If Heslip played for StJ...

[REB]

would he get as many open looks and hit as many threes as he does at Baylor and if not, why?

From what I've seen he would not. We have two pretty good shooters, DLo and Marco but we rarely get them a clean, open look. Seems to me its 1. we don't have a point guard that breaks down the defense and gets in the lane (hopefully Branch will help there) 2. even when we do get in the lane (usually Sampson or Greene driving) our guys rarely seem to be able to kick to an open shooter 3. we just don't seem to run many set plays to get open looks for shooters, ie running guys off double screens down low.

Does anybody here think it would be any different if we had Heslip? If not, other thoughts on what we need to do to get more open looks? It's frustrating watching DLo, dogged by a single defender but never freed by the offense for a spot up three.

 

[bobre45]

would he get as many open looks and hit as many threes as he does at Baylor and if not, why?

From what I've seen he would not. We have two pretty good shooters, DLo and Marco but we rarely get them a clean, open look. Seems to me its 1. we don't have a point guard that breaks down the defense and gets in the lane (hopefully Branch will help there) 2. even when we do get in the lane (usually Sampson or Greene driving) our guys rarely seem to be able to kick to an open shooter 3. we just don't seem to run many set plays to get open looks for shooters, ie running guys off double screens down low.

Does anybody here think it would be any different if we had Heslip? If not, other thoughts on what we need to do to get more open looks? It's frustrating watching DLo, dogged by a single defender but never freed by the offense for a spot up three.

I don't think Lavin would even give him a look for our team. He was so open at times they just had to hit him. DLo would average 30 against our "D" against Baylor.

 

[Arteurasia]

I think this is a great question and goes to the heart of the team's current limitations. Baylor had an awesome PG in Pierre Jackson, who was lightning quick and created shots for everyone. If we had a guy like him, wow we would be tough. On St. John's no one creates shots for teammates unless transition fast breaks. We got lots of individual talent but the teamwork is lacking on offense -- on defense there were glimpses of great teamwork in 2nd half of Holy Cross game I thought.
The next question would be, let's say that Branch can be a fraction as good as Pierre Jackson at pg, is how to manage a rotation of backcourt, with dlo, greene, balamou, and bourgalt? Balamou looking good...I think we're the best with Sampson and Obekpa in the backcourt and don't think we should give lots of playing time to either Garrett or Sir Dom, who are great athletes but seem limited, particularly in their judgment at time (Sir Dom). And if we get Orlando Sanchez -- what happens then?

 

[usguard]

would he get as many open looks and hit as many threes as he does at Baylor and if not, why?

From what I've seen he would not. We have two pretty good shooters, DLo and Marco but we rarely get them a clean, open look. Seems to me its 1. we don't have a point guard that breaks down the defense and gets in the lane (hopefully Branch will help there) 2. even when we do get in the lane (usually Sampson or Greene driving) our guys rarely seem to be able to kick to an open shooter 3. we just don't seem to run many set plays to get open looks for shooters, ie runew days agoning guys off double screens down low.

Does anybody here think it would be any different if we had Heslip? If not, other thoughts on what we need to do to get more open looks? It's frustrating watching DLo, dogged by a single defender but never freed by the offense for a spot up three.

I said this a few days ago that we do not get our shooters open either on picks or kickpouts Yes Branch would help
Good assessment perhaps as we get more exp we will do a better job of freeing up shooters

 

[McGarry2]

There is fast and there is quick and then there is quick and fast. And then there are those who screen and those who don't.

 

[firestorm]

I'll take you back to a happier time – namely the second half of the 2011 season. We had a team that played some of the most unselfish and entertaining basketball we have seen from a St. John's team in decades.

Point being, that team went from not being particularly good early in Lavin's first season to very solid by the end. It took time to break the bad habits of the Norm years and teach better team play, but when we hit our stride it was pretty to watch.

Keep in mind, that team had nine seniors, if memory serves me correctly; not nine freshman/sophomores. Don't know if we'll get the same result this season, but I'm confident these guys are going to to improve this year and next.

 

[MCNPA]

Heslip hit 9 threes in his NCAA tourney game last year against Colorado. This is habit for him.

 

[dee]

would he get as many open looks and hit as many threes as he does at Baylor and if not, why?

From what I've seen he would not. We have two pretty good shooters, DLo and Marco but we rarely get them a clean, open look. Seems to me its 1. we don't have a point guard that breaks down the defense and gets in the lane (hopefully Branch will help there) 2. even when we do get in the lane (usually Sampson or Greene driving) our guys rarely seem to be able to kick to an open shooter 3. we just don't seem to run many set plays to get open looks for shooters, ie running guys off double screens down low.

Does anybody here think it would be any different if we had Heslip? If not, other thoughts on what we need to do to get more open looks? It's frustrating watching DLo, dogged by a single defender but never freed by the offense for a spot up three.

I don't think Lavin would even give him a look for our team. He was so open at times they just had to hit him. DLo would average 30 against our "D" against Baylor.

We never seem to recruit the 3 point shooter so I dont think it matters how open we can get our guards

 

[Jnaw17]

would he get as many open looks and hit as many threes as he does at Baylor and if not, why?

From what I've seen he would not. We have two pretty good shooters, DLo and Marco but we rarely get them a clean, open look. Seems to me its 1. we don't have a point guard that breaks down the defense and gets in the lane (hopefully Branch will help there) 2. even when we do get in the lane (usually Sampson or Greene driving) our guys rarely seem to be able to kick to an open shooter 3. we just don't seem to run many set plays to get open looks for shooters, ie running guys off double screens down low.

Does anybody here think it would be any different if we had Heslip? If not, other thoughts on what we need to do to get more open looks? It's frustrating watching DLo, dogged by a single defender but never freed by the offense for a spot up three.

I don't think Lavin would even give him a look for our team. He was so open at times they just had to hit him. DLo would average 30 against our "D" against Baylor.

We never seem to recruit the 3 point shooter so I dont think it matters how open we can get our guards

Maybe Hooper does that for us next year. Maybe this year with Branch penetrating and kicking it back to Marco or D'Lo will get it done. We don't need a guy hitting 9 three pointers (although we'd take it if we got it), but hitting 5-7 per game as a team at a 35-37% clip would keep defenses honest (this would put us at about 100-110 on team 3 point shooting, so not scorching the nets for those who believe this is unrealistic). That may not be out of reach for this team. Right now we're hitting 3.8 per game shooting 31%, yet D'Lo hasn't been hitting at his kate season pace of last year (other than his hot shooting vs. Baylor and 40% against HC), Marco has not broken through (jury's out on what contributions he'll make, but I believe we'll get him going soon) and Phil and Amir are trying to get more comfortable with this part of their game. I'm for leeting them continue making improvements and learning how to play this level and with one another, before judging their deficiencies.