So far I have attended two games against "cupcakes" and two games against ranked opponents. Here are some thoughts and observations, interested in what others think.
Overall: The team has talent. They struggled in some of the early games and lost the two games at the Garden basically as a result of being a group of mostly freshmen that are still coming together. I think they are likely to gel and gain some maturity/experience as the season goes on and pull off a few unexpected wins. The real key to me seems to be their ability to keep up the defensive pressure. They tend to struggle in the halfcourt both offensively and defensively, but when they pick up the defensive intensity they create turnovers and get opportunities on the break, which is where they do best. The problem in the halfcourt is that they don't have enough size, and the problem with keeping up the defensive intensity is that they don't have enough guys. The staff is doing a great job of rotating people in and out, but they desperately need more horses. An offensively limited 6'10'' guy and a 6'7" wing would be perfect additions. They are of course struggling to defend the 3 just as the team did last year in the 2-3 zone. I think they will get better as the season goes on, but adding some length would help a lot.
Guards: Stith is providing valuable minutes and maturity. He is probably the least talented of the group, but he is tough, makes good decisions, can get to the basket and shoot enough to keep the defense honest, and is a good contributor. Harrison is a very solid all-around player. Seems to be a good shooter and has confidence in his shot, good defender. Adequate with the ball, not super on the dribble-drive. Appears to be a hothead and needs to get that under control or he's going to get tossed out of a game sooner or later. Lindsey is a mixed bag. He appears to be a completely one-dimensional player - he is super on the drive, and will dish to a big man if the drive gets shut off down low. That he is such a poor free-throw shooter for a player whose entire game is driving to the basket is just bizarre. He has shown no jump shot whatsoever. The book is clearly getting out on him that you can play off him defensively since he won't shoot, and that you have an excellent chance of drawing charge calls against him (I believe had had 3 against Arizona). Good defender, more due to good understanding of the game than physical speed. Needs to learn to give up the ball on the break when appropriate - and the staff needs to stop forcing the ball to him when there are other options available. Greene is the most rounded of the three, but also the rawest. Fastest player we have, has enough of a jump shot and enough of a drive to keep the defense honest, good passer, decisive with the ball. Excellent on-ball defender. Makes freshman mistakes at times.
Bigs: God's Gift dominated against the big men for the cupcakes, then disappeared against the big men for the majors. He is in a typical adjustment process for an undersized athletic big man. It's one thing to play against bigger players who are less talented or players your size who are equally talented, it's another to play against players who are bigger and equally or more talented. Anthony Glover did it on beastly strength and tremendous heart. Gift may have those qualities, but now he needs to make the adjustment. Harkless does some wonderful things, but also tends to disappear. Had 9 rebounds in the first half against Arizona, I believe he had zero in the second half. He is playing very well defensively against bigger players, and is also rebounding very well considering the size mismatch he usually faces and the lack of help from Gift. Seems to have confidence in his short-range jumper as well as in his 3 from the top of the arc, needs to hit more of them. I think he will. Needs to be more aggressive to the hoop. Has special ability, I think once he is comfortable in his role and in the system he will be a special player if he puts out consistent effort. Pointer is a joy to watch on defense. He poses a huge problem for the other team at the top of the zone or in the 1-2-2 press, has fast feet, long arms, great hustle. Is fast enough to take a 2 as the defensive assignment and strong enough to take a 3 and some 4s. His rebounding and defense are absolutely critical given the overall lack of size. Offensive game appears to be rudimentary, but it may be that he has not looked for his opportunities with so many other weapons on the floor.
I would: Start this lineup: Greene at the point, Harrison and Lindsey on the wings, Harkless and Pointer in the post. Gift and Stith will obviously get big minutes off the bench. Although Lindsey passed the ball more in the Texas A & M game, he is still not a point guard. His lack of a jump shot allows the other team to play off him, so if he doesn't drive the lane and score, the only thing he can do is pass the ball around the perimeter. If Greene plays the point, the defense has to play him more honestly to protect both the drive and the shot. He can find Lindsey for the drive (and perhaps the occasional kick to Harrison in the corner ...) or he can drive and score or kick to Harrison. In some sets he can look for his shot. Harkless and Pointer have played the best against major competition. They are going to be too small every single night, and some nights due to matchup Gift will have to start and Phil will have to sit, but on balance I would try the 3-guard approach and see how it works out. The team will take some lumps as Greene matures, but he had the most all-around skills of the guards and the team is going to take some lumps this year no matter what it does, so I would invest in the future.
I haven't had much time for longwinded LMF posts, so enjoy this one, it may be the last one you get for a while.
Overall: The team has talent. They struggled in some of the early games and lost the two games at the Garden basically as a result of being a group of mostly freshmen that are still coming together. I think they are likely to gel and gain some maturity/experience as the season goes on and pull off a few unexpected wins. The real key to me seems to be their ability to keep up the defensive pressure. They tend to struggle in the halfcourt both offensively and defensively, but when they pick up the defensive intensity they create turnovers and get opportunities on the break, which is where they do best. The problem in the halfcourt is that they don't have enough size, and the problem with keeping up the defensive intensity is that they don't have enough guys. The staff is doing a great job of rotating people in and out, but they desperately need more horses. An offensively limited 6'10'' guy and a 6'7" wing would be perfect additions. They are of course struggling to defend the 3 just as the team did last year in the 2-3 zone. I think they will get better as the season goes on, but adding some length would help a lot.
Guards: Stith is providing valuable minutes and maturity. He is probably the least talented of the group, but he is tough, makes good decisions, can get to the basket and shoot enough to keep the defense honest, and is a good contributor. Harrison is a very solid all-around player. Seems to be a good shooter and has confidence in his shot, good defender. Adequate with the ball, not super on the dribble-drive. Appears to be a hothead and needs to get that under control or he's going to get tossed out of a game sooner or later. Lindsey is a mixed bag. He appears to be a completely one-dimensional player - he is super on the drive, and will dish to a big man if the drive gets shut off down low. That he is such a poor free-throw shooter for a player whose entire game is driving to the basket is just bizarre. He has shown no jump shot whatsoever. The book is clearly getting out on him that you can play off him defensively since he won't shoot, and that you have an excellent chance of drawing charge calls against him (I believe had had 3 against Arizona). Good defender, more due to good understanding of the game than physical speed. Needs to learn to give up the ball on the break when appropriate - and the staff needs to stop forcing the ball to him when there are other options available. Greene is the most rounded of the three, but also the rawest. Fastest player we have, has enough of a jump shot and enough of a drive to keep the defense honest, good passer, decisive with the ball. Excellent on-ball defender. Makes freshman mistakes at times.
Bigs: God's Gift dominated against the big men for the cupcakes, then disappeared against the big men for the majors. He is in a typical adjustment process for an undersized athletic big man. It's one thing to play against bigger players who are less talented or players your size who are equally talented, it's another to play against players who are bigger and equally or more talented. Anthony Glover did it on beastly strength and tremendous heart. Gift may have those qualities, but now he needs to make the adjustment. Harkless does some wonderful things, but also tends to disappear. Had 9 rebounds in the first half against Arizona, I believe he had zero in the second half. He is playing very well defensively against bigger players, and is also rebounding very well considering the size mismatch he usually faces and the lack of help from Gift. Seems to have confidence in his short-range jumper as well as in his 3 from the top of the arc, needs to hit more of them. I think he will. Needs to be more aggressive to the hoop. Has special ability, I think once he is comfortable in his role and in the system he will be a special player if he puts out consistent effort. Pointer is a joy to watch on defense. He poses a huge problem for the other team at the top of the zone or in the 1-2-2 press, has fast feet, long arms, great hustle. Is fast enough to take a 2 as the defensive assignment and strong enough to take a 3 and some 4s. His rebounding and defense are absolutely critical given the overall lack of size. Offensive game appears to be rudimentary, but it may be that he has not looked for his opportunities with so many other weapons on the floor.
I would: Start this lineup: Greene at the point, Harrison and Lindsey on the wings, Harkless and Pointer in the post. Gift and Stith will obviously get big minutes off the bench. Although Lindsey passed the ball more in the Texas A & M game, he is still not a point guard. His lack of a jump shot allows the other team to play off him, so if he doesn't drive the lane and score, the only thing he can do is pass the ball around the perimeter. If Greene plays the point, the defense has to play him more honestly to protect both the drive and the shot. He can find Lindsey for the drive (and perhaps the occasional kick to Harrison in the corner ...) or he can drive and score or kick to Harrison. In some sets he can look for his shot. Harkless and Pointer have played the best against major competition. They are going to be too small every single night, and some nights due to matchup Gift will have to start and Phil will have to sit, but on balance I would try the 3-guard approach and see how it works out. The team will take some lumps as Greene matures, but he had the most all-around skills of the guards and the team is going to take some lumps this year no matter what it does, so I would invest in the future.
I haven't had much time for longwinded LMF posts, so enjoy this one, it may be the last one you get for a while.
