Core Players

Hdog · Post by **Hdog** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:01 pm

This team has below average talent. That is the primary reason for their poor performance in closing out games, etc. Arguably, there is nobody on this roster who can create their own shot and score night in and night out. Chris Knight, MAYBE, however, I see him as more of an athletic type who ideally is your #2 or below scoring option.

I see our core players on this year’s team as: Darryl Clements, Brian Moten, Nate Miller, and Joe Jakubowski. These are the seniors and/or ball handlers [play makers]. For our team to improve over the remainder of this year, these four guys need to tighten up their game. I just don’t think these four guys are very good for D-I basketball [can’t create their own shot very well, can’t push tempo or attack basket, etc.].

Look at the last two games:

DC
@Kent, 21 minutes, 0 points [0-5 shooting]
Akron, 33 minutes, 11 points [3-10 shooting]

BM
@ Kent, 23 minutes, 2 points [1-7 shooting]
Akron, 34 minutes, 8 points [2-9 shooting]

JJ
@ Kent, 33 minutes, 5 points [2-8 shooting], 3 assists
Akron, 23 minutes, 0 points [0-1 shooting], 4 assists

NM
@ Kent, 25 minutes, 7 points [3-12 shooting]
Akron, 30 minutes, 15 points [6-12 shooting]

That’s a collective 17 of 64 for 26%. Come on guys, THAT STINKS. Everyone is going to have to lower their expectations and enjoy the journey until the talent level is improved.

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:21 pm

i have not been watching games so correct me if I am wrong which i might be. It might be a Lebron James scenario. Last year when Lebron got the ball the Cavs would all just stand around and watch to see what he would do. I have seen this happen often with Nate Miller and think it could be happening again.

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:32 pm

None of our guards have performed consistently. None of our seniors have performed consistently. You're right. These guys need to refocus. Moten has really tailed off since the beginning of the season. Last year, Miller was very consistent. He needs to get back on track.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:05 pm

As I've stated numerous times in these threads, I'm inclined to agree with this original poster. We don't have anyone that you can count in game in/game out, or even half to half. Until we get a somebody to develop into a consistent scoring threat we will continue to have these lulls offensively. Team basketball is great, but in my mind at some point individual talent needs to win out. Over the years a lot of great teams have won championships, both NBA & NCAA, but all of them had at least one guy they could go to when they needed a big basket.

I'm not any sort of expert on basketball, but it seems to me that it's far harder for your schemes to win you games than it is in football. When the chips are down you need somebody who can rise up and hit that big shot.

renorvis · Post by **renorvis** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:29 pm

Chris Knight does not get the ball enough to be counted on as a go to scorer because our guards cannot get the ball into post or they dribble too much.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:58 pm

renorvis wrote:Chris Knight does not get the ball enough to be counted on as a go to scorer because our guards cannot get the ball into post or they dribble too much.

Agreed. We have not had a passer that could feed the post since Pardon. I know, sometimes, our bigs could do a better job of getting position, but even when they do we don't have anyone that can deliver them the ball consistently.

cph2133 · Post by **cph2133** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:16 pm

Globetrotter wrote:i have not been watching games so correct me if I am wrong which i might be. It might be a Lebron James scenario. Last year when Lebron got the ball the Cavs would all just stand around and watch to see what he would do. I have seen this happen often with Nate Miller and think it could be happening again.

I've seen about 5 games or so, but I would say this is spot on. Anytime Miller has the ball, i assume its going up at some point by him. People seem to say "he's putting it up, why work to get the ball back"....Does anyone else think he's sort of regressed from his initial season at BG? Also, it looks like he bulked up too much and isn't as athletic/nimble as he used to be. I have no stats or weight backing this up, but just an observation from some guy...

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:53 pm

cph2133 wrote:
Globetrotter wrote:i have not been watching games so correct me if I am wrong which i might be. It might be a Lebron James scenario. Last year when Lebron got the ball the Cavs would all just stand around and watch to see what he would do. I have seen this happen often with Nate Miller and think it could be happening again.
I've seen about 5 games or so, but I would say this is spot on. Anytime Miller has the ball, i assume its going up at some point by him. People seem to say "he's putting it up, why work to get the ball back"....Does anyone else think he's sort of regressed from his initial season at BG? Also, it looks like he bulked up too much and isn't as athletic/nimble as he used to be. I have no stats or weight backing this up, but just an observation from some guy...

If Miller has put on too much weight that is possibility for his lack of success when he tries to take people off the dribble. One thing I know of for sure he's way heavier than the listed 225lbs. He's got to be pushing 250. The original poster and Hammb are right , the collection of talent on this team is just not elite enough to make us championship material. Chris Knight is the only elite talent on this team and he hasn't reached his potential yet. Need better surrounding players for sure.

Matty B · Post by **Matty B** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:58 pm

Globetrotter wrote:i have not been watching games so correct me if I am wrong which i might be. It might be a Lebron James scenario. Last year when Lebron got the ball the Cavs would all just stand around and watch to see what he would do. I have seen this happen often with Nate Miller and think it could be happening again.

BG's entire offense stands around and watches no matter which player has the ball....