LJ's Regression

[quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.
 
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[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372837][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.[/quote]

If only our opponents 2 best players always shot 6 for 26
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=372838][quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372837][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.[/quote]

If only our opponents 2 best players always shot 6 for 26[/quote]

Our second best player again gave us nothing in any other area besides scoring. If he contributed in other areas and didn’t let his shootIng slump take him completely out of the game, maybe we win.
Shooting comes and goes. Hey MH, get a freaking rebound. Move hard without the ball. Get a steal and an easy one. How about a put back to get you going.
 
[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]

This season he never seems to have his feet set, always shooting on the run. Also, he can't seem to beat anyone off the dribble.
 
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372837][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.[/quote]

Mase, I always respect your “hoops eye” and opinions. Re: LJ, I get frustrated with his shot selection, realizing the pressure for he & Heron to score on this offensively challenged group.

Heron imo gets good looks, but misses badly often. LJ, a really gifted player, seems to make game harder for himself with many high degree of difficulty, rushed shots v letting game come to him so to speak. Puzzled why & wonder what your thoughts are, thx.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=372844][quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372837][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.[/quote]

Mase, I always respect your “hoops eye” and opinions. Re: LJ, I get frustrated with his shot selection, realizing the pressure for he & Heron to score on this offensively challenged group.

Heron imo gets good looks, but misses badly often. LJ, a really gifted player, seems to make game harder for himself with many high degree of difficulty, rushed shots v letting game come to him so to speak. Puzzled why & wonder what your thoughts are, thx.[/quote]


Thanks Paultz I appreciate that and all your contributions to the board. Here’s My thoughts on those two for what ever it’s worth.

I think a lot of Herons issues are in his own head. He’s missed plenty of open looks and more frustrating to me, he often passes up an open look from 3 only to take a difficult/less efficient shot from inside the arc. I think the move to the 4 will help him scoring wise but what I really want to see him do is step up in other areas. He should be getting close to 5 rebounds a night. Sprinkle in some steals and assists and a 4/11 shooting night feels far less empty.

I am an LJ homer and I wear that proudly, and almost none of that has to with his ability to score. Which, is why I’m not as down on him as some. Of course I wish he was shooting better and his own shot selection can play a huge part in that. Throw out 1-2 bad long range shots and 1 impossible floater from the wing and it looks much better. He does seem often rushed but if you think of the times last year when he was playing his best he kind of always had that feel, his points never really come in a controlled setting. I think the finishing ability he showed last year was probably a little better than his actual ability, likewise this year he’s not as bad as he’s shown. Here’s a few reasons in particular I think are factoring into that, 1. lack of point guard to not only break down the defense but to set him up in good places to finish plays. 2. Lack of perimeter threats to draw help defenders away from him on the few occasions he is able to get in the paint and 3. His offensive game is not built for a drive and kick system necessarily. He struggles making counter moves once he is passed his initial defender. Ponds and similar smaller guards, can keep their dribble alive in the paint and wait to read the defense. Figgy does not have the body control and thus he is forced to make a finishing decision 12-15 feet away from the rim which is what leads to so many floaters.

For Heron I would turn him loose, have go after every single offensive rebound, make quick confident decisions on offense. If you don’t have the all either screen for someone or move. For Figgy I would reign him in, deep threes only when wide open and eliminate the floaters from the wing. Let him be primary facilitator from top of the key for small stretches so he doesn’t feel the need to hunt shots. Also, make it a point to run a couple quick hitters early to get him a look or two off some screens.
 
I don't think that LJ has "regressed". I think it's more an issue of him thinking that he has to shoulder more of the responsibility to score on a team that is somewhat offensively "challenged". As a result, he is trying to do too much on his own rather than let the game come to him and have his offensive game flow naturally.

I think that he and Heron are pressing on the offensive end of the floor and need to relax, not feel the pressure to score and have more confidence in their teammates to contribute. I think this approach would make each of them and, more importantly, the team to be more successful.
 
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372846][quote="Paultzman" post=372844][quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372837][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.[/quote]

Mase, I always respect your “hoops eye” and opinions. Re: LJ, I get frustrated with his shot selection, realizing the pressure for he & Heron to score on this offensively challenged group.

Heron imo gets good looks, but misses badly often. LJ, a really gifted player, seems to make game harder for himself with many high degree of difficulty, rushed shots v letting game come to him so to speak. Puzzled why & wonder what your thoughts are, thx.[/quote]


Thanks Paultz I appreciate that and all your contributions to the board. Here’s My thoughts on those two for what ever it’s worth.

I think a lot of Herons issues are in his own head. He’s missed plenty of open looks and more frustrating to me, he often passes up an open look from 3 only to take a difficult/less efficient shot from inside the arc. I think the move to the 4 will help him scoring wise but what I really want to see him do is step up in other areas. He should be getting close to 5 rebounds a night. Sprinkle in some steals and assists and a 4/11 shooting night feels far less empty.

I am an LJ homer and I wear that proudly, and almost none of that has to with his ability to score. Which, is why I’m not as down on him as some. Of course I wish he was shooting better and his own shot selection can play a huge part in that. Throw out 1-2 bad long range shots and 1 impossible floater from the wing and it looks much better. He does seem often rushed but if you think of the times last year when he was playing his best he kind of always had that feel, his points never really come in a controlled setting. I think the finishing ability he showed last year was probably a little better than his actual ability, likewise this year he’s not as bad as he’s shown. Here’s a few reasons in particular I think are factoring into that, 1. lack of point guard to not only break down the defense but to set him up in good places to finish plays. 2. Lack of perimeter threats to draw help defenders away from him on the few occasions he is able to get in the paint and 3. His offensive game is not built for a drive and kick system necessarily. He struggles making counter moves once he is passed his initial defender. Ponds and similar smaller guards, can keep their dribble alive in the paint and wait to read the defense. Figgy does not have the body control and thus he is forced to make a finishing decision 12-15 feet away from the rim which is what leads to so many floaters.

For Heron I would turn him loose, have go after every single offensive rebound, make quick confident decisions on offense. If you don’t have the all either screen for someone or move. For Figgy I would reign him in, deep threes only when wide open and eliminate the floaters from the wing. Let him be primary facilitator from top of the key for small stretches so he doesn’t feel the need to hunt shots. Also, make it a point to run a couple quick hitters early to get him a look or two off some screens.[/quote]

Great stuff Mase, especially the reference to lack of PG orchestration. Thx man!
 
Coaches problem which looks like pts you make have not been addressed. Say what you want about LJ and Heron but they where suppose be very productive and 2 nd team BE playersbThey are not even honorable mention mo there are not many teams in conf that they would be in the starting line up based on there play
Coach knows what we need he better get it next season
 
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=372837][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372811]Figgy has been a no show in 2 huge big east games(Butler and Providence). He is better then that but is really struggling out there. I thought this would be his year but it just isnt.

Lets hope he rebounds and leads us to a W on Sat.[/quote]

9 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blks, an assist and 12 points. If only more guys were no shows.[/quote]

What I respect about that comment is a Mike Anderson mantra. YOu can't always play well offensively, but you can do many other things well, especially always play great defense.
 
What I think is going on here is CMA is use to having shooters, guys that shoot high 30's low 40's from the 3 point line, one of his biggest recruiting pitches he gives guys freedom to make plays and take shots. You look at his time during Arkansas he guys like Daryl Macon, Dusty Hannahs, Jaylen Barford, Isiah Joe, Mason Jones etc. these guys could shoot the ball at a good percentage, while attempting a lot of 3 point shots. That 3 point line is the difference a lot of times, you think about all these close games, if these guys just shot a decent percentage from the 3 point line those games would have been wins and this conversation wouldn't even be happening.

The issue here is CMA has given LJ and Heron that freedom and encouraging them to make plays and take a lot of 3 point shots, but they aren't those type of guys, they aren't use to shooting a ton of 3's while maintaining a good percentage. Both of them are more complimentary scorers they aren't really alpha scorers. And CMA is trying to figure out how to make it work because in all honesty his system requires 1 or 2 alpha guys that can score the ball consistently and make plays on the offensive end. That's why the staff went so hard after Vince Cole, you look at this stats he's a guard that can really shoot the ball and create his own shot and he scores consistently. That's the type of player this team needs this year. I think with more experience Dunn could possibly turn into that guy, but he's gotta also work on his shooting, if he just shoots 30% from 3, with his driving ability he'll be a very productive offensive player.
 
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I am the worst person I know to work with depressed clients. I use challenge and teasing in my approach in lots of things (trying to communicate belief in the client's capacity to progress) and people with depression can hear that approach as negative judgments and hopelessness. Different people are good at different things.

Reading this thread the four words that came to mind were Reggie Jesse and Marvin Clark. Reggie, because he had terrible trouble the year after Artest et al moved on and played way below expectations, and Marvin because he was a strong enough and big enough forward so that if someone pressured the three point line he was an option for a pass to the corner for a baseline three. LJ and Mustapha are much better when they are asked to score in the flow of the game. When there is no inside threat (putbacks don't count) defenses get more and more comfortable disrupting that flow and when our two slashers (Dunn and Williams) try to score, defenses collapse on them with confidence as neither is a strong passer and there are no strong inside players to pass to. Was hoping Steere could become that but no sign of it yet. Marcellus is not big enough or does not yet have an array of inside moves that force defenses to play honest. Champagnie may emerge as a fine college forward but consistency should not be expected this year. Most of the time there is no flow to our offense. When it happens, from defensive opportunism, or a rare hot streak, we win. Otherwise, we complain. I want to see this team continue to grow and view that growth, particularly of our underclassmen, as more important, than wins and losses, right now. Reinforcements are coming. I think CMA is teaching to a culture of maximum effort and I hope personal excellence. We are St. John's.
 
The disappointing thing is that I feel ball movement has generally been good and effective.

To me, it's just not missing shots in terms of LJ's offensive woes, but offensive sets are not run to get the first open shot, but to get very very good looks each time out. 28 foot threes are not good looks. Running floaters from 12 feet out are not high percentage shots nor will you get to the line much. They are bad decisions, and if LJ corrects that and trusts his teammates more to get him the ball in better position, and maybe moves a little more on offense as opposed to hanging out on the perimeter, I think he will get better results.

In these matters, I have a lot of faith in CMA and staff to be actively engaged in correcting this stuff.
 
[quote="Duke of Earlington" post=372879]Its feels like forever since bill walton compared him to pete marovich.[/quote]

Bill must have copped some really good dope before that game.
 
[quote="gonzalo" post=372836][quote="Big Red" post=372828]
Need Roberts to come back. And Champagnie.[/quote]

In the last two games Champagnie has scored 18 points (7/7 fgs) and 9 rebounds.[/quote]

Gave up two gigantic outback’s that shifted momentum in the game. I’m glad he’s starting to get his offensive touch back. We’re gonna need it. Has to be more physical down there.
 
Don't know to what extent Figgy playing in the off-season has affected him? Just saying, he played oversea's and it seems like a lot of his reach in fouls are out of "laziness" (not moving his feet). However, I can't explain his shot selection and decision making but only to say as someone mentioned in a previous post, that I think he's not letting the game come to him.........forcing it.
 
[quote="Mario" post=373294]Don't know to what extent Figgy playing in the off-season has affected him? Just saying, he played oversea's and it seems like a lot of his reach in fouls are out of "laziness" (not moving his feet). However, I can't explain his shot selection and decision making but only to say as someone mentioned in a previous post, that I think he's not letting the game come to him.........forcing it.[/quote]

I think it has a lot to do with fatigue. These guys are busting their a**es on defense leaving some to be desired on offense. That is what a Mike Anderson coached team does. Reach in fouls and lazy 3's come along with fatigue.
 
Agreed totally. I actually enjoy watching this team play! For a long time since I've had season tickets during the Mullin year, I'm really excited for the school.
 
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