LJ's Regression

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STJ11Redmen

Active member
The most confusing thing about this season has been the regression of LJ Figueroa. Last year this guy shot 58% on his 2-point attempts, this year he's shooting just 38% on his 2-point attempts. That is a very concerning drop. Ironically, the player for which LJ's stats have been most comparable to so far this year according to Kenpom is another Mike Anderson player, Kim English.

Kim shot 36% on both 2-pointers and 3-pointers his junior year under Mike Anderson, then his senior year under Frank Haith, he shot 59% on 2-pointers and 46% on 3-pointers.

Hopefully this is just a phase for LJ since he was so good last year, but his shot selection needs to drastically improve or else we are going to continue to mightily struggle on offense, especially with Heron deep in a slump.
 
The problem is 2 fold i believe:

1- He was not drawing the top defender on the other team last year. ponds was. Figgy doesnt seem to have the qucikness to get by an elite D1 defender

2- The d we playing is wearing him down. he is expending alot of energy on d and I think that is affecting his offense.
 
LJ is trying to do too much. He's shooting instead of passing.

Heron, LJ's roommate and friend is struggling. LJ is trying to man up and carry the team. It's messing up his game.
 
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[quote="SJU11Redmen" post=372692]The most confusing thing about this season has been the regression of LJ Figueroa. Last year this guy shot 58% on his 2-point attempts, this year he's shooting just 38% on his 2-point attempts. That is a very concerning drop. Ironically, the player for which LJ's stats have been most comparable to so far this year according to Kenpom is another Mike Anderson player, Kim English.

Kim shot 36% on both 2-pointers and 3-pointers his junior year under Mike Anderson, then his senior year under Frank Haith, he shot 59% on 2-pointers and 46% on 3-pointers.

Hopefully this is just a phase for LJ since he was so good last year, but his shot selection needs to drastically improve or else we are going to continue to mightily struggle on offense, especially with Heron deep in a slump.[/quote]

Some guys are better suited to be Robin, and not Batman.
Last year he was the 4th or 5th option on a talented team. He could exploit the weaknesses in defenses that occured when they focused on stopping Ponds, Heron, Clark, and Simon.
Now he has to carry the offense and he's struggling in that role. Its disappointing, but not a surprise. He'd be smart to comeback next year when he won't have to carry the load on offense. He'll flourish in this scheme as a 3rd/4th option.
 
[quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372698]The problem is 2 fold i believe:

1- He was not drawing the top defender on the other team last year. ponds was. Figgy doesnt seem to have the qucikness to get by an elite D1 defender

2- The d we playing is wearing him down. he is expending alot of energy on d and I think that is affecting his offense.[/quote]

Definitely #1. You can see LJ doesn't have the quickness to create his own shot. So he's settling for less than ideal situations to hoist up shots. It's not like we have a great point guard to get him in good positions for easy shots.
 
The team needs a better attack plan on offense. Maybe our personnel are not meant to take such quick shots. Mix the offense a little. I saw one set last night where there were 4 players looking for the ball, all on the left side of the key. Need better spacing and ball movement.
 
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He relies too much on the 3 ball, and honestly I don't think he is a deadeye shooter. He also doesn't have a great handle.

So, teams will let him shoot long threes. If he were deadly from out there they'd have to come out to play him, and when they did, if his handle was better, could blow by them for layups. As it is, his moves to the hoop are suspect and he relies too much on that crappy floater.

As the 4th or fifth option he had some amazing putback slams, some garbage points, and some wide open looks when teams collapsed to stop Ponds.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=372713]He relies too much on the 3 ball, and honestly I don't think he is a deadeye shooter. He also doesn't have a great handle.

So, teams will let him shoot long threes. If he were deadly from out there they'd have to come out to play him, and when they did, if his handle was better, could blow by them for layups. As it is, his moves to the hoop are suspect and he relies too much on that crappy floater.

As the 4th or fifth option he had some amazing putback slams, some garbage points, and some wide open looks when teams collapsed to stop Ponds.[/quote]

I agree. he doesnt have a natural shot. its almost like a shot put when he shoots a 3.
 
Thanks.
Who among us would have thought that our "two best players" are not our two best players. Does not bode well but I'm happy with CMA and trust that sooner (this year) or later (next year) he will figure it out + augment the roster.
2019-20 might be another one of those years to endure rather than enjoy. Hope not.
 
LJ and Heron are in terrible slumps but also they need a PG. Our offense doesn't run through anyone. We really need a lead guard who is both a capable scorer and facilitator. Dunn's a nice complimentary piece who can get a bucket but he's not a natural PG and doesn't have those instincts. Rutherford is just not anywhere near enough of an offensive threat to have the ball in his hands for too much of the game. We become too predictable.

At this point I'd genuinely consider letting Williams Jr. run the show. He's a threat to score with the ball in his hands and his athleticism needs to be respected. He's not John Stockton but he looks to pass and doesn't turn it over too much. Beyond that, he's one of the few players trending in the right direction right now. I'd hand him the reigns for the next few games, hope LJ and Heron wake up from their current nightmares and wait for Posh.
 
Heron bad decision making and Figgy confidence issue right now. Hope they overcome and peak at the right time (real soon) going into March madness.
 
Credit to him for still continuing to add value in other areas. Need him to shoot but also need him to be a bit more selective. I would consider letting him play point for 5-10 minutes a game with Williams, Dunn, Heron on the floor 2-4. Have him focus more on setting guys up while also forcing the other team to respect him from the top of the key. Yes I know he is not a point guard.
 
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[quote="QueensBall" post=372722]LJ and Heron are in terrible slumps but also they need a PG. Our offense doesn't run through anyone. We really need a lead guard who is both a capable scorer and facilitator. Dunn's a nice complimentary piece who can get a bucket but he's not a natural PG and doesn't have those instincts. Rutherford is just not anywhere near enough of an offensive threat to have the ball in his hands for too much of the game. We become too predictable.

At this point I'd genuinely consider letting Williams Jr. run the show. He's a threat to score with the ball in his hands and his athleticism needs to be respected. He's not John Stockton but he looks to pass and doesn't turn it over too much. Beyond that, he's one of the few players trending in the right direction right now. I'd hand him the reigns for the next few games, hope LJ and Heron wake up from their current nightmares and wait for Posh.[/quote]

I’m sorry but Williams does not have the handle to play pg for any serious stretch. We are not that good. Heron and Figueroa will have good games and we will be competitive, but we lack an Alpha scorer.
 
I'm a big Williams fan, but I have to agree with Boo Harvey on this one... Williams' handle isn't good enough to be a full-time PG. (And imagine this team with the actual Boo Harvey running the show - we'd be dangerous.)
 
Our Team is easily defended . BE Teams scouted us well in the non conference games and essentially knew our key Offensive players would be Heron and Figgy . Who are the only threats shooting . Heron was out of sync all game against PC due to the fouls . And , for whatever reason, on that last shot , he took it way too soon . I watched the Replay and thought he might have been fouled before he got the shot away but , there was no possibility the Ref would have called it on PC’s Homecourt and in that situation . In fact the play by play Announcer said the same thing . He Said the foul would have to been more aggressive to get a call there . While we are disappointed in Heron and Figgy’s performance in the BE season , there can some reasons for it . One, Anderson doesn’t really run any plays for them and I don’t know why ? And , without a legit PG, our Offensive sets are kind of school yard and way too helter skelter. Dunn, controls the ball with incessant dribbling way to much and for too long . Plus , he’s scary shooting the ball . He goes hard to the basket but , often out of control . Carraher looks to move the ball and pass , when he’s in there but , seems too reluctant to shoot . We knew this team of last years holdovers , Earlington , Roberts , Williams a n d Carraher were going to be reserves . Adding Rutherford , Dunn, Champagne , Sears were nice additions but , there was no superstar among them . The lateness of hiring Anderson , likely hurt our chances in getting 5 th year player who could really contribute , as many of our BE rivals did . Anyway , it’s a tough road ahead . Sadly 1-5 looks looming on Saturday . The Hall is just too good .
 
[quote="Knight" post=372712]The team needs a better attack plan on offense. Maybe our personnel is not meant to take such quick shots. Mix the offense a little. I saw one set last night where there were 4 players looking for the ball, all on the left side of the key. Need better spacing and ball movement.[/quote]

This is CMA's system. It's not going to change much, and it will be ugly at times when kids shoot poorly. The only way to fix this offense is to get better shooters and that can't happen this season.
 
I totally understand what you guys are saying and agree it's a valid concern with my suggestion. I'm not 100% convinced letting Williams play more point will help but only saying that our options are limited and this is one area that can be explored.

Williams literal dribbling abilities are not as good as Dunn or Rutherford but he turns the ball over at a lower rate which would suggest that he takes better care of the ball. Now that might not be the case once he is given more ball handling duties but I don't think he's a poor decision maker and although not as highly skilled as we'd like, I don't think of Williams as having poor handle either. I think the trade off of dribbling ability for more versatility is worth the risk of giving it a try.
 
[quote="SJUFAN2" post=372747][quote="Knight" post=372712]The team needs a better attack plan on offense. Maybe our personnel is not meant to take such quick shots. Mix the offense a little. I saw one set last night where there were 4 players looking for the ball, all on the left side of the key. Need better spacing and ball movement.[/quote]

This is CMA's system. It's not going to change much, and it will be ugly at times when kids shoot poorly. The only way to fix this offense is to get better shooters and that can't happen this season.[/quote]

I would hope that there is a little flexibility in CMA's system.
 
LJ continues to work hard at the defensive end but on the offensive end one of the reasons his game has fallen off is his shot selection. His three point attempts come from outrageous distances and he seems to have dropped taking eight ft to fifteen ft jump shots for much more difficult both overhand and underhand floaters which look good when they go in but about ninety per cent of the time they don't.
 
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