Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 21:10:36 GMT -5
I think it is time to consider starting Mikael Hopkins at Center over Josh Smith. Honestly, I think coming off the bench as the back-up 5 is the best role for Hopkins. He provides a change of pace, he's better defensively and it keeps him out of foul trouble so he's available on the defensive end to close out a game. We've had issues with slow starts and Smith not only gives you the best opportunity to score early it also opens up a lot of other parts of the offense. . JTIII has had Hopkins start the second half on occasion and bring Smith off the bench then and I've liked that look alot because I think it keeps the other team guessing a little bit. Some of his other second half starting lineups are a bit head scratching though. Yeah - I think we've hit the sweet spot for Hop usage recently. Somewhere between 15-25 minutes depending on need is much better than 22-30. I have no problems with the current Cope/Smith starting frontcourt. Mikael has only shot below 50% from the field once in the last 7 games - after doing it 14 of the first 20 games(!). His recent play has actually improved his offensive efficiency for the season to just shy of LJ -- which is pretty bad for LJ. If we were going to make a change now (or over the past few games), I would say it would have to be to take LJ out of the starting lineup. But I think the best replacement (Tre to PG, DSR to 2) is probably too seismic a shift to be making this late in the year. Earlier in the year I might have thought we could insert White or Bowen at the 3, but both of them have cooled too much to be considered now. We REALLY need LJ to pick it up.
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tashoya
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Post by tashoya on Mar 2, 2015 21:51:16 GMT -5
Honestly, I think coming off the bench as the back-up 5 is the best role for Hopkins. He provides a change of pace, he's better defensively and it keeps him out of foul trouble so he's available on the defensive end to close out a game. We've had issues with slow starts and Smith not only gives you the best opportunity to score early it also opens up a lot of other parts of the offense. . JTIII has had Hopkins start the second half on occasion and bring Smith off the bench then and I've liked that look alot because I think it keeps the other team guessing a little bit. Some of his other second half starting lineups are a bit head scratching though. Yeah - I think we've hit the sweet spot for Hop usage recently. Somewhere between 15-25 minutes depending on need is much better than 22-30. I have no problems with the current Cope/Smith starting frontcourt. Mikael has only shot below 50% from the field once in the last 7 games - after doing it 14 of the first 20 games(!). His recent play has actually improved his offensive efficiency for the season to just shy of LJ -- which is pretty bad for LJ. If we were going to make a change now (or over the past few games), I would say it would have to be to take LJ out of the starting lineup. But I think the best replacement (Tre to PG, DSR to 2) is probably too seismic a shift to be making this late in the year. Earlier in the year I might have thought we could insert White or Bowen at the 3, but both of them have cooled too much to be considered now. We REALLY need LJ to pick it up. It doesn't have to be LJ but, defensively, he's ahead of both PW and Isaac right now. Smith is obviously the better offensive option against most teams. That said, if we're going to get out and try to run with running teams, he needs to be used sparingly. As for the ticky-tack fouls, Joshua needs to commit some fouls that dudes feel the next morning to act as a disincentive to guys just trying to initiate contact to get him in trouble early. You want to jump into him? Fine. Make the dudes earn the free throws. If he's going to pick up two quick ones early every game, use them well.
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Post by bicentennial on Mar 2, 2015 23:26:36 GMT -5
I agree bring Michael Graham to practice with Smith for a few sessions so he gets it!
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This Just In
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Post by This Just In on Mar 13, 2015 23:37:40 GMT -5
LJ Peak's starting position should be under consideration...
The 2 main alternatives would be Tre Campbell or Paul White.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 13, 2015 23:41:38 GMT -5
TJI, I actually agree with you. I told my friend before this game that I would start Campbell over Peak. I don't expect it, but Campbell is clearly better offensively at this point.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2015 1:35:13 GMT -5
Don’t think you tweak starting lineups before the Tourney. Our starts have been fine and 3’s going to give minutes to the guys that are playing the best..
You also risk losing the player and gain very little.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Mar 14, 2015 7:39:07 GMT -5
Don’t think you tweak starting lineups before the Tourney. Our starts have been fine and 3’s going to give minutes to the guys that are playing the best.. You also risk losing the player and gain very little. Agree with this but JT III has to be much quicker to pull the trigger than he has been. Peak is not in a slump--he is a developing player with great potential and serious offensive shortcomings at this point in his career. When his shortcomings on offense are exposed by a team playing a tight zone and he is prevented from driving to the basket, it is time to consider a change.
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blueandgray
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Post by blueandgray on Mar 14, 2015 8:45:26 GMT -5
Agree. Give peak more leash against man D, get tre, white, Copeland, in the game to help bust a zone.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2015 10:09:04 GMT -5
Don’t think you tweak starting lineups before the Tourney. Our starts have been fine and 3’s going to give minutes to the guys that are playing the best.. You also risk losing the player and gain very little. Agree with this but JT III has to be much quicker to pull the trigger than he has been. Peak is not in a slump--he is a developing player with great potential and serious offensive shortcomings at this point in his career. When his shortcomings on offense are exposed by a team playing a tight zone and he is prevented from driving to the basket, it is time to consider a change. I agree but sometimes it’s not about offense it’s about D and Peak is by far the best Frosh in that area...
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 14, 2015 12:42:16 GMT -5
I agree tweaking the starting lineup now might not be wise, but I still would probably give Campbell more of Peak's minutes when we are struggling offensively. Don't get me wrong - I think Peak will eventually be a great offensive player for us, but I think Campbell offers better outside shooting, which we really need at times.
Really, I would personally do it based on the needs of the game in front of us. If we needed defense, I'd probably weigh more in favor of Peak, offense, Campbell.
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Loyal Hoya
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Post by Loyal Hoya on Mar 14, 2015 12:49:28 GMT -5
Note that Campbell did start the second half last night instead of Peak.
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Mar 14, 2015 13:15:12 GMT -5
Peak was -7 last night. Tre was -13.
Tre is quicker and has a good outside shot, but can't get to the rim in the halfcourt. LJ can get to the rim, plays better defense but struggles with his shot. As we saw with Tre starting the second half, the coach recognizes when we need a change, but we started up 19-11 without Tre. This is not even a conversation IMO.
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Buckets
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Post by Buckets on Mar 14, 2015 13:28:25 GMT -5
Peak's last six games he's 4/18 from 2, 1/9 from 3, 5/10 from the line with 3 assists and 5 turnovers, 16 points in 129 minutes. Struggling is putting it mildly.
I agree you don't tweak the starting lineup but the 11 minutes against Butler or the 14 minutes he got last night is the range where he should be going forward. I'd start sending Campbell or White to sub in shortly before the first media timeout with Hopkins.
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Mar 14, 2015 13:35:56 GMT -5
Agree that the Paul White we saw last night needs more minutes. Same with Ike. Both need to be told not to defer and to attack (as I have no doubt both coaching staff and teammates have been doing).
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Mar 14, 2015 13:40:01 GMT -5
Agree that the Paul White we saw last night needs more minutes. Same with Ike. Both need to be told not to defer and to attack (as I have no doubt both coaching staff and teammates have been doing). Exactly. They cannot stop shooting whenever they miss their first shot or two, it makes their whole game tentative. Keep shooting, keep attacking and (usually) good things will happen. I hope that PW in particular gained enough confidence to bolster his game going forward. He has seemed the more tentative of the two, but would be a huge factor if he can contribute.
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HoyaFanNY
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Post by HoyaFanNY on Mar 14, 2015 14:05:01 GMT -5
I think whatever lineup III puts out there we need to pressure more. doesn't have to be full court all the time but I really liked what I saw when the guys got after it the last 8 minutes last night. this team needs to generate some easy baskets since the half court offense is difficult to watch when josh isn't on his game.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Mar 14, 2015 19:54:33 GMT -5
Really, I would personally do it based on the needs of the game in front of us. I believe III has said on several occasions that this is what he does, rather than go with a set rotation.
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tashoya
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Post by tashoya on Mar 14, 2015 23:15:10 GMT -5
Please start Paul with Isaac, DSR, Jabril, and Josh. Let's see what happens.
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njhoya78
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Post by njhoya78 on Mar 15, 2015 13:10:45 GMT -5
I'd like to have seen this proposed starting lineup in action before the NCAAs. Maybe we see a quick hook for Peak, in favor of White, in future games. Paul certainly earned more playing time with the performance against Xavier on Friday night.
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This Just In
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Post by This Just In on Mar 20, 2015 8:31:06 GMT -5
LJ Peak...only played 6 mins., and appeared to have been benched from the 14 min mark in the 1st half thru the entire 2nd half.
Peak's spot on Saturday may be turned over to Tre Campbell.
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