Christian Jones
- Thread starter CincyKid
- Start date
I would love to see CJ get Balamou's minutes. I know some feel Felix can play SF, but really he is another guard. I do not think CJ is a difference maker, but he might just help us if he develops a bit.
What we know:
-The kid is strong as an ox
-Has a soft touch around the rim
-Has very slow feet on defense
-Is a soft rebounder
What we don't know:
-If his practices have indicated that he is a significant liability
-What he could do with some real minutes
-If he could crank up the intensity in a big spot.
Again, I just don't see a need to get minutes for a fifth guard. Let's give CJ a shot. I am talking 5-7 minutes
What we know:
-The kid is strong as an ox
-Has a soft touch around the rim
-Has very slow feet on defense
-Is a soft rebounder
What we don't know:
-If his practices have indicated that he is a significant liability
-What he could do with some real minutes
-If he could crank up the intensity in a big spot.
Again, I just don't see a need to get minutes for a fifth guard. Let's give CJ a shot. I am talking 5-7 minutes
Agreed. I don't understand why we haven't given him more opportunities. Even if he just gives Chris and Dom a rest here and there maybe that helps keep them out of foul trouble and let's us play faster throughout the game. We turned up the heat for a stetch late yesterday when we were down big and it seemed to get us going. Then it seemed we quickly ran out of steam. I would love to see us press more but we won't be able to if we are only playing 6 guys.
Jones needs exactly that, too put somebody on a poster. Im sure he is struggling confidence wise, just give him a consistent role, 4 minutes each half.
Two summers ago Lavin was talking up Jones so we expected big things. Then last year we heard how he was an amazing athlete and the best dunker on the team. Pretty big words considering we've got guys like Pointer and Balamou (and last year had Sampson) that have springs in their legs and even more surprising since he has barely left his feet during games. For a guy built like a tank, he is extremely soft and seems completely unmotivated. I almost never talk down players and I am not trying to here but every time he comes on the floor I am left wondering why (WTF?). We would all love to see him earn minutes. He's been given plenty of opportunities. I have yet to see him look like he wants to grab rebounds on offense or defense or body up on defense. That is what we need. He just doesn't want it. I don't see any other conclusion. Contrast him to JDR, Jones looks more polished but JDR comes in wanting to battle.
Christian Jones committed to StJohn's on July 1, 2012, approximately 7 weeks before he enrolled st StJohn's.
I was told by a former member of a Big East staff that he had heard that neither Lav nor any member of Lav's hardworking staff had ever seen Christian play in person before he committed.
I was told by a former member of a Big East staff that he had heard that neither Lav nor any member of Lav's hardworking staff had ever seen Christian play in person before he committed.
What has he done to warrant any time? He's a strong looking kid but doesn't use it. He's soft. Balamou actually plays biggerand rebounds better, but, even as the president of the Balamou fan club, I don't think deserves to play either.
If there was ever a game for Jones to play it was against SH. JDR was too big, goofy to cover Delgado and CO was not strong enough. Jones is just too big of a rebounding liability and this team can't afford that.
I agree that JDR and CO were not equipped to deal with Delgado. I guess that is what got me thinking about CJ. It's frustrating because, physically, he appears as if he would be able to give us exactly what we need.
Regarding CO, I hope he realizes that, in the NBA, there is a guy better than Delgado every night.
Well as president of the CJ fan club I feel it is necessary to mention that he has pulled down rebounds at a higher rate than anyone on the team sans obekpa and JDR this season. I dont think he is doing the best with the little opportunity he has gotten but there is no way he should see zero minutes in a game. Hes shooting 64% from the field for crying out loud.
beast of the east
Active member
Many coaches are vocal about the fact that minutes are earned in practice. It could very well be that CJ doesn't practice hard. I've never heard this but some here may have info on that.
Kentucky and Duke can focus on what kids can't do. We have to focus on what they can. Aren't deep enough not to.
Jones is far from the perfect player and his shortcomings are acknowledged by all. But I don't think DNP is realistic if we are going to survive 18 games in the next 2 months. 194 of 200 minutes on Wednesday came from our top 6. Everyone understands those 6 have to - and are going to - get the vast majority of the minutes, but 6 man rotation typically not sustainable. See Syracuse last year with a more talented and balanced first 6 hitting a wall in mid-February.
Jones hasn't been good but he hasn't been bad either. In his biggest minutes games of the season he's gone 4 and 2, 8 and 4, 2 and 6, and 0 and 4. Not winning or losing you games and sounds about right for an 8th man, back-up 4.
Certainly he provides enough to help spread the minutes around by 5%, especially because his weakness (defense even moreso than rebounding) is a team strength, and his strength (knows what he is doing on offense) is a team weakness.
Jones is far from the perfect player and his shortcomings are acknowledged by all. But I don't think DNP is realistic if we are going to survive 18 games in the next 2 months. 194 of 200 minutes on Wednesday came from our top 6. Everyone understands those 6 have to - and are going to - get the vast majority of the minutes, but 6 man rotation typically not sustainable. See Syracuse last year with a more talented and balanced first 6 hitting a wall in mid-February.
Jones hasn't been good but he hasn't been bad either. In his biggest minutes games of the season he's gone 4 and 2, 8 and 4, 2 and 6, and 0 and 4. Not winning or losing you games and sounds about right for an 8th man, back-up 4.
Certainly he provides enough to help spread the minutes around by 5%, especially because his weakness (defense even moreso than rebounding) is a team strength, and his strength (knows what he is doing on offense) is a team weakness.