Early Observations

There's probably nobody who likes Dom more than me. I agree with all of the observations about his defense and hustle.

However, he is not going to take minutes away from Jordan or Harrison in the backcourt. And Branch and Green are the obvious backups there.

He isn't going to start over Sampson or Sanchez.

So where that leaves him is in a scrum with Obekpa, Jones, Gift and Hooper for one spot in the frontcourt.

To me the real issue is whether Sanchez and Obekpa can play together, and if they can whether that is what the staff wants to do. If they both start, then that logjams Dom (along with Gift, Jones, Hooper, Bourgault).

If Sanchez and Obekpa split time at the 5, then Dom ought to start at forward and then I do think he will get 20-25 minutes.

The thing is that Obekpa and Dom are both offensive liabilities, so what I might do if I were Coach is put Pointer on the floor with Sanchez and put Hooper on the floor with Obekpa (this assumes Hooper can play at all at this level, on which the jury is out). If you put Obekpa and Dom on the floor at the same time then 40% of your lineup is no threat to score.

Having said all that I think the best starting 5 is Jordan, Harrison, Sampson, Sanchez, Obekpa. Branch and Green get 10-12 minutes backing up the guard spots, Dom gets 20 minutes backing up the frontcourt spots, Jones gets 5-7 minutes, everybody else gets spot duty.
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Lawmanfan -
we've come a long way
what nice problems to have - sufficient, perhaps too much overlapping talent...nice analysis
all the best, and should be wondrous year!
 
There's probably nobody who likes Dom more than me. I agree with all of the observations about his defense and hustle.

However, he is not going to take minutes away from Jordan or Harrison in the backcourt. And Branch and Green are the obvious backups there.

He isn't going to start over Sampson or Sanchez.

So where that leaves him is in a scrum with Obekpa, Jones, Gift and Hooper for one spot in the frontcourt.

To me the real issue is whether Sanchez and Obekpa can play together, and if they can whether that is what the staff wants to do. If they both start, then that logjams Dom (along with Gift, Jones, Hooper, Bourgault).

If Sanchez and Obekpa split time at the 5, then Dom ought to start at forward and then I do think he will get 20-25 minutes.

The thing is that Obekpa and Dom are both offensive liabilities, so what I might do if I were Coach is put Pointer on the floor with Sanchez and put Hooper on the floor with Obekpa (this assumes Hooper can play at all at this level, on which the jury is out). If you put Obekpa and Dom on the floor at the same time then 40% of your lineup is no threat to score.

Having said all that I think the best starting 5 is Jordan, Harrison, Sampson, Sanchez, Obekpa. Branch and Green get 10-12 minutes backing up the guard spots, Dom gets 20 minutes backing up the frontcourt spots, Jones gets 5-7 minutes, everybody else gets spot duty.
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I agree with much of what you've said and see how you can come to your conclusions on the points I disagree with but from my perspective I think the 3 is a spot where you need more range and quickness than Sampson provides. He's just not a 3 no matter the fact that he's built like an NBA 3. This is about winning this year, not getting Jakarr on the job training at the position he may need to master when he makes the jump. I'd rather see Obekpa and Hooper off the bench per your 3/5 platoon idea idea and keep Jakarr at the 4.
 
I agree with much of what you've said and see how you can come to your conclusions on the points I disagree with but from my perspective I think the 3 is a spot where you need more range and quickness than Sampson provides. He's just not a 3 no matter the fact that he's built like an NBA 3. This is about winning this year, not getting Jakarr on the job training at the position he may need to master when he makes the jump. I'd rather see Obekpa and Hooper off the bench per your 3/5 platoon idea idea and keep Jakarr at the 4.
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Agree and overriding that, with this crew the 1-5 roles are very blurry anyway.
 
A positive opinion;

“@jeffborzello: The team outside the top 25 with the highest ceiling this season? I'm going with St. John's: http://cbsprt.co/1avBquo #sjubb”
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I agree, but I think people are seriously sleeping on Providence. If they can get it together, they are very dangerous. I love Henton and I wish we could trade for Brandon Austin. If Dunn plays anything like his ranking this year, lookout.
 
A positive opinion;

“@jeffborzello: The team outside the top 25 with the highest ceiling this season? I'm going with St. John's: http://cbsprt.co/1avBquo #sjubb”
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I agree, but I think people are seriously sleeping on Providence. If they can get it together, they are very dangerous. I love Henton and I wish we could trade for Brandon Austin. If Dunn plays anything like his ranking this year, lookout.
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St. John's should be in the top twenty five, so you are probably right about Providence. I was impressed with how strong the conference is after watching the tip off show.
 
I'm with you on most points, but I wouldn't qualify Dom as a liability on offense. He's not a 20pt scorer, I know, but it's really not fair to compare him to Obekpa. Dom just isn't assertive on offense, but its not like he doesn't contribute. Tip ins, decent foul shooter, led the team in assists. His big thing is that he's not assertive, and still needs to work on his handle. But Dom is efficient, and not necessarily a liability.
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Pointer scored 7 ppg last year on 157 FG attempts. He led the team in FG percentage by a wide margin. Greene scored 10 ppg last year on 374 FG attempts. One of those players is offensive liability, but it's not Pointer.
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Preaching to the choir. That's why I think Pointer is a starter, and even if coach were to move him into a 6th man role, our fans still shouldn't mention his offensive game in the same breadth as Obekpa's or Greene's.

Consistency is the 'next step' for Pointer if he's going to continue to develop. You astutely pointed out last year that he had a tendency to disappear against the better opposition.
 
A positive opinion;

“@jeffborzello: The team outside the top 25 with the highest ceiling this season? I'm going with St. John's: http://cbsprt.co/1avBquo #sjubb”
Click to expand...

I agree, but I think people are seriously sleeping on Providence. If they can get it together, they are very dangerous. I love Henton and I wish we could trade for Brandon Austin. If Dunn plays anything like his ranking this year, lookout.
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Agreed. Based on the preseason coverage they seem to be the most underrated team in the league. Great thing for the league long-term.
 
I like Greene, but he did struggle a lot last year. It's like his shots looked good in the beginning of games then he tired out and his shots were all short. This is why Greene could be a DEADLY bench player. He played just too many minutes these last two years, and 8-10 mpg is perfect for Greene to be well rested so he can be a more deadly shooter from the outside.
 
I like Greene, but he did struggle a lot last year. It's like his shots looked good in the beginning of games then he tired out and his shots were all short. This is why Greene could be a DEADLY bench player. He played just too many minutes these last two years, and 8-10 mpg is perfect for Greene to be well rested so he can be a more deadly shooter from the outside.
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He played too many minutes being hurt IMHO. Were he 100% healthy I think we would have seen a more consistent player.
 
I like Greene, but he did struggle a lot last year. It's like his shots looked good in the beginning of games then he tired out and his shots were all short. This is why Greene could be a DEADLY bench player. He played just too many minutes these last two years, and 8-10 mpg is perfect for Greene to be well rested so he can be a more deadly shooter from the outside.
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He played too many minutes being hurt IMHO. Were he 100% healthy I think we would have seen a more consistent player.
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His health had no effect on his shot selection and decision making.
 
I like Greene, but he did struggle a lot last year. It's like his shots looked good in the beginning of games then he tired out and his shots were all short. This is why Greene could be a DEADLY bench player. He played just too many minutes these last two years, and 8-10 mpg is perfect for Greene to be well rested so he can be a more deadly shooter from the outside.
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He played too many minutes being hurt IMHO. Were he 100% healthy I think we would have seen a more consistent player.
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But still a guy playing out of position. Now there's two actual PG's on the roster, healthy and better suited to the role than Phil. He'll have to back up DLo and take the minutes he gets there.

PS that's point guards, not Phil Greenes.
 
I like Greene, but he did struggle a lot last year. It's like his shots looked good in the beginning of games then he tired out and his shots were all short. This is why Greene could be a DEADLY bench player. He played just too many minutes these last two years, and 8-10 mpg is perfect for Greene to be well rested so he can be a more deadly shooter from the outside.
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Let's remember that Greene was injured the entire season, and unlike some guys who take themselves out of the game at the slightest ill, this kid hung in there and never complained or made excuses. I'd say that's a warrior, not a chump.
 
I like Greene, but he did struggle a lot last year. It's like his shots looked good in the beginning of games then he tired out and his shots were all short. This is why Greene could be a DEADLY bench player. He played just too many minutes these last two years, and 8-10 mpg is perfect for Greene to be well rested so he can be a more deadly shooter from the outside.
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He played too many minutes being hurt IMHO. Were he 100% healthy I think we would have seen a more consistent player.
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But still a guy playing out of position. Now there's two actual PG's on the roster, healthy and better suited to the role than Phil. He'll have to back up DLo and take the minutes he gets there.

PS that's point guards, not Phil Greenes.
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Playing out of position? Sure, I'll give you that. Although in this day and age I don't know that any sg shouldn't be expected to be able to play some point.
But leaving that aside, playing out of position would be reason to give Phil some slack if his passing and running the offense wasn't up to snuff ... but it shouldn't excuse missing so many open shots.
Want to blame that on the injury? That I can buy. And overrall is he better playing off the ball? Probably. But playing out of position doesn't drastically effect a good shooter.
Phil had a bad year shooting the bad. Plain and simple. Truthfully, so did D'angelo.
I'm hoping more offensive weapons gets both of them better looks this year.
 
Phil had a bad year shooting the bad. Plain and simple. Truthfully, so did D'angelo.
I'm hoping more offensive weapons gets both of them better looks this year.
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I agree however he started the season looking real good. So perhaps the shooting/injury were related. We'll see soon.

Regarding the other comment about health not affecting shot selection and decision making that simply isn't true. When you are hampered by an injury you can't do things that you'd normally do. It affects you. You think twice about things that were previously instinct or muscle memory. And while I don't know the extent of the pain, anyone who has been in severe pain for an extended period of time will tell you that it completely changes your life. Worse maybe than the actual physical pain is your mindset, mood, clarity of thought etc. It affects how you sleep your metabolism etc etc.
 
I see phil thriving I'n his new role if healthy... He is a capable guard who add Alot to the second unit! We have asked too much of him over the last 2 years.... Solid 10-12 mins is all we need
 
Phil had a bad year shooting the bad. Plain and simple. Truthfully, so did D'angelo.
I'm hoping more offensive weapons gets both of them better looks this year.
Click to expand...

I agree however he started the season looking real good. So perhaps the shooting/injury were related. We'll see soon.

Regarding the other comment about health not affecting shot selection and decision making that simply isn't true. When you are hampered by an injury you can't do things that you'd normally do. It affects you. You think twice about things that were previously instinct or muscle memory. And while I don't know the extent of the pain, anyone who has been in severe pain for an extended period of time will tell you that it completely changes your life. Worse maybe than the actual physical pain is your mindset, mood, clarity of thought etc. It affects how you sleep your metabolism etc etc.
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I think you misunderstood my comment, or perhaps I wasn't clear, but I agree. I was saying that I can understand why an injury could definitely have hampered Phil's shooting last year. That makes a lot of sense, and as you point out - he started the season relatively hot, so there's some evidence to back that up too.
But I don't think fans can write-off his poor shooting simply because he was 'out of position'. If he didn't produce like a true pg, and wasn't leading the offense probably... that's a viable excuse, that he was out of position. But ti doesn't hold as much water when you're discussing his shooting.
 
Phil had a bad year shooting the bad. Plain and simple. Truthfully, so did D'angelo.
I'm hoping more offensive weapons gets both of them better looks this year.
Click to expand...

I agree however he started the season looking real good. So perhaps the shooting/injury were related. We'll see soon.

Regarding the other comment about health not affecting shot selection and decision making that simply isn't true. When you are hampered by an injury you can't do things that you'd normally do. It affects you. You think twice about things that were previously instinct or muscle memory. And while I don't know the extent of the pain, anyone who has been in severe pain for an extended period of time will tell you that it completely changes your life. Worse maybe than the actual physical pain is your mindset, mood, clarity of thought etc. It affects how you sleep your metabolism etc etc.
Click to expand...

I think you misunderstood my comment, or perhaps I wasn't clear, but I agree. I was saying that I can understand why an injury could definitely have hampered Phil's shooting last year. That makes a lot of sense, and as you point out - he started the season relatively hot, so there's some evidence to back that up too.
But I don't think fans can write-off his poor shooting simply because he was 'out of position'. If he didn't produce like a true pg, and wasn't leading the offense probably... that's a viable excuse, that he was out of position. But ti doesn't hold as much water when you're discussing his shooting.
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sorry that second part was in response to: SJUalum98
 
Phil had a bad year shooting the bad. Plain and simple. Truthfully, so did D'angelo.
I'm hoping more offensive weapons gets both of them better looks this year.
Click to expand...

I agree however he started the season looking real good. So perhaps the shooting/injury were related. We'll see soon.

Regarding the other comment about health not affecting shot selection and decision making that simply isn't true. When you are hampered by an injury you can't do things that you'd normally do. It affects you. You think twice about things that were previously instinct or muscle memory. And while I don't know the extent of the pain, anyone who has been in severe pain for an extended period of time will tell you that it completely changes your life. Worse maybe than the actual physical pain is your mindset, mood, clarity of thought etc. It affects how you sleep your metabolism etc etc.
Click to expand...

I think you misunderstood my comment, or perhaps I wasn't clear, but I agree. I was saying that I can understand why an injury could definitely have hampered Phil's shooting last year. That makes a lot of sense, and as you point out - he started the season relatively hot, so there's some evidence to back that up too.
But I don't think fans can write-off his poor shooting simply because he was 'out of position'. If he didn't produce like a true pg, and wasn't leading the offense probably... that's a viable excuse, that he was out of position. But ti doesn't hold as much water when you're discussing his shooting.
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Hopefully Phil gets out of gate well, demonstrating much better shot selection, less dribbling & more balance on jumpers. It is fair to give him some benefit of doubt re: injury, but time now to become a reliable, consistent and productive contributor.
 
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