UChusky916
Making the board a little less insufferable
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Messages
- 3,283
- Reaction Score
- 17,251
PG is the most important position in CBB... an extension of the coach on the floor. It's concerning we can't be confident in a Junior to manage back-up PG duties because of his lack of a handle, ball security, and decision-making.
I love Gaff's shooting(3 pt and FT), defense, and ability to attack the rim. But as a PG, the first thing you need to be successful is an above average handle. Gaffney simply does not have that. It was a concern when he got here and it has not improved. I can't recall him ever breaking anyone down off the dribble, or even attempting to.
I've never seen him confidently handling the ball and facing up his man to see the court. Instead, he often puts himself between his man and the ball when dribbling. This really just invites pressure from the defender when he should be the one confidently handling the ball and sizing up the defense. Playing against good defensive guards (MSU/VCU) or teams that press (Auburn) will expose you of you don't have a strong handle, and that was the case this week with Gaffney.
Gaff started off the year strong against the cupcakes, and I thought he'd finally turned a corner. But he was a huge disappointment all 3 games in Atlantis against real competition.
Cole desperately needs some help. The team sorely lacks someone (other than Cole) who can break down a defender off the dribble or create their own shot. You need more than 1 guy who can keep the defense honest and burn you if the defender gets overly aggressive.
Before the season, Hurley must have been confident that Jackson could handle the ball as a pseudo-backup-PG with Gaffney. But neither of those guys is a threat to create their own shot.
I don't know if Diggins is the answer since he couldn't see the floor for a minute.
I'd like to see more of Hawkins. He's not a PG, but his handle is solid and he's got the quickness and athleticism to blow by a defender. While that's asking a lot from a freshman, I think it's time to put as much as we can on this kid's plate to see how special he can be.
I'm resigned to the fact that Gaffney simply is who he is at this point, and can't be trusted to be a second scoring threat off the dribble that this team lacks. Gaffney is certainly serviceable and will have great games this year. But when we need a bucket against good teams, we need a reliable ball handler and consistent 3rd scoring option after Cole and Sanogo.
If the team wants to reach it's ceiling by March, take off the training wheels for Hawkins now, give him more of Gaffney's minutes, and let him develop a better feel for the college game so that by the end of the year, he's the equivalent of special sophomore instead of a freshman.
I love Gaff's shooting(3 pt and FT), defense, and ability to attack the rim. But as a PG, the first thing you need to be successful is an above average handle. Gaffney simply does not have that. It was a concern when he got here and it has not improved. I can't recall him ever breaking anyone down off the dribble, or even attempting to.
I've never seen him confidently handling the ball and facing up his man to see the court. Instead, he often puts himself between his man and the ball when dribbling. This really just invites pressure from the defender when he should be the one confidently handling the ball and sizing up the defense. Playing against good defensive guards (MSU/VCU) or teams that press (Auburn) will expose you of you don't have a strong handle, and that was the case this week with Gaffney.
Gaff started off the year strong against the cupcakes, and I thought he'd finally turned a corner. But he was a huge disappointment all 3 games in Atlantis against real competition.
Cole desperately needs some help. The team sorely lacks someone (other than Cole) who can break down a defender off the dribble or create their own shot. You need more than 1 guy who can keep the defense honest and burn you if the defender gets overly aggressive.
Before the season, Hurley must have been confident that Jackson could handle the ball as a pseudo-backup-PG with Gaffney. But neither of those guys is a threat to create their own shot.
I don't know if Diggins is the answer since he couldn't see the floor for a minute.
I'd like to see more of Hawkins. He's not a PG, but his handle is solid and he's got the quickness and athleticism to blow by a defender. While that's asking a lot from a freshman, I think it's time to put as much as we can on this kid's plate to see how special he can be.
I'm resigned to the fact that Gaffney simply is who he is at this point, and can't be trusted to be a second scoring threat off the dribble that this team lacks. Gaffney is certainly serviceable and will have great games this year. But when we need a bucket against good teams, we need a reliable ball handler and consistent 3rd scoring option after Cole and Sanogo.
If the team wants to reach it's ceiling by March, take off the training wheels for Hawkins now, give him more of Gaffney's minutes, and let him develop a better feel for the college game so that by the end of the year, he's the equivalent of special sophomore instead of a freshman.