Kudos Posh

[room112]

We can critique Posh all we want and poke holes in his game, he's certainly not a perfect player. But we're extremely fortunate to have him. In fact he's been better here than probably any of us expected. Quite frankly, he's one of the most exciting players we've had in the past two plus decades. When you have a kid who may not be the most physically talented, but gives his all every single night and leaves it all on the floor, I'm not sure how you can even look for negative things to say. 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Beast of the East wrote:

I love Posh, but actually think his defense was significantly better last season.   I know he has been playing hurt and he may have put on some muscle that has helps him hold his ground when getting good position on the offensive boards especially.   I'm not sure what the story was with him coming off the bench on Monday vs. SHU, whether it was disciplinary, strategic, or sending a message, but Monday was perhaps his best game of the season. 

I have no inside info on why Posh came off the bench but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that CMA wanted to start Wheeler (3 Bigs rather than 3 guards) against Hall and knew that between Wusu, Mathis & Posh he could best bring Posh off the bench without affecting his confidence.

 

[RedmanMike]

Here is the best compliment we can give to Posh...

He is a worthy successor to the great true NYC point guards in Johnnies' history - a list that includes the great Mark Jackson, Boo Harvey.and Erick Barkley.

(Ponds was a combo guard, so I left him off the list.) 

 

[beast of the east]

Beast of the East wrote:

I love Posh, but actually think his defense was significantly better last season.   I know he has been playing hurt and he may have put on some muscle that has helps him hold his ground when getting good position on the offensive boards especially.   I'm not sure what the story was with him coming off the bench on Monday vs. SHU, whether it was disciplinary, strategic, or sending a message, but Monday was perhaps his best game of the season. 

I have no inside info on why Posh came off the bench but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that CMA wanted to start Wheeler (3 Bigs rather than 3 guards) against Hall and knew that between Wusu, Mathis & Posh he could best bring Posh off the bench without affecting his confidence.

Well whatever the reason it worked out, and he played a great game

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Beast of the East wrote:

I love Posh, but actually think his defense was significantly better last season.   I know he has been playing hurt and he may have put on some muscle that has helps him hold his ground when getting good position on the offensive boards especially.   I'm not sure what the story was with him coming off the bench on Monday vs. SHU, whether it was disciplinary, strategic, or sending a message, but Monday was perhaps his best game of the season. 

I have no inside info on why Posh came off the bench but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that CMA wanted to start Wheeler (3 Bigs rather than 3 guards) against Hall and knew that between Wusu, Mathis & Posh he could best bring Posh off the bench without affecting his confidence.

That’s a good point. Plus when we went to the bench our intensity level actually increased and the hall guards had already spent 4 minutes dealing with the pressure.

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

Posh has unique skills that defy any sort of definition of what a PG or SG should be .   He’s like a kid who gets all A ‘s in school but , can’t do better in Physics than a C .   Outride shooting being that subject .   His rebounding , on and off the ball defense , offensive put backs are extraordinary against much taller players . Plus , he’s relentless .   As a team , we do well when he fills up all the stats , points , steals , rebounds , opponent turnovers .   I’m not sure if CMA’s strategy to bring him in off the bench , rather than starting , is the right formula but , it worked against SH .   We need a big game from him and Champ to have any sort of chance against Nova . 

 

[MakingPlays]

Beast of the East wrote:

I love Posh, but actually think his defense was significantly better last season.   I know he has been playing hurt and he may have put on some muscle that has helps him hold his ground when getting good position on the offensive boards especially.   I'm not sure what the story was with him coming off the bench on Monday vs. SHU, whether it was disciplinary, strategic, or sending a message, but Monday was perhaps his best game of the season. 

I have no inside info on why Posh came off the bench but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that CMA wanted to start Wheeler (3 Bigs rather than 3 guards) against Hall and knew that between Wusu, Mathis & Posh he could best bring Posh off the bench without affecting his confidence.

That’s a good point. Plus when we went to the bench our intensity level actually increased and the hall guards had already spent 4 minutes dealing with the pressure.

I agree, I don't think Posh coming off the bench was a punishment at all.  I think he just knows Posh is going to be Posh whether he starts or comes off the bench.  Mathis and Wusu are a little more fragile and he's not wanting to mess with their confidence.  Both of them haven't been as consistent as of late.

The situation reminds me of when CMA changed up the starting lineup at Arkansas a few years ago and brought the 2nd best player (Dusty Hannahs) off the bench.  It gave the team momentum and changed things around and Dusty's confidence was always high, he had a quote where he said "These buckets are coming whether I start or coming off the bench."  That quote actually became an intro to one of the local sports shows.  Posh has the same mentality, he's probably the strongest player mentality on the team.  And Also, I noticed when CMA subs Posh in he immediately subs Smith as well, I think CMA likes the combo of them on the floor together, both small and annoying to opponents on defense, and you give Posh a shooter on offense to assist to rather than him with Mathis, who isn't a great shooter.

 

[boo haarvey]

Beast of the East wrote:

I love Posh, but actually think his defense was significantly better last season.   I know he has been playing hurt and he may have put on some muscle that has helps him hold his ground when getting good position on the offensive boards especially.   I'm not sure what the story was with him coming off the bench on Monday vs. SHU, whether it was disciplinary, strategic, or sending a message, but Monday was perhaps his best game of the season. 

I have no inside info on why Posh came off the bench but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that CMA wanted to start Wheeler (3 Bigs rather than 3 guards) against Hall and knew that between Wusu, Mathis & Posh he could best bring Posh off the bench without affecting his confidence.

Thought I read somewhere that Posh didn’t participate in a huddle 
 

 

[boo haarvey]

Posh has unique skills that defy any sort of definition of what a PG or SG should be .   He’s like a kid who gets all A ‘s in school but , can’t do better in Physics than a C .   Outride shooting being that subject .   His rebounding , on and off the ball defense , offensive put backs are extraordinary against much taller players . Plus , he’s relentless .   As a team , we do well when he fills up all the stats , points , steals , rebounds , opponent turnovers .   I’m not sure if CMA’s strategy to bring him in off the bench , rather than starting , is the right formula but , it worked against SH .   We need a big game from him and Champ to have any sort of chance against Nova . 

Posh is a terrific player but I think he’s still a work in progress on the offensive side, particularly in the half court.  His shot needs work, his handle is loose at times, and he doesn’t use his off-hand a lot.  That said , we are fortunate to have him and I would be thrilled if he sticks around for two more years.  
 

 

[matt105]

Holding Posh out is a good idea . It will allow him to check the opponents defense and offense and discuss  with the  coaches  on the bench the  options available to  him when he enters the game . As was mentioned by other posters he is then a lightning rod to the rest of the team .

 

[beast of the east]

Holding Posh out is a good idea . It will allow him to check the opponents defense and offense and discuss  with the  coaches  on the bench the  options available to  him when he enters the game . As was mentioned by other posters he is then a lightning rod to the rest of the team .

I think Posh is a disrupter.   Games get into a flow, and if you can bring in a guy like Posh off the bench, it's like jacking the intensity with a lightning bolt.   Much different impact than if he starts the game.

Bill Bradley was my favorite Knicks player all time, but Cazzie Russell came off the bench and was more effective than Bradley would have been.    He may have been the better player overall.
 

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Apropos of some comments in this thread (no particular order)

• Anthony Glover comparison is superb, undersized, a lion who leaves his all out there on the floor
• Long list of our point guards not mentioning Dick McGuire, Kevin Loughery, Marcus Hatten, Jason Buchannon and several others
• defense and rebounding is contagious, shooting not so much, so it makes his teammates play harder seeing him
• SJU have had a lot of guys whose shots improved immensely from year 1 to year 4, his can too
• defense and rebounding can win games just as much or more than piling up points
• Beast, I think last year's Posh vs. this year's is his leg injuries only
• At Foster Park, if I was choosing sides, he'd be my first pick every time
• David Cain's Senior year looked nothing like his Junior year
• Pearl Washington comparison (think Pearl played before 3 pt rule in college), but his driving, left or right handed, and scoring, or dishing, was extraordinary, didn't have a great outside shot, and a way different player than Posh

 

[fuchsia]

Loughery played wing (2/3).

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Loughery played wing (2/3).

**********************************
I stand corrected; i read about him at SJU, never saw him play; in the pros he definitely played point, listed as a point guard /shooting guard, combo.
Real good NBA credentials.
 

 

[BrooklynRed]

for all the complaints about Posh as a shooter, it's amazing that he is shooting 50% for the year.  Yeah, folks will say he is driving to the hoop more--it must work because he is getting more free throws/game.  he is averaging 4 points more per game.  He is a point guard, not a combo and thinks assists, which are also up this year.  He is fun to watch as he never "dogs" it on the court.  Please appreciate him for who is.
 

 

[paultzman]

Saw Posh play a lot on internet in high school and it was clear he was an aggressive, strong, non stop type player, which was his rep since he was a young kid.

We are fortunate he was injured as underclassman and his recruiting was in a range we could compete with. So who the hell would not have taken him even if it was predicted he would never be a drop dead shooter? Answer - no one,  especially considering the state of the program.

I personally don’t care if he is always a spotty three  point shooter. That said he has improved on the perimeter and if he stays here I bet his shooting competence improves. Why? Because he is among the harder working players in the country.

Posh with his balls, dedication and aggressive play could be on my team any day. I’ll enjoy him v picking on his deficits. 

 

[Ray Morgan]

To sum up Posh, ask any pg in the Big East who they really hate to play against. My guess is most or all would say Posh. Who wants a guy with quick feet and hands in your face all game? Who wants to play offense or defense against a man that never takes a play off?  while I hope he can become more effective from 3, my main concern is that he stays here for 2 more years.

 

[beast of the east]

To sum up Posh, ask any pg in the Big East who they really hate to play against. My guess is most or all would say Posh. Who wants a guy with quick feet and hands in your face all game? Who wants to play offense or defense against a man that never takes a play off?  while I hope he can become more effective from 3, my main concern is that he stays here for 2 more years.

Posh is a guy who would mess up the NBA All-star game by being "that guy" who plays defense.  

In this day and age, he is the one guy who understands the old coaches exhortation, "we rest on offense".

Remember how the Holzman Knicks, and again the Ewing Oakley  Knicks  could respond with lockdown to fans shaking the Garden with "Dee-fense, Dee-fense chants"   Posh was born for that.

A cartoonist would draw Posh with a construction hard hat and lunch pail.

He plays defense like he's covered with Stick-em.

 

[RedmanMike]

Hey Brook Jersey - Just to clarify... My quick PG list was for NYC products, so I didn't include Hatten (Baltimore) or Buchanon (upstate).

I didn't include some of the one-year wonders at PG like David Cain (one great year) and Omar Cook (one good year then left too soon).

I actually think Hatten (one of my favorite Johnnies) was more of a combo guard who played PG out of necessity.  Remember that Jarvis recruited Elijah Ingram from St. Anthony's to play PG so Hatten could play more off the ball.  Ingram wasn't all he was cracked up to be, and then Pittsburg happened and his career ended in a dumpster fire.

I didn't see Loughery or Dick McGuire, and I just missed Reggie Carter (I started following college hoops in the early 80's).  But I loved Loughery when he coached the Dr. J Nets when I was a kid.

Anyway, I always enjoy a stroll down memory lane.

 

[Dan V]

I love Posh, but actually think his defense was significantly better last season.   I know he has been playing hurt and he may have put on some muscle that has helps him hold his ground when getting good position on the offensive boards especially.   I'm not sure what the story was with him coming off the bench on Monday vs. SHU, whether it was disciplinary, strategic, or sending a message, but Monday was perhaps his best game of the season. 

It's almost impossible to say which of the smaller guards can make it in the NBA.   Yes, you need a handle for certain, yes you need to be able to consistently make outside shots, but lots of guys who appear to have both don't make it.   For now, just enjoying watching a kid who leaves it all on the floor, is a tremendous on ball defender, and despite all the steals, rarely if ever gets caught out of position.

You know it’s funny you mentioned his weight, I’ve felt this year he’s looked heavier. Not sure if its muscle or fat but either way I don’t think it’s helped him. He looked quicker and more explosive last year which could just be the injury like you said. Could just be my eyes deceiving me not sure.