Solid win, but what needs cleaning up? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Solid win, but what needs cleaning up?

Gilbert had Akok open for a Brimah lob dunk and tried a tear drop 4 footer that missed, Polley tried the lob to Akok and short armed the pass. I'd love to see 3-4 of these lobs a game because Akok will convert. A Daniel Hamilton dribble penetration with a teardrop lob pass when a defender helps, can't be that hard to master. I expect to see this more.

Buffalo went into the game shooting 52% from the line as a team and we were 20% higher. That advantage didn't work out the way I thought it would.
 
Carlton needs to stop putting the ball on the floor, especially when he’s not anywhere near the rim.

Polley needs to find a way to get more shots up. The single most efficient shot we can take as a team is a Polley 3PA (provided that it’s a good look).

Vital/Gilbert, in transition, look for lob opportunities. Gilbert had Akok wide open for one and threw up a low percentage floater instead, which was effectively as good as a turnover. Vital passed up on an opportunity too.

I would like to see Akok catch the ball on the wing and use that moon bounce of a first step to get into the paint. Good things have generally happened when he has because he’s either open for a layup, or forces the defense to collapse on him.

For Adams, I hope he simply stays confident. We’ve finally seen “exhibition Adams” against good competition. We don’t need 20 from him, but just stay in control of the offense, penetrate, and knock down your open looks.
 
Re: Carlton.

Don't like the team forcing the ball to him early. I mentioned in another thread last night that Carlton's 100% isn't as good as the defense's 100%. In the beginning of games he looks slow and overwhelmed when the double teams come to him.

Carlton doesn't seem to fade as much as other's as the game goes on. When other's have dropped down a bit, Carlton seems more effective.

I'd like to see some numbers on Carlton shooting % and turnover numbers for first half vice second half.

When Whaley came in for Carlton in the first half, the lineup of Whaley, Akok and Polley was very long and active switching, hedging, rebounding and running.
 
Chin Diesel said:
Re: Carlton.

Don't like the team forcing the ball to him early. I mentioned in another thread last night that Carlton's 100% isn't as good as the defense's 100%. In the beginning of games he looks slow and overwhelmed when the double teams come to him.

Carlton doesn't seem to fade as much as other's as the game goes on. When other's have dropped down a bit, Carlton seems more effective.

I'd like to see some numbers on Carlton shooting % and turnover numbers for first half vice second half.

When Whaley came in for Carlton in the first half, the lineup of Whaley, Akok and Polley was very long and active switching, hedging, rebounding and running.
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He’s rocking a solid (jk) 0.8:3.5 assist:TO ratio right now. I’d like to see us use him in the high pick and roll. However, he’s not a threat to shoot so I’m not sure if thatd be effective. He gets doubled almost every time downlow so him being able to find open teams will make our offense much better
 
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Ricker said:
Gilbert had Akok open for a Brimah lob dunk and tried a tear drop 4 footer that missed, Polley tried the lob to Akok and short armed the pass. I'd love to see 3-4 of these lobs a game because Akok will convert. A Daniel Hamilton dribble penetration with a teardrop lob pass when a defender helps, can't be that hard to master. I expect to see this more.
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If we had Hamilton, Akok would have 6 alleyoop finishes per game. We don't have the best passers in that regard. Gilbert can certainly dish, but his over the top passes (and floaters) aren't his strength.

As Gaffney gets more comfortable, we can exploit that. Also interested in BA's potential there
 
UConnStats said:
Carlton needs to stop putting the ball on the floor, especially when he’s not anywhere near the rim.

Polley needs to find a way to get more shots up. The single most efficient shot we can take as a team is a Polley 3PA (provided that it’s a good look).

Vital/Gilbert, in transition, look for lob opportunities. Gilbert had Akok wide open for one and threw up a low percentage floater instead, which was effectively as good as a turnover. Vital passed up on an opportunity too.

I would like to see Akok catch the ball on the wing and use that moon bounce of a first step to get into the paint. Good things have generally happened when he has because he’s either open for a layup, or forces the defense to collapse on him.

For Adams, I hope he simply stays confident. We’ve finally seen “exhibition Adams” against good competition. We don’t need 20 from him, but just stay in control of the offense, penetrate, and knock down your open looks.
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This translates as we need to find a way to get Polley more 3pters. He can't create his own, so it's up to everyone else.

I don't know if he can come off screens and turn/pop. I would guess not, as quickness isn't his forte. That means more designed plays to leave him open on the perimeter.
 
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intlzncster said:
This translates as we need to find a way to get Polley more 3pters. He can't create his own, so it's up to everyone else.

I don't know if he can come off screens and turn/pop. I would guess not, as quickness isn't his forte.

That means more designed plays to leave him open on the perimeter.
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Yeah it'll definitely take creativity on Hurley's part, and some aggressiveness from Polley too, which isn't his forte. He's hit some shots this year that suggest he can come off a screen and shoot, the issue I envision is that he's a travel risk in those situations too.
 
UConnStats said:
Yeah it'll definitely take creativity on Hurley's part, and some aggressiveness from Polley too, which isn't his forte. He's hit some shots this year that suggest he can come off a screen and shoot, the issue I envision is that he's a travel risk in those situations too.
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Yeah, he hit a couple in the last few games with a guy in his face as well. Quick pull and pop types. Hadn't seen that before so it looks like his skill set has grown here.


RE Carlton, I said in another thread I was perplexed that he's power dribbling more now. He used to be better about keeping the ball up when he received it.

Also mentioned that he needs to stay connected to the restricted area. Just camp out there.

Reminds me of the movie Hitch where he's teach the fat guy to dance. "this is where you live. right here. You live right here. This is home."





The restricted area is Carlton's home.
 
Another area for clean up is unforced TO's. Twice Vital had the ball near mid court and just lost control. Happened to a Akok once and at least one other player. Four times total players turned it over with zero pressure from the D. All live ball TO's too.
 
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bloody video won't link for some reason. oh well not important
 
Towney007 said:
1.) I feel like Hurley needs to hire someone on staff for a 2-year contract who's sole job is to yell at Carlton from the sidelines and remind him continuously that he's an enormous human. Seems to be a slow starter (like a lot of these guys) and 2H Carlton is almost way better than 1H Carlton. He's just gotta get some more confidence. He's no pro, but he's a huge problem at this level if he'd let himself be one.
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Outside of P&R up top, he needs to be confined to the restricted area.

2.) Gilbert needs to plug into the season and stop playing terrible basketball. I'd love to stick up more for the kid, but he's an insanely stupid PG who makes a lot of the same mistakes offensively and at least at the moment - is a total liability defensively. If Adams continues the run he's been on and Bouknight is half as good as he was tonight - he's going to lose a ton of playing time. If Gaffney does what he did tonight and keeps gradually improving, then he might play himself out of the rotation. You guys know me, i'm not a small sample mong, but holy smokes - he's a total mess right now and i'm not sure if/how you use him until he shows he can play out of it in practice.
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Gaffney showed some nice promise yesterday. But until he plays a modicum of defense, he's gonna be limited.

Speaking of Defense, Bouk needs to get his arse back on it.

If I'm another team that has done any scouting, the best strategy rn is to pack the paint with Gilbert's guy on D, and let him shoot from the outside. He seems quite willing to miss 10 times a game and I'd be more than happy to let him do so.
 
Towney007 said:
I feel like Hurley needs to hire someone on staff for a 2-year contract who's sole job is to yell at Carlton
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Best job ever?
 
intlzncster said:
If we had Hamilton, Akok would have 6 alleyoop finishes per game. We don't have the best passers in that regard. Gilbert can certainly dish, but his over the top passes (and floaters) aren't his strength.

As Gaffney gets more comfortable, we can exploit that. Also interested in BA's potential there
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Good observation. Hamilton did love those lob dimes didn't he? Almost to a fault. With Akok and Bouk (UConn's version of Louis and Bouie?) we should be a dunk show if start lobbing it up there for them.
 
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UConnStats said:
Carlton needs to stop putting the ball on the floor, especially when he’s not anywhere near the rim.

Polley needs to find a way to get more shots up. The single most efficient shot we can take as a team is a Polley 3PA (provided that it’s a good look).

Vital/Gilbert, in transition, look for lob opportunities. Gilbert had Akok wide open for one and threw up a low percentage floater instead, which was effectively as good as a turnover. Vital passed up on an opportunity too.

I would like to see Akok catch the ball on the wing and use that moon bounce of a first step to get into the paint. Good things have generally happened when he has because he’s either open for a layup, or forces the defense to collapse on him.

For Adams, I hope he simply stays confident. We’ve finally seen “exhibition Adams” against good competition. We don’t need 20 from him, but just stay in control of the offense, penetrate, and knock down your open looks.
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Agree with all of it but giving the ball to Bouknight in the right spot will be our most efficient shot.
 
Vital still needs to stop playing hero ball. The shot he took that BA rebounded and scored in the final minutes was a losing play. Vital was bailed out by a great effort and we were fortunate.
 
BuffaloHusky said:
Vital still needs to stop playing hero ball. The shot he took that BA rebounded and scored in the final minutes was a losing play. Vital was bailed out by a great effort and we were fortunate.
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Just pointing out that there were 4 seconds on the shot clock at that point. It's not like he walked down the court and jacked the shot up.
 
superjohn said:
Agree with all of it but giving the ball to Bouknight in the right spot will be our most efficient shot.
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I hope you're right. I always find it hard to project how a freshman will do as a pure shooter.
 
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Purple Stein said:
Dude just can’t elevate.

Turnovers were rough, and outlet passing sketchy.

Brendan Adams plays within himself —love CV but it’s crazy how much Adams and Vital are polar opposites on the floor.
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Brendan fits Hurley’s style of play - a big guard who can drive to the basket, stop and pop or hit the three. As he gets more comfortable he’ll be taking a lot of foul shots.

CV would be more comfortable in a different system but has been getting better at adapting what coach wants. The kid has a heart of a lion. He finally is getting others to rebound. Team rebounding is definitely on an upward trajectory.
 
Apropos of nothing Vital threw a couple beautiful three quarter court passes (including a couple with his left hand) that created easy opportunities off the break. He's always going to have a headscratcher or two but I thought the kid was an immense presence last night.
 
SwingDog said:
17 turnovers is too many, and shooting 12-21 from the free throw line are the obvious things. Another observation is that it looked to me like Josh Carlton was either standing in mud or had weights around his ankles; he needs to be more agile. I can't figure out if he can't dunk or just doesn't want to but there are time when he clearly needs to dunk the ball.
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I have to laugh on how the immediate focus is on the things that need development. There were so many positives, and the progress of most of the roster is impressive. The depth that we are showing is exciting for the future. The season isn't going to be perfect, but will be fun to watch. Enjoy the moment!
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
Apropos of nothing Vital threw a couple beautiful three quarter court passes (including a couple with his left hand) that created easy opportunities off the break. He's always going to have a headscratcher or two but I thought the kid was an immense presence last night.
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Like the one where he went up for a layup and got it stuffed like a Turkey (timely), instead of dropping it to a wide open trailing Akok? That was brutal, and during winning time. Can't have that.

I've accepted he's gonna always be a chucker and throw up a few bad shots, make a few head down plays...but one thing he's gotta NOT do is do these during crunch time.
 
Defense is overcoming bad free throw shooting -how much longer will we get away with this?
 
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