Fans really have been rough on Dom even though, as you point out, his sophomore season is barely underway. Like others, I've been frustrated at times with his offense (or lack of), but it's never kept me from appreciating the energy, intensity, and willingness to play the role of a defender/team player that he brings to every game.
Florida Gulf Coast
- Thread starter SJU61982
- Start date
Fans really have been rough on Dom even though, as you point out, his sophomore season is barely underway. Like others, I've been frustrated at times with his offense (or lack of), but it's never kept me from appreciating the energy, intensity, and willingness to play the role of a defender/team player that he brings to every game.
A couple of thoughts from the game:
FGC can flat out shoot the rock. They have a couple of guys who not only can spot up for the open jumper, but can take the pullup and floater in the lane when contested.
Phil Greene was off tonight. Very sloppy with the ball with several lazy telegraphed passes that resulted in turnovers.
We still struggle rebounding. I think our athleticism is what hurts us here. These guys are used to outjumping opponents for the ball. That may work in HS, prep School or JUCO, but in Division 1 (even low-major) you better put a hip on someone create space and then use your jumping ability. Rebounding is about anticipation, positioning and desire. Better tie rebounding drills into running drills for the loser. If your not going to box out, then you are going to run...a lot.
We still struggle chasing shooters running off screens. I think I figured out one of the reasons. The guy who is chasing the guy receiving the scrren is getting no help from the guy guarding the guy setting the screen. This may be a function of us switching everything at the top so they may not be working on this much, but along the baseline it is killing us. The shooter is getting a free run, while the poor guy chasing the shooter has to run around the screener. The guy guarding the screener needs to recognize what is about to happen and rub the shooter. You may pick up a foul or two doing this but you'll have a lot less open corner jumpers and believe me a less enthusiastic shooter once he landed on his ass once or twice. This is done in the NBA all the time. I'm surprised with the NBA experience on the bench that we haven't recognized how free we are letting these guys run.
I'm surprised that FGC tried to run with us once we upped the tempo in the 2nd half. It allowed us to get some easy baskets and resulted in them wearing down.
Dom had a really good game. He was a menace on defense and some nice moves on offense.
I'd like us to burn a little more clock when we are up 10 with 5 minutes to go. We had a couple of quick possessions that could have allowed them back in. It's amazing that we seem to have more of a sense of urgency up 10 late then we have down late in games.
FGC can flat out shoot the rock. They have a couple of guys who not only can spot up for the open jumper, but can take the pullup and floater in the lane when contested.
Phil Greene was off tonight. Very sloppy with the ball with several lazy telegraphed passes that resulted in turnovers.
We still struggle rebounding. I think our athleticism is what hurts us here. These guys are used to outjumping opponents for the ball. That may work in HS, prep School or JUCO, but in Division 1 (even low-major) you better put a hip on someone create space and then use your jumping ability. Rebounding is about anticipation, positioning and desire. Better tie rebounding drills into running drills for the loser. If your not going to box out, then you are going to run...a lot.
We still struggle chasing shooters running off screens. I think I figured out one of the reasons. The guy who is chasing the guy receiving the scrren is getting no help from the guy guarding the guy setting the screen. This may be a function of us switching everything at the top so they may not be working on this much, but along the baseline it is killing us. The shooter is getting a free run, while the poor guy chasing the shooter has to run around the screener. The guy guarding the screener needs to recognize what is about to happen and rub the shooter. You may pick up a foul or two doing this but you'll have a lot less open corner jumpers and believe me a less enthusiastic shooter once he landed on his ass once or twice. This is done in the NBA all the time. I'm surprised with the NBA experience on the bench that we haven't recognized how free we are letting these guys run.
I'm surprised that FGC tried to run with us once we upped the tempo in the 2nd half. It allowed us to get some easy baskets and resulted in them wearing down.
Dom had a really good game. He was a menace on defense and some nice moves on offense.
I'd like us to burn a little more clock when we are up 10 with 5 minutes to go. We had a couple of quick possessions that could have allowed them back in. It's amazing that we seem to have more of a sense of urgency up 10 late then we have down late in games.
true 3 blue
Member
Was at the game tonight, started off slowly.
By far the best game I've seen Dom play, he should be aggressive like that more often.
LOVE what Felix and Jakarr bring to the table.
Obekpa has to work on playing better defense without fouling, he gets caught up in trying to block everything so often.
Harrison was fuego in the 2nd half, I figured the moment we tied it going in to the half we'd take off in the 2nd.
Andray Blatche was at the game, mind blown
.
I was happy to see Marco nail that 3, wish he got a bit more PT to get his reps up. Hopefully that comes to fruition as the season progresses. He and Jones, I'd like to see get some more PT.
By far the best game I've seen Dom play, he should be aggressive like that more often.
LOVE what Felix and Jakarr bring to the table.
Obekpa has to work on playing better defense without fouling, he gets caught up in trying to block everything so often.
Harrison was fuego in the 2nd half, I figured the moment we tied it going in to the half we'd take off in the 2nd.
Andray Blatche was at the game, mind blown
.I was happy to see Marco nail that 3, wish he got a bit more PT to get his reps up. Hopefully that comes to fruition as the season progresses. He and Jones, I'd like to see get some more PT.
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
New York Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/c...john-win-florida-gulf-coast-article-1.1207581
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/c...john-win-florida-gulf-coast-article-1.1207581
Felix was a better find than Jones IMO and it's not even close. He is very motivated and stays with his man defensively, he blocks shots, he is fast, he can jump up and get rebounds, he can shoot, he can dunk, he can handle the ball, etc. I'm not going to lie I thought he would be nothing special...boy am I happy to eat crow one heaping portion for me please.
one heaping portion for me please.His family was coerced into this.
I give it to him to sit by and not cause drama. But the notions being suggested that he is somewhat happy with this treatment is bogus.
The team needs him more next season? What happens if/when Sanchez is declared ineligible this season? What happens if one of our bigs get inured for an extended period of time this season?
Let's not act as if the staff had some crystal ball and could look into the future. Gift is being strung along by none of his own doing but because the fate of another player. I'm sure if any of you all had a promotion lined up at your job but was told to wait a year because another employee was not available yet to get into your department, you'd feel shafted in some sort of way.
Felix was a better find than Jones IMO and it's not even close. He is very motivated and stays with his man defensively, he blocks shots, he is fast, he can jump up and get rebounds, he can shoot, he can dunk, he can handle the ball, etc. I'm not going to lie I thought he would be nothing special...boy am I happy to eat crow
The staff recruited Obekpa for at least a year. Probably saw him for much more than that because they were involved with one of his teammates in the prior year.
That means they saw Felix just as much. Heck, when I saw OSNA play, Felix clearly stood out on the court. Felix was even OSNA's leading scorer. And Felix was being heavily recruited by UConn.
Jones was out of state. Probably talked about by Harrison and Branch from seeing him in Texas and possibly word of mouth from Phil Greene. Also may have gotten wind from Harkless or Nate Blue while they were training at IMG getting ready for the Draft Combine. Jones recruitment looks like it was the perfect storm and one of the true benefits of having a national recruiting base.
Explain how Felix was a better find when the staff clearly saw more of him?
Are you serious? Let's put you in Nigeria for most of your life then bring you to America and see if your priority in life is finding minutes in a basketball game. Before basketball comes livelihood, and quality of life at the most basic level. Gift's life is not basketball or die and it's not like he's going to be pro. He didn't come from England...he came from NIGERIA! That's a place where finding a source of clean water is like striking gold. Stop trying to make him into a D'Lo personality...he's not. Also, you need to learn the difference between being "happy" and "understanding his role on the team". You don't have to be happy, but you can still respect your coach's decision. Google Nigeria because you seem to think his homeland is just peachy with a good standard of living. Most Nigerians would give their left nut just to live in the projects in America and this kid's getting a free BA and a free MA from SJ. He values education just as much if not more than basketball. If you want someone to be mad at, go bark up the NCAA's tree because it's their fault and no one else's.
Felix was a better find than Jones IMO and it's not even close. He is very motivated and stays with his man defensively, he blocks shots, he is fast, he can jump up and get rebounds, he can shoot, he can dunk, he can handle the ball, etc. I'm not going to lie I thought he would be nothing special...boy am I happy to eat crow
The staff recruited Obekpa for at least a year. Probably saw him for much more than that because they were involved with one of his teammates in the prior year.
That means they saw Felix just as much. Heck, when I saw OSNA play, Felix clearly stood out on the court. Felix was even OSNA's leading scorer. And Felix was being heavily recruited by UConn.
Jones was out of state. Probably talked about by Harrison and Branch from seeing him in Texas and possibly word of mouth from Phil Greene. Also may have gotten wind from Harkless or Nate Blue while they were training at IMG getting ready for the Draft Combine. Jones recruitment looks like it was the perfect storm and one of the true benefits of having a national recruiting base.
Explain how Felix was a better find when the staff clearly saw more of him?
Pretty simple, Felix is the much better all around player and it's not really that close. Felix shoots better, blocks better (and like 4 inches shorter than Jones), defends better, handles better, rebounds better, etc. What are you seeing that makes you think Jones is better? Felix is way better than most people thought and Jones is ok not great.
The Gumbinator
Member
Felix was a better find than Jones IMO and it's not even close. He is very motivated and stays with his man defensively, he blocks shots, he is fast, he can jump up and get rebounds, he can shoot, he can dunk, he can handle the ball, etc. I'm not going to lie I thought he would be nothing special...boy am I happy to eat crow
The staff recruited Obekpa for at least a year. Probably saw him for much more than that because they were involved with one of his teammates in the prior year.
That means they saw Felix just as much. Heck, when I saw OSNA play, Felix clearly stood out on the court. Felix was even OSNA's leading scorer. And Felix was being heavily recruited by UConn.
Jones was out of state. Probably talked about by Harrison and Branch from seeing him in Texas and possibly word of mouth from Phil Greene. Also may have gotten wind from Harkless or Nate Blue while they were training at IMG getting ready for the Draft Combine. Jones recruitment looks like it was the perfect storm and one of the true benefits of having a national recruiting base.
Explain how Felix was a better find when the staff clearly saw more of him?
Pretty simple, Felix is the much better all around player and it's not really that close. Felix shoots better, blocks better (and like 4 inches shorter than Jones), defends better, handles better, rebounds better, etc. What are you seeing that makes you think Jones is better? Felix is way better than most people thought and Jones is ok not great.
We've seen six games. I think 3 of which Felix has actually played in. Has he had a bigger impact in games than Jones? Yes. But we've seen a very small sample size. It could work out that you are right, but Lavin was very high on Jones in the pre-season and I'll take his basketball input over anyone on this forum. He saw them play day in and day out during practice and he was ready to redshirt Felix. Maybe Balamou has a bit of Tebow in him and plays much better in games than in practices, we'll see. Let's get into the big east season before we start talking about who is better than who. I'm sure looking at the posts from last year would show how we all thought GG was a beast, and then he met real size in the BE.
No need for me to Google Nigeria. And please stop with the stereotypes of the life he lived there because you simply do not know.
And not for one second did I proclaim that his education was unimportant.
The insinuation is that he is content riding the pine and is better suited for next year. I guess because the staff served it up that way, you're eating it up. Gift was highly recruited. Ohio State, NC State, Cincinnati, etc. He contributed last year. Not the best season but he was a contributor who was playing out of position. He also was one of the bigger reasons why Obekpa committed here. Look it up.
If "understanding your role on a team" means the coaching staff is looking to cut a deal with me based on some other player's investigation, I'm definitely going to feel some type of way about it as would most people. You'd be lying if you say you wouldn't.
Felix was a better find than Jones IMO and it's not even close. He is very motivated and stays with his man defensively, he blocks shots, he is fast, he can jump up and get rebounds, he can shoot, he can dunk, he can handle the ball, etc. I'm not going to lie I thought he would be nothing special...boy am I happy to eat crow
The staff recruited Obekpa for at least a year. Probably saw him for much more than that because they were involved with one of his teammates in the prior year.
That means they saw Felix just as much. Heck, when I saw OSNA play, Felix clearly stood out on the court. Felix was even OSNA's leading scorer. And Felix was being heavily recruited by UConn.
Jones was out of state. Probably talked about by Harrison and Branch from seeing him in Texas and possibly word of mouth from Phil Greene. Also may have gotten wind from Harkless or Nate Blue while they were training at IMG getting ready for the Draft Combine. Jones recruitment looks like it was the perfect storm and one of the true benefits of having a national recruiting base.
Explain how Felix was a better find when the staff clearly saw more of him?
Pretty simple, Felix is the much better all around player and it's not really that close. Felix shoots better, blocks better (and like 4 inches shorter than Jones), defends better, handles better, rebounds better, etc. What are you seeing that makes you think Jones is better? Felix is way better than most people thought and Jones is ok not great.
Maybe I misunderstood you, but you said Felix was a better find than Jones (why you're even comparing the 2 I do not know).
I thought you were suggesting that they were both under the radar recruits, which Felix was not.
But carry on...