Bazz

[superjohn]

If/when Boatright comes back he should be our point guard. I've thought this for awhile, Shabazz just is not a good point guard. He pounds the ball all game long and never gets us into any sort of offense. He simply can't draw and kick and lacks the lateral quickness. I'm not saying he's a bad player he just shouldn't be our pointguard. He is a really good shooter when he has his feet set and he would get planty of open looks with Boatright's ability to break his man down draw and kick. Bazz's body language and overall court presence stinks right now and there needs to be a change. I'm by no means putting all our struggles on Bazz, our frontcourt has been horrendous, Niels is the only small forward giving us anything and Lamb clearly isn't comfortable. I'll probably get flamed for this but I really feel strongly that if we want to get the most out of this group Bazz can't be the point guard going forward. Now will the NCAA please stop ducking around and clear Boatright.

 

[Burnsbros23]

I agree. The team needs a spunk and a change of pace. A guy who pushes the tempo and looks to get others involved. Now Boatright has a tendency to look for his shot too much but I think if we make him a starter he will look to distribute more. Bazz just doesnt understand how to run an offense. Were not going to be good with him dribbling and shooting contested shots.

 

[nomar]

If/when Boatright comes back he should be our point guard. I've thought this for awhile, Shabazz just is not a good point guard. He pounds the ball all game long and never gets us into any sort of offense. He simply can't draw and kick and lacks the lateral quickness. I'm not saying he's a bad player he just shouldn't be our pointguard. He is a really good shooter when he has his feet set and he would get planty of open looks with Boatright's ability to break his man down draw and kick. Bazz's body language and overall court presence stinks right now and there needs to be a change. I'm by no means putting all our struggles on Bazz, our frontcourt has been horrendous, Niels is the only small forward giving us anything and Lamb clearly isn't comfortable. I'll probably get flamed for this but I really feel strongly that if we want to get the most out of this group Bazz can't be the point guard going forward. Now will the NCAA please stop ducking around and clear Boatright.

I think this is somewhat of an overreaction. He's clearly trying to do too much with Boat out.

But it still amazes me that nobody has coached Shabazz to set his feet and square up. The percentage of his shots that are off-balance is crazy, and I am utterly amazed at the lack of coaching he has apparently received on this.

 

[Lefty2one]

We've never really been a drive-n-kick team. I feel like all we do is pick and roll (which we're absolutely dreadful at) and run Lamb off a million screens.

 

[Huskybass]

Our halfcourt offense is dreadful. This team has lots of talent, but doesn't play well together. VERY disappointing.

 

[James]

Yeah i guess all those nba scouts who consider him the best pg prospect in america should think of a new career. All you lames better be ready to eat crow when shabazz is helping us out later this year.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Im not saying he wont help im just saying he might be better off, off the ball.

 

[ford82]

Shabazz and Jeremy are very talented offensively, but it is clear relying on them to do everything equates to a mediocre team. Right now the will to win isn't there and sometimes it looks like guys are happy with putting up numbers.

 

[James]

in this game, who else should have been setting up the offense? brendan allen? sheesh cut napier some slack, our team is hurting we aint 100%. I do agree napier is a great scoring guard, but the kid is playing unheard of minutes with the ball in his hands ; something he isn't completely used to.

 

[Burnsbros23]

No one said we should of played Brendan Allen over Bazz. Bazz just doesnt know how to balance scoring and running a team.

 

[GavinEdreamy]

Also, what is the alternative to Shabazz? Do you want Boatright to start at PG and start Shabazz at the 2 and Lamb at the 3? Fine, but then who comes off the bench to spell the 1 and 2 spots?

 

[aceboon]

Hard for Bazz to run a team with limited offensive options and guys who don't move to actually get in scoring position. Then the times when they do get set up they blow easy scores like AD last game and Roscoe missing an easy alley oop.

 

[James]

^ exactly. AD takes a lot of terrible shot he would have made if this was a HS game. Lamb is Lamb, he is best however off the ball IMO. Giffey can hit open shots, something Smith and Daniels have yet to learn. AO shows flashes but then disappears and makes egregious defensive errors. Roles will be realized through this hard time.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Yah start

Boat
Bazz
Lamb
AO
AD

When someone needs a rest you bring in Giffey and move Lamb to the two. Have Napier play point some just not all the time.

 

[mauconnfan]

Wow what is everyone missing? Shabazz is the issue? funny ....

Someone please watch the last 2 games and zero in on the big men and let me know if bazz is the real issue here.....we have a couple monsters who seemingly do not work hard enough condistentlt....AO gets caught jogging back on D many times and AD did nothing in a fast or aggressive manner today. Passion cannot be taught or coached you need to have it and for now they ain't got it....

 

[James]

crosses for AD to realize he is faster than any big man in the country. I wish napier would outlet to him better. Cause he runs hard at times. Put me in camp as napier being a pg for the season though. What makes you think a freshman Boatright can run the offense any better?

 

[Burnsbros23]

Shabazz is a ball stopper. When the ball gets in his hand he dribbles or holds it ruins offensive movement. Did the big man play well no not at all. But they didnt get the ball in good positions. I just dont like the way Shabazz runs a team. Didnt think he played well vs cincy didnt think he played well today. Team wont go far with Shabazz as the leading scorer or second leading scorer. We have too much talent and need a PG to get everyone else involved first then worry about his scoring. If people disagree I totally can understand.

 

[Burnsbros23]

We never push the ball up the floor shabazz dribbles is up everytime something we need to change if Bazz can change his style a little great if not we need a change. Im not 100 percent sure Boatright is the answer but I think it might be worth a shot.

 

[aceboon]

Shabazz is a ball stopper. When the ball gets in his hand he dribbles or holds it ruins offensive movement. Did the big man play well no not at all. But they didnt get the ball in good positions. I just dont like the way Shabazz runs a team. Didnt think he played well vs cincy didnt think he played well today. Team wont go far with Shabazz as the leading scorer or second leading scorer. We have too much talent and need a PG to get everyone else involved first then worry about his scoring. If people disagree I totally can understand.

How can they get the ball in good position if they are not getting in position themselves? I don't get it, like mau said you guys have to zero in on the bigmen, they are not working on offense to establish position. AO tries sometimes but he was pretty much x'd out of today's game because of foul trouble, AD does not work at all to establish post position or seal his man so that is usually why he's getting the ball outside the lane and shooting turn around jumpers or getting running starts from a lil bit inside of the foul line. As far as Tyler he never even enters the post and pretty much operates out of the high post exclusively at this point.

 

[James]

All this talent you speak of, what are they doing to get the ball? compare the way the volunteers were setting screens and executed to our 5 on the floor at any given time, no comparison. AD should just be worried about dunking everything, i'm tired of seeing his ugly fade away hook. AO is much better offensively on the post, I see potential there. We could feed him more. DD aint so far, not ready for this level of physicality. Lamb GETS the ball ALOT. all our plays are for him basically.

 

[huskymagic]

Yah start

Boat
Bazz
Lamb
AO
AD

When someone needs a rest you bring in Giffey and move Lamb to the two. Have Napier play point some just not all the time.

What you said is the best remedy for the team and something I have been saying this rotation from from the beginning, and now is this time to do it if this season is t be salvaged. Roscoe, Daniels,and Olander are useless and dont give us anything on the court. We need to play fast and up tempo and let Bazz and Lamb play off the ball to score for us. However the bigger problem is the go to guy/leader of this team that needs to be resolved or found

 

[imno1]

I too will defend Bazz. We only have two guys who can score the ball. Shabazz really doesn't have an option other than JL or himself. Now SN and everyone for that matter needs to play better on the ball D. Too much switching and leaving guys wide open. We could have easily gotten blown out today. I think we need to figure a way to get Gif more shots. He is really our best third option.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Im talking about when Boatright comes back. Im not putting it all of Bazz, but he is the PG. And the offense isnt running well at all. Just think a change at the point could help this team.

 

[superjohn]

Boat, Bazz, Lamb, Oriakhi, Drummond. With Boat getting most of the point guard duties.

 

[jorge34]

Drummond has to play MUCH MUCH better. He is giving them nothing.

Oriakhi has to get his head out of his ass. Seriously. Guy has too much physical skill to be playing like this. AT MINIMUM, he should be dominating the boards.

Lamb started to come out of the funk today, was more aggressive.

Smith and Daniels just have to get better. They are obviously talented. There is upside there to look forward too.

Napier has fallen in love with the dribble....or does he not have a choice, as the movement on offense is terrible? Has to change. Forget this "conserving engery" BS. If they have to play Allen 7 to 10 minutes, and give Lamb and Napier some minutes off, so they can confidently stay aggressive and fresh, DO IT. Better than have them disappear due to fatigue for major portions of the game. I can't get on Napier at all, not with what he is being asked to do.

Sadly, I think they may have to get used to having only 2 guards and a walk-on for quite a long time.