Top 200 Players, according to "Value Added" Metric

[tzznandrew]

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2012/02/best-200-basketball-players-18-days.html

11. Napier
41. J. Lamb

Interesting metric, and a way to perhaps see Shabazz in a more positive light than "worst point guard in the Calhoun era" and other such criticisms.

 

[OkaForPrez]

2. ​

Perimeter defense​

results in bad shots and a lower eFG%, but a good perimeter defender doesn’t usually get a steal for good on-ball defense, unlike a good defender at the hoop who gets plenty of defensive rebounds and blocked shots. For now, I simply awarded an extra 1% for the players identified by CBS Sports as the best perimeter defenders in the country.​

This scoring system doesn't account for bazz's perimeter defense. ​

I love Bazz, we need his fearlessness of the big shot. I can deal when he puts up a shot in the early offense that might not be well timed in the flow of the game, because he's said throughout the season that is what the coaching staff has enouraged him to.​

We need him to push pace. I can live with turnovers resultant of him forcing tempo. ​

What I have a real hard time with is 1) the body language that he was called out for by the analysts in the Marquette game and 2) his lack of effort on defense which was also noted on air during that game; there was mention of Ollie showing him how to put his hand up.​

He is our point guard, and therefore should be the floor leader. He accepted that role in press, and has criticized his teammates for their effort. And yet these two indicators of effort, defense and energy, have been noticeably lacking to commentators and coaches alike.​

Has the hate gone too far on Bazz? Yes. Without a doubt. But that is just the misguided extremism we love to throw around on this board that in my opinion is founded upon these small details blown out of proportion by his immature sound off's in the press.​

​

Oriaki was in the wrong mental state early in the season, over the last 4-5 games even with somewhat inconsistent play due to foul trouble he has been a leader. The holy water, the players only meeting, Oriaki is stepping up. I feel like if we can get Bazz to turn the same corner mentally, putting effort in on the defensive end of the floor, and being a energy + to the team rather than an energy -, than this is enough to get us over the hump.​

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His 35 footer might be the start of that.​

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[AJC88]

Where do people get the notion that he isn't good on defense? Last year people loved his tenacity, now they are just looking for something to criticize.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Where do people get the notion that he isn't good on defense? Last year people loved his tenacity, now they are just looking for something to criticize.

Uconn rank's 207th in the country in 3 pt % defense at 35.2%. Last year they gave up 32.7%; which this year would put them in the top 100 in the country, though not great.

Some of it is strategic, some of it is effort with off the ball defense. Last year bazz was touted for his on the ball defense. Which I will agree can be harrassing when he is aggressive with it. Maybe his most notable steal was a key bucket against arizona when it was much needed.

Off the ball, bazz (this year at least) often loses his man watching the ball and gets caught in no man's land between weak side rebounding help and too far from his man to close on him. He dosen't get around screens well which is why we started switching on them 10-15 games into the season. He's not the only one, but he is certainly one the guilty. I'll call Lamb out for this as well.

I'm not sure what else to say if you don't have at least a few plays that stick out in your mind where bazz lazily came too late around a curl and didn't put his hand up. I do. We can agree to disagree.

 

[Fishy]

For some reason, Napier gets singled out here, but of the perimeter defenders on this team, he's better than all but perhaps Giffey.

Boatright, Lamb and Daniels are space cadets on defense.

If they had to pay Napier for all of the times he ended up running at someone they left on defense, he could pay for his tuition and we'd free up an extra scholarship.

 

[tzznandrew]

For some reason, Napier gets singled out here, but of the perimeter defenders on this team, he's better than all but perhaps Giffey.

Boatright, Lamb and Daniels are space cadets on defense.

If they had to pay Napier for all of the times he ended up running at someone they left on defense, he could pay for his tuition and we'd free up an extra scholarship.

I'll pay attention for that more on defense. Watching the game, I often get lost on who has which assignment on D, especially when there are many screens and lots of ball movement. I frequently blame whoever is closest from the shooter if it looks like it should have been their man seconds before.

That person is usually Napier. Frankly, I wouldn't care as much if he got his hands up. He too frequently keeps them by his side. I think that is a legitimate criticism. And there are others (as there are of all players). And they are fair game to be brought up.

But sometimes the noise gets so loud we forget we actually have a pretty darn good player.

 

[OkaForPrez]

But sometimes the noise gets so loud we forget we actually have a pretty darn good player.

I agree, and I don't want this thread to veer too far off the OP, which is that Bazz brings a lot to the table. My only intent was to point out that the scoring system in the statistical study ignores a very large flaw in his game, and yes the team as a whole Fishy. I suppose in retrospect this conversation was the only plausible outcome of my post, I apologize for it.

One of my original points was that bazz takes a lot of heat (too much so) but all of his quotes around effort and selflessness in the press put him in the line of fire.

So be the leader Bazz, start on defense. Put your hands up, stay at home, and ask that of your teammates.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Boatright, Lamb and Daniels are space cadets on defense.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man?

 

[Fishy]

Suffice to to say, the next Gary Payton is not on our roster.

Ricky Moore is not walking through that door.

 

[champs99and04]

Our perimeter defense has pretty much sucked this season, and that includes shoddy play from Napier, Boatright, and Lamb. Unless these guys start putting their hand up, moving their feet, and closing out on shooters, this team will continue to struggle to defend the three point line.

 

[Rico444]

Shabazz hasn't played great D this year, but I didn't realize he's been dealing with plantar fasciitis all season. It makes sense to me, because he was so good last year on D.

 

[Fishy]

PF has slowed me down this season, too.

There's an island right before the pantry where we keep the cookies. I used to very crisp cutting that corner and heading straight for the Oreos.

Now, I take it wide and if she wants to, my daughter can go inside of me and get to the Oreos first.

I'm just hoping to recover in time for the postseason and hopefully keep that ungrateful little bastard from taking all of my cookies. Frustrating.

 

[auror]

Time for the next "Pomeroy has something to say on the issue" post that everyone can hate on:

http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/the_3-point_line_is_a_lottery/

 

[OkaForPrez]

Time for the next "Pomeroy has something to say on the issue" post that everyone can hate on:

http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/the_3-point_line_is_a_lottery/

I'm sold Cuse got lucky in the dome

 

[Dogbreath2U]

PF has slowed me down this season, too.

There's an island right before the pantry where we keep the cookies. I used to very crisp cutting that corner and heading straight for the Oreos.

Now, I take it wide and if she wants to, my daughter can go inside of me and get to the Oreos first.

I'm just hoping to recover in time for the postseason and hopefully keep that ungrateful little bastard from taking all of my cookies. Frustrating.

It's obvious that you need to suck it up and practice the box-out drill in the kitchen, use superior size (6'6", 250 lbs.) to hip-check the cookie monster and maintain one last oasis of illusion that you really are the man of the house.

 

[DogMania]

Shabazz hasn't played great D this year, but I didn't realize he's been dealing with plantar fasciitis all season. It makes sense to me, because he was so good last year on D.

I haven't felt Bazz's D hasn't been all that strong. He gets blown up on high screens all the time and when he's not going under them he's sticking to them like Velcro. With that said, it's been obvious he's physcially beat up and probably playing with more pain that we imagine. I'd like to see how well he could play when healthy, but that's not going to happen till next season. I'm sure we'll see some more gutty performances from Bazz this season.

 

[HuskyFan32]

Where do people get the notion that he isn't good on defense? Last year people loved his tenacity, now they are just looking for something to criticize.

Next game, dont even watch the ball just watch Shabazz play off the ball d. He often loses his man, doesnt fight through screens, and gives up a lot of open shots. Last year he was an absolute pest on d. I dont know where the intensity went at that end. Hes not as bad as some (myself included) have made him out to be at times this year, but his defense has slipped significantly this season.

 

[FeedTheDove]

On a different note, Bazz is definitely not the only one displaying bad body language on the court. In fact I think he's usually one of the better ones in that category (as he should be if he's going to be the team leader.) The majority of the team really has to work on their body language... for me, I really cant stand watching AD in "lala land" out there as if he as no energy at all. When he gets energized, and motivated, he's exciting to watch. He goes after every rebound hard, fights for O rebounds, and as we saw in the Cuse/WVU game shows dominance in the post offensively. Why can't he sustain this type of energy?