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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy
Guest
i honestly have no idea what the outcome of tonight will be. I expect to start seeing more zones since we cannot shoot
I think Penn State, Wisconsin, and SHU did fine without a zone. A team is not going to change what they do because of Rutgers.
pretty much every team plays some zone. Depending on the coach its different % of the time.
I think coaches are stupid if they don't increase the % of time in a zone against us, but what do I know.
I thought the spread would be a little higher with the return of Bridges for MSU. And, PSU did play some zone against RU on Sunday. Who wouldn't play at least some zone against our brick-laying outside shooting?
despite the egg we laid last game, our inside game has not been bad (albeit against lesser competition). Our FG % in the paint was nothing to sneeze at. Why not completely shut that down and make us shoot from 12 feet and out? Again , I'm no master basketball strategist, but I'd absolutely force us to shoot from outside, until we show that we are making shots or beating the zone
MSU struggled with some lesser teams earlier in the year so I think thats why Vegas is hedging but they found themselves in the last two games. I would take MSU here and lay the points
Here's my assessment about our shooting, and it's true of almost all slumping or otherwise poor shooters: when watching a game, pay attention to the arc of the ball, which starts with the legs. Good shooters have plenty of arc, which not only reduces the chances of being blocked, but is a better angle for the ball to go in the hole. Last game, for instance, when Gettys got the ball down low, he shot it flat and he missed consistently. He shot one from beyond the free-throw line, and it was also flat. The players all seemed tired in the PSU game, and it reflected in the arc they had their shots. With this in mind:
1) Thiam, as good a shooter as he is in practice, is being guarded by quick and long defenders, so he has to rush his shot as compared to his regular rhythm, He is still adjusting to this, but when he begins to use his legs and arms in a quicker motion and a higher arc, it will go in a lot more. This will give him confidence and generate a virtuous cycle.
2) Gettys has a nice touch for a big man, but if the B1G grind wears him down, he'll shoot flatfooted and his percentage will go down. His jump-hook typically has a good arc, and it's a good shot for him.
3) Johnson has the tools to shoot well, and typically uses his legs well when he shoots, but last game was just not his game. A few airballs and other things.
4) Corey--I have no idea. He has the hops and has a solid arc on his shot, but I think the combination of playing intense defense (probably for the first time since Jordan didn't stress defense) is challenging his stamina and focus on the offensive side. (BTW, this is why it was amazing that Michael Jordan was the best offensive player in the game but also made the all-defensive team every year.)
5) Freeman--I would like to see him early in the game, when he gets the ball in the low post, just turn and shoot immediately rather than try his standard variety of fakes (usually going left). From film, defenders know he doesn't shoot right away, so it's easy for help to trap him, which so often results in an odd-angle shot. If he gets the defender thinking he's gonna shoot right away, the defender will have to play him tighter and Deshawn can lean in and draw more fouls. (Larry Bird was a master of mixing his shots up like this, and when you see Larry's shot, even though he was 6'10", it had a high arc, and it started with his legs.)
6) Mike Williams right now has the best fundamentals on his shot. When he catches the ball he has a quick release, but he doesn't sacrifice mechanics. he worked on his shot A LOT since last year, and it shows. His three-point catch-and-shoot is a good motion, and his arc is as good as it gets. This is as much about conditioning as anything. Watch guys at the end of games and those who are making them are still elevating on their shot, which results in a higher arc. Watch guys who are missing them and they are using more arm than legs, and that throws off their shot.
Net-net (no pun intended), if we want to become a good shooting team, we have to have the mechanics, the conditioning, and the confidence. A lot of this can be reversed engineered from the arc.
Check out these two shooters from one of the first three-point contests at the all-star break:
1. Offensive rebounds
2. Why make your win probability based on RUTGERS shooting the basketball?
3. Most man primary teams aren't as proficient playing zone.
2. Why make your win probability based on RUTGERS shooting the basketball?
3. Most man primary teams aren't as proficient playing zone.
Corey reminds me of Corey Chandler so so so much re jump shot. Super athletic kid, stroke looks clean coming out of his hand, able to get of shot at will, but come game time it never ever falls.
I used to shoot around at the barn with Corey C. and I swear the kid hardly ever missed inside 30 feet.
I used to shoot around at the barn with Corey C. and I swear the kid hardly ever missed inside 30 feet.
