SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,987
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jan 17, 2019 23:22:27 GMT -5
Not to mention AKinjo was having a horrible 1-9 game before the final shot and Mac was blazing hot. Personally, I think James wanted to make that shot more than he cared about seeing Mac or Jessie make it. He was frustrated and in my opinion acted selfishly. I am not giving him a pass because he is young. Just my opinion from the stands. I think assigning conscious, negative character traits and actions to players is presumptive, pretty out of line and probably incorrect. |
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s4hoyas
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,476 
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Post by s4hoyas on Jan 17, 2019 23:23:06 GMT -5
The best way for you to learn how to win close games at the end is to be IN a lot of them, and then to learn and grow from both the ones you
win as well as the ones you lose...don't dwell on either outcome, just keep workin' to get better, and stick together...
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Post by iheartdurenbros on Jan 17, 2019 23:25:12 GMT -5
I saw that last play as just stupid because he had no success with that approach, but he might have seen it as his opportunity to prove himself right. So not stupid, just immature.
We can dissect what he did wrong that game. It’s easy to do because the result was indisputable. But I know that this is a moment for the team — not just coaches — to come together and help him change his game. Much has been said about how this team lacks leadership but let’s see how they come through for him. It will be a process that begins with following the last play called by the coach. But overall it will involve a change of mindset that will take some time.
Already looking forward to Monday to see how the team bounces back. Work hard and that will go a long way to cover flaws.
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kettlehill
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,174
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Post by kettlehill on Jan 18, 2019 2:01:02 GMT -5
Agreed, more immature than anything. The kid just did turn 18. Despite his mistakes at the end of the MU game and a poor shooting game - which happens- he played a good floor game. Whatever-you got to admire the kids confidence and grit.
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Jan 18, 2019 7:56:31 GMT -5
James felt that his drive to the hoop was our best chance to win. I have faith that Patrick will help him learn to use better judgment.
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NCHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,927
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Post by NCHoya on Jan 18, 2019 10:41:38 GMT -5
You can act selfishly and not be an overall selfish player/person. In the moment, James probably did think that the best chance to win was him taking over. I think his age/experience is definitely a factor, and I blame it more on immaturity than anything else. He should learn (the hard way I guess) what gives his team the best chance to win in specific situations. And likely for the first time in his basketball life, James is facing the fact his game has limitations. Given what a confident guy he is on the court, it will take a while for him to accept these limitations.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Jan 18, 2019 10:48:37 GMT -5
I think it's useful to note that nobody here is really questioning whether Akinjo has talent or if he's got a ton of potential. Make no mistake - Akinjo is crucial to this team's success. The fact that a guy like Akinjo can go 1-10 and his efficiency isn't horrible (though not that good either) is a testament to the fact that he's doing a lot of other things correctly. In fact, it demonstrates that with relatively small improvements (and generally things that he can learn), he could be a very efficient, high quality offensive player for us.
Everyone here is reacting - rightfully so - to the fact that Akinjo made a bad decision at the end of the game and seems to have blown off Ewing's play. As I've said before, that he made the bad decision isn't necessarily new or a big deal - he made several similar decisions where he tried to get to the rim and failed during the game, and every single of one of those may have "cost" us the game. Of course, that's something he needs to learn.
The bigger issue is that if Akinjo blew off the play, that's a problem simply because you need the team to act together as a unit, and it's hard to do that when you're not listening. I doubt that this is unique to Akinjo - after all, these are teenagers (or slightly older) and imperfect players, so guys are going to take bad shots and make mistakes, even when the coach advises them otherwise. It's just magnified in a big spot like that. Clearly, in other big spots, he's come through for us. This time, it didn't work.
Keep in mind, even if Akinjo got a pass off to Govan, Mac, or Mourning, there's no guarantee we would've won. The odds were against us there regardless. It's just a matter of putting ourselves in the best position to win, which didn't happen in that instance. I am confident if Ewing did indeed get blown off that Akinjo will hear about it plenty, and it's up to him to ensure that doesn't happen again.
But, no doubt, Akinjo has a powerful role going forward. And that's why benching him, while sounding good and making us as fans feel a bit better, is not necessarily the answer (but it may be). It all depends on what Akinjo responds to.
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Jan 18, 2019 11:15:25 GMT -5
I don't think benching James right now is the way to go.
But at the same time I think you sit down with him and tell him he is a critical part of this team, we go nowhere without big contributions from him - but if he blows off another end game play, he is going to sit down, because the entire team has to know that it will not be tolerated.
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EtomicB
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 15,396
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Post by EtomicB on Jan 18, 2019 12:17:17 GMT -5
I don't think benching James right now is the way to go. But at the same time I think you sit down with him and tell him he is a critical part of this team, we go nowhere without big contributions from him - but if he blows off another end game play, he is going to sit down, because the entire team has to know that it will not be tolerated. It shouldn't matter if it's a game-ending play or not, the players should run what the coach calls whenever he calls it... |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2019 13:08:39 GMT -5
I don't think benching James right now is the way to go. But at the same time I think you sit down with him and tell him he is a critical part of this team, we go nowhere without big contributions from him - but if he blows off another end game play, he is going to sit down, because the entire team has to know that it will not be tolerated. It shouldn't matter if it's a game-ending play or not, the players should run what the coach calls whenever he calls it... I don't think it's that cut and dry tbh. I had a coach in HS that used to say. I don't want you to be robots out there, if you see or have and advantage, take it. But if you call me off, you better make the shot, or you'll be sitting next to me. |
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Jan 18, 2019 13:12:19 GMT -5
I don't think benching James right now is the way to go. But at the same time I think you sit down with him and tell him he is a critical part of this team, we go nowhere without big contributions from him - but if he blows off another end game play, he is going to sit down, because the entire team has to know that it will not be tolerated. It shouldn't matter if it's a game-ending play or not, the players should run what the coach calls whenever he calls it... That's true of course, although earlier in the game when the coach is calling a play from the sideline rather than during and endgame huddle, I think players in general, and point guards in particular, probably have a little more leeway to take advantage of an opening for themselves or a teammate even if it is not one of the options for that play. But in the last 10 seconds freelancing is not going to fly. |
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Nevada Hoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 18,727
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Jan 18, 2019 13:29:26 GMT -5
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If James had not taken that long 3 vs Provy, we would probably have lost. He made that decision (I still have not seen that last play) vs Marquette and we lost. It is all a process of telling when to shoot/drive and when not to. I hope this is something he can learn and become a better player for it.
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Post by professorhoya on Jan 18, 2019 14:39:06 GMT -5
James felt that his drive to the hoop was our best chance to win. I have faith that Patrick will help him learn to use better judgment. Coach Akinjo felt that driving in among the trees to get his shot blocked was the right call after having had his shot blocked driving to the basket 3 times before that. |
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Post by professorhoya on Jan 18, 2019 14:41:16 GMT -5
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If James had not taken that long 3 vs Provy, we would probably have lost. He made that decision (I still have not seen that last play) vs Marquette and we lost. It is all a process of telling when to shoot/drive and when not to. I hope this is something he can learn and become a better player for it. Did you forget that Even in the Provy game at the end of regulation before MaClungs heroics that Coach Akinjo blew a play that put us in a really bad position to win that game. |
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Post by x-centercourt400s on Jan 18, 2019 15:41:11 GMT -5
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If James had not taken that long 3 vs Provy, we would probably have lost. He made that decision (I still have not seen that last play) vs Marquette and we lost. It is all a process of telling when to shoot/drive and when not to. I hope this is something he can learn and become a better player for it. Did you forget that Even in the Provy game at the end of regulation before MaClungs heroics that Coach Akinjo blew a play that put us in a really bad position to win that game. Given that so many are chiding Akinjo for immaturity, its interesting that this poster persists in using a sarcastic and pejorative made up nickname for someone who he/she is upset with. That kind of immaturity is usually confined these days to grade school playgrounds and the White House. |
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Jan 18, 2019 15:46:19 GMT -5
Or Hollywood!
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Post by FrazierFanatic on Jan 18, 2019 15:48:42 GMT -5
James felt that his drive to the hoop was our best chance to win. I have faith that Patrick will help him learn to use better judgment. Coach Akinjo felt that driving in among the trees to get his shot blocked was the right call after having had his shot blocked driving to the basket 3 times before that. I think Hoya fans are in 100% agreement that it was a terrible decision. But thanks for the reminder in case anyone missed watching or reading about the play. |
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Post by professorhoya on Jan 18, 2019 16:04:28 GMT -5
Did you forget that Even in the Provy game at the end of regulation before MaClungs heroics that Coach Akinjo blew a play that put us in a really bad position to win that game. Given that so many are chiding Akinjo for immaturity, its interesting that this poster persists in using a sarcastic and pejorative made up nickname for someone who he/she is upset with. That kind of immaturity is usually confined these days to grade school playgrounds and the White House. When Mosley did it he was absolutely destroyed. Did you stick up for him? There are more than enough white knights who are coming to Coach Akinjos rescue. These kids are no longer freshmen. |
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Post by x-centercourt400s on Jan 18, 2019 16:16:37 GMT -5
Given that so many are chiding Akinjo for immaturity, its interesting that this poster persists in using a sarcastic and pejorative made up nickname for someone who he/she is upset with. That kind of immaturity is usually confined these days to grade school playgrounds and the White House. When Mosley did it he was absolutely destroyed. Did you stick up for him? There are more than enough white knights who are coming to Coach Akinjos rescue. These kids are no longer freshmen. So previous poster's alleged bashing of other players is a green light for your immature attacks on Akinjo? Got it... |
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EtomicB
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 15,396
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Post by EtomicB on Jan 18, 2019 16:42:35 GMT -5
Given that so many are chiding Akinjo for immaturity, its interesting that this poster persists in using a sarcastic and pejorative made up nickname for someone who he/she is upset with. That kind of immaturity is usually confined these days to grade school playgrounds and the White House. When Mosley did it he was absolutely destroyed. Did you stick up for him? There are more than enough white knights who are coming to Coach Akinjos rescue. These kids are no longer freshmen. When did Mosely ever go away from what the coach called in a game? |
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