Starters and minutes

R

REB

Well-known member
2023 $upporter
Bored with all my current sports options and can't wait for season to begin. Team has so much talent and depth and just hoping the coaches are able to pull it together quickly enough to start the season strong. Trip to Europe will undoubtedly help both with team building and learning offensive and defensive sets. Wisconsin in South Dakota is a tough opener. Win or lose, should pay dividends down the line. Below are my musings about who is likely to start and likely minute distribution. I know its been covered before but time has passed and perhaps its time to revisit. Thought I'd throw them out there for comments, reactions.

Starters
5 Obekpa
4 Sanchez
3 Sampson
2 Harrison
1 Branch

First off the bench: Pointer at 3/4, Jordan at 1, Greene at 2, Achiuwa at 4/5
Misc time: Hooper, Bourgault, Balamou, Jones

Ave. Minutes:
Obekpa 20
Sanchez 25
Sampson 25
Harrison 25
Branch 20
Pointer 25
Jordan 25
Greene 15
Achiuwa 15
Rest of bench 5

This time distribution would mean Sampson and Pointer combined would cover about 20 minutes at the 4 and there would be an average of 10 minutes in a three guard set. We do have the depth with Chris Jones to play all 40 minutes with 4's and 5's but Coach Lavin likes to go small and athletic and to use the best players regardless of size and position constraints. I think the above pretty much does that. Sorry it seems the last four will be riding the pine but 9 deep is already a big rotation. If any of Branch, Greene and Gift don't play well, they could lose minutes as well as the season goes on and the rotation shrinks a bit.
 
Be surprised if Jordan and Pointer don't start.
Your lineup is slower.
I expect 94 feet this season.
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Pointer instead of Sanchez or Obekpa?
My thinking is that they will want to start bigger up front with the defensive presence of Sanchez and Obekpa and with more of a controlled offense with Branch and then shake things up by getting smaller and quicker up with Pointer whether he comes in for Obekpa or Sanchez. Also think Coach will prefer the experience of Branch running the team to start games at least early in the year. Jordan's talent may well overwhelm that as the year goes on....
Thinking we can play both ways this year depending on what's needed - 94 feet or 47 feet!
 
Be surprised if Jordan and Pointer don't start.
Your lineup is slower.
I expect 94 feet this season.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think nine-man rotation. Others scramble for scraps.

Jordan
Harrison
Pointer
Sanchez
Sampson
Greene
Branch
Obekpa
GGA
 
Bored with all my current sports options and can't wait for season to begin. Team has so much talent and depth and just hoping the coaches are able to pull it together quickly enough to start the season strong. Trip to Europe will undoubtedly help both with team building and learning offensive and defensive sets. Wisconsin in South Dakota is a tough opener. Win or lose, should pay dividends down the line. Below are my musings about who is likely to start and likely minute distribution. I know its been covered before but time has passed and perhaps its time to revisit. Thought I'd throw them out there for comments, reactions.

Starters
5 Obekpa
4 Sanchez
3 Sampson
2 Harrison
1 Branch

First off the bench: Pointer at 3/4, Jordan at 1, Greene at 2, Achiuwa at 4/5
Misc time: Hooper, Bourgault, Balamou, Jones

Ave. Minutes:
Obekpa 20
Sanchez 25
Sampson 25
Harrison 25
Branch 20
Pointer 25
Jordan 25
Greene 15
Achiuwa 15
Rest of bench 5

This time distribution would mean Sampson and Pointer combined would cover about 20 minutes at the 4 and there would be an average of 10 minutes in a three guard set. We do have the depth with Chris Jones to play all 40 minutes with 4's and 5's but Coach Lavin likes to go small and athletic and to use the best players regardless of size and position constraints. I think the above pretty much does that. Sorry it seems the last four will be riding the pine but 9 deep is already a big rotation. If any of Branch, Greene and Gift don't play well, they could lose minutes as well as the season goes on and the rotation shrinks a bit.
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I'm a big believer in playing your best players instead of getting trapped in a position game (assuming you have a point guard) but this year I see lavin having a legit 4 and 5 on the court at all times. We have 5 of them to choose from in Sampson, Sanchez, Obekpa, GG and c jones. That leaves 5 guards to get big minutes at the 1-3 and a 6th to get minutes depending on quality of play or situation whether its balamou, hooper, or bourgoult. Lot of options for Lav, lets hope he can put it all together.
 
Sanchez.Sampson,Dom.Dee.Jorden. But like you said minutes will be shared by many. I believe CO will also rack up a lot of minutes.
 
This is Lavin we are talking about. He will likely spend November and December tinkering with the lineups, and combinations. Eventually, I think he settles on Jordan, Harrison, Sampson, Sanchez, and Obekpa, with Pointer getting equal minutes off the bench (superior to some of the starters some nights).

I see Dom as being a great sixth man for us. If we start a game slow, his energy can bring us back. If we start well, his energy can put the game away early. If we start even, his energy could be the difference.

I see a lot more pressing this year, so subs will be constant, IMO. I see Greene getting more minutes off the ball. One guy I don't see playing that much is Jones, but I hope he sticks around, because we will probably need him in 2014-15.
 
Team won't win if Hooper can't drain some threes.
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This is an absurd postulation. I believe national champion Louisville ranked quite poorly overall in 3pt percentage at the national level last year. None of this is relying on Hooper. We need excellent PG play, Harrison back to form, our sophs to improve and some inside game from Sampson, Sanchez, Obekpa and Gift.
 
I dont know what the lineup will be but i'm hoping for something like this;

Jordan
Harrison
Pointer
Sampson
Sanchez/Obekpa

What i'm more interested in is who plays during crunch time. Coach has alot of different options for alot of different scenarios
 
Team won't win if Hooper can't drain some threes.
Click to expand...

This is an absurd postulation. I believe national champion Louisville ranked quite poorly overall in 3pt percentage at the national level last year. None of this is relying on Hooper. We need excellent PG play, Harrison back to form, our sophs to improve and some inside game from Sampson, Sanchez, Obekpa and Gift.
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Louisville was not a particularly good three throw shooting team but had two shooters with over a 40% percentage. Hancock was a key reason they won the tournament. St John's was 341 in division 1 in 3pt percentage. This is a true handicap for what other wise could be a pretty good team. Why do you think Lavin recruited Hooper?
 
You are right about the 3 but IMHO it depends upon the matchups. In some cases our long and fast front line with tweeners is an advantage against bigger guys in some cases it worked against us. We are a team that is a matchup problem. It works in our favor or against us. Sanchez is by all accounts a positive addition but he doesn't really change that fact even it he plays at an All American level. Where the three pointer would be a consistent and legitimate threat that would change everything. That said, Hooper is not the lynch pin of this team by any stretch. If he actually cracks the lineup that will be a major accomplishment for him and more than some expect. I'd love to see it but I think we are going to have a big season either way.
 
We're so athletic at 1-3 that if we can pose just a moderate threat in the post our offense will be ok. Especially since we should also score a good bit off turnovers and just beating guys down the floor. Also don't forget DLo is pretty dangerous from three when he's not forcing it so we are not without a 3-point threat.
I'm pretty excited to see what Coach can do with this team and I also expect a terrific season.
 
We're so athletic at 1-3 that if we can pose just a moderate threat in the post our offense will be ok. Especially since we should also score a good bit off turnovers and just beating guys down the floor. Also don't forget DLo is pretty dangerous from three when he's not forcing it so we are not without a 3-point threat. I'm pretty excited to see what Coach can do with this team and I also expect a terrific season.
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There were times where DH was triple teamed there were other times where opposing teams were content to play his percentages and gave him the three. He'll be more dangerous this season because we have multiple threats and teams won't be able to overplay him as much. But he won't be a difference maker for us as a three point threat to open up the defense. We need at least one more guy that is reliable and recognized as a real threat which will force opponents to respect it when we are stuck in 1/2 court. That would change everything for this offense. I'm not sure the 3 point threat has ever been considered a serious issue for opposing teams in the history of St John's basketball. There were a few guys that could hit it and some big shots - Boo, Cain, Bootsy, Barkley but it was never something that opposing teams ever put too much thought into when forming a game plan against St. John's. But then again we never saw an Obekpa type shot blocker at St John's so here's hoping.
 
Team won't win if Hooper can't drain some threes.
Click to expand...

This is an absurd postulation. I believe national champion Louisville ranked quite poorly overall in 3pt percentage at the national level last year. None of this is relying on Hooper. We need excellent PG play, Harrison back to form, our sophs to improve and some inside game from Sampson, Sanchez, Obekpa and Gift.
Click to expand...

Louisville was not a particularly good three throw shooting team but had two shooters with over a 40% percentage. Hancock was a key reason they won the tournament. St John's was 341 in division 1 in 3pt percentage. This is a true handicap for what other wise could be a pretty good team. Why do you think Lavin recruited Hooper?
Click to expand...

Louisville was 213th in 3point shooting percentage which is also a handicap. Louisville won because they had an excellent and balanced team overall, especially a backcourt that could penetrate, dish and score. Hooper can help us make shots but IMO was also recruited to help with Sampson.

People are forgetting that D'Lo can really shoot when he's not doubled. Rysheed is not only a distributor, but a penetrating and scoring threat. He's a decent outside shooter too so needs to be checked. We won't be a team full of snipers, but I think we'll be better from 3.
 
We are not going to roll out Sampson, Sanchez, and Obekpa at the same time very often. Coach Lavin has proven that he likes to play with a smaller, quicker lineup. Sampson does not have the perimeter skill set to be playing substantial minutes at the three.

I don't like guessing starting lineups with Coach Lavin, but I think it will be:

Branch
Harrison
Pointer
Sampson
Sanchez

I am confident CO will come off the bench. He doesn't mind it, as he says it gives him a chance to analyze the game. Anytime you have a quality player that doesn't mind coming off the bench, that is a huge asset for a coach. I could see Jordan starting ala Polee, but I don't think he'll garner many more minutes than either Branch or Greene.

One thing is for sure in my mind, and that is that Harrison will get the most PT.
 
We are not going to roll out Sampson, Sanchez, and Obekpa at the same time very often. Coach Lavin has proven that he likes to play with a smaller, quicker lineup. Sampson does not have the perimeter skill set to be playing substantial minutes at the three.

I don't like guessing starting lineups with Coach Lavin, but I think it will be:

Branch
Harrison
Pointer
Sampson
Sanchez

I am confident CO will come off the bench. He doesn't mind it, as he says it gives him a chance to analyze the game. Anytime you have a quality player that doesn't mind coming off the bench, that is a huge asset for a coach. I could see Jordan starting ala Polee, but I don't think he'll garner many more minutes than either Branch or Greene.

One thing is for sure in my mind, and that is that Harrison will get the most PT.
Click to expand...
Maybe in the beginning of the season Branch will start over Sheed. But as the season progresses Sheed will be the starter. IMO, still say Hooper will be important off the bench as a contributor.
 
We are not going to roll out Sampson, Sanchez, and Obekpa at the same time very often. Coach Lavin has proven that he likes to play with a smaller, quicker lineup. Sampson does not have the perimeter skill set to be playing substantial minutes at the three.

I don't like guessing starting lineups with Coach Lavin, but I think it will be:

Branch
Harrison
Pointer
Sampson
Sanchez

I am confident CO will come off the bench. He doesn't mind it, as he says it gives him a chance to analyze the game. Anytime you have a quality player that doesn't mind coming off the bench, that is a huge asset for a coach. I could see Jordan starting ala Polee, but I don't think he'll garner many more minutes than either Branch or Greene.

One thing is for sure in my mind, and that is that Harrison will get the most PT.
Click to expand...

You are underestimating Jordan. He's a prime timer. Neither Branch nor Greene have his speed, athleticism, handle nor shooting all combined.
 
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