Is Solo still in a slump?

[Mr. Wonderful]

It doesn't matter what I believe.

As long as Solo believes his next 5 shots are all net, we're good.

 

[boog204]

That's been mentioned before so I was looking closely at that on Friday. He took 9 threes in that game. The first three he took, and made, (first basket of the game - video below) he definitely kicked his legs out which made his form look very strange but the shot went down.

His second one missed badly but it doesn't look like he kicked his legs out.

His third three his legs went forward a little but not like the first three. He missed.

His fourth three he made when he kicked his legs out and got fouled for the 4 point play.

His fifth three he didn't kick his legs out at all and he was wide open and the shot was long off the back iron.

His sixth three he kicked his legs out and put up an airball from the right corner.

His seventh three he kicks his legs out just a little and misses long off the back iron.

His eight three he kicked his legs out a little and misses off the back iron again.

His ninth three he was wide open, didn't kick his legs out at all, and was short off the rim.

I put the time in the game for each three below if you want to check them all out.

It seems that he made some he did kick his legs out and missed many where he didn't (even a wide open one) so this small sample size might show that kicking his legs out isn't his only issue why he's missing so many of this threes. But I agree he kicks his legs out a lot. Did he do that last season?

If this is indeed the problem I would think that's an easy fix and the coaching staff probably has picked up on it and discussed it with him. Hopefully he gets out of this slump soon and goes on a heater from three.

First three (19:42 left in 1st half):

Second three (19:14 in first half)

Third three (13:02 in first half)

Fourth three (12:05 in first half)

Fifth three (9:00 in first half)

Sixth three (17:50 left in the second half)

Seventh three (17:44 in the second half)

Eighth three (8:13 in the second half)

Ninth three (6:32 in the second half)

I'm wayyyyy too lazy to look, but my observation is that he's taken lots of contested 3's. Obviously, he's a focal point for defenses as he was such a good shooter last year. I don't remember many players getting fouled or almost fouled as much as Solo does on 3's, and I think it's because he's taking tough, contested shots. Unless you're Steph Curry, your percentage is going to drop precipitously when you're under duress. I think he can pump and drive off of his catches at will because of the D that is being played against him. That foul line jumper is always available.

 

[RuffRuff]

Seeing the board be excited about the midrange and being okay with 3 point struggles

We’ve come so far

You enjoy anything that takes you back to 2011.

 

[Excalibur]

Yes — But

I’m not buying the narrative that he’s hunting fouls on his three-point attempts—it only seems to be a talking point because he’s not shooting well right now. His form looks the same as last year. His shot selection could definitely be better. And those open looks need to be automatic for a player of his caliber. On the first attempt, Boswell caught him in the midsection, which explains the leg-lift reaction.

I think his form looks different, and far less consistent. His body is turned more to the side (lead leg further in front) and his hands are higher at release. That’s just my observation, but I haven’t done a side by side comparison.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Seeing the board be excited about the midrange and being okay with 3 point struggles

We’ve come so far

If he's in the 2% of players who produces more points per possession from the midrange than the 3 point line without ruining offensive efficiency for the rest of the team, then that's great.

98% of the time that's not the case.

 

[HW611]

If he's in the 2% of players who produces more points per possession from the midrange than the 3 point line without ruining offensive efficiency for the rest of the team, then that's great.

98% of the time that's not the case.

 

[Shabazzkets]

I think fans have a lot of time to dissect performances and worry about the small things. I get it.

He will heat up from three and this blip of poor shooting from distance will soon be forgotten. That’s almost always what happens with talented shooters.

 

[Waquoit]

Is his mechanics consistent? Are we overrating his shooting? Maybe this year is closer to the true Solo than last year.

 

[NJHusky]

Is his mechanics consistent? Are we overrating his shooting? Maybe this year is closer to the true Solo than last year.

someone posted that in HS he shot 28%...his FR year he was at 32%, last year 41%, this year 25%.

I hope he comes around, but it's looking like last year was the outlier...or you could see consistent improvement until this year?

 

[BGesus4]

Before his freshman season Hurley said he was shooting the cover off the ball all summer and early practice—and I remember him saying they were confident it was replicable. According to AK, he’s still doing that in practice and he’s one of the best shooters he’s been on the court with.

He’s a great shooter going through a temporary cold streak. It’s not that hard to figure out.

 

[ctbro1999]

He's really having a bizarro year. I can't comment on his defense, but his handle, mid-range jumper, and at the rim game seems to have taken a significant stride forward this year. But his 3-pt shot is woefully off. Still hoping he snaps out of the funk and gets back to at least a ~35% 3-pt clip. I don't expect him to match last year's success from 3, but he HAS to be better than a sub-25% shooter.

 

[Kitaman]

Its too early to draw conclusions, my thoughts were just that I didn't recall such leg action last year. I'm untrained but it seems his shot has changed somewhat. It may be insignificant and untrue.

Anyway confidence is the missing ingredient during slumps. When he regains it then this thread will look ridiculous

 

[Lafayette]

Let’s see what happens to Solo shooting when Braylon and he are on the court together. Teams would have to run ragged with those two on screens while Tarris is a threat in the paint.

Solo should get a couple open look 3s.

 

[Palatine]

With Solo I go back to what Hurley said about him. "The shooting is real." Hurley would know. However, Karaban went through the same thing and it lasted, pretty much, all year.

SB is still pretty much hovering around his average PPG. He is getting drives, mid-range and foul shots, so his production isn't suffering right now.

 

[HooperScooper]

Is his mechanics consistent? Are we overrating his shooting? Maybe this year is closer to the true Solo than last year.

Last year he shot 239 threes and made 99 of them for a 41.4% success rate. That's a pretty large sample size to say that's a one off year. Maybe he just improved his shot from high school to last year? That's not exactly unheard of. And to echo everyone else his mid-range and going to the basket success rate has been way better this season than last season. Showing you can improve at any facets of your game.

 

[HW611]

And to echo everyone else his mid-range and going to the basket success rate has been way better this season than last season. Showing you can improve at any facets of your game.

Andre Jackson reading this post

 

[Waquoit]

Last year he shot 239 threes and made 99 of them for a 41.4% success rate. That's a pretty large sample size to say that's a one off year.

We have a recent comp of a guy who shot 32% from 3, jumped to 41% the following year and then 35% the next.

 

[Excalibur]

someone posted that in HS he shot 28%...his FR year he was at 32%, last year 41%, this year 25%.

I hope he comes around, but it's looking like last year was the outlier...or you could see consistent improvement until this year?

His shooting was much better during the camp circuit, and his Freshman year stats are warped by a couple of really poor games early in the season. After December 1, he shot over 45%.

The sudden narrative that Ball is a poor shooter is objectively laughable.

 

[uconn_jack]

His shooting was much better during the camp circuit, and his Freshman year stats are warped by a couple of really poor games early in the season. After December 1, he shot over 45%.

The sudden narrative that Ball is a poor shooter is objectively laughable.

Yes, but I think we can all agree he would not be in this slump if he were at Purdue and coached by Painter.

 

[REB1094]

The fact that every defense is running Solo off the line so he doesn’t shoot it (and Illinois subbed in a guy specifically to face guard him so he can’t get open) means that Solo is still a deadly shooter

I’m good with Solo taking every decent look from three he can find. The fact that he can still average 14 points a game while shooting 25% means he’s improved the rest of his game too

Once the threes start falling again, we’re looking at the All BE level player we expected!

 

[Excalibur]

The fact that every defense is running Solo off the line so he doesn’t shoot it (and Illinois subbed in a guy specifically to face guard him so he can’t get open) means that Solo is still a deadly shooter

I’m good with Solo taking every decent look from three he can find. The fact that he can still average 14 points a game while shooting 25% means he’s improved the rest of his game too

Once the threes start falling again, we’re looking at the All BE level player we expected!

A fully functioning Solo will make us an absolute nightmare to guard.

 

[NJHusky]

With Solo I go back to what Hurley said about him. "The shooting is real." Hurley would know. However, Karaban went through the same thing and it lasted, pretty much, all year.

SB is still pretty much hovering around his average PPG. He is getting drives, mid-range and foul shots, so his production isn't suffering right now.

But his efficiency is...how many of those missed 3 lead to points the other way?

I would rather him shoot 45% from 3 with fewer 2 pt shots if his pt total is the same

A fully functioning Solo will make us an absolute nightmare to guard.

especially is Mullins is as advertised

 

[HooperScooper]

We have a recent comp of a guy who shot 32% from 3, jumped to 41% the following year and then 35% the next.

Fair point. Who is that? 41% to 35% is only a 6 percentage point drop. A lot smaller than a 16 percentage point drop.

Karaban was 40% freshman year, 38% as a sophomore, and 35% last season. But that's only a 5 percentage point drop over 3 seasons. This year through only 7 games he's at 50% which he probably isn't going to be able to sustain.

 

[SaeHusky]

It looks like his 3 point shot is flatter and jumping a little more forward than straight up this year. He’s still getting the beautiful rotation but because he isn’t getting the same arc his % has dropped. On his mid range he’s jumping straight up with more consistent arc

 

[NJHusky]

It looks like his 3 point shot is flatter and jumping a little more forward than straight up this year. He’s still getting the beautiful rotation but because he isn’t getting the same arc his % has dropped. On his mid range he’s jumping straight up with more consistent arc

Tell Hurley 😉

 

[BGesus4]

It looks like his 3 point shot is flatter and jumping a little more forward than straight up this year. He’s still getting the beautiful rotation but because he isn’t getting the same arc his % has dropped. On his mid range he’s jumping straight up with more consistent arc

 

[uconn_jack]

But his efficiency is...how many of those missed 3 lead to points the other way?

I would rather him shoot 45% from 3 with fewer 2 pt shots if his pt total is the same

especially is Mullins is as advertised

Point is that his 3 pt shooting would likely suffer (and I think is) now that his 3 pt shooting is probably the main defensive focal point of other teams and forcing him into more contested shots. I think he has to show he is a mid-range and driving threat in order to regain/maintain a high 3 pt percentage, which he is doing a good job at so far. In other words, think more of his scoring load has to be from 2 pts in order to maintain 3 pt efficiency, at least in the near term. And I don't think that's counter-intuitive.

Ultimately I would rather Ball, as a starter, be a scorer than just a 3 pt specialist. 3 pt specialists are better as bench guys (e.g. Joey) than starters.

 

[ctbro1999]

Fair point. Who is that? 41% to 35% is only a 6 percentage point drop. A lot smaller than a 16 percentage point drop.

Karaban was 40% freshman year, 38% as a sophomore, and 35% last season. But that's only a 5 percentage point drop over 3 seasons. This year through only 7 games he's at 50% which he probably isn't going to be able to sustain.

And last season he had that BRUTAL stretch in the middle of the conference slog where it seemed he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from 3. Actually surprised he still shot at 35% overall. I think at 1 point he was like 4-40 from 3.

edit: he was 6-47 (13%) from 3 over a 9 game stretch from 18 Jan - 18 Feb. He was shooting 43% from 3 before that brutal stretch.

 

[Arod18]

Solo to me has always been a 6th man type. If he’s not hitting his 3’s he doesn’t bring much to the table with poor defense and not a lot of shot creating. When he’s on tho you want him on the floor for spacing at the very least.

 

[bazz&boujee]

Regardless of slump, Solo maybe the one guy i’d want playing all 40. Potential for game changing instant offense, attention he draws, and a Westbrook-lite athleticism and intensity.