What happened to Simon

[quote="Ray Morgan" post=319951][quote="indyredmen97" post=319900]On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.[/quote]

You are right about the hall of fame shooters we have. Yakwe shot free throws in the 70s under the tutelage of Mullin and Richmond, while under the guidance of a non hall of famer like Hurley, he is at 25%. I'm sure Sid Wilson would have been better than his 29% overall, 15% from 3 and 59% from the line if he had stayed here.[/quote]

Wilson shot the ball well today 12 pts. (5-5, 2-2 on 3s).
 
[quote="Marillac" post=319938][quote="Knight" post=319918][quote="Marillac" post=319904][quote="indyredmen97" post=319900]On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.[/quote]

I agree this board is insane, but Simon hasn't regressed because of the staff...he's been replaced by better and more skilled players like Heron and Figueroa. He is a great athlete, but he has a severe lack of coordination and skill. There is no helping someone that uncoordinated. To top it off, he freezes up physically in almost every game in the last two minutes--and from the beginning of yesterday's game. Some people suffer from debilitating anxiety and there is no rhyme or reason as to what brings it on.

Citing to Govan doesn't make much sense to me. Govan has a great shot and always did. He is a career 42.6% shooter from three (50% as a freshman) and he's 75.4% from the FT line. More important than his early stats was his good form and excellent coordination. Simon simply doesn't have that. No shot or drive ever looks the same with him. He shot put free throws...he's too stiff. Simon shot a good % from three, but nobody felt comfortable he could continue that. You need to be able to replicate skills like that and he has never showed that he can.

He can't be a perimeter player on a good team. He just can't. Jay Wright wins consistently because his perimeter players are so absurdly skilled. They are all sharpshooters and most of them can handle as well. When was the last time you saw a perimeter player on Nova with as weak of a handle or as poor of a shot as Simon?[/quote]

Simon uncoordinated? Totally disagree.[/quote]

Have you ever seen him shoot or dribble? He has air balled multiple LAYUPS this season. I've never seen that.[/quote]

Yes I've seen him do both. Shooting form is poor. Dribbling is ok. But I have seen him catch and jam many times. Not exactly uncoordinated.
 
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At the start of the year it was apparent that Simon had been working on his shooting form. However, along the way, he lost that muscle memory and reverted back to his old form. He looks more natural when he shoots off the dribble.

Can definitely use help in finishing at rim something that comes natural to Ponds.

That said, he is a valuable player and seems like a great teammate.
 
[quote="Section3" post=319982]
That said, he is a valuable player and seems like a great teammate.[/quote]

It's been said before and it will be said again, but sometime the grown men on the board forget their values and that these are kids. I am no snowflake and criticisms have their place, but it doesn't have to be so harsh especially when they play hard and represent the school so well.
 
Just seems that Simon doesn't get enough arc on his shots. Seems to push and line drive it or miss completely. I know he never had a rep for shooting, but I'm honestly very puzzled how a high major D1 former 5 star kid can't shoot 3's. You see the looks he gets routinely knocked down by plenty of 3 star kids, even D2 and D3. We are the only team I've seen where we almost seem to get more nervous if we have the ball for a wide open 3 and it's far from routine. Teams like Nova simply will not miss if you give them those looks. With Mullin as coach, you'd think Simon would have a much better outside shot by now. Look what Jay Wright did with Pacshall. He took him from a poor 3PT shooter to a serious 3PT threat knocking 3's down consistently. Also, the layups I just don't get. Never seen so many missed compared to any other team. We need to go back to the basics and use the square on the backboard. It's there for a reason.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=320006]Just seems that Simon doesn't get enough arc on his shots. Seems to push and line drive it or miss completely. I know he never had a rep for shooting, but I'm honestly very puzzled how a high major D1 former 5 star kid can't shoot 3's. You see the looks he gets routinely knocked down by plenty of 3 star kids, even D2 and D3. We are the only team I've seen where we almost seem to get more nervous if we have the ball for a wide open 3 and it's far from routine. Teams like Nova simply will not miss if you give them those looks. With Mullin as coach, you'd think Simon would have a much better outside shot by now. Look what Jay Wright did with Pacshall. He took him from a poor 3PT shooter to a serious 3PT threat knocking 3's down consistently. Also, the layups I just don't get. Never seen so many missed compared to any other team. We need to go back to the basics and use the square on the backboard. It's there for a reason.[/quote]

This has nothing to do with Simon, I'm not going to assume he's not a hard worker. But remember, these are kids. Not all of them want it. Not all of them are willing to put the time in to get better and strive for the next level. We often assume kids will naturally get better, but remember, getting better takes hard work and dedication. We don't get to see behind the scenes who's outworking everyone else. You'd assume Ponds took thousands of 3 pointers over the Summer but we really have no idea.

We always heard the stories of how Mullin was a gym rat and outworked everyone else.

So once again, not saying Simon has not put thousands of hours in to get better, but just something to remember.
 
[quote="Section3" post=319982]At the start of the year it was apparent that Simon had been working on his shooting form. However, along the way, he lost that muscle memory and reverted back to his old form. He looks more natural when he shoots off the dribble.

Can definitely use help in finishing at rim something that comes natural to Ponds.

That said, he is a valuable player and seems like a great teammate.[/quote]

Agree wholeheartedly. He's like a hitter who worked on his swing in spring training in order to provide more consistency, struggled, and reverted back to previous form. I also agree with the majority here, I really like Justin, believe he's a valuable member of our team, and hope he stays here for the remainder of his college career if he so chooses. My criticism here is on the staff to give him structure and help his form, that is their job. I dismiss the idea of Coach Miller giving up on him as a freshman at Arizona, I believe Simon understood that his basketball career would be relegated to the bench as their recruitment far exceeds ours (within or outside the rules), and made a choice to attend a school that could provide playing time.
 
Is changing a player's shooting style similar to changing a batter's swing? Quite difficult.
 
He should stick to what he does best ,penetrating driving ,dishing etc should not be shooting 3s. We turn out to be not a good shooting team from deep just average Look at Duke games 5or6 on 26 shots Team is doing the best they can,don’t expect them to play above their skills every game.if we can end up in the middle of the conference this yr so be it,Hope next yr will be better
 
He should stick to what he does best ,penetrating driving ,dishing etc should not be shooting 3s. We turn out to be not a good shooting team from deep just average Look at Duke games 5or6 on 26 shots Team is doing the best they can,don’t expect them to play above their skills every game.if we can end up in the middle of the conference this yr so be it,Hope next yr will be better
 
His three point shooting is not the problem. Last season he was very selective with the 3pt shooting and hit at a very good percentage. If he totally abstains from 3pt shooting the defense will completely back off and that will limit his driving. His approach last season was the right one and it was effective. He's a lot less effective this season primarily because he has missed so many close shots. Million$ moves, 10 cent finish. As I said previously those shots aren't falling. He needs to dunk the ball. He's got the moves and the extra spring. Take it one more step and dunk it.
 
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That’s the cool thing about social media, these guys let you know what’s going on with them every minute.


Simon has clearly read these comments.

In his words “ Can he live”?
 
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[quote="Paul Massell" post=320027]His three point shooting is not the problem. Last season he was very selective with the 3pt shooting and hit at a very good percentage. If he totally abstains from 3pt shooting the defense will completely back off and that will limit his driving. His approach last season was the right one and it was effective. He's a lot less effective this season primarily because he has missed so many close shots. Million$ moves, 10 cent finish. As I said previously those shots aren't falling. He needs to dunk the ball. He's got the moves and the extra spring. Take it one more step and dunk it.[/quote]

The defenses already back off and I think it gets in his head...like "we dare you...take it!". Then he may be second guessing himself and losing confidence. I agree with you he's at his best dunking. Would be nice to see some cuts to the rim where he gets a lane and slams it in. He's also great dunking in transitions off turnovers.
 
Simon is in a funk but it's been 4 games. Through the first 6 conference games he was averaging 15/6/5/2 shooting 49% from the field. We probably don't beat Georgetown without him (42 minutes, 14/9/6 on 64% shooting), he was a primary reason we should have beaten SHU and did beat Marq (defensive effort on Powell and Howard respectively), and he along with Figgy tried just the two of them to beat DePaul without Ponds or a coaching staff (39 minutes, 20/4/7 and 5 steals on 63% shooting).

There is no doubt that he has had 4 very bad games in a row and that has created a very real challenge for the lineup and rotation. But it's not like he's struggled all year, again look back at his first half of January or so stats above. There are maybe 20 teams in the country who don't need that kind of production let alone at that kind of efficiency, and SJU is certainly not one of those teams as we may well find out next year. Let's hope that's not the case.

Agree with much of what was said previously in thread regarding Heron/Figgy taking over some of what Simon did so well last year and earlier this. I don't think it's a complete coincidence that as Heron has emerged from his funk Simon has gone into one. While all slightly different offensively (especially re: 3pt shooting), there is definitely enough overlap particularly from a slashing perspective to create some confusion and awkwardness and you can see that play out in games. While Simon/Figgy seem to feed off of one another a bit, it's rare that all 3 are going well in the same game let alone at the same time.

More important however is that I don't recall last year opposing coaches just not guarding Simon at all outside of 10 feet, perhaps because he was more of a primary scoring option. That's almost all that's happening now, and seems to have had the effect of Simon actually spending more time at the 3 point line left alone. As others have noted, he's not being as selective this year, and I think part of that is that there is only so many times you can catch it wide open and not shoot.

Part of this is on Simon to stay disciplined as he has taken quite a few ill-advised shots of late, both from 3 and resulting from wild drives. But also on the staff to put him in a position to catch the ball at the 3 line less, particularly in the corners where he seems to be so frequently. At the top and from the wing Simon has been so effective previously finding driving lanes and getting to rim in 1-2 dribbles, more challenging with the baseline operating as a second defender and when they are daring you to shoot. The amount of time he is catching the ball there is hurting Simon, hurting the offense, and frankly is likely hurting Ponds because so often that is where Simon's man is going.

Whatever it is we certainly need him to get back on track, and perhaps a marquee assignment with Howard tomorrow night will be what doctor ordered. Sometimes defense-first guys can get going offensively by getting challenged and competing on the other end.
 
Note the word "completely" They backed off last season as well. Then he'd hit. There is a difference between a total non-threat and keeping the defense honest. That is the difference between last and this season and it is reflected in his 3pt shooting numbers and hesitating both on his shooting and when he drives instead of just going hard and either hitting the shot or drawing the fouls. Now Simon is in a limbo of trying to be a finesse interior shooter/playmaker and taking out of rhythm shots.

Simon goes hard and he's a foul magnet. Playing finesse on offense and he has been ineffectual. Even if he shoots the FTs at a low percentage, drawing the fouls is part of the arsenal of the guys who are supposed to be slashing and driving. We've been hobbled by both Simon and Heron not drawing enough fouls to keep the interior defenders honest. In Simon's case its because he tries to finish soft so the defense can play him soft. In Heron's case I am just mystified. I've never seen a single player get so many no-calls. The guy gets fouled regularly and seems like he is averaging about 20% of the time actually getting the call. I think the refs are so intent of looking at him for charging (and that is his fault) that they are missing the fouls that he is actually drawing.
 
Geez, the kid's dealing with migraines and some of you are on his case? I often get to CA games early, and I can tell you that nobody works harder during the pre game warmups than Justin. All this speculation about Keita, Trimble or Williams starting over Justin is crazy. Those three guys combined are not as good as Justin.
 
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In today's game, pro and college, someone 6'5 needs to keep the defense honest. Of late, Justin can't do that. He doesn't believe he will make the shot, so he ball fakes to no one, and drives into traffic. Not a good result very often.

I look at Justin's size and athleticism, and physically, I'm reminded of the young Corey Maggette and Justice Winslow. Except they were better from the outside, and it led to NBA careers. This thing about chastising the staff for Simon's shooting woes makes no sense. First of all, the people saying it have no idea how much the staff worked with him, and no idea how hard Simon works at his game. Next, Simon's form is based on years and years of muscle memory that just can't be fixed easily, if at all. It's not like a minor adjustment for a guy with nice arc and form and rotation, but inconsistent mechanics. Finally, this knocking Simon for poor shooting of late, reminds me of what Curtis Strange said to the press when he missed a 4 foot putt to that cost the U.S. the Ryder Cup. He told the press that he didn't care how much they beat him up for the miss, he was beating himself up even worse. Which I am sure is what Justin is feeling at this point.
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=320040][quote="Paul Massell" post=320027]His three point shooting is not the problem. Last season he was very selective with the 3pt shooting and hit at a very good percentage. If he totally abstains from 3pt shooting the defense will completely back off and that will limit his driving. His approach last season was the right one and it was effective. He's a lot less effective this season primarily because he has missed so many close shots. Million$ moves, 10 cent finish. As I said previously those shots aren't falling. He needs to dunk the ball. He's got the moves and the extra spring. Take it one more step and dunk it.[/quote]

The defenses already back off and I think it gets in his head...like "we dare you...take it!". Then he may be second guessing himself and losing confidence. I agree with you he's at his best dunking. Would be nice to see some cuts to the rim where he gets a lane and slams it in. He's also great dunking in transitions off turnovers.[/quote]

If the defenses back off, then why not dribble and shoot what the def gives you, if not guarded if doesn't mean you gotta take the 3ball, infact that's exactly what they want, take the 3 you chump.
Or even take it to the hoop and jam it and maybe even posterize some sob standing in your way.

I know it would embarrass me if teams backed off me to let me take the 3ball, knowing that i cant shoot the 3. I'd want to embarrass the blank out of a big under the basket.
 
Simons defense on Howard and Powell are the main reason we won both of those games. Yes, I know one of those wins was stolen away but that has nothing to do with Simon. All players have strengths and weaknesses. This team is going nowhere without him.
 
IDRAFT wrote: Simons defense on Howard and Powell are the main reason we won both of those games. Yes, I know one of those wins was stolen away but that has nothing to do with Simon. All players have strengths and weaknesses. This team is going nowhere without him.

Amen. Hope Justin realizes there are a lot of fans, including redmen.comers, who very much appreciate what he brings to the team and are rooting like crazy for him to get out of the 4 game funk he's been in. Just has to get over the hesitation that's crept into his game, take it to the hoop strong instead of falling away flips and he will be fine. Hoping to see some suffocating d on Howard tomorrow night.
 
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