Brendan Adams pros/cons

[businesslawyer]

Adams is a somewhat limited player in terms of raw talent and athleticism for his size. On the other hand, remember the first half of last season, where it's only the guys willing to risk taking it upon themselves on offense who keep us from shot clock violations every possession? Polley isn't taking anyone 1 on 1. Neither is Gaffney. Neither is Adama. Neither is Whalley. Neither is Jackson, at least yet. That leaves Bouk, and maybe Cole, although we'll see how much he can do on his own against high D-1 competition.

Someone besides Bouk has to be willing to take people off the dribble for the offense to open up for everyone else. Yeah, yesterday Adams had a bad shooting game, but he is going to keep playing until we consistently have 3 other guys who can do a better job at that role than he does.

 

[Chief00]

They played Hartford and Central and Thanksgiving was yesterday. I just think it's way too early for these kind of threads, even in this duck___ up season.

I purposively tried to avoid the Adams topic in the popular Chief’s Briefs thread. Let’s get some data points first and we have missed lots of it practice. Sure he went 1-7 and played poorly, but he was good on Wednesday.

 

[Chief00]

Adams is a somewhat limited player in terms of raw talent and athleticism for his size. On the other hand, remember the first half of last season, where it's only the guys willing to risk taking it upon themselves on offense who keep us from shot clock violations every possession? Polley isn't taking anyone 1 on 1. Neither is Polley. Neither is Adama. Neither is Whalley. Neither is Jackson, at least yet. That leaves Bouk, and maybe Cole, although we'll see how much he can do on his own against high D-1 competition.

Someone besides Bouk has to be willing to take people off the dribble for the offense to open up for everyone else. Yeah, yesterday Adams had a bad shooting game, but he is going to keep playing until we consistently have 3 other guys who can do a better job at that role than he does.

That’s a major concern and why we recruited both a PG and 2G. I think if Jackson can improve his shot (but full benefit wouldn’t be until next season) he could be good off the dribble in half court as he is in full court now. He’s probably our best passer in terms of ability right now, but a little sloppy.

 

[Dooooooomed]

Adams may very well be a hit or miss kind of player. That's fine, and he should get minutes, but if it's a miss game, Hurley needs to recognize such and pull him.

 

[businesslawyer]

Adams may very well be a hit or miss kind of player. That's fine, and he should get minutes, but if it's a miss game, Hurley needs to recognize such and pull him.

And who did you all want to get those minutes? Bouk fouled out, Cole had 4 and AJ had 3 in 5 lousy minutes.

 

[Dooooooomed]

And who did you all want to get those minutes? Bouk fouled out, Cole had 4 and AJ had 3 in 5 lousy minutes.

He was not performing prior to the foul troubles...

 

[Arod18]

Okay. Let's have the Adams discussion.

People were upset at his play tonight. And I think it's certainly justifiable. He missed a couple bunnies. He didn't hit any of his 3's. He fouled a 3 point shooter and had a few comical arms-waving contests.

But here's what I (and I think Hurley) will come back to. He plays hard. He cares. He tries to make plays. He plays great perimeter defense (almost always).

There was a play mid first half where Hartford had a fast-break. Adams stopped ball around the free throw line, read the pass to the wing and flew out and contested the shot. No one else on the team makes that defensive play.

In the 2nd half, Adams got a pass from Bouk on the left wing, sized up his defender and went by him and missed the contested runner. People were screaming to take him out, but I'm screaming "Nice take." We need guys that are dynamic. We needs guys that take their guy off the dribble when they have a mismatch or advantage. Even more, we need guys that GENERATE the advantage. The last few years we've had guys that don't actually do anything. They don't make the flashy bad plays so everyone thinks they're underrated or steady, when it's actually the opposite. They don't contribute to a high major D1 team winning. If you're not making a play, you're not contributing. The opportunity cost is someone else who is dynamic making a play.

I don't think Adams' offensive skills match up to his mindset yet. But I really like his mindset. I wish everyone on our team had his mindset and effort level. I think Jackson and Adams are similar in that way. Jackson has more physical talent and is better at playmaking for others, but his shot is even worse than Adams' and is still figuring out the team defensive concept. The team needs one of the two of them to take another step forward to play consistently alongside Bouk and Martin on the wing for us to be able to compete at the top of the Big East.

He needs to understand his role on this team. Right now he clearly doesn’t and it’s hurting the team and frankly his own game. He’s a complimentary player. Not one that will win us the game.

 

[mauconnfan]

And who did you all want to get those minutes? Bouk fouled out, Cole had 4 and AJ had 3 in 5 lousy minutes.

Anyone but him for 24 yesterday BL. There’s lots of ways to mix and match that roster into trying to find someone who deserved many of his minutes last night. Like I said the Adams against CCSU deserved minutes last night 24 was wayyy too much for his play he did nothing well. As said above he’s hit or miss.

 

[hardcorehusky]

IMO, Adams is limited as a player. The positive is he can score in bunches but he isn't crashing the board and because of his limited athleticism, can be beaten down by defenders. He hasn't show to be a good passer. To me, he is a spark off the bench- if he isn't hitting his shots, he is a liability out there. However, he embodies what Hurley wants attitude wise so he gets the benefit of the doubt and will always play more than most fans think he should. Good for him.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Okay. Let's have the Adams discussion.

People were upset at his play tonight. And I think it's certainly justifiable. He missed a couple bunnies. He didn't hit any of his 3's. He fouled a 3 point shooter and had a few comical arms-waving contests.

But here's what I (and I think Hurley) will come back to. He plays hard. He cares. He tries to make plays. He plays great perimeter defense (almost always).

There was a play mid first half where Hartford had a fast-break. Adams stopped ball around the free throw line, read the pass to the wing and flew out and contested the shot. No one else on the team makes that defensive play.

In the 2nd half, Adams got a pass from Bouk on the left wing, sized up his defender and went by him and missed the contested runner. People were screaming to take him out, but I'm screaming "Nice take." We need guys that are dynamic. We needs guys that take their guy off the dribble when they have a mismatch or advantage. Even more, we need guys that GENERATE the advantage. The last few years we've had guys that don't actually do anything. They don't make the flashy bad plays so everyone thinks they're underrated or steady, when it's actually the opposite. They don't contribute to a high major D1 team winning. If you're not making a play, you're not contributing. The opportunity cost is someone else who is dynamic making a play.

I don't think Adams' offensive skills match up to his mindset yet. But I really like his mindset. I wish everyone on our team had his mindset and effort level. I think Jackson and Adams are similar in that way. Jackson has more physical talent and is better at playmaking for others, but his shot is even worse than Adams' and is still figuring out the team defensive concept. The team needs one of the two of them to take another step forward to play consistently alongside Bouk and Martin on the wing for us to be able to compete at the top of the Big East.

Not a big deal. He is who hes been his first two years here. Come conference play his minutes will decrease and he may see no action in some games.

 

[MexicoHusky]

Adams has good size, strength and athleticism. Combined with pretty decent all around game. His all around physical abilities are his pros.

 

[uconngb]

Adams may very well be a hit or miss kind of player. That's fine, and he should get minutes, but if it's a miss game, Hurley needs to recognize such and pull him.

This is the answer. Hurley needs to recognize his inconsistent tendencies and when he’s off, he shouldn’t get the minutes.

 

[Fishy]

Good player....bad game.

Felt like he tried to do way, way, waaaayyyyyyy too much.

I get it, though. There are a lot of players vying for time and he just tried too hard.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

If Adams just stops doing one thing, aggressively driving to the hoop, he’d be a plus player.

How many times have we watched him drive to the hoop, bowling over opposing players and getting called for a charge? And then holding his arms up giving a WTF stare at the officials?

And as a side note, has he ever made a layup while getting fouled? Not that I recall.

And, on his way to the hoop, if he isn’t bowling over defenders, or blowing a “and 1”, then he’s either getting stripped or his shot swatted into the third row.

Just stop driving all the way to the hoop. Find the open man or take the pull-up jumper.

 

[NJHusky]

Adams just needs to play with the same mindset, but he should be focused on creating for others more on offense early on instead of looking for his own shot. his scoring will come more naturally if he plays unselfish

Agree. But when he didn’t give the ball up to Sanogo on the break it shows you his mindset is scoring not assisting.

 

[mauconnfan]

Agree. But when he didn’t give the ball up to Sanogo on the break it shows you his mindset is scoring not assisting.

Bingo!! Didn’t like that at all.

 

[SubbaBub]

I think we are better with him in the game with Gaff and Bouk than with anyone else. Not sorry.

 

[Umami Zen]

IMO..Adams is not a PG or a SF/wing.. He's a two or a CG His PT will be dictated by fouls/match ups/injuries/superior defense? etc.. DH has some pretty good options at SG/CG.. Got some help on the way with JHawk.. He's a great guy to have coming off the bench.. In the locker room.. Needs to go with the flow.. And yes.. He can help win games and provide valuable bench depth..

 

[Psolo12]

I think we are better with him in the game with Gaff and Bouk than with anyone else. Not sorry.

Better than cole?

 

[fatlucy]

I think we are better with him in the game with Gaff and Bouk than with anyone else. Not sorry.

Stop. This is not thinking.

 

[crazyUCfan23]

I think Adams is just one of those guys who if he learns to play with more control and self-restraint, will be a great contributor off the bench. Rewatching the central game, it was nice he put up 15 pts and made three 3's but he still had quite a few forced shots/takes. However, you're more willing to accept these mistakes when he's putting up some numbers.

 

[hardcorehusky]

His worth will be in an off the bench 3 point specialist. He does that, he'll continue with good opportunities. If he doesn't hit that shot, then he comes in only when someone is in foul trouble.