Scrimmage vs. Rhode Island
- Thread starter SJU85
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I am not in panic mode but I do think the scrimmage will be indicative of a problem that might hold us back this year and that is rebounding and interior defense . We might lose a game or two that is not expected due to our size issues . I hope I am wrong but let's see how many dogs we have on this team as rebounding can be taught if these kids want it bad enough. 
Anyone know if the team tried pressing? Anyone have an idea of what the effort/defensive pressure looked like?
I'm not concerned about our offense, but I am concerned about defense. Now that we have a lot of depth and some fantastic guards (including Heron who is supposedly a defensive force), we need to start trying out some new things. I'd love to see more TOs.
Most of our wins against formidable opponents last year were due to Ponds putting up 30+ points. Nova, Duke, Marquette, etc. That is not a game plan.
I'm not concerned about our offense, but I am concerned about defense. Now that we have a lot of depth and some fantastic guards (including Heron who is supposedly a defensive force), we need to start trying out some new things. I'd love to see more TOs.
Most of our wins against formidable opponents last year were due to Ponds putting up 30+ points. Nova, Duke, Marquette, etc. That is not a game plan.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
[quote="Paultzman" post=298726]I would never assume beating anyone on BE & OOC schedules, net of the very low ranked non conference teams we face. Obviously the pieces are there, but they have to bring it every night.[/quote]
No one brings it every night, which is why mediocre teams beat much better teams every season. The great teams have the ability to turn it on when they need to, and go on to the next game with a "W" despite playing flat most of the game. Whether this St. John's team is capable of that is yet to be seen. They can overcome a loss at Rutgers, and of course to Duke. They must shut out the low ranked teams, defend the home court in conference, and win on the road with some consistency. Last season, 4 Big East teams made the dance with 8 conference losses and multiple OOC losses, albeit not with St. John's weaker schedule. Point is that this team can lost 8 to 10 games and maybe still make the tourney. Let's take this season one game at a time. Otherwise this board will be a miserable place to spend time.
No one brings it every night, which is why mediocre teams beat much better teams every season. The great teams have the ability to turn it on when they need to, and go on to the next game with a "W" despite playing flat most of the game. Whether this St. John's team is capable of that is yet to be seen. They can overcome a loss at Rutgers, and of course to Duke. They must shut out the low ranked teams, defend the home court in conference, and win on the road with some consistency. Last season, 4 Big East teams made the dance with 8 conference losses and multiple OOC losses, albeit not with St. John's weaker schedule. Point is that this team can lost 8 to 10 games and maybe still make the tourney. Let's take this season one game at a time. Otherwise this board will be a miserable place to spend time.
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[quote="richard A Steinfeld" post=298742]We are going to have to group rebound. Furthermore, Clark needs show more of an inside game and rebound more. Im going to call Herons game an aberration or first game jitters.[/quote]
Am a big fan of Clark, but it is natural for a ”tweener” like him to try to exhibit this perimeter skills to pave way to making $$ at his next stop, wherever that is. Staff must get him to bang more on interior and improve his offensive rebounding. Second shots can be difference makers.
Am a big fan of Clark, but it is natural for a ”tweener” like him to try to exhibit this perimeter skills to pave way to making $$ at his next stop, wherever that is. Staff must get him to bang more on interior and improve his offensive rebounding. Second shots can be difference makers.
Truth is Paultzman, the next level money for Clark is partially contingent on him being able to play a midrange game and rebound. Probably much moreso than his outside shooting, for a tweener forward like himself. He’s undersized for any pro standards anyway. Right now he’s real soft. He needs to aim to be more Anthony Glover our there, than a 250lb “marksman”.
Every year, Mullin should use his pro connections and get Dennis Rodman in here. A guy that did almost nothing well other than rebound. Rodman averaged 18.7 rebounds per game one season in the NBA, and it wasn’t his amazing athleticism or anything else. We know ponds, Heron and Simon are all excellent rebounders in the backcourt. Clark is one of the final pieces of that puzzle and needs to step up. It seems Keita goes after it. We need our PF to get on board. Oh, and Rodman was 6’7” and 220-230... same size as Clark!
Every year, Mullin should use his pro connections and get Dennis Rodman in here. A guy that did almost nothing well other than rebound. Rodman averaged 18.7 rebounds per game one season in the NBA, and it wasn’t his amazing athleticism or anything else. We know ponds, Heron and Simon are all excellent rebounders in the backcourt. Clark is one of the final pieces of that puzzle and needs to step up. It seems Keita goes after it. We need our PF to get on board. Oh, and Rodman was 6’7” and 220-230... same size as Clark!
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Class of 72
Active member
[quote="Paultzman" post=298747][quote="richard A Steinfeld" post=298742]We are going to have to group rebound. Furthermore, Clark needs show more of an inside game and rebound more. Im going to call Herons game an aberration or first game jitters.[/quote]
Am a big fan of Clark, but it is natural for a ”tweener” like him to try to exhibit this perimeter skills to pave way to making $$ at his next stop, wherever that is. Staff must get him to bang more on interior and improve his offensive rebounding. Second shots can be difference makers.[/quote]
Agree staff will have to design more inside plays for him but Clark may find himself sitting more this year if all he wants to do is chuck 3 pointers.
Am a big fan of Clark, but it is natural for a ”tweener” like him to try to exhibit this perimeter skills to pave way to making $$ at his next stop, wherever that is. Staff must get him to bang more on interior and improve his offensive rebounding. Second shots can be difference makers.[/quote]
Agree staff will have to design more inside plays for him but Clark may find himself sitting more this year if all he wants to do is chuck 3 pointers.
SJUhoopNUT
Well-known member
It's going to take some time to integrate Heron but problem is we really can't afford any time. We need to get out of the gate strong.
My main concern with this team is toughness. You need some guys that want to get on the blocks and fight. Not sure we have it in our DNA. Need it every night.
My main concern with this team is toughness. You need some guys that want to get on the blocks and fight. Not sure we have it in our DNA. Need it every night.
Probably the last thing that a coach is thinking about in a scrimmage is winning . He wants to see players skills , combinations that work together , possible four guard s on the floor ,stamina , defense , leadership , creating shots , rebounding etc. The scrimmage was meant to give the coaches an indication of what we have .
Class of 72
Active member
[quote="matt105" post=298790]Probably the last thing that a coach is thinking about in a scrimmage is winning . He wants to see players skills , combinations that work together , possible four guard s on the floor ,stamina , defense , leadership , creating shots , rebounding etc. The scrimmage was meant to give the coaches an indication of what we have .[/quote]
If the coaches had been around during the summer they may have gotten a heads up of what we have. :angry:
If the coaches had been around during the summer they may have gotten a heads up of what we have.
:angry:While Scrimmages are Practices , coming out short where a score is kept , is frustrating . Probably more so for us fans as we are hoping for a really successful season . Ponds , Simon had 12 shots , Heron , Clarke and Keita 31 shots . That isn’t going to happen in the regular season
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Class of 72
Active member
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=298801]While Scrimmages are Practices , coming out short where a score is kept , is frustrating . Probably more so for us fans as we are hoping for a really successful season . Ponds , Simon had 12 shots , Heron , Clarke and Keita 31 shots . That isn’t going to happen in the regular season[/quote]
You're correct in that the scrimmage was a controlled practice but Ponds and Simon were practicing their backcourt roles and Heron, Clark and Keita will get 30 shots in many games. In this case, Heron and Clark fell flat. We "hope" this doesn't happen during the regular season. Especially with Ponds dishing out 6 turnovers. That won't impress NBA scouts.
You're correct in that the scrimmage was a controlled practice but Ponds and Simon were practicing their backcourt roles and Heron, Clark and Keita will get 30 shots in many games. In this case, Heron and Clark fell flat. We "hope" this doesn't happen during the regular season. Especially with Ponds dishing out 6 turnovers. That won't impress NBA scouts.
Apologies if this was already posted.
www.rumbleinthegarden.com/2018/10/22/18008246/st-johns-rhode-island-secret-scrimmage-boxscore-analysis
As others have said, we need Clark to have a very good year and start it like he finished last year - going to the hoop more and rebounding better than he did at the start of last year. Can't wait for November to get here.
www.rumbleinthegarden.com/2018/10/22/18008246/st-johns-rhode-island-secret-scrimmage-boxscore-analysis
As others have said, we need Clark to have a very good year and start it like he finished last year - going to the hoop more and rebounding better than he did at the start of last year. Can't wait for November to get here.
Just because we lost, which doesn't matter big picture, especially to fans...doesn't mean Mullin doesn't care we lost. Any coach worth their salt wants to win every time score is being kept no matter what the context.
I have plenty of questions about both Mullin's management and coaching style, but this is an area where I imagine his background as an elite player who was a competitive animal and likely wanted to win every time he laced them up - NBA Finals or summer pick up - translates. My guess is he was annoyed and probably made it seem like he was irate to get some mileage out of the loss with the team. Which is what a quality coach should do in this scenario - make it seem like it matters.
I'm not that worried about blending Heron and LJ in because I think we are going to play fast and those are guys who want to play fast. If we are running Ponds, Heron, Simon, and LJ are all filling stat sheets and likely aren't going to be worrying about touches. Rutgers and interesting test in this regard as that's the first team that probably has the ability to drag us into a half court game and we'll see how we space/move ball on O and guard 3 line/clean defensive backboard, all key when we can't push pace.
I have plenty of questions about both Mullin's management and coaching style, but this is an area where I imagine his background as an elite player who was a competitive animal and likely wanted to win every time he laced them up - NBA Finals or summer pick up - translates. My guess is he was annoyed and probably made it seem like he was irate to get some mileage out of the loss with the team. Which is what a quality coach should do in this scenario - make it seem like it matters.
I'm not that worried about blending Heron and LJ in because I think we are going to play fast and those are guys who want to play fast. If we are running Ponds, Heron, Simon, and LJ are all filling stat sheets and likely aren't going to be worrying about touches. Rutgers and interesting test in this regard as that's the first team that probably has the ability to drag us into a half court game and we'll see how we space/move ball on O and guard 3 line/clean defensive backboard, all key when we can't push pace.
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Ray Morgan
Well-known member
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=298818]Apologies if this was already posted.
www.rumbleinthegarden.com/2018/10/22/18008246/st-johns-rhode-island-secret-scrimmage-boxscore-analysis
As others have said, we need Clark to have a very good year and start it like he finished last year - going to the hoop more and rebounding better than he did at the start of last year. Can't wait for November to get here.[/quote]
You want to look like a good coach? Recruit players that fit the position you need to fill. If you need inside help and rebounding, recruit players with that skill set. Trying to get someone like Clark who is about 22 years old to do something they spent their entire career not doing well is not an ideal path for success. Clark is a perimeter scorer who can mix it up with strong drives to the hoop. He is not a banger underneath. Getting him to play to the best of his abilities is a coach's job. So is putting him in a position to succeed based on what he does best.
www.rumbleinthegarden.com/2018/10/22/18008246/st-johns-rhode-island-secret-scrimmage-boxscore-analysis
As others have said, we need Clark to have a very good year and start it like he finished last year - going to the hoop more and rebounding better than he did at the start of last year. Can't wait for November to get here.[/quote]
You want to look like a good coach? Recruit players that fit the position you need to fill. If you need inside help and rebounding, recruit players with that skill set. Trying to get someone like Clark who is about 22 years old to do something they spent their entire career not doing well is not an ideal path for success. Clark is a perimeter scorer who can mix it up with strong drives to the hoop. He is not a banger underneath. Getting him to play to the best of his abilities is a coach's job. So is putting him in a position to succeed based on what he does best.
Understand he is mainly a perimeter scorer, but Clark averaged 6 rebounds per game the last 11 games last year when we went 6-5 and also showed more of a tendency to drive to the basket from the foul line when defender came up on him. If he can do both of those things all year this season and Keita can give us rebounding, low post defense and minutes, we will be fine imho.