Dom says it's not over yet/

[Marillac]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

 

[paultzman]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

Isn't Pointer lack of progress consistent with the fact that player development is sorely lacking with this staff?

 

[Marillac]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

Isn't Pointer lack of progress consistent with the fact that player development is sorely lacking with this staff?

A lot of that has to fall on the player. Coaches can't practice shots for you. 18% from three is just nuts for a SMALL FORWARD! The craziest thing is that we can win with Dom shooting that badly and having such a poor handle if he d's up and dominates the offensive glass. But he doesn't ever do that this season. Stop the tape anytime they are in the half court and he is standing on the perimeter. He plays serious minutes, yet he his high offensive rebounding game was TWO. This kid should be a SportsCenter top ten nominee every game throwing something back. He should be averaging 3-4 offensive boards a game and indirectly getting us another possession or two due to fouls, tips, or turnovers by the defense scurrying to the ball.

Dom not rebounding is a symptom of a much bigger problem. He is being grossly misused.

There is a kid on UAB who can't shoot but gets 3-4 offensive boards a game and does all the dirty work on both sides of the ball.

 

[1and1sju]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

On this, we're in perfect agreement. Dom really isn't a bad ball player. He has the tools to seriously impact the game, but his role on the perimeter is just a terrible match for his skill set. Terrible.
I think part of it is a lack of development, whether that's on him or the staff who knows? But even with his skill set as it stands today, I truly believe a different coach could utilize him much much better.

Also fwiw, everyone makes too big a deal of the pushing and shoving. It happens. Just don't do anything that's going to cost your team points - that would be my msg to him.

 

[Red.Fans]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

Postell was stronger and had a very quick and freakish, stationary vertical. Pointer is faster in the open court. Both guys have a good work ethic but Postell loved to bang with the big boys. If I remember correctly, Postell at about 6'4-5 played some center in high school.

I think that you are right that Pointer could be a good offensive rebounder but it is easier to be good at offensive rebounding when there is an offense. Then you can anticipate position. We've seen a little of that this year but since mostly our offense doesn't exist. When it is mostly freelance, there is nothing to anticipate. I think Pointer is a bit lost on offense because our offense rarely has any structure. Our point guard when we actually have a point guard in the game is often off the ball. Since there is no direction or rhythm our guys are always overthinking everything. Every possession is like starting from scratch instead of working within a known and familiar structure.

 

[paultzman]

Excellent points Paul. Absence of structure, continuity and role definition confuses players and results in freelancing, also known as chaos. I would love to either attend one of our practices (assuming he's there) or have Lavin miked up in a game or practice. I think that would speak volumes.

 

[Marillac]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

Postell was stronger and had a very quick and freakish, stationary vertical. Pointer is faster in the open court. Both guys have a good work ethic but Postell loved to bang with the big boys. If I remember correctly, Postell at about 6'4-5 played some center in high school.

I think that you are right that Pointer could be a good offensive rebounder but it is easier to be good at offensive rebounding when there is an offense. Then you can anticipate position. We've seen a little of that this year but since mostly our offense doesn't exist. When it is mostly freelance, there is nothing to anticipate. I think Pointer is a bit lost on offense because our offense rarely has any structure. Our point guard when we actually have a point guard in the game is often off the ball. Since there is no direction or rhythm our guys are always overthinking everything. Every possession is like starting from scratch instead of working within a known and familiar structure.

Postell did like to bang, but don't forget that Dom played decent at the four for us in the past. He also rebounds on the defensive end very well. I think the difference between Postell and Pointer comes down to two things: (1) Postell didn't live on the perimeter, as that team was in constant motion and (2) He had a mindset that every missed shot was his. Three offensive boards from the SF position when you play with Ty Grant, Ron Artest, and Bootsy is a serious accomplishment.

 

[Ray Morgan]

Watch the 1985 NCAA tournament game against Kentucky game one poster put on the board a few days ago. Watch Willie Glass attack the offensive boards. He was a little taller than Dom. I remember Glass was a huge scorer in H.S. in A.C. He accepted his role at St. John's. If Dom is in the wrong place because the coach gave him that role, it's on coach. Shot goes up, he needs to crash. Just wondering if perhaps he is not big on the contact.

 

[beast of the east]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

For what its worth, St. John's is averaging 10.2 offensive rebounds per game, ranked 111th in D1 (of 351 schools). Villanova average 10.4, ranked 100. Kentucky averages 14.4 for 3rd, and surprisingly Fordham at 14 is 4th.

In 1998-1999, we averaged 14.2, ranked 14th. 1999-2000, we averaged 11.4, which ranked 119th. In 2000-2001, 12.6, which ranked 32nd.

Our beloved 2010-2011 team averaged 9.5, ranked 173rd.

 

[Red.Fans]

Postell did like to bang, but don't forget that Dom played decent at the four for us in the past. He also rebounds on the defensive end very well. I think the difference between Postell and Pointer comes down to two things: (1) Postell didn't live on the perimeter, as that team was in constant motion and (2) He had a mindset that every missed shot was his. Three offensive boards from the SF position when you play with Ty Grant, Ron Artest, and Bootsy is a serious accomplishment.

Sad to say and I've never felt this way even with Mahoney's last team or some of the Jarvis train wrecks, that our team is consistently out-hustled. They don't value their floor time. At least with guys like Stanley and Missiere they were warriors and took pride in that.
I though Pointer was that guy for this years team but overall, not a lot of the kind of attitudes from our guys that guys like Postell, Minlend, Brust etc brought every second they were on the floor. Maybe part of that comes from the players looking over their shoulders from being (consistently) yanked at odd times.

 

[frank]

Why is it when the shot clock has 3 seconds to go ,the ball gets in the hands of POINTER or Greene with an outside shot? My answer is the other taem plays smart and we play dump enough to give it to someone who can't shoot.So every time we have a lead and want to milk the clock our lead will always be in doupt. POINTER TOOK THE SHOT WHEN WE HAD A3POINT LEAD WITH A MINUTE TO go against Providence and happen several times during the game. Even the announcer mention it that the wrong players were shooting several times

 

[JohnnyFan]

Why is it when the shot clock has 3 seconds to go ,the ball gets in the hands of POINTER or Greene with an outside shot? My answer is the other taem plays smart and we play dump enough to give it to someone who can't shoot.So every time we have a lead and want to milk the clock our lead will always be in doupt. POINTER TOOK THE SHOT WHEN WE HAD A3POINT LEAD WITH A MINUTE TO go against Providence and happen several times during the game. Even the announcer mention it that the wrong players were shooting several times

You ask why? The answer is because Steve Lavin is our coach.

 

[Section3]

Are we really going to kill Pointer for saying this? Come on, I'd expect him to say nothing less.

I am too busy killing Dom because he is the worst offensive rebounding forward in the country this year.

Wait till Dom talks about how he has to rebound the ball better. You're gonna fall off your chair.

The thing that kills me, is I know he CAN do it. His role has just morphed into this perimeter safety valve/occasional facilitator. This has to be on the staff. I really believe this is why we are losing so many close games. The one constant on offense for a poor shooting team has to be hitting the glass. It prevents droubts like nothing else. To make things worse, Sanchez is, at best, average on the offensive glass and has no shot of anything out of his zone.

I'm sure I've sensationalized this in my mind over the years, but that Postell-Artest-Bootsy-Grant-Barkley team was like watching a bunch of rabid dogs under the glass. Duke would go down the court, run a pretty set and get an easy two. They'd come back down, miss a shot, get the board, miss that shot, tip it back up, and then someone would lay it in....same result. That kept them going when they couldn't get an open look from Bootsy or a good drive from Barkley--just an amazing player BTW. The later in the game the crazier the action got down low. Why can't Pointer join Sampson (who is actually getting really good on the offensive glass) and Jordan to dominate?

There is no reason why Postell--a serious three point threat with a better handle than Dom--should average 5-6x the offensive rebounds in 98-99 than Dom is this season.

Isn't Pointer lack of progress consistent with the fact that player development is sorely lacking with this staff?

A lot of that has to fall on the player. Coaches can't practice shots for you. 18% from three is just nuts for a SMALL FORWARD! The craziest thing is that we can win with Dom shooting that badly and having such a poor handle if he d's up and dominates the offensive glass. But he doesn't ever do that this season. Stop the tape anytime they are in the half court and he is standing on the perimeter. He plays serious minutes, yet he his high offensive rebounding game was TWO. This kid should be a SportsCenter top ten nominee every game throwing something back. He should be averaging 3-4 offensive boards a game and indirectly getting us another possession or two due to fouls, tips, or turnovers by the defense scurrying to the ball.

Dom not rebounding is a symptom of a much bigger problem. He is being grossly misused.

There is a kid on UAB who can't shoot but gets 3-4 offensive boards a game and does all the dirty work on both sides of the ball.

Dom's shooting form (hand on side of ball) has not changed -- not sure why this hasn't been corrected
That said, he must be utilized closer to the basket (baseline perhaps) - getting layups, putbacks and even occasional lobs

 

[rcatalano]

Sampson shoots the ball in the same manner!

 

[Section3]

Sampson shoots the ball in the same manner!

Not a shooting guru but think Sampson's problem is a little different...He shoots the ball from too low a starting position which I believe limits his range...the ball rotation looks good unlike Pointer's shots which rotate sideways...

Sanchez is another one, line drive trajectory that I think is a product of him releasing his shot on the way down...Obekpa falling away...

Again, not an expert, just my observations...things that I would think would be worked on...maybe they are but no evidence

 

[dee]

Sampson shoots the ball in the same manner!

Not a shooting guru but think Sampson's problem is a little different...He shoots the ball from too low a starting position which I believe limits his range...the ball rotation looks good unlike Pointer's shots which rotate sideways...

Sanchez is another one, line drive trajectory that I think is a product of him releasing his shot on the way down...Obekpa falling away...

Again, not an expert, just my observations...things that I would think would be worked on...maybe they are but no evidence

forget it the team stinks

 

[Section3]

Sampson shoots the ball in the same manner!

Not a shooting guru but think Sampson's problem is a little different...He shoots the ball from too low a starting position which I believe limits his range...the ball rotation looks good unlike Pointer's shots which rotate sideways...

Sanchez is another one, line drive trajectory that I think is a product of him releasing his shot on the way down...Obekpa falling away...

Again, not an expert, just my observations...things that I would think would be worked on...maybe they are but no evidence

forget it the team stinks

They're my team...above all of my other rooting interests...good or bad...

 

[qcredman]

I believe it was at the end of the first OT with a few seconds left in the Providence game. DLo had the ball and after crossing the half court line looked towards Lavin for instructions - and looked towards Lavin for instructions - and looked towards Lavin for instructions - etc. Lavin was looking the other way at what was going on underneath the basket. From where I sit I could clearly see the perplexed and frustrated look on DLo's face. He was on his own.

 

[Class of 72]

Sampson shoots the ball in the same manner!

Not a shooting guru but think Sampson's problem is a little different...He shoots the ball from too low a starting position which I believe limits his range...the ball rotation looks good unlike Pointer's shots which rotate sideways...

Sanchez is another one, line drive trajectory that I think is a product of him releasing his shot on the way down...Obekpa falling away...

Again, not an expert, just my observations...things that I would think would be worked on...maybe they are but no evidence

forget it the team stinks

They're my team...above all of my other rooting interests...good or bad...

Well said but very frustrating and a totally disappointing season thus far.
As for our shooting form we have a mentor to NBA players, Rico Hines, who I have watched work with players individually after practices and he appears to talk a lot, like Lavin, and gather the ball for the player. Over the past three years I have yet to see any change in any players form or improvement in their shooting. NONE! Since he has only coached a week in his life, his only value is working with the players and the results are obvious. He also has no recruiting value. He and Lavin are still living off their memories of their UCLA days and share Hollywood starlet wives in their egocentric similarities. That relationship is obvious during games where Lavin constantly shares words with Hines at the exclusion of Whitesell and Chiles.

 

[salty dog]

Sampson shoots the ball in the same manner!

Not a shooting guru but think Sampson's problem is a little different...He shoots the ball from too low a starting position which I believe limits his range...the ball rotation looks good unlike Pointer's shots which rotate sideways...

Sanchez is another one, line drive trajectory that I think is a product of him releasing his shot on the way down...Obekpa falling away...

Again, not an expert, just my observations...things that I would think would be worked on...maybe they are but no evidence

forget it the team stinks

They're my team...above all of my other rooting interests...good or bad...

Well said but very frustrating and a totally disappointing season thus far.
As for our shooting form we have a mentor to NBA players, Rico Hines, who I have watched work with players individually after practices and he appears to talk a lot, like Lavin, and gather the ball for the player. Over the past three years I have yet to see any change in any players form or improvement in their shooting. NONE! Since he has only coached a week in his life, his only value is working with the players and the results are obvious. He also has no recruiting value. He and Lavin are still living off their memories of their UCLA days and share Hollywood starlet wives in their Csimilarities. That relationship is obvious during games where Lavin constantly shares words with Hines at the exclusion of Whitesell and Chiles.

Wow that is a mouthful " egocentric" . what is wrong with trophy wives. Doesn't make you a bad person.