AJ | Page 2 | The Boneyard

AJ

ucp990411 said:
People on the chat were dissing AJ quite a bit. OK. he's not an outside threat and does get beat off the dribble too much. Guy had 9 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. What game were these Jackson haters watching? That being said I though Akok was player of the game.
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Not an outside threat, gets beat off the dribble, and can't drive. You've said it all. I'll add, puts himself on an island on both ends of the floor. What you have left is a high flyer who can dunk on breakaways and grab the odd rebound. 11 rebounds is great but we have an entire team that can rebound well. We wouldn't miss those. If he was a monster on the offensive glass and put back missed shots, we'd have something. Instead, we have a guy with a lot to work on and other options that fit better.

AJ's value should be as a swing player who can play effectively at the 2, 3 and 4 and even matchup as a 1 or even a 5. Athletically, he should be a stretch 4, an unstoppable 3, or an outside sniper. In short, he should be a better version of Niels Giffey. Instead, he's a not as good version of Stanley Robinson. Great highlight material but makes more mistakes than winning plays. They lead to fouls against are better players, turnovers, and botched possessions. If I could other him some advice it would be to do less, focus on defending, rebounding, and movement without the ball. Also work on his hands (catching and holding the ball). I don't think he can be a better dribbler, in season. That's an offseason project. We've had a dozen guys like AJ who play 10-12 minutes a game and been positive contributors. Playing him 20-25 is coaching malpractice right now.
 
tcf15 said:
Points aren’t there yet, but he’s averaging 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 block per game so far this year. The last players we had putting up numbers like that across the board were Rudy Gay (05-06, 15.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.6 bog) and Scott Burrell (92-93, 16.1 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.4 spg, 1.1 bpg).
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This is an insane comparison. These two guys were among our leading scorers. If you want a comparison, he is more like Toraino Walker in 91-92 (6.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.6 bpg, 1.5 TOpg). No one is or was pining for Toraino to get more run. Right now, he's a role player that needs to be reined in, yet everyone wants him to be Rudy Gay or Jeremy Lamb. Maybe he gets there, but he's not close right now.
 
SubbaBub said:
Not an outside threat, gets beat off the dribble, and can't drive. You've said it all. I'll add, puts himself on an island on both ends of the floor. What you have left is a high flyer who can dunk on breakaways and grab the odd rebound. 11 rebounds is great but we have an entire team that can rebound well. We wouldn't miss those. If he was a monster on the offensive glass and put back missed shots, we'd have something. Instead, we have a guy with a lot to work on and other options that fit better.

AJ's value should be as a swing player who can play effectively at the 2, 3 and 4 and even matchup as a 1 or even a 5. Athletically, he should be a stretch 4, an unstoppable 3, or an outside sniper. In short, he should be a better version of Niels Giffey. Instead, he's a not as good version of Stanley Robinson. Great highlight material but makes more mistakes than winning plays. They lead to fouls against are better players, turnovers, and botched possessions. If I could other him some advice it would be to do less, focus on defending, rebounding, and movement without the ball. Also work on his hands (catching and holding the ball). I don't think he can be a better dribbler, in season. That's an offseason project. We've had a dozen guys like AJ who play 10-12 minutes a game and been positive contributors. Playing him 20-25 is coaching malpractice right now.
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post/custom title
 
SubbaBub said:
Not an outside threat, gets beat off the dribble, and can't drive. You've said it all. I'll add, puts himself on an island on both ends of the floor. What you have left is a high flyer who can dunk on breakaways and grab the odd rebound. 11 rebounds is great but we have an entire team that can rebound well. We wouldn't miss those. If he was a monster on the offensive glass and put back missed shots, we'd have something. Instead, we have a guy with a lot to work on and other options that fit better.

AJ's value should be as a swing player who can play effectively at the 2, 3 and 4 and even matchup as a 1 or even a 5. Athletically, he should be a stretch 4, an unstoppable 3, or an outside sniper. In short, he should be a better version of Niels Giffey. Instead, he's a not as good version of Stanley Robinson. Great highlight material but makes more mistakes than winning plays. They lead to fouls against are better players, turnovers, and botched possessions. If I could other him some advice it would be to do less, focus on defending, rebounding, and movement without the ball. Also work on his hands (catching and holding the ball). I don't think he can be a better dribbler, in season. That's an offseason project. We've had a dozen guys like AJ who play 10-12 minutes a game and been positive contributors. Playing him 20-25 is coaching malpractice right now.
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this is ridiculous. and then u follow it up with a toraino comp? oh, brother. really ridiculous. make that really, really, ridiculous.
action jackson's shooting challenges were laid out long ago, including the realistic expectation that it shouldn't prevent him from being an opportunistic scorer. on o, his handle is a work in progress to achieve above average results (he's still a 1 assist to 1 turnover stat, yet getting better), but his presence on offense is very important. on d, his being fast but not quick (watch his feet) leads him into the learning curve of a new player on when to move, which comes with experience. he'll get there. on the d glass, his mates treat him a bit like drummund ('he's got it, no worries.' even better, they know that after he gets it, he's the frontcourt guy who can spin, and charge up the floor. noice). overall, on a team with a lot of indispensable players, he's one of them.
 
Candyman34 said:
Like someone said on a podcast I heard maybe Dausters, if AJ could shoot he wouldn’t be at UConn. He would be a 5 star recruit that would be at Kentucky, Duke or G League etc. If he did still come here he would be gone this year or last, again if he was also decent shooter.
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Exactly
 
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ClifSpliffy said:
this is ridiculous. and then u follow it up with a toraino comp? oh, brother. really ridiculous. make that really, really, ridiculous.
action jackson's shooting challenges were laid out long ago, including the realistic expectation that it shouldn't prevent him from being an opportunistic scorer. on o, his handle is a work in progress to achieve above average results (he's still a 1 assist to 1 turnover stat, yet getting better), but his presence on offense is very important. on d, his being fast but not quick (watch his feet) leads him into the learning curve of a new player on when to move, which comes with experience. he'll get there. on the d glass, his mates treat him a bit like drummund ('he's got it, no worries.' even better, they know that after he gets it, he's the frontcourt guy who can spin, and charge up the floor. noice). overall, on a team with a lot of indispensable players, he's one of them.
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If you compare stat lines, you get Toraino. Not my rules. People love flashy play. I'll take winning play.
 
ucp990411 said:
Some people do not get how disruptive he is for an opponet. I would bet that opposing coaches spend more time talking about AJ than any other player.
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The opposing coaches love AJ with the ball. Watch how they play him.
 
ucp990411 said:
Some people do not get how disruptive he is for an opponet. I would bet that opposing coaches spend more time talking about AJ than any other player.
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He deflects balls. Fills passing lanes. He is a pest on defense. Leads the team in rebounds by 30. Is second on the team in steals. 3rd in assists. 4th in blocks. Shoots 75% from the FT line. He is in constant motion. And yes, he does get beat off the dribble occasionally --like every freakin' player in the world.

If you don't SEE what he does for the Huskies on the court, you're wearing your face mask over your eyes.
 
SubbaBub said:
If you compare stat lines, you get Toraino. Not my rules. People love flashy play. I'll take winning play.
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okey doke, i compared stat lines.
soph t-walk, soph aj:
5 ppg (jax almost 7)
almost 6 boards (jax almost 8)
almost 1.5 apg (jax almost 3)
1 steal (jax 1.5)
1/2 blocks per (jax 1)
27% on free throws (jax 75%)


so, pretty much 50% more contribution across the board.
50% more is a pantload.
 
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nelsonmuntz said:
Defense takes time to learn, and AJ is often checking the other teams best guard/wing. Cut him a little slack.
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This aspect has been lost on people. He's never guarding the floor spacer, he's always tasked with handling someone who specializes at creating his own shot. Especially since Martin went down.
 
The best part of being a fan is getting hyped about players. It feels like some of you are so stubborn after an off-season hot take you're rooting AGAINST kids on our team. Complain about the coach all you want... not the 20 year olds playing for the name on the front of the jersey.

No, he isn't the next coming of Rudy Gay. He's still a super dynamic player and fun to watch. He makes our team better and it's obvious to see he's got a lot of great skills. He's a couple bad decisions a game and an average catch n shoot jumpshot away from being an all big-east caliber player. At his current trajectory, he'll be great by senior year. It's obvious.
 
husky429 said:
The best part of being a fan is getting hyped about players. It feels like some of you are so stubborn after an off-season hot take you're rooting AGAINST kids on our team. Complain about the coach all you want... not the 20 year olds playing for the name on the front of the jersey.

No, he isn't the next coming of Rudy Gay. He's still a super dynamic player and fun to watch. He makes our team better and it's obvious to see he's got a lot of great skills. He's a couple bad decisions a game and an average catch n shoot jumpshot away from being an all big-east caliber player. At his current trajectory, he'll be great by senior year. It's obvious.
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Agreed but I think he'll be in the NBA after his junior year.
 
HCCForever said:
What is the wrap that he wears around his midsection when he comes out of the game? I noticed he put this on whenever he went to the bench yesterday.
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Looked like an infrared heating pad. I’m guessing to prevent his back from spasming.
 
Horatio said:
I appreciate what he did today and I’ll take that for the rest of the season. My only question is who was responsible for his basketball development before he got to UCONN and what did they actually do with him???
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I believe I have asked this same thing in past posts. Who worked with him before he got here? No slight on his AAU or HS program.

When you look at his shooting form you get the impression he has a past injury on the right arm/shoulder (kinda of like Michael Kidd Gilchrist - Kentucky). He's lacks a shooting pocket and the semblance of one struggles to fully extend into the shot. At his age, he may want to inquire into the routine of Lonzo Ball who had one of the worst shooting forms ever. He rehabbed that form and shot over the course of two seasons and now he's dependable for 3 in the corner for the young Bulls.
 
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Positives:
  • elite athleticism and leaping ability that shows up on the boards
  • crafty passer/playmaker
  • occasional highlight-reel dunks/blocks ("still only counts for 2", but those momentum plays do matter)


Negatives:
  • can't shoot, refuses to shoot, and everyone knows it
  • does more tapping the ball than grabbing it, which usually ends up OOB or in the opponents' hands
  • poor lateral movement, easily beat off the dribble and doesn't recover

Like everyone else, if he can keep doing what he does well and minimize the harm from what he does poorly, we'll be a very dangerous and versatile team.
 
NBA talent. athletic at the wing , can defend multiple positions and hits free throws
 
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DaveHuskiesFan said:
Advance statistics have him as the #1 defensive player in the Big East and top 20 in the country, but you’re all right, he can’t defend.
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Not that I don't believe you, but I am curious which stat/s that is?
 
navery12 said:
DBPM has Jackson at 5.1 which is 4th in the Big East and he's at 1.0 DWS which is 1st in the Big East. Not sure where those rank nationally though
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DaveHuskiesFan said:
I was using defensive ratings and DWS. 1.0 DWS is 6th nationally
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Do either of the stats take rebounding into account? I still think this matches the eye test with his team defense either way.
 
Jackson Defense:

The good- Great defensive rebounder, very good with tips/deflections, very good shot blocker for a wing player.
The bad- Loses his man a bunch and is very susceptible to getting back doored on passes. I tend to think Hurley is okay with this since he rarely pulls Jackson when he gets beat back door. I think Hurley feels benefit of aggressiveness outweighs the times Jax gets burned.

Jackson Offense:

Still a work in progress.

The good- so fast and powerful when he wants to be getting to the rim. Similar to Bouk, he can just open up so much room between he and the defender in one step. Been real good with FT's. Still a gifted passer but others have said, keep is simple when simple will do it for you.
The bad- more than having suspect J is his reluctance to look for his shot when the offensive sets scream for it or when shot clock is winding down.


Looking to next year. I'd love to see Hurley and the staff work with Jackson on a post up game. Not as a primary option but during the flow run some baseline screens to free up Jackson near the block. His size and strength scream for a pretty 6'-8' turn around J off the glass. You could almost, gawd I hate what I am about to write, try to run the offense through him on the blocks finding cutters, kicking it out to wings or shooting from in close.
 
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