Lamb's Disappearing Act

[Chelo]

We all are in agreement that the best player on a team should be taking the majority of the shots at the end of the game. But is seems as if Jeremy, I hate to say this, doesn't have the drive to always take those shots. If you remember the Nova game he was RUNNING ala Rip and begging for the ball. He was more active against Depaul but it seems that when he plays against a better team, he freezes or doesn't go all out. His handle has been a little loose. Could it be he is afraid to put it on the floor? This game, a Cuse defender was in his face because, I believe, they new he wouldn't put it on the floor and drive. Driving to the hole loosens your defender to defend the drive or the shot. Right now Lamb is one demensional and easy to defend.Or is he just intimidated? A quote I read from a coach stated that if you have to keep a good player on the outside, if he gets to the middle, he will be great.

 

[Chelo]

4/9 shooting, 2/5 's, 0-0 free throws. Doris Burke nailed it on the nose when she said great players get to the line a minimum 4 times a game. Lamb=0

 

[bpear1600]

Lamb played like Claude Rains today.

 

[champs99and04]

His ball handling is his biggest weakness. If he improves that over the summer he'll be a much better player.

 

[Chelo]

The question is......will he be a much better player with us or on the pine in the NBA?

 

[sparky]

Lamb was a lamb on offense. It was a good game and we had our chances. Doris nailed it about his houdini act at crunch time, but for the most part, 12 min in the 2nd half. Star players want the ball. Bazz and Boat aren't shy and although they screw up, they are there. Tough loss, but these kids are JC's they play hard. I hear Lamb is NBA bound, but he has work to do. He's not a go to guy and won't be at the next level, so maybe that's his niche.

 

[Excalibur]

His handle isn't strong enough to take guys off the dribble in isolation or off a high ball screen, so he can only score if he works to get the ball and gets it when open. Gingerly flashing to the elbow with your hands around your stomach is not working to get the ball.

 

[Palatine]

People have watched Lamb for two years and still don't understand he needs a facilitator?

 

[Chelo]

GOTTA work on the handle and learn how to play against the zone.

 

[Excalibur]

Lamb is still standing on the wing with his hands on his hips.

 

[superjohn]

"Bazz lost this game Bass lost this season," one of the dumbest statements ever. I don't want to want to call out any players, Bazz dind't have a great game but how exactly was he going to get it to Lamb in positions to score when Lamb wasn't moving? Bazz forced some shots because there weren't really any other options, Jeremy needs to work to get open. Lamb often doesn't work hard to get open enough but I think he may have been a little gassed down the stretch.

 

[Kitaman]

If you watch the games even Giffey moves around more than Lamb. Easier to do when you play less minutes I know, but damn come on Jeremy!

He is certainly not the reason we lost, but if he's on point then we win.

 

[HuskyFan32]

"Bazz lost this game Bass lost this season," one of the dumbest statements ever. I don't want to want to call out any players, Bazz dind't have a great game but how exactly was he going to get it to Lamb in positions to score when Lamb wasn't moving? Bazz forced some shots because there weren't really any other options, Jeremy needs to work to get open. Lamb often doesn't work hard to get open enough but I think he may have been a little gassed down the stretch.

Well even if he was, Bazz wouldnt give it to him. Boatright was cutting to the basket (moving) on that fast break, no?

 

[Excalibur]

The thing that really bugs me about Shabazz is that he settles for the deep jumper too early. Lamb's not moving? Fine. The second option, particularly vs. the zone, needs to be an attempt at dribble penetration.

 

[The Boatyard]

I don't want to want to call out any players...

Why not? Bazz does. It's an act of leadership to build yourself up and blame games on other guys, right?

Ya, there was one play when Lamb stood there. I would have too. When you're completely dumbfounded by the fact that your "leader" isn't giving you the ball when you're wide open, why bother to keep moving and getting open? It doesn't mean he shoulda just stood there...but I can understand why he did. He's fed up. So is all of UConn.

 

[Excalibur]

"Keep" moving implies that he started moving . . .

 

[superjohn]

Boatyard, between your posts on this thread and you wanting a 4 guard lineup with Brendan Allen it's clear you are clueless. Not spending anymore time respnding to you.

 

[freescooter]

Lamb reminds me of Rudy Gay when he was at UCONN. A very talented player who suddenly disappeared when you expected big time players to step up. lamb may well have a good NBA career, but he'll always be remembered as a might have been player at UCONN if he leaves this year. And the disappearing act is why I didn't think he deserved 1st team all-big east. When the game is on the line, some guys, Kalid, RIP, Ray, Kemba, Caron, even Shabazz, want the ball. Ohter guys will take it if its there, and some guys are thinking please don't let it come to me. I think at this stage of his career, lamb is somewhere between #2 and #3. He sure ain't looking for the ball late.

 

[mets1090]

Lamb reminds me of Rudy Gay when he was at UCONN. A very talented player who suddenly disappeared when you expected big time players to step up. lamb may well have a good NBA career, but he'll always be remembered as a might have been player at UCONN if he leaves this year. And the disappearing act is why I didn't think he deserved 1st team all-big east. When the game is on the line, some guys, Kalid, RIP, Ray, Kemba, Caron, even Shabazz, want the ball. Ohter guys will take it if its there, and some guys are thinking please don't let it come to me. I think at this stage of his career, lamb is somewhere between #2 and #3. He sure ain't looking for the ball late.

I agree with the general point but in the end I don't think he'll be remembered as a might have been player, mainly because he was a big component of the Title team. Of course if he was able to play a little more assertively this year, this team would probably be much better off and would probably have a legitimate shot at a title.

 

[SaeHusky]

Definately not a might have been - we dont win the title without jeremy last yr. Bottom line - we got passive on offense when we got the lead - kept running down the shot clock - even when we got an offensive rebound we would reset and run clock. I know its zone but you have to still attack the basket. Olanders wide open miss from 5 ft also hurt at the end but overall he played well - hes more effective against zones. Great effort until the last 5 min of the game.

 

[dogpause]

Lamb reminds me of Rudy Gay when he was at UCONN. A very talented player who suddenly disappeared when you expected big time players to step up. lamb may well have a good NBA career, but he'll always be remembered as a might have been player at UCONN if he leaves this year. And the disappearing act is why I didn't think he deserved 1st team all-big east. When the game is on the line, some guys, Kalid, RIP, Ray, Kemba, Caron, even Shabazz, want the ball. Ohter guys will take it if its there, and some guys are thinking please don't let it come to me. I think at this stage of his career, lamb is somewhere between #2 and #3. He sure ain't looking for the ball late.

I've been thinking all season how much Lamb reminds me of Gay in terms of seeming to have their own agenda. Lamb often appears to be more concerned with not exposing his weaknesses than anything else.

 

[jorge34]

I've been thinking all season how much Lamb reminds me of Gay in terms of seeming to have their own agenda. Lamb often appears to be more concerned with not exposing his weaknesses than anything else.

If that is the case, it is having the opposite effect.

 

[Tenspro2002]

He'll be a "might have been" player in the same way that someone like CV or Boone were "might have been" players. Both contributed to the championship their freshman year, sure, but when you think about their legacy, the teams they should have led, is somewhat lacking. Charlie left after an unsatisfying NCAA Tournament appearance, and Boone never developed into the dominant frontcourt player many thought he could be.

Lamb is in a similar position.

 

[jorge34]

I don't want to get into the speculation game, and certainly not the ridiculousness of calling into question his motives......but Lamb is far less active than he was last year. Whatever the reason, if you refer to the the games from last year, he never stopped moving. This year, he never starts.

Maybe its the minutes played....who knows. It just is....

 

[RuffRuff]

C'mon - the kid isn't playing that selfishly - that's ridiculous. What is Jeremy Lamb? Jeremy is a kid of came into his own a 2nd option last year where the first option was a historic player at Uconn and on the college level. Clearly, taking the spot of being the "man" doesn't come natural to the kid. He doesn't demand it, he hasn't figured out how to get open when he needs to or create for himself. He's bashful to physical contact. His arsenal was actually a lot move diverse last year when he didn't get as much attention. He used that floater quite a bit, that which is non existent this year. This year he's become primarily a jump shooter. Some kids just are not hard wired to be the "man". You need a little bit of a mean streak to be that type. Jeremy, like Rudy, just seems too nice. But playing selfishly is not the issue.