Samson Johnson: Defense vs GTown

[JustbrewitMan]

Nice thread from Ryan Cassidy highlighting Samson’s D during the GTown game.

Something to hold us over until our next game for discussions

 

[Son of Robert]

He is definitely better than earlier this year on both offense and defense. Continuing to rise.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I swear I am surprised Sam didnt get called for fouls in half of those vids!

 

[dogpause]

Samson seems to be improving defensively with every game. Very pleased with his development.

 

[Methalius]

I have been an admiring of Samson's talents for years. I have felt like he was going to be a special player for years now. There aren't a lot of people who are legit 6'10" and can jump out of the gym like he does. For his size he has a nice shooting touch both from the free throw line and from the field. He always hustles but my issue with him has remained the same. He constantly picks up stupid ticky tack fouls. I love that he will jump out on the guard while on defense for the high pick but stop reaching in on them while you are 30 feet from the basket. The officials LOVE to blow the whistle on him. I still feel he will have a legit professional career because he is a freakish athlete but he needs to learn the game and what his role is. I will forever be rooting for him. I love his talent and he seems like a great kid.

 

[jibsey]

This is the first year he has had extended floor time and the experience is starting to show. Far less nervous being out there, he has made assertive offensives moves around the rim and now is blocking shots and getting some rebounds. The different skill set from Reed is proving valuable and Hurley is staying with him when you wouldn’t expect it. It’s a matchup situation that they are trying to maximize. His fate still lies with the refs though.

 

[Palatine]

I think SJ would benefit from upper body strength. He gets to a lot rebounds that he doesn't secure the ball. His hands are good but they are weak. Unfortunately, this is a problem unlikely to be addressed this year. On the upside, his footwork is so much better this year.

If we get Sam and Tarris operating at peak at the same time, we will be very formidable.

 

[bluestreak]

Samson seems to be improving defensively with every game. Very pleased with his development.

Was thinking the same thing during the game. There were several, Oooh shi* there goes Samson, bursts in my house.

 

[AllHusky]

Improve sure handedness, being able to snatch and hold rebounds and loose balls gives us an extra 3-6 possessions a game

Otherwise just stay on that improvement curve

 

[bmayuc]

Whether or not Samson is effective is 97% related to what kind of whistle is happening in each game. I'm convinced that he's played exactly the same in every game.

If 1 or 2 fouls are called on him in the many times he is doing gangly hand-checky stuff around the perimeter, he will be bad and be on the bench. If they are letting him do his spidercrab lanky grabbing/bumping stuff, we will look back and commend him for his performance.

But I 100% believe he is playing exactly the same and his fate game to game is just the hands of the referees.

 

[Excalibur]

The steady flow of clips showing the hard hedge working as designed may make peoples' heads explode in this place . . .

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Whether or not Samson is effective is 97% related to what kind of whistle is happening in each game. I'm convinced that he's played exactly the same in every game.

If 1 or 2 fouls are called on him in the many times he is doing gangly hand-checky stuff around the perimeter, he will be bad and be on the bench. If they are letting him do his spidercrab lanky grabbing/bumping stuff, we will look back and commend him for his performance.

But I 100% believe he is playing exactly the same and his fate game to game is just the hands of the referees.

Strongly disagree. He's being noticeably more selective with poking for steals on his hedges. More importantly, he's been doing a LOT more fronting when guarding stronger post players lately vs. early-season, This limits his fouling potential and actually makes him a more effective defensive player. At least two of the clips in Cassidy's thread showed good things happening from Samson fronting Sorber.

 

[bmayuc]

i dunno man, I counted about 7-8 bumps on ball handlers on hard hedges that were absolutely called in Maui for example, but weren't called in the GTown game. You get in the big east and alot of those touch fouls stop being called and now he's in less foul trouble. Im sure he's trying to be less handsy but honestly he is what he is.

Strongly disagree. He's being noticeably more selective with poking for steals on his hedges. More importantly, he's been doing a LOT more fronting when guarding stronger post players lately vs. early-season, This limits his fouling potential and actually makes him a more effective defensive player. At least two of the clips in Cassidy's thread showed good things happening from Samson fronting Sorber.

 

[AllHusky]

Sam the "Spidercrab" Johnson. Nice. I am slowly understanding how the high hedge works and can be effective via Samsons use of it. Watching those clips of him on Ryan Cassidys X post was great, Sam really working hard to execute the HH and get back effectively. He is making it happen. The Spidercrab!!

 

[El Obrero]

That lob pass down low from Diarra to the Spider after that high hedge on the offensive end is also starting to work a bunch.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Look who shows up in most of these top 3 lineups.

 

[aceboon]

...yet there's an army of boneyarders that think he should be on the bench handing out gatorade

 

[Inyatkin]

...yet there's an army of boneyarders that think he should be on the bench handing out gatorade

You're telling me the eye test isn't the whole deal?

 

[Waquoit]

...yet there's an army of boneyarders that think he should be on the bench handing out gatorade

Unfortunately for Samson, he's one of those players where folks get too hung up on flaws and don't fully appreciate strengths.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Yet it's a 5 person game ... not sure what we're supposed to read from "3-man lineups" in a 5 on 5 game.

 

[AllHusky]

I have been pro Reed, with a grudging respect for what Sam brings, and how much more consistently he seems to be able to bring it. Still believe Reed needs to be on the floor more than he is.

With MCNeeley back, Stewart time suffers most.

Does anyone have a lineup of Reed Sam AK Liam and Hassan in their bag of possibilities?

 

[Palatine]

I have been pro Reed, with a grudging respect for what Sam brings, and how much more consistently he seems to be able to bring it. Still believe Reed needs to be on the floor more than he is.

With MCNeeley back, Stewart time suffers most.

Does anyone have a lineup of Reed Sam AK Liam and Hassan in their bag of possibilities?

Both Reed and Samson require the others to feed them. Early in the season Reed was doing an incredible job getting space and Samson wasn't getting his usual ally oops. Now Samson is getting the ball in good places and Reed is not getting the ball as much. Hopefully by March both will be at their peaks.