Gibbs and his role

[gtcam]

I know there have been many many posts concerning SG
I am one of many who cheered at his enrollment at UConn but became somewhat disappointed at the total package as the 2015-16 year unfolded
I realize that he has done some positive things and am not sure UConn would be where they are right now without him.
With that being said, I am hoping that his role, during this tourney run will be better defined.
I am hoping that he is used as a pure 2 - off the ball, looking for his shot in the areas he has the best success ration. He needs to run off the ball to keep his defender away from JA and a double team.
I am hoping that KO keeps the ball handling responsibilities away from SG and only to be used in a last option - not the first option with under 2 minutes left in half/game or with the shot clock under 5 seconds.
I am not an SG hater but I do think he puts the team at a disadvantage when used as PG.
I know he can play and he can score but his role at Seton Hall does not easily transfer to UConn.
IF KO can get this under control, in my opinion, the chances for a real nice run improve.

 

[tykurez]

I think we saw a lot of that in the AAC tournament and I think that's what we'll see in the NCAA tournament.

Look, Gibbs is going to start. He can't be used as a pure 2-guard the entire game, because Jalen can't play the entire game (well, maybe he can ... but he's still a freshman.) We only have two point guards (sorry Sam!) and they're both going to need a breather at some point. I think we've seen Gibbs playing much more under control recently and not trying to do more than he's capable of.

 

[nomar]

I know there have been many many posts concerning SG
I am one of many who cheered at his enrollment at UConn but became somewhat disappointed at the total package as the 2015-16 year unfolded
I realize that he has done some positive things and am not sure UConn would be where they are right now without him.
With that being said, I am hoping that his role, during this tourney run will be better defined.
I am hoping that he is used as a pure 2 - off the ball, looking for his shot in the areas he has the best success ration. He needs to run off the ball to keep his defender away from JA and a double team.
I am hoping that KO keeps the ball handling responsibilities away from SG and only to be used in a last option - not the first option with under 2 minutes left in half/game or with the shot clock under 5 seconds.
I am not an SG hater but I do think he puts the team at a disadvantage when used as PG.
I know he can play and he can score but his role at Seton Hall does not easily transfer to UConn.
IF KO can get this under control, in my opinion, the chances for a real nice run improve.

I refused to acknowledge the reality for a long time, but I'm finally there. He's a 40% 3-point shooter who can handle the ball and defend. That's all great. But he can't initiate offense and far from him being the closer I was hoping he'd be, based on his heroics last season, he's become our #3 option to have the ball with the clock winding down. I'm OK with it now.

 

[BoatShow]

He needs to do 2 things. Catch and shoot.

 

[pnow15]

Gibbs role is clearly defined. He is a turnaround specialist. No player in the universe can turn a wide open lay up for UConn into a three point opportunity for the other team as quickly as Gibbs. And he does it three times a game, often switching off with Purvis.
Yet, somehow Ollie has the patience to stay with this kid until he hits an open three. If Gibbs hits every three for the rest of his UConn career, he will break about even. His major strength appears to be able to dribble down that shot clock and then tossing a pass to someone who is covered with no time left to shoot. This is not an easy skill to acquire. Most guys screw up and leave five or so seconds on the clock.

 

[tykurez]

Gibbs role is clearly defined. He is a turnaround specialist. No player in the universe can turn a wide open lay up for UConn into a three point opportunity for the other team as quickly as Gibbs. And he does it three times a game, often switching off with Purvis.
Yet, somehow Ollie has the patience to stay with this kid until he hits an open three. If Gibbs hits every three for the rest of his UConn career, he will break about even. His major strength appears to be able to dribble down that shot clock and then tossing a pass to someone who is covered with no time left to shoot. This is not an easy skill to acquire. Most guys screw up and leave five or so seconds on the clock.

Really clever stuff ... and I mean really clever.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Here's his role on the team

1. Bring ball up court after made baskets
2. Catch and shoot 3's
3. Catch and shoot layups on fast breaks
4. Make FT's
5. Stay in front of man

What he shouldn't ever do

1. Try and drive on his man to the hole
2. Try and dribble length of court for layup
3. Touch ball with 10 seconds or less on shot clock

That's it. The ratio of doing the top 5 and avoiding the bottom 3 is an indicator of success for the team.

 

[Marat]

Here's his role on the team

1. Bring ball up court after made baskets
2. Catch and shoot 3's
3. Catch and shoot layups on fast breaks
4. Make FT's
5. Stay in front of man

What he shouldn't ever do

1. Try and drive on his man to the hole
2. Try and dribble length of court for layup
3. Touch ball with 10 seconds or less on shot clock

That's it. The ratio of doing the top 5 and avoiding the bottom 3 is an indicator of success for the team.

Very well said!

 

[uchusky32]

He needs to do 2 things. Catch and shoot.

3 things, add hand Jalen the ball

 

[Onions]

Here's what SG doesn't do - he doesn't turn the ball over. He averages 33 minutes a game and 1.5 turn overs a game and nobody on the squad is close to those numbers. He's not a true point guard and I'm terrified of him handling the ball as the shot clock winds down, BUT he doesn't make stupid lazy passes, he treats the ball with the respect it deserves, and he at least makes an attempt to get the ball down low when Miller's posting up - 3 qualities that are unique to him on this years squad - so how about we appreciate what he can do instead of whimpering about what he can't do. Oh yeah, and he shoots about 39% from three.

 

[nomar]

Here's what SG doesn't do - he doesn't turn the ball over. He averages 33 minutes a game and 1.5 turn overs a game and nobody on the squad is close to those numbers. He's not a true point guard and I'm terrified of him handling the ball as the shot clock winds down, BUT he doesn't make stupid lazy passes, he treats the ball with the respect it deserves, and he at least makes an attempt to get the ball down low when Miller's posting up - 3 qualities that are unique to him on this years squad - so how about we appreciate what he can do instead of whimpering about what he can't do. Oh yeah, and he shoots about 39% from three.

I agree, and it's not at all invalidated by anecdote, but that left-handed pass into 2 defenders during the Cincy game...woof.

Someone (Fishy? Gurley?) said only half-jokingly during the game thread that it may have been the first pass ever attempted that could have been intercepted by all 5 players on the opposing team.

The problem in that particular situation -- and I think we're all in agreement here -- is that the shot clock was running down.

 

[Waquoit]

A few weeks ago Netflix sent me the 1999 Championship game DVD. I hadn't watched it all the way through in awhile. The Alaskan Assassin was killing us by burying every three he took when he just caught and shoot. When he tried to make a play late by dribbling, he embarrassed himself. Gibbs should use that as his role model. (Just the good stuff I mean).

 

[DALTX]

"With this team now, we have all the tools to be able to get to the NCAA Tournament and make a run at it. ... The sky's the limit, as long as we lock in."

-- Gibbs, 10 months ago

 

[HooperScooper]

I know there have been many many posts concerning SG
I am one of many who cheered at his enrollment at UConn but became somewhat disappointed at the total package as the 2015-16 year unfolded
I realize that he has done some positive things and am not sure UConn would be where they are right now without him.
With that being said, I am hoping that his role, during this tourney run will be better defined.
I am hoping that he is used as a pure 2 - off the ball, looking for his shot in the areas he has the best success ration. He needs to run off the ball to keep his defender away from JA and a double team.
I am hoping that KO keeps the ball handling responsibilities away from SG and only to be used in a last option - not the first option with under 2 minutes left in half/game or with the shot clock under 5 seconds.
I am not an SG hater but I do think he puts the team at a disadvantage when used as PG.
I know he can play and he can score but his role at Seton Hall does not easily transfer to UConn.
IF KO can get this under control, in my opinion, the chances for a real nice run improve.

While I agree with this, it's pretty late in the season to be making adjustments like this. Can they do it so quickly and play well at this point? I still don't know why KO didn't make that adjustment much earlier. Maybe he didn't think Adams was ready to take on a bigger role. I'll be curious to see how KO plays it tomorrow. Colorado supposedly allows dribble penetration easily. That's Adams' forte and not Gibbs'.

 

[Chin Diesel]

While I agree with this, it's pretty late in the season to be making adjustments like this. Can they do it so quickly and play well at this point? I still don't know why KO didn't make that adjustment much earlier. Maybe he didn't think Adams was ready to take on a bigger role. I'll be curious to see how KO plays it tomorrow. Colorado supposedly allows dribble penetration easily. That's Adams' forte and not Gibbs'.

Play both of them. If they don't stop Adams, it's a layup. And Adams is a good layupper. Most of the other guards are bad layuppers- if they even make it to the rim.

If they help on Adams, it's a kick out to an open Gibbs or Purvis. And they're more gooder at shooting spot up J's than they are at layupping.

 

[dtrumpet]

If Hamilton continues to play well, he should draw enough defensive attention in the lane to get Gibbs the open catch and shoot 3's that is the strongest part of his game.

 

[selles]

Here's what SG doesn't do - he doesn't turn the ball over. He averages 33 minutes a game and 1.5 turn overs a game and nobody on the squad is close to those numbers. He's not a true point guard and I'm terrified of him handling the ball as the shot clock winds down, BUT he doesn't make stupid lazy passes, he treats the ball with the respect it deserves, and he at least makes an attempt to get the ball down low when Miller's posting up - 3 qualities that are unique to him on this years squad - so how about we appreciate what he can do instead of whimpering about what he can't do. Oh yeah, and he shoots about 39% from three.

Good post. I'd add that his defense has improved by leaps and bounds from the beginning of the year to now. His defense in the conference tournament was tremendous.

 

[UConnStats]

Here's his role on the team

1. Bring ball up court after made baskets
2. Catch and shoot 3's
3. Catch and shoot layups on fast breaks
4. Make FT's
5. Stay in front of man

What he shouldn't ever do

1. Try and drive on his man to the hole
2. Try and dribble length of court for layup
3. Touch ball with 10 seconds or less on shot clock

That's it. The ratio of doing the top 5 and avoiding the bottom 3 is an indicator of success for the team.

I'd be fine with his driving if he was going to kick it out to someone on the wing or make an interior pass, but it seems like 80% of the time he's just getting blocked.

Also he has a solid handle, but his dribble moves never create separation, they just drain our shot clock. This happened in the second half of the Memphis game more so than the earlier games in the tournament.

He has been doing much better lately when in the spot up role, so I hope he embraces it still in the tournament and keeps hitting his shots.

 

[Marat]

...
Also he has a solid handle, but his dribble moves never create separation, they just drain our shot clock. This happened in the second half of the Memphis game more so than the earlier games in the tournament.
...

It seems that several times, the ball was passed to him (from Calhoun, etc..) as the clock was winding down and Gibbs was forced into that situation. Its also on the other players to realize that.

Hamilton, Adams, or Miller should get the ball with 10 seconds or less on the shot clock.

 

[Palatine]

He needs to do 2 things. Catch and shoot.

No. He needs to do many things. He has to handle the ball. He needs to share the ball. He needs to occasionally penetrate to keep the defense honest, and when he does he needs get fouled or kick it out to the open man. He needs to maintain his 2.5 assist-per-game average and if the opportunity presents itself improve it. And, of course, he needs to knock down the open three. Oh, BTW, he can also be very valuable on the break.

And that's just offense.

 

[Waquoit]

Play both of them. If they don't stop Adams, it's a layup. And Adams is a good layupper. Most of the other guards are bad layuppers- if they even make it to the rim.

If they help on Adams, it's a kick out to an open Gibbs or Purvis. And they're more gooder at shooting spot up J's than they are at layupping.

This is why we have a chance. Bad layuppers can turn good overnight.

 

[ctchamps]

Here's what SG doesn't do - he doesn't turn the ball over. He averages 33 minutes a game and 1.5 turn overs a game and nobody on the squad is close to those numbers. He's not a true point guard and I'm terrified of him handling the ball as the shot clock winds down, BUT he doesn't make stupid lazy passes, he treats the ball with the respect it deserves, and he at least makes an attempt to get the ball down low when Miller's posting up - 3 qualities that are unique to him on this years squad - so how about we appreciate what he can do instead of whimpering about what he can't do. Oh yeah, and he shoots about 39% from three.

After watching the second half of the Memphis tournament game I can't believe that people are ignoring the mistakes a freshman Jalen is prone to make. In four possessions he made three critical mistakes and almost handed the game to Memphis single handedly. The team put the game away in the second half with Jalen on the bench. I'm very excited about Jalen. But how can anyone ignore my post and what you have written.

 

[tentoes4rings]

This is why we have a chance. Bad layuppers can turn good overnight.

Hey, even the King of All Bad Layuppers, Rodney, was 2 for 2 in one of the most recent games!

 

[UChusky916]

Gibbs role is clearly defined. He is a turnaround specialist. No player in the universe can turn a wide open lay up for UConn into a three point opportunity for the other team as quickly as Gibbs. And he does it three times a game, often switching off with Purvis.
Yet, somehow Ollie has the patience to stay with this kid until he hits an open three. If Gibbs hits every three for the rest of his UConn career, he will break about even. His major strength appears to be able to dribble down that shot clock and then tossing a pass to someone who is covered with no time left to shoot. This is not an easy skill to acquire. Most guys screw up and leave five or so seconds on the clock.

Wow, what an absolutely atrocious post.

 

[SubbaBub]

Gibbs needs to be a senior. Make the smart play, know that defense will win these games and being selfish will lose them. That's about it.

He will be relied upon to handle the ball against pressure and late in games, make his FT, and open jumpshots. If he can get to the line, our chances are all the better. Jacking up desperate threes at the end of the shot clock won't help the cause so it should be avoided at all costs. That's what a senior would do. Ask Ricky Moore.