Free throws, Mbakwe and Devoe

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GopherinPhilly

GopherinPhilly

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Man, this team will get to the line...but shooting under 70% will not get it done...I hope we can get our legs under us before the big ten season.

I am officially on the Trevor M band wagon...that guy is a beast...as the year goes on and the offensive game starts to slow down for him...watch out.

We need Devoe back for the last 5 minutes of the half and game...we need a trusted play maker on the floor...Al and Blake have trouble and the Froshman are Froshman...hate to trust them too much in crunch time.

Fun game to watch...RW has unbelievable elevation...imagine if he could learn how to dribble and shoot!
 

Ditto...Hoff did very well holding down the fort at PG but we're a completely different team with Devoe pulling down those PG minutes. GREAT game by Hoff despite dboy calling him garbage. What a tool.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Ditto...Hoff did very well holding down the fort at PG but we're a completely different team with Devoe pulling down those PG minutes. GREAT game by Hoff despite dboy calling him garbage. What a tool.
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It could be argued that Blake ran the half-court offense better than Al tonight. Blake's passing is very crisp. Al dribbles too much.
 

GopherJake said:
It could be argued that Blake ran the half-court offense better than Al tonight. Blake's passing is very crisp. Al dribbles too much.
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Al does dribble too much. It's hard to be upset with a guy that gets 7 points, 6 assists and 6 steals- a really nice line for a point guard. But Al needs to work on keeping the ball moving. When he starts dribbling around - everybody stands. Late in the game it was painful to watch. Then we started playing to run clock - playing not to lose with 5 minutes left. Gotta stay aggressive and move the ball.

Overall, love this team once Devoe is back. They will be a strong 9 deep with Hollins and Armelin looking solid.
 

Free Throws

I agree. Free throws may be a painful experience for this team. Hopefully Blake, Al, and Ralph are on the stripe a lot.

I find it hard to understand how such standout athletes who have played the game for years can not shoot 70% from the line.
 


Standout athletes and fundamentally sound players are two different things. If I had a 40 inch vertical and could catch alley-oops I probably wouldnt practice fundamentals as much.. even though I should.
 

Nolen had a great second half. I thought he was a difference maker. If he can play like that consistenly the Gophers will be tough. Devoe back and splitting point guard with Nolen I really like this team.
 

march madness said:
If I had a 40 inch vertical and could catch alley-oops I probably wouldnt practice fundamentals as much.. even though I should.
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And THAT is why Rodney will never be worth anything in the NBA unless he changes his work ethic.
 

jovs said:
Nolen had a great second half. I thought he was a difference maker. If he can play like that consistenly the Gophers will be tough. Devoe back and splitting point guard with Nolen I really like this team.
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He did play well in the 2nd half overall - he was very disruptive on defense and, as you mentioned, he had a very nice PG line.

I have to agree with BGA1 above, though. Hopefully, with practice, the whole team will improve on the balance of running-clock and staying aggressive, so they can put the nails in the coffin at the end of games.

They have struggled with that in the past......
 




ilovethebarn said:
How do you know what his work ethic is? Maybe he is taking 500 hundred jump shots a day?
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If he were really working on his game, he wouldn't be virtually the exact same player he was two years ago. Players who really work on their game improve by leaps and bounds, especially during HS and college.

I would also be very impressed if he were taking 50,000 jump shots per day. I don't think that could even be accomplished by going 24-7.
 

63% from the FT line = trouble down the road. Has Colton ever made the first of two FT's? Just saying ... Anyway, improvements are needed as well as getting Devoe back on the court.
 

First impression is I like the makeup of this team. Good depth and physicallity. But I saw some of the same concerns as last year. The post players didn't get enough touches. It's not that the ball pressure was that great, but some guys on the wing simply don't try to make an entry pass. Seemed like the only guys trying to pass to the block was the other 'big' in the high-low set. Then they threw it away trying to throw it in from the key. Fundamentally bad offense. With the depth and size down low, they NEED to get them the ball... if only for a touch and kick.
 



GopherJake said:
Hopefully, with practice, the whole team will improve on the balance of running-clock and staying aggressive, so they can put the nails in the coffin at the end of games.

They have struggled with that in the past......
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EXACTLY. I've seen enough of Nolen trying to dribble the shot clock down and throw up a panicked shot over the last three years.
 

dpodoll68 said:
If he were really working on his game, he wouldn't be virtually the exact same player he was two years ago. Players who really work on their game improve by leaps and bounds, especially during HS and college.

I would also be very impressed if he were taking 50,000 jump shots per day. I don't think that could even be accomplished by going 24-7.
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Remember Rodney's background. He played Center for his HS team that ran 3 guards around him so he rarely handled the ball on the perimeter. Then in AAU he was able to excel just due to his athleticism. Now no diss to Cooper but its not like they are a basketball powerhouse known for how well coached they are and AAU is not the place to develop skills. So the guy has really never been asked to be a true wing player until last year. He's already more confident in his handle and shot and now the skill just needs to get there. This is a kid that really doesn't appear to have been coached until he got to college so lets not diss him or his work ethic. The reality is that many people have to LEARN work ethic. You can think you're working hard until a coach comes along and lets you know that you aren't working hard or even correctly.
 

dpodoll68 said:
I would also be very impressed if he were taking 50,000 jump shots per day. I don't think that could even be accomplished by going 24-7.
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only 2084 shots an hour... how tired his legs, back and arms must be!
 



dpodoll68 said:
If he were really working on his game, he wouldn't be virtually the exact same player he was two years ago. Players who really work on their game improve by leaps and bounds, especially during HS and college.

I would also be very impressed if he were taking 50,000 jump shots per day. I don't think that could even be accomplished by going 24-7.
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There's that phrase "perfect practice makes perfect"...maybe Rodney is shooting a bunch of jump shots, but how good of a shooter can you become with that form? IMO he needs to change his shot, well should have over the summer because mid-season isn't a time to tinker. But I think his shooting is a take a step back to take two steps forward situation.

Is there any evidence that he has a bad work ethic, or is it speculation? Honest question.
 

He jumps awefully high when he shoots his three's. Larry Bird said he tries to not hardly leave the floor it gives him maximum balance and he is one of the greatest shooters of all time. I also noticed sometimes Rodney lands in a different spot from where he started his shot.
 

march madness said:
He jumps awefully high when he shoots his three's. Larry Bird said he tries to not hardly leave the floor it gives him maximum balance and he is one of the greatest shooters of all time. I also noticed sometimes Rodney lands in a different spot from where he started his shot.
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If you watch RW on tape...when he shoots he jumps all different directions and then tries to adjust his shot with his hands to make up for it...kinda like a golfer with bad timing trying to solve it with his hands...you get a lot of duck hooks and slices. RW shoots a lot of duck hooks and slices. Even on his shorter shots.
 

Again, with continued practice his shot will get smoother. His shoot was horrible in high school and has been improving. I'm not sure I can remember any player with a lot of lift on their jumpshot being a great shooter. My guess is he will adjust the height on his shot as he matures and gain more consistency. That part is fine.

The part about his appearing lost in the half court set is more concerning to me. But again, playing in the middle in high school has been a detriment to his bb growth.
 


Reggie didnt jump that high but i remember his wide leg base. Bauer tended to jump high and had a good 3 pt shot. But yes I think blance is the key.
 

march madness said:
Reggie didnt jump that high but i remember his wide leg base. Bauer tended to jump high and had a good 3 pt shot. But yes I think blance is the key.
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I seem to remember Sam Jacobson jumping pretty high on his jumpers. Bauer for sure did.
 

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