Post by FLHoya on Aug 1, 2009 1:34:55 GMT -5
What have we been doing for the last four months?
Arguing.
Back and forth.
The system vs. the players.
The coach vs. the execution.
Concerned vs. not concerned.
What did we get out of all of this?
Well, two new Georgetown basketball websites, for one thing.
But really...nowhere, right?
Here's the thing--it's a talkboard. We get to talk--sometimes until we're blue in the face. But that's what it is--talk. As eloquent and persuasive as we might be at times, the beauty of it all is--someone else makes the closing argument in the end.
That's why we've come so far in days but so little in conclusions since March 2009. We've been through the arguments, the name calling, the points and counterpoints. But whatever side you fall on in the great debates of Hoyatalk, we're all waiting for one thing:
The players to prove us right (or wrong).
I'm not here to tell you that the second day of the 2009 Kenner League on the last day of July tied up last season with a cute little bow. I'm not here to hail saviors or tone down expectations.
I'm just here to tell you that I had a heck of a lot of fun tonight watching Henry Sims.
How predictable--the first round of Kenner League recaps, caveats aplenty...don't take us too seriously...and we all did. Nobody drew more attention than Henry Sims. Some would call him the lynchpin of the 2010 Georgetown Hoyas, the X-factor that will make or break a successful offense. Some would call him a clumsy goofball.
How fitting--the first player to make a compelling argument in 2009-2010 was the very player who caused the first debate of 2009-2010.
By numbers alone, this was the finest performance by a Georgetown player since Roy Hibbert dominated the paint in his many championship seasons.
Is he? No.
Can he? Doubt it.
Was it fun? No doubt about it.
Sometimes you forget...it's just a game. A fun one at that.
We Are One 79 Clydes 77
(To refresh, We Are One features Hollis Thompson, Folarin Campbell, Louis Birdsong, Adrian Bowie, Michael Beasley, Rodney's vocal cords, and the 2-2-1 press that looked intimidating until midway through the first half. Clydes features Henry Sims, Jason Clark, and an Afternoon Delight if you're lucky.)
69 seconds in, and Rodney wanted a timeout. He doesn't suffer fools, including those who don't play transition defense, and apparently a 4-2 deficit means enough is enough.
Heaven help you if you don't hit the defensive glass. 5:26 to go in the first half, and Rodney's screaming again. Oh mercy, they let Henry Sims score!
Won't be the last time.
This was highly entertaining Kenner League basketball--the doubleheader produced a consistently competitive and skillful level of basketball rarely seen at McDonough during July. Of course, when you throw in the 2nd pick of the 2007 NBA Draft and a boatload of ACC vets, this can happen.
None of them outscored Henry Sims.
A one point lead for Nosotros...ah, screw it...at halftime. It never got much higher, the Fightin' Rodneys holding Henry and the Miracles at arm's length...until Sims' layup with two minutes to go gave Clydes their first lead in forever at 73-71. Jason Clark impressively blocked a shot on the next possession, but was whistled for goaltending. A turnover and WAO basket canceled out by Sims' offensive putback over Hollis Thompson. Thompson returned the favor with a minute to go to put WAO back up 2. Clark and Sims then ran the perfect pick and roll play...for a practice session with no defenders...and an easy steal with twenty seconds to go set the fouling machine in motion. Three possessions later, a missed front end by WAO gave Clydes one last heave...not to be. But what a fun matchup...let's do it again tomorrow!*
(*This being KL and it's screwed up scheduling, they actually ARE doing it again tomorrow.)
Henry Sims: 30 points, 14-18 FG, 2-4 FT, 10 RB (5off), 3A, 1TO, 1BLK
OMG.
I ran out of space.
What a closing argument...or is it an opening argument?
There's a perfect symmetry to the whole thing: 7-9 from the floor in both halves, 1-2 from the line in each half, 15 points in each half.
The longest shot Henry made tonight, I'd put at about 7-8 feet from the basket. Easily 20+ of his points were at the rim, but from a variety of setups.
Early, Henry asserted himself with a variety of low post options, from a running layup out of post position to a baseline mini-fade from the low post.
Later, he ran the floor in a way I confess I did not think was realistic for him at this point in his development, aiding in the many transition opportunities Kenner provides...once with a fierce transition dunk.
When WAO set up their press, Sims proved more than competent as a target man near halfcourt for a break-out play.
Throughout, he scored on dump-downs, offensive putbacks, and drop-in layups and dunks. He's a high percentage shot taker, but he's getting them by putting himself in the right position to benefit from the drive and dish Kenner League style.
Probably the greatest complement is that throughout the latter stages of the second half, WAO was compelled to put their best player--that'd be NBA star Michael Beasley--on Sims to keep him off the scoresheet. It didn't always work--Sims scored at least three times over Beasley, twice with clever face-up jumpers--he adjusted to this offense immediately after Beasley started guarding him in the post--and later with a strong catch in traffic that he ripped from the NBA star.
Now, it bears noting that after a lot of these scores, Beasley came right down the court and basically punked Henry off the dribble. There's comedy, and then there's the Muppet-like Henry Sims trying to chase future NBA all star Mike Beasley around the perimeter through screens.
Henry still struggled on defense when it got right down to forcing him to either body up a big body in the post, or (cringe) guard a quicker player on the perimeter. The size and quickness still need work, for sure, although he looked better today against more favorable interior matchups.
But you can take little away from his performance today. Dude just filled a stat sheet--and it doesn't matter if it came primarily from chippies and effort rebounds. You put yourself in a position to win.
He and Clark work great together. They're running the same give and go feed to the post that Hibbert and Freeman ran so effectively in 07-08. Clark and Sims also favor the high screen and roll at the three point line, although Sims isn't quite graceful enough to fully pull it off and they telegraphed it a mile away on Clydes final legit posession.
Bravo.
Jason Clark: 12 points, 3-7FG, 1-5 3pt, 3-4FT, 2RB, 2A, 2TO, 2STL, 1BLK
Yesterday I said Clark really blossomed when he finally put his head down and got assertive/greedy with the Clydes offense and took his. Today the opposite was true--Clark struggled by being too aggressive and not considering other options.
Too often Clark went flying into four players in the lane, hoping for a trick shot or a foul. To be honest, maybe it's a credit to his improved handle--he's definitely more under control on the bounce--that he didn't turn the ball over more.
Clark is lightning fast, but that means nothing without the proper decision making. We know he's got that from yesterday and our experiences last season--just needs to be consistent, and yes I realize KL makes players do things they normally wouldn't.
As above, really liked how he and Sims work together on the court running the pick and roll, and good to see GU players working with each other on the finer points of offense during the summer rather than just gunning.
Hollis Thompson: 9 points, 4-6 FG, 0-1 3pt, 1A, 1TO, 5Fouls
If you thought it was going to be hard to get shots as a SF on a KL team with two Terps and a GMU guard who loves to shoot, just wait until you add another GMU guard and one of the Miami Heat to the roster.
For half of his points, Hollis needed to use the tried and true method of follow jams. Whatever works.
There's definitely a flash to his game--he can bring a crowd to their feet with athletic finishes and style plays. None was more apparent than when he went 1-on-3 into the lane on the bounce, rose in the air and delivered a perfect high lefty bounce pass between defenders to a wide open teammate for a layup.
That being said, his defense was pretty tragic today--he picked up five fouls and you could tell Rodney was limiting his PT a bit because of the defensive struggles.
It's a little hard on him, not being even the Epsilon Dog on WAO and still trying to get in rhythm. In the first half on a steal and unsettled situation, he passed off in the lane, only to have a teammate turn it over.
"Hollis--That's a dunk!!!" screamed Rodney.
In time.
Ryan Dougherty: DNP (CD)
Dagger. Not even the Kappa Dog.
(Ahead: Free-throws and the Dino Sponge)
Arguing.
Back and forth.
The system vs. the players.
The coach vs. the execution.
Concerned vs. not concerned.
What did we get out of all of this?
Well, two new Georgetown basketball websites, for one thing.
But really...nowhere, right?
Here's the thing--it's a talkboard. We get to talk--sometimes until we're blue in the face. But that's what it is--talk. As eloquent and persuasive as we might be at times, the beauty of it all is--someone else makes the closing argument in the end.
That's why we've come so far in days but so little in conclusions since March 2009. We've been through the arguments, the name calling, the points and counterpoints. But whatever side you fall on in the great debates of Hoyatalk, we're all waiting for one thing:
The players to prove us right (or wrong).
I'm not here to tell you that the second day of the 2009 Kenner League on the last day of July tied up last season with a cute little bow. I'm not here to hail saviors or tone down expectations.
I'm just here to tell you that I had a heck of a lot of fun tonight watching Henry Sims.
How predictable--the first round of Kenner League recaps, caveats aplenty...don't take us too seriously...and we all did. Nobody drew more attention than Henry Sims. Some would call him the lynchpin of the 2010 Georgetown Hoyas, the X-factor that will make or break a successful offense. Some would call him a clumsy goofball.
How fitting--the first player to make a compelling argument in 2009-2010 was the very player who caused the first debate of 2009-2010.
By numbers alone, this was the finest performance by a Georgetown player since Roy Hibbert dominated the paint in his many championship seasons.
Is he? No.
Can he? Doubt it.
Was it fun? No doubt about it.
Sometimes you forget...it's just a game. A fun one at that.
We Are One 79 Clydes 77
(To refresh, We Are One features Hollis Thompson, Folarin Campbell, Louis Birdsong, Adrian Bowie, Michael Beasley, Rodney's vocal cords, and the 2-2-1 press that looked intimidating until midway through the first half. Clydes features Henry Sims, Jason Clark, and an Afternoon Delight if you're lucky.)
69 seconds in, and Rodney wanted a timeout. He doesn't suffer fools, including those who don't play transition defense, and apparently a 4-2 deficit means enough is enough.
Heaven help you if you don't hit the defensive glass. 5:26 to go in the first half, and Rodney's screaming again. Oh mercy, they let Henry Sims score!
Won't be the last time.
This was highly entertaining Kenner League basketball--the doubleheader produced a consistently competitive and skillful level of basketball rarely seen at McDonough during July. Of course, when you throw in the 2nd pick of the 2007 NBA Draft and a boatload of ACC vets, this can happen.
None of them outscored Henry Sims.
A one point lead for Nosotros...ah, screw it...at halftime. It never got much higher, the Fightin' Rodneys holding Henry and the Miracles at arm's length...until Sims' layup with two minutes to go gave Clydes their first lead in forever at 73-71. Jason Clark impressively blocked a shot on the next possession, but was whistled for goaltending. A turnover and WAO basket canceled out by Sims' offensive putback over Hollis Thompson. Thompson returned the favor with a minute to go to put WAO back up 2. Clark and Sims then ran the perfect pick and roll play...for a practice session with no defenders...and an easy steal with twenty seconds to go set the fouling machine in motion. Three possessions later, a missed front end by WAO gave Clydes one last heave...not to be. But what a fun matchup...let's do it again tomorrow!*
(*This being KL and it's screwed up scheduling, they actually ARE doing it again tomorrow.)
Henry Sims: 30 points, 14-18 FG, 2-4 FT, 10 RB (5off), 3A, 1TO, 1BLK
OMG.
I ran out of space.
What a closing argument...or is it an opening argument?
There's a perfect symmetry to the whole thing: 7-9 from the floor in both halves, 1-2 from the line in each half, 15 points in each half.
The longest shot Henry made tonight, I'd put at about 7-8 feet from the basket. Easily 20+ of his points were at the rim, but from a variety of setups.
Early, Henry asserted himself with a variety of low post options, from a running layup out of post position to a baseline mini-fade from the low post.
Later, he ran the floor in a way I confess I did not think was realistic for him at this point in his development, aiding in the many transition opportunities Kenner provides...once with a fierce transition dunk.
When WAO set up their press, Sims proved more than competent as a target man near halfcourt for a break-out play.
Throughout, he scored on dump-downs, offensive putbacks, and drop-in layups and dunks. He's a high percentage shot taker, but he's getting them by putting himself in the right position to benefit from the drive and dish Kenner League style.
Probably the greatest complement is that throughout the latter stages of the second half, WAO was compelled to put their best player--that'd be NBA star Michael Beasley--on Sims to keep him off the scoresheet. It didn't always work--Sims scored at least three times over Beasley, twice with clever face-up jumpers--he adjusted to this offense immediately after Beasley started guarding him in the post--and later with a strong catch in traffic that he ripped from the NBA star.
Now, it bears noting that after a lot of these scores, Beasley came right down the court and basically punked Henry off the dribble. There's comedy, and then there's the Muppet-like Henry Sims trying to chase future NBA all star Mike Beasley around the perimeter through screens.
Henry still struggled on defense when it got right down to forcing him to either body up a big body in the post, or (cringe) guard a quicker player on the perimeter. The size and quickness still need work, for sure, although he looked better today against more favorable interior matchups.
But you can take little away from his performance today. Dude just filled a stat sheet--and it doesn't matter if it came primarily from chippies and effort rebounds. You put yourself in a position to win.
He and Clark work great together. They're running the same give and go feed to the post that Hibbert and Freeman ran so effectively in 07-08. Clark and Sims also favor the high screen and roll at the three point line, although Sims isn't quite graceful enough to fully pull it off and they telegraphed it a mile away on Clydes final legit posession.
Bravo.
Jason Clark: 12 points, 3-7FG, 1-5 3pt, 3-4FT, 2RB, 2A, 2TO, 2STL, 1BLK
Yesterday I said Clark really blossomed when he finally put his head down and got assertive/greedy with the Clydes offense and took his. Today the opposite was true--Clark struggled by being too aggressive and not considering other options.
Too often Clark went flying into four players in the lane, hoping for a trick shot or a foul. To be honest, maybe it's a credit to his improved handle--he's definitely more under control on the bounce--that he didn't turn the ball over more.
Clark is lightning fast, but that means nothing without the proper decision making. We know he's got that from yesterday and our experiences last season--just needs to be consistent, and yes I realize KL makes players do things they normally wouldn't.
As above, really liked how he and Sims work together on the court running the pick and roll, and good to see GU players working with each other on the finer points of offense during the summer rather than just gunning.
Hollis Thompson: 9 points, 4-6 FG, 0-1 3pt, 1A, 1TO, 5Fouls
If you thought it was going to be hard to get shots as a SF on a KL team with two Terps and a GMU guard who loves to shoot, just wait until you add another GMU guard and one of the Miami Heat to the roster.
For half of his points, Hollis needed to use the tried and true method of follow jams. Whatever works.
There's definitely a flash to his game--he can bring a crowd to their feet with athletic finishes and style plays. None was more apparent than when he went 1-on-3 into the lane on the bounce, rose in the air and delivered a perfect high lefty bounce pass between defenders to a wide open teammate for a layup.
That being said, his defense was pretty tragic today--he picked up five fouls and you could tell Rodney was limiting his PT a bit because of the defensive struggles.
It's a little hard on him, not being even the Epsilon Dog on WAO and still trying to get in rhythm. In the first half on a steal and unsettled situation, he passed off in the lane, only to have a teammate turn it over.
"Hollis--That's a dunk!!!" screamed Rodney.
In time.
Ryan Dougherty: DNP (CD)
Dagger. Not even the Kappa Dog.
(Ahead: Free-throws and the Dino Sponge)
