This thread is almost as bad as the offseason threads this summer. The level of being in denial about the roster and roles is comically bad.
There's a growing number of fans who still don't answer the obvious question about scoring and 3 point shooting and then the conversation eventually twists back to fans disdain for Hyatt and this borderline delusional point of view on a glue guy in Mawot Mag.
The RU team is trying to move to an up tempo faster paced offense.....then when that happens, that actually means players (Simpson, Fernandes, Griffiths and Hyatt) all benefit from being able or capable of taking a shot in transition. Yet, only one of the players (Hyatt) is consistently being dragged for taking the same shot attempts that any of the 4 players should be taking or looking for their own offense.
I will repeat what has been stated now a dozen times.....there is NO path for success, if you don't generate at least 8 to 10 3 point attempts per game from Hyatt and Griffiths.....only because those two players (and maybe Oskar) are the only true capable players of shooting 3s or scoring in transition from those positions.
Yet, I see fans trying to twist themselves into a pretzel, with odd lineups that don't include Hyatt and insert Mag, as if that change is suddenly going to increase the 3 point shot attempts for the team.
If Mawot Mag was that type of player AND he was the plus rebounder, defender and could handle the ball and create his own offense, don't you think he would already be a locked in starter as a freshman or sophomore a couple of years ago??
We are attempting to be not as 3 point reliant on a week to week basis like last year with Spencer and Hyatt, because neither player would consistently try to score off the dribble and maneuver towards the basket. It serves no purpose to believe that RU can play offense and only have one 3 point threat on the court in Gavin Griffiths and not have Hyatt as a 2nd option on the wing, to compliment the guards or Cliff inside.
I get fans dislike for Hyatt is that strong, that they're blinded into other lineups.....but in a team sport, players are asked to not just do what Hyatt did last year and be a stationary, corner 3 point shooter. He is being asked to do more than that......yet the fanbase actually discussing this as if the staff doesn't need him to do that or require the player to do that, somehow is lost here.
Who else beyond Gavin or Hyatt, is a threat from 3 point range, can actually put the ball on the floor and maneuver to score?? Is it Oskar, Chol....Are we ready to allow Woolfolk that freedom or has he shown that skill set to do that?? The answer is "No".....
So it is Hyatt or bust folks....there is no skill set that has been shown in any games played, that Mawot Mag is that type of offensive player, catch and shoot 3 point player or has that skill set. He is a defensive rebounding forward first, a glue guy, good help defender and if he is left open as the 5th option on the floor and is unguarded, should be able to score. That is his game folks, nothing more and especially not in transition, being asked to catch and shoot before a defense is set.
The team (including Hyatt, Simpson, Davis, Fernandes and others) are being asked to drive into open lanes presented by the defense and create shot opportunities to score, then dish to find another player. No one is preventing anyone from cutting to the open space and finding room to score. It does take time to develop a new offense and new mindset, yet fans want microwave results, 6 games into a season.
I would like to see the fans provide actual objective and real discussions, it's to a point where basketball evaluation and reality is being twisted into ways of the land of make believe. This is big-time basketball and requires a full skill set and options to play multiple styles. Last years slow down style, didn't work over a 4 month timeframe.....thinking about players in last year's context, isn't reality for this year's roster.
