- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 34,902
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I've disagreed with Mau on other players like Brimah, but he's right here. People who think Jalen is playing great basketball right now simply aren't watching the games. I actually think his assessment is a bit generous. He's been a bad defensive player for a season and a half now. If he was so great on offense we wouldn't have ranked 154th and 196th in adjusted offensive the last two seasons, respectively. Defenses switch big men onto him consistently because he can't make them pay with jump shots. He's hardly even a threat from three, which is kind of really important when you're a point guard in the modern game. He hasn't developed a mid-range game, he over-penetrates and gets caught, he's extremely lazy as a passer and cutter away from the ball, and he provides little value as a spot up shooter.
People thought Jalen was carrying last years team and slammed the three seniors. Now those guys are gone and the team is somehow even worse despite adding Larrier and for a while Gilbert. By no means are we better without him, but I don't know how many variables we have to account for before a common denominator smacks us in the face here. He's not a winning player. He's so far behind Ryan Boatright right now, forget Shabazz or Kemba. The fact that it is a poorly coached team is true but it's also a crutch. Scouts who were at the game today aren't saying "wow, Jalen Adams is really held back by Kevin Ollie!," they were saying "yikes, this kid is still making high school mistakes at 22."
My "angry" thoughts were fueled by a nice party in Hartford (and Agawam and Feeding Hills lol) so for that I apologize, to Matrim. Actually Jalen was pretty good for the most part, but defensive lapses weren't all him, they were on all the guards. Get a little sick of having good shooters on the other team and not finding them. And when they do they are too far off so their first reaction is to jump out try to block the shot which is wonderful for good shooters like Frankampf and Reaves, and of course Shamet yesterday because they are patient ball fake let them fly by and a wide open 3 is now theirs. It happened numerous times and that is pain stupid defense, losing your guy instead of going out under control base wide and making him shoot it with a hand in his face. Yes Jalen did it a couple of times but so did the other 2 as well as others. Carlton did it once too, suddenly we have a bunch of shot blockers but instead they are making the game easier for their men.
They played hard, Jalen was all over the boards as were all the guards helping the bigs fight for rebounds thought the effort was real good. Just not enough guys who can score the ball. Anderson is now nothing on the offensive end, the bigs don't post up well enough to throw them the ball so yeah the big 3 of hope are Larrier and Vital with Jalen. Oh yeah 39 minutes and 3 rebounds once again, unacceptable for Larrier. I like that he got 20 shots, hell he has to.
And yes WSU comes out of time out and are playing defense, but when they get the ball Marshall sets up a great play which works like a charm and is noticeable. Still waiting for one of those on our end!
