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Message: [QUOTE="husky429, post: 4453045, member: 6696"] I meant "live dribble" TO. I stand corrected on that--wasn't really thinking. I call it as I see it regardless of whether the shot goes in or it doesn't. You don't have to agree with me, but what you're saying is patently false. There's plenty to criticize here without making things up. I rarely have a problem with an on-balance and in-rhythm 3 or some kind of shot at the rim, even when they miss. They are good shots, exactly what Hurley's offense is looking for. I do have a problem with multi-dribble mid-range shots because they are historically terrible %s and something we are actively avoiding on our team. I even give credit for good mid-range 2s like late shotclock situations or attacking a closeout or if someone is seeking contact like Tristen Newton does from that spot. Examples: [LIST] [*]"Mid-range 2 out of a BOB. I don’t hate the shot, but it still isn’t a great look." [*]"Cherry picking 2. Nice to get the bucket, but he needed to play defense here." [*]"Long 2, missed and fouled. Not the worst because he wasn’t pulling up, and was seeking the foul." [*]"Pull up contested 2 he makes. Not in love with the shot, had two teammates open." [*]"Pick and roll look at the rim. Bricked it, but I like the look. Snaked his way through a pick and roll–high level stuff." [/LIST] Good shots are good shots. Bad shots are bad shots. Duh. 8 TOs is still unacceptable for a kid ranked #20 in the country with NBA aspirations. Do you think Stephon himself isn't aware of that, or that his coach and future coaches aren't in his ear about cleaning up his decision-making? It's an obvious flaw. If he expects to be the big dog on campus next year and get to the league (that should be his goal), then he has to clean it up. He has 3 months more HS games to work on it and get better. Yes. What's your point? This is obvious. I said that he's a scoring guard, not a wing... and I meant it. Do you think teams aren't going to throw smaller, bigger, stronger, faster defenders on him at UConn, or even during his high school season? I'm not personally insulting the kid. I'm pointing out what he needs to do to get better. This is part of it. Not in a 2 possession game versus the #3 high school team in the country. And he isn't working on "all facets of the game"--he's developing a pretty niche skillset as a big lead scoring guard. He isn't learning to post up, or practicing footwork coming off of screens like Hawkins... he's developing his skills for a role that will make him millions in the league. He can shoot 3s, and did shoot 3s in this game. It has nothing to do with strength or his mechanics. He is a strong 6'6 guard, and already has solid mechanics. He has more than enough skill, strength and mechanics to shoot from 3. And he DID shoot from 3 extensively in the second half of this game. The point is not to take mid-range shots ever. The point is that your mid-range shot is a counter or a last resort shot. That is how our UConn team works. It's how most college teams work. And it's certainly how the NBA works. If Stephon expects to be in the NBA in 18 months (he should), he needs to develop his game from 3... and has been. For at least the past 2 years. Notice how he took (I think) 1 mid-range shot the entire second half? That would be because his coach told him to knock it off and get back to the game plan. Notice how he went off for 28 points in about 12 minutes of game play before he fouled out? That would be because he stopped taking low % shots and drew fouls, and took 3s. And fwiw--the college 3 point line is a hair over 22 feet now, not 21. This would be true if he was still 15 and didn't have a 3-point shot developed yet. Or if he didn't have the requisite skillset to score from range. This might be news if you haven't watched 20 of his games as I have, but he does have that skillset and has had it for quite some time. His biggest strength is shot creation from beyond the arc and his passing ability for his size. This isn't some kid who doesn't know how to create space from range we're talking about. This is possibly the best guard in the 2023 class who will probably be in the NBA in 18 months. [/QUOTE]

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