Ponds Plans

[quote="Moose" post=332063]From the Athletic piece on him and Pascall

https://theathletic.com/874220/2019...aschall-and-shamorie-ponds/?source=dailyemail

Shamorie Ponds, 6-1, 175 pounds, junior:

Strengths:

Ponds has an ability to get to the rim off the dribble and is a better playmaker for others than given credit. Ponds’ teammates left several assists on the table by missing open jumpers off his penetration. Despite his 6-foot-1 size, Ponds isn’t afraid to mix it up inside and uses a floater inside the paint area. He routinely got defenders off their feet with a pump fake before attacking the defense.

On defense, Ponds has shown an ability to pick his defender’s pocket and poke the ball away on traps averaging 2.3 steals over his collegiate career.

Weaknesses:

At the pro level, Ponds will have a tough time defending players at the league’s premier position due to his lack of size and weight. While Ponds is a point guard by size, he is considered a scoring guard.

NBA talent evaluators weigh in:

NBA executive No. 1: Exciting and explosive scorer who shows an NBA game that will translate. I’m a huge fan of his game. He’s crafty. He’s a first-round late pick for me in a weak draft.

NBA executive No. 2: Ponds could be a better NBA player because of spacing and better players around him. His 3-point shooting has gotten better but needs to get much better. He needs to improve his defense and play harder and less cool. Draft range: Late first to mid second round.

NBA scout No. 1: I think he goes pro. He’s done as much as you can at St John’s at this point. He’s inefficient and has a lot of freedom. Defensively, I think it’ll be tough. Maybe he gets drafted in the 50s as a wiry scorer like Ish Smith. I’m not sold on him. A good comparison I’ve heard is Brandon Jennings.

NBA scout No. 2: He has a lot of the same risks as Allonzo Trier did, but Ponds has a worse body (smaller), is not as athletic and is even worse on defense. Both are seen as score first players, on-ball scorers, with questionable shot selections. Both are more street ball than winning players. I think he’s a mid-second to a two-way player.[/quote]

I’m actually surprised by some of these, in a good way.

The most telling one is “He’s done as much as you can at St John’s at this point”. Couldn’t agree more with that statement. He’s not gonna grow taller or gain much more weight at this point and that’s what NBA teams seem to be worried about most.
 
This is the line that sticks with me:

"He needs to improve his defense and play harder and less cool".
 
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[quote="Moose" post=332063]From the Athletic piece on him and Pascall

https://theathletic.com/874220/2019...aschall-and-shamorie-ponds/?source=dailyemail

Shamorie Ponds, 6-1, 175 pounds, junior:

Strengths:

Ponds has an ability to get to the rim off the dribble and is a better playmaker for others than given credit. Ponds’ teammates left several assists on the table by missing open jumpers off his penetration. Despite his 6-foot-1 size, Ponds isn’t afraid to mix it up inside and uses a floater inside the paint area. He routinely got defenders off their feet with a pump fake before attacking the defense.

On defense, Ponds has shown an ability to pick his defender’s pocket and poke the ball away on traps averaging 2.3 steals over his collegiate career.

Weaknesses:

At the pro level, Ponds will have a tough time defending players at the league’s premier position due to his lack of size and weight. While Ponds is a point guard by size, he is considered a scoring guard.

NBA talent evaluators weigh in:

NBA executive No. 1: Exciting and explosive scorer who shows an NBA game that will translate. I’m a huge fan of his game. He’s crafty. He’s a first-round late pick for me in a weak draft.

NBA executive No. 2: Ponds could be a better NBA player because of spacing and better players around him. His 3-point shooting has gotten better but needs to get much better. He needs to improve his defense and play harder and less cool. Draft range: Late first to mid second round.

NBA scout No. 1: I think he goes pro. He’s done as much as you can at St John’s at this point. He’s inefficient and has a lot of freedom. Defensively, I think it’ll be tough. Maybe he gets drafted in the 50s as a wiry scorer like Ish Smith. I’m not sold on him. A good comparison I’ve heard is Brandon Jennings.

NBA scout No. 2: He has a lot of the same risks as Allonzo Trier did, but Ponds has a worse body (smaller), is not as athletic and is even worse on defense. Both are seen as score first players, on-ball scorers, with questionable shot selections. Both are more street ball than winning players. I think he’s a mid-second to a two-way player.[/quote]

To me this is the most telling statement of all these assessments: Both are more street ball than winning players.

Mr. Ponds has the next two weeks to try and change that perception. I hope he can.
 
Most telling statement for me is "While Ponds is a point guard by size, he is considered a scoring guard." Doesn't shoot well enough to be 2G at the next level, and doesn't have PG instincts to be a PG at the next level.
 
The only plan of his I care about right now is his plan to attack the rim on every possession. Hopefully that is his plan. . .
 
[quote="L J S A" post=332101]The only plan of his I care about right now is his plan to attack the rim on every possession. Hopefully that is his plan. . .[/quote]

Even if the drives result in some of those sweet kick outs. They are good for ball movement.
 
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[quote="L J S A" post=332101]The only plan of his I care about right now is his plan to attack the rim on every possession. Hopefully that is his plan. . .[/quote]

The author alluded to it. All the times he deferred and passed only to have his teammate miss. Yea assists look nice for the next level but when he's the better scoring option you could be costing team wins.
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=332082]This is the line that sticks with me:

"He needs to improve his defense and play harder and less cool".[/quote]

Does that mean more technicals? :)
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=332082]This is the line that sticks with me:

"He needs to improve his defense and play harder and less cool".[/quote]

Well, he’s got 1 game tomorrow and potentially more to make his point in the premier showcase tournament in college basketball.
Do it Shamorie.
 
[quote="Moose" post=332112][quote="L J S A" post=332101]The only plan of his I care about right now is his plan to attack the rim on every possession. Hopefully that is his plan. . .[/quote]

The author alluded to it. All the times he deferred and passed only to have his teammate miss. Yea assists look nice for the next level but when he's the better scoring option you could be costing team wins.[/quote]

I understand your point but we're gonna always disagree on this. If he is getting them good shots then hes gotta make the pass. Not to say he cant be more aggressive looking to score.
 
Our best shot to win 1-2 is to have Ponds do a Kemba impression IMO. Something like the end of last season when he was making national headlines dropping 30+ several games. He needs to have his 3 PT shot falling too, because Clark has been ice cold shooting.
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=332307]Our best shot to win 1-2 is to have Ponds do a Kemba impression.[/quote]

I actually disagree. Share the ball, everyone collectively hit shots and play solid team defense. Don’t need hero ball. Heron gimme 16. Ponds give me 20. LJ 15. Clark 12. Simon give me 8-8-8.
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=332308][quote="Mike Zaun" post=332307]Our best shot to win 1-2 is to have Ponds do a Kemba impression.[/quote]

I actually disagree. Share the ball, everyone collectively hit shots and play solid team defense. Don’t need hero ball. Heron gimme 16. Ponds give me 20. LJ 15. Clark 12. Simon give me 8-8-8.[/quote]

I've been going back and forth on this. Just seems like when Ponds is scorching no one will stop us. It pains me when Ponds has open looks, then defers to Simon who misses a layup or Clark who misses a 3. If they can't stop Ponds, he has to keep attacking until they figure him out. I'd only defer to teammates if they're WIDE open and only LJ or Heron if they're shooting 3's.
 
I don’t think Remy Martin is the kind of kid you score 30 on. He’s quick af. He’s probably the second quickest defender Ponds will have faced all year behind Jones of Duke.

Shamorie has to show every ounce of his complete game. That means posting Martin low or or high...facing him up...drive and dish...play off the ball more than usual...and pickup more rebounds and steals to mitigate the bloodbath underneath.

When he’s got a big on him he needs to take a shot every.single.time. They foul like crazy. I smell a 4-pt play or a few 3-shot fouls in this one.

White needs two fouls by the under 16. No excuses. He averages more fouls per minute than Clark.
 
[quote="Marillac" post=332317]I don’t think Remy Martin is the kind of kid you score 30 on. He’s quick af. He’s probably the second quickest defender Ponds will have faced all year behind Jones of Duke.

Shamorie has to show every ounce of his complete game. That means posting Martin low or or high...facing him up...drive and dish...play off the ball more than usual...and pickup more rebounds and steals to mitigate the bloodbath underneath.

When he’s got a big on him he needs to take a shot every.single.time. They foul like crazy. I smell a 4-pt play or a few 3-shot fouls in this one.

White needs two fouls by the under 16. No excuses. He averages more fouls per minute than Clark.[/quote]

I thought Martin had a groin pull.
 
Much rather Ponds approach the Russell Westbrook style of distributing.
‘Pass only’ Ponds in the first half of games was our demise and the expected ability to turn it on at will never surfaced.
 
And the moment we see a zone get Figgy to the foul line as a shooter/distributor. Also, drive to get them to foul. Think we are quicker.
 
If he's graduating, why not transfer to an ACC/Big 10 team and prove yourself and find a program to develop you further?
 
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