(@Bar) VCU, Tue. Nov. 20, 7:30p, ESPN-2 / 970 WNYM
- Thread starter Knight
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L J S A
Well-known member
[quote="we are sju" post=303874]People really need to stop complaining about Ponds. He is like Winston Wolf from Pulp Fiction. When all hell breaks loose he cleans up messes.[/quote]
Barely caught myself from vulgarly quoting him today in front of my 11- and 8-year-old when they were discussing how their plans today were really working out.
Barely caught myself from vulgarly quoting him today in front of my 11- and 8-year-old when they were discussing how their plans today were really working out.
JohnnyFever
Active member
Pros:
-Dixon looked like he belonged and played a great game. Proud of him.
-Ponds makes the mess but he cleans it up with his clutch plays late.
-Got the W and the extremely elusive mid season tourney championship.
Cons:
-It looks more like our talent level is the only thing saving us early...and it's by the skin of our teeth.
-We went back to hero ball and routinely charged into 3 defenders.
-Missed LJ on several wide open looks while red hot too.
-We look like we have zero plan on offense...someone takes ball up and the rest of the guys just stand around the 3PT line looking confused.
-Not sure we can sustain these skin of our teeth wins against far inferior opponents if this play keeps up.
Either way 5-0 and we get some hardware. Hopefully the guys regroup and get some chemistry against cupcakes. Would be nice to see some separation too instead of cardiac games.
-Dixon looked like he belonged and played a great game. Proud of him.
-Ponds makes the mess but he cleans it up with his clutch plays late.
-Got the W and the extremely elusive mid season tourney championship.
Cons:
-It looks more like our talent level is the only thing saving us early...and it's by the skin of our teeth.
-We went back to hero ball and routinely charged into 3 defenders.
-Missed LJ on several wide open looks while red hot too.
-We look like we have zero plan on offense...someone takes ball up and the rest of the guys just stand around the 3PT line looking confused.
-Not sure we can sustain these skin of our teeth wins against far inferior opponents if this play keeps up.
Either way 5-0 and we get some hardware. Hopefully the guys regroup and get some chemistry against cupcakes. Would be nice to see some separation too instead of cardiac games.
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Shamorie is the best finisher I’ve ever seen. Both in terms of at the rim and end of games. Truly remarkable.
Ponds and Heron were fouled repeatedly under the basket and most weren’t called. So there’s karma coming back to us. Too many near misses, in and outs by Simon, Clark, Heron. Ponds couldn’t hit a shot in warmups from anywhere on the court! So more credit to him to overcome it with such confidence when games on the line.VCU took away the lane with their bodies most of the night and we got no calls!
I see a lot of posters saying let’s get everybody involved and Ponds was being selfish.
Bro. We just played a back to back in which the second team (VCU) was pressing us all game long and Everybody was out of breath which led to us taking bad shots (Heron especially).
It’s tough to play smart when you’re gassing for air. Mullin really needs to figure out what he’s going to do with Roberts and Williams.
Bro. We just played a back to back in which the second team (VCU) was pressing us all game long and Everybody was out of breath which led to us taking bad shots (Heron especially).
It’s tough to play smart when you’re gassing for air. Mullin really needs to figure out what he’s going to do with Roberts and Williams.
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Class of 72
Active member
[quote="espken" post=303896][quote="41ndone" post=303893]Just noticed our pomroy rating dropped from 38 to 42 ?[/quote]
They just realized we are going to play 7 guys the rest of the season[/quote]
Despite the wins the quality of play against inferior and much lower ranked opponents will keep costing St. John's respect.
Forget 7 guys, tonight Mullin realized Trimble is not a factor when in games. We are now a 6 man team. Why do I say that? Mullin put in Greg Williams who played ZERO minutes in the game instead of Trimble.
They just realized we are going to play 7 guys the rest of the season[/quote]
Despite the wins the quality of play against inferior and much lower ranked opponents will keep costing St. John's respect.
Forget 7 guys, tonight Mullin realized Trimble is not a factor when in games. We are now a 6 man team. Why do I say that? Mullin put in Greg Williams who played ZERO minutes in the game instead of Trimble.
Dan V
Well-known member
[quote="mjmaherjr" post=303890][quote="Dan V" post=303875][quote="SJUhoopNUT" post=303852]I thought we played a little selfishly tonight. Guys were not making the extra pass and trying to do it all alone. Ponds included. I know he's our guy down the stretch but throughout the game he needs better shot selection. A lot of guys were forcing the issue tonight and that doesn't make me feel very confident long term.[/quote]
Not what i saw, Ponds the only guy that played selfish. Again can't say much because he won us the game. He is one of those guys who makes a good play and then a bad one right after, until crunch time of course. Much rather play like we did against Rutgers than these last two games. Notice when its the Ponds show we struggle. Hopefully it doesnt affect our team chemistry, obviously if we win it wont, but if we lose it could.[/quote] Part of the problem is so many times we have the ball at the top and everyone just stands around[/quote]
Point taken but how much of that is because they know Ponds is going to shoot regardless, might as well save the energy for defense. I saw at times Ponds wave guys off basically saying he is taking the shot no matter what. You could see Heron and Figueroa werent excited about it. But im sure thats all water under the bridge after we won.
Not what i saw, Ponds the only guy that played selfish. Again can't say much because he won us the game. He is one of those guys who makes a good play and then a bad one right after, until crunch time of course. Much rather play like we did against Rutgers than these last two games. Notice when its the Ponds show we struggle. Hopefully it doesnt affect our team chemistry, obviously if we win it wont, but if we lose it could.[/quote] Part of the problem is so many times we have the ball at the top and everyone just stands around[/quote]
Point taken but how much of that is because they know Ponds is going to shoot regardless, might as well save the energy for defense. I saw at times Ponds wave guys off basically saying he is taking the shot no matter what. You could see Heron and Figueroa werent excited about it. But im sure thats all water under the bridge after we won.
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=303901]Clark is hoisting way too many 3’s on this team . He was awful tonight . 1-8 from 3 point arc . As a result , not only was he off, but him shooting that much kept Figgy and Heron from getting involved in the flow of the offense . Ponds should be dishing to them more too, instead of just playing 1 on 1 . The NBA wants to see if he can distribute the rock and make his team better . Everyone knows he is a great Player but, he’s 6’1” and at the next level they aren’t going to give him or let him shoot 20-25 times a game .,[/quote]
Good post and agree with most of it but as to Ponds should distribute more it's hard to distribute more when the team doesn't seem to run an offense. Players all stand around on the perimeter with very little screening and cutting and ball movement and Simon, Heron and Clark went one on one all night which Figgy refused to do which is why he doesn't seem to get enough shots most nights (which he deserves more shots).
Good post and agree with most of it but as to Ponds should distribute more it's hard to distribute more when the team doesn't seem to run an offense. Players all stand around on the perimeter with very little screening and cutting and ball movement and Simon, Heron and Clark went one on one all night which Figgy refused to do which is why he doesn't seem to get enough shots most nights (which he deserves more shots).
Class of 72
Active member
[quote="fan5577" post=303910][quote="espken" post=303896][quote="41ndone" post=303893]Just noticed our pomroy rating dropped from 38 to 42 ?[/quote]
They just realized we are going to play 7 guys the rest of the season[/quote]
It will be 8 when Kieta comes back![/quote]
It won't be easy for him to get back into the rotation after knee surgery. I'd be surprised he gets 10 minutes a game unless he a fast healer and keeps his strength training rigid.
They just realized we are going to play 7 guys the rest of the season[/quote]
It will be 8 when Kieta comes back![/quote]
It won't be easy for him to get back into the rotation after knee surgery. I'd be surprised he gets 10 minutes a game unless he a fast healer and keeps his strength training rigid.
SJU can take two steps forward by reducing Trimble's minutes and moving L J ahead of Clark in the offensive scheme. Clark appears to be determined to impress scouts for next year's employment.
[quote="Dan V" post=303913][quote="mjmaherjr" post=303890][quote="Dan V" post=303875][quote="SJUhoopNUT" post=303852]I thought we played a little selfishly tonight. Guys were not making the extra pass and trying to do it all alone. Ponds included. I know he's our guy down the stretch but throughout the game he needs better shot selection. A lot of guys were forcing the issue tonight and that doesn't make me feel very confident long term.[/quote]
Not what i saw, Ponds the only guy that played selfish. Again can't say much because he won us the game. He is one of those guys who makes a good play and then a bad one right after, until crunch time of course. Much rather play like we did against Rutgers than these last two games. Notice when its the Ponds show we struggle. Hopefully it doesnt affect our team chemistry, obviously if we win it wont, but if we lose it could.[/quote] Part of the problem is so many times we have the ball at the top and everyone just stands around[/quote]
Point taken but how much of that is because they know Ponds is going to shoot regardless, might as well save the energy for defense. I saw at times Ponds wave guys off basically saying he is taking the shot no matter what. You could see Heron and Figueroa werent excited about it. But im sure thats all water under the bridge after we won.[/quote]
Not sure it is water under the bridge as most players like to get the ball and take their shots.
Not what i saw, Ponds the only guy that played selfish. Again can't say much because he won us the game. He is one of those guys who makes a good play and then a bad one right after, until crunch time of course. Much rather play like we did against Rutgers than these last two games. Notice when its the Ponds show we struggle. Hopefully it doesnt affect our team chemistry, obviously if we win it wont, but if we lose it could.[/quote] Part of the problem is so many times we have the ball at the top and everyone just stands around[/quote]
Point taken but how much of that is because they know Ponds is going to shoot regardless, might as well save the energy for defense. I saw at times Ponds wave guys off basically saying he is taking the shot no matter what. You could see Heron and Figueroa werent excited about it. But im sure thats all water under the bridge after we won.[/quote]
Not sure it is water under the bridge as most players like to get the ball and take their shots.
[quote="bamafan" post=303914][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=303901]Clark is hoisting way too many 3’s on this team . He was awful tonight . 1-8 from 3 point arc . As a result , not only was he off, but him shooting that much kept Figgy and Heron from getting involved in the flow of the offense . Ponds should be dishing to them more too, instead of just playing 1 on 1 . The NBA wants to see if he can distribute the rock and make his team better . Everyone knows he is a great Player but, he’s 6’1” and at the next level they aren’t going to give him or let him shoot 20-25 times a game .,[/quote]
Good post and agree with most of it but as to Ponds should distribute more it's hard to distribute more when the team doesn't seem to run an offense. Players all stand around on the perimeter with very little screening and cutting and ball movement and Simon, Heron and Clark went one on one all night which Figgy refused to do which is why he doesn't seem to get enough shots most nights (which he deserves more shots).[/quote] you nailed it.The lack of movement and no screens was driving me nuts
Good post and agree with most of it but as to Ponds should distribute more it's hard to distribute more when the team doesn't seem to run an offense. Players all stand around on the perimeter with very little screening and cutting and ball movement and Simon, Heron and Clark went one on one all night which Figgy refused to do which is why he doesn't seem to get enough shots most nights (which he deserves more shots).[/quote] you nailed it.The lack of movement and no screens was driving me nuts
I know it was pointed out by a couple of posters to expect us to struggle early even against so-called inferior teams. It is going to take time for the pieces to all come together and jell. Not comparing this team with the 85 team but despite the talent on that team it didn’t happen overnight with the either winning at home against St. Bonnie’s by one, several early seasonclose games then losing to Niagara. The Ru game was great but jelling and trusting each other is a little more difficult when the other team stays in the game for a longer period of time or even leads than when a team hangs for awhile and the drops off. Hopefully egos and talent will figure it out.
Mullin will play the bench more when he thinks they are ready and can help. Playing themjust for the sake of playing them is not going to happen. He also has to make sure his main players get the repa they need which is more important right now. I can imagine this Board saying “Well we lost but at least he played his bench.
Mullin will play the bench more when he thinks they are ready and can help. Playing themjust for the sake of playing them is not going to happen. He also has to make sure his main players get the repa they need which is more important right now. I can imagine this Board saying “Well we lost but at least he played his bench.
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