JMike

[LeapinLou]

Michigan's game plan was simple. Don't let Ace Bailey beat us. Let the rest of the team try.

To JMike's credit, he played great and made more than half of the wide open shots Michigan let him take. But I don't think for a minute that JMike's role on this team should change. He should remain a high energy ball distributor that plays great defense. When he shoots, it plays into the hands of the opponent.

 

[RUChoppin]

I mean that’s just JMike not being able to score the basketball, which feels like his only flaw as a player right now apart from maybe physical stature

I liked what he was doing vs. Michigan, though. He wasn't fighting into the trees, and he was using his speed to draw fouls on penetration. He needs to do a better job hiding the ball and not telegraphing on layups given his size disadvantage. He's going to get a lot more burn the next couple of games with Harper out, and against tough competition - hopefully this stretch will pay dividends next year.

 

[dbegleiter]

He has definitely been a winning player the last 2 games. Hopefully he can maintain some consistency now

 

[Scangg]

Michigan's game plan was simple. Don't let Ace Bailey beat us. Let the rest of the team try.

To JMike's credit, he played great and made more than half of the wide open shots Michigan let him take. But I don't think for a minute that JMike's role on this team should change. He should remain a high energy ball distributor that plays great defense. When he shoots, it plays into the hands of the opponent.

Agree to a point but if JMike is wide open he has to shoot it in rhythm. If he feels off shooting he can attack and try to finish or dish, but he has to make something happen if he's left wide open or we are playing 4 on 5

 

[RW90]

When he shoots, it plays into the hands of the opponent.

One can say this about most on our roster. And someone needs to drill this into the head of Sommerville outside the three point arc in particular.

 

[lion1983]

If you don’t play much you don’t turn over the ball?

Last two games have been his best and seems to be improving. Well done!

But:

Might want to re check MSU, PSU, Neb, UCLA, Purdue box scores and minutes played before the grand pronouncements of not turning the ball over.

Michigan was odd we turned over the ball way too much in the first half. A different team in the second half. Who knows. Maybe nice coaching adjustments by Pike?

There are also forced shots and FORCED SHOTS. Ya hear what I’m saying?

He’s played pretty well last two games. Finally hit some threes. And Didn’t turn the ball over. Defense intensity was turned up a notch, especially on break away dunk. Something we haven’t seen this year.

Maybe confidence up. Good for him!

But victory laps by posters…. Mmmm might to rethink that!

FIRST ... I provided per 40-minute stats also, which would even out the "minutes" played argument. And RU Choppin gave the per 100 possessions stats ... by either measure Davis has been OUTSTANDING taking care of the ball.

Second, he had a TOTAL of 4 turnovers combined against MSU, PSU, Nebraska, UCLA and Purdue, in 73 total minutes, with 3 coming against Purdue - his ONLY game all season with more than 2 turnovers, FYI ... had 1 turnover vs UCLA. Had ZERO (0) turnovers against Nebraska, PSU and MSU. So ... you seemed to pick 5 consecutive games in which Davis was relegated to a lesser role, which is fine. But even then his performance as regards TURNOVERS is still very good ... He did have 4 turnovers combined in 2 consecutive games, in 38 minutes combined, vs Purdue and UCLA, his worst 2-game stretch of turnovers, tied with 4 turnovers combined in 2 consecutive games in December, vs PSU and SHU - where he also had 38 minutes in those 2 games combined. Yet, over the course of THREE (3) consecutive games of @Nebraska, @Penn St and MSU at MSG, he played a total of 36 minutes and had ZERO (0!!) turnovers.

Third, you conveniently omit the 14 (yes, 14!) games of the 22 he has played in which he has NOT committed a single turnover - that is quite exceptional, frankly, especially since when he IS in he IS mainly the PG. He played a total of 253 minutes in those 14 games - ALL without a SINGLE turnover.

Fourth, in the last 4 games, not just 2, Davis has played a total of 79-80 minutes, and has 13 assists and 1 turnover ... On a 40-minute basis, that is 6.5 assists/40 minutes and 0.5 turnovers/40 minutes.

Fifth, I am not sure why you singled out the 5 consecutive games you did, other than that Davis played fewer minutes. But at least regarding turnovers, Davis did well anyway. Coming into their games with RU, UCAL averaged forcing 17.5 turnovers per game: Davis had just 1 turnover in 18 minutes ... Nebraska averaged forcing 14 turnovers per game: Davis had 0 turnovers in 12 minutes ... PSU averaged forcing 16 turnovers per game: Davis had 0 turnovers in 11 minutes ... MSU actually does not force that many turnovers, just 12 per game: Davis had 0 turnovers in 12 minutes. I would point out that NW averages forcing 14 turnovers per game: Davis had, drumroll, 1 in 25 minutes. And Michigan does not force many, just 12 per game: Davis played 30-31 minutes and had 0 turnovers.

Sixth, I am not saying what Davis has done over the last 2 games is sustainable - it is WAY too small a sample size, and he is NOT a dependable or reliable shooter or scorer ... and he had a career game scoring against Michigan - that should not be expected to be the norm. What I AM saying is that if you look at his 22 games this season, it is BETTER than Simpson's Sophomore season (last year) by a WIDE margin: Comparing Sophomores to Sophomores. You could make a case that other than POINTS, Davis is currently the better - or maybe similar in overall performance - player than Simpson, even now, in Simpson's Junior season. Simpson does score more ... and is a better FT shooter and a slightly better rebounder. But Davis is actually as good a shooter, generally (better from 2, catching up with 3 though still behind), close in assists, and MUCH better assist to turnover ratio ... similar in steals.

No victory laps - but Davis is much improved from early in the season. And because he is still just a sophomore, why should we not expect for him to get even better? By the way, any improvement is unlikely to be in a straight line (meaning like any player, Davis is likely ot have some clunkers, still).

 

[G- RUnit]

Hmmm shouldn’t we have thought Simpson as a sophomore would get benefit of doubt. I don’t recall him getting that benefit.
Slightly better rebounder? Simpson triples Davis rebounding. 4.4 to 1.3
Steals Simpson leading.
Simpson and Davis identical shooting percentage from field.
Simpson much better from three and the line.
Wonder how Simpson would have done with assists with Ace? Anybody on St.Joes as good as Ace or Dylan? I do wonder how Simpson might have done. Will never know.
Does sound like a victory lap after two games.
Glad JMike improving. But lots of cherry picking stats too if being truthful.

 

[goru7]

Hmmm shouldn’t we have thought Simpson as a sophomore would get benefit of doubt. I don’t recall him getting that benefit.
Slightly better rebounder? Simpson triples Davis rebounding. 4.4 to 1.3
Steals Simpson leading.
Simpson and Davis identical shooting percentage from field.
Simpson much better from three and the line.
Wonder how Simpson would have done with assists with Ace? Anybody on St.Joes as good as Ace or Dylan? I do wonder how Simpson might have done. Will never know.
Does sound like a victory lap after two games.
Glad JMike improving. But lots of cherry picking stats too if being truthful.

Let’s put this JMike and Derek debate to bed. Up until the last 2 games and maybe the Penn State home game , which I guess I will give him the benefit of the doubt , JMike has been terribly disappointing this year. Those people clamoring for him just to play defense and pass for most of the year that was a disaster. His defense and specifically ball pressure on the opposing point guard so the other team could not get in their sets was severely lacking and he was getting beat off the dribble. His shooting was sub par and he still drove into trees to get blocked with the other team getting a run out in transition and he continued to miss layups when he had a one and one defender on the break.
Remarkably he has passed the ball a lot better and even more remarkably he has shot the ball better in the last 2 games of our 22. His defense against Michigan was the best it was all year putting real pressure on Donaldson and their other guard. It was his first complete game of his career. Doubtful we get anything close the rest of the year but even half of it , 10 points , 4 assists , excellent ball pressure defense , fighting over screens which he has been terrible at all year ( Princeton ) , hit a three when wide open and the ball is swung to him by ACE or anyone else. I will take that effort. It was missing for 20 games. So let’s not cannonize him but hope he has turned the corner for this stretch run.

Derek from the numbers that have posted has had a mediocre year at St. Joes . I was a huge fan and supporter last year until I couldn’t be any longer. His clanking one mid range shot after another normally wide open , game after game , , led to me concluding he just couldn’t be a starting guard for us and not sure he needed to be here. Hopeful Pike could have brought in shooters on the portal. Bad break with Acuff’s foot injury blew up that idea , but maybe after the last 2 games , Acuff can be the difference maker down the stretch. Jordan has been just terrible shooting the ball so that hasn’t helped either but Jordan at least drives to the basket drawing fouls. Jordan’s problem is he tries to do too much. One good play is followed by 2 bad plays. The inconsistency is so frustrating as evidenced by his 26 point game against MSU followed by 5 points against Michigan.
So neither JMike nor the transfer replacements have made a difference and Derek likely would not have as well. Hope Derek can turn around his slump and finish strong for St. Joes and hope JMike can continue his production and defense in the last 2 games as well as Acuff and Jordan becoming more consistent and help us get some wins.

 

[fluoxetine]

Okay, I’m a little mad about this thread because now I cannot say the Simpson derails are always GRUnit’s fault lol

 

[G- RUnit]

Okay, I’m a little mad about this thread because now I cannot say the Simpson derails are always GRUnit’s fault lol

Bless you Flux!