lot more size. So hopefully less pressure on Keita.
Just wondering, do people think Ponds didn’t share the ball last year? 5 asts with only a few weapons around him. His assists will go up because of our increased talent and he’ll take a few less shots. But with improved efficiency and the ball in his hands late there is no way he doesn’t lead us in scoring for the 3rd straight year.
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=296814]Just wondering, do people think Ponds didn’t share the ball last year? 5 asts with only a few weapons around him. His assists will go up because of our increased talent and he’ll take a few less shots. But with improved efficiency and the ball in his hands late there is no way he doesn’t lead us in scoring for the 3rd straight year.[/quote]
Sometimes it seemed Ponds was a little slow/lax on D but also considering his iron man minutes. Ponds didn't play selfish on offense. He was the go to guy. He took some bad shots but he also made some bad shots but also had to create a lot of shots because it was often like we were playing with four guys and the opposing teams knew it...
It was scary how bad the hands were and overall void in the middle which severely limited our options. If Keita can catch an NBA pass he's gonna have teammates who can get him the ball.
More weapons, better hands and overall passing and efficiency will go up for team.
Sometimes it seemed Ponds was a little slow/lax on D but also considering his iron man minutes. Ponds didn't play selfish on offense. He was the go to guy. He took some bad shots but he also made some bad shots but also had to create a lot of shots because it was often like we were playing with four guys and the opposing teams knew it...
It was scary how bad the hands were and overall void in the middle which severely limited our options. If Keita can catch an NBA pass he's gonna have teammates who can get him the ball.
More weapons, better hands and overall passing and efficiency will go up for team.
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Clark's rebounding numbers went up the second half of the BE season, not dramatically but enough to make me think he can give us 6 a game this year. Shamorie had a good assists to turnover ratio; but two things he needs to improve upon this year is to avoid hoisting long threes early in the shot clock (which improved offensive options we have should eliminate) and to defend the three better. As Paul and others have said, we clearly have the talent (assuming we have MH) to play with anyone in the BE; key will be if we share the ball and defend with real intensity. If we do those two things, we can get by with less than stellar rebounding.
[quote="Redman#13" post=296799][quote="Paultzman" post=296794]https://twitter.com/si_ncaabb/status/1047161849114968064?s=21[/quote]
Not sure who will broadcast the game. But could easily see this as a College Game Day event between two highly ranked teams towards the end of the season.[/quote]
ESPN does have the game, but it's a noon start, so I highly doubt that gameday will be there, since they usually set up on the court.
I suppose ESPN could change it if the matchup becomes really big, but I wouldn't count on it, which is just as well. You know it would only be a promotion for how great Duke is anyway, and do we really want to hear that?
Not sure who will broadcast the game. But could easily see this as a College Game Day event between two highly ranked teams towards the end of the season.[/quote]
ESPN does have the game, but it's a noon start, so I highly doubt that gameday will be there, since they usually set up on the court.
I suppose ESPN could change it if the matchup becomes really big, but I wouldn't count on it, which is just as well. You know it would only be a promotion for how great Duke is anyway, and do we really want to hear that?
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=296814]Just wondering, do people think Ponds didn’t share the ball last year? 5 asts with only a few weapons around him. His assists will go up because of our increased talent and he’ll take a few less shots. But with improved efficiency and the ball in his hands late there is no way he doesn’t lead us in scoring for the 3rd straight year.[/quote]
Actually there were times, especially in the first half of games, where I thought Ponds shared the ball too much last year. He should be able to get away with that more often this year.
Actually there were times, especially in the first half of games, where I thought Ponds shared the ball too much last year. He should be able to get away with that more often this year.
Superlatives?
Am I the only one to think that this team has had so many other times where the feelings for the upcoming season were really good, only to be really disappointed. I am one of those and I hope and trust and pray that you guys on here --(that know a lot more than I do)-- are right!
Rolls out the balls.....men and get to work!
Am I the only one to think that this team has had so many other times where the feelings for the upcoming season were really good, only to be really disappointed. I am one of those and I hope and trust and pray that you guys on here --(that know a lot more than I do)-- are right!
Rolls out the balls.....men and get to work!