Tyreek Duren & the season

[lasalle69bestever]

I feel sorry for Tyreek and also very proud of him. We all know about the foot condition and impact it had on his first few games. But he persevered, willed himself through it, overcame it and vastly improved his three point shooting. He has shown mental toughness and BB IQ all season long. He is a winner and deserves to go out that way. A most impressive "Philly guard" who did everything he could to prevent what is happening.
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Now I don't think it was unreasonable going into the season for G to think our outside shooting was at least OK. We had Mills (and his fab 4th in La Salle history 3 point marksmanship) returning for his statement senior year and DJ Peterson, who had shown the ability to hit the three. It was rather quickly realized that Lewis has no outside shot at all. He probably has already had his career game (against us resulting in our staff overrating him).

So Sam has two fine games against Miami and the first GW game. Then he dons his magician costume for his disappearing man act. DJ has been so aptly described as petrified to shoot. These changes largely occur a few games in to the A-10 schedule and "stand up or sit down time". Dr. G has repeatedly described Mills as a cornerstone of our program. Well, no wonder the building crumbled this year. Way too many times we had a "4 to score" or "3 to score" offensive situation.

Tyrone is what he is. But if our "O" was in sync and plays were called for him to drive, JW and Zack could crash the boards for followups. I've watched us get victimized by that over & over.

Generally, I think G was hamstrung by players who are more afraid to miss than they are to attempt shots. I'm not sure what can be done about that other than bringing it up watching game film. When you talk about moving without the ball, you're either talking about cutting inside (the weakest part of Mills' and DJ's game) or setting up for a three. The latter is what Mills and DJ fail to do.

I regard G's biggest failing to be his handling of JW. There were just too many games where he had WAY too few minutes without ever fouling out. When the team is so reliant on him as the #1 or #2 scoring threat - that is a very good recipe for a sub .500 season.

[MisterD]

Can we stop with the "scared to shoot / miss" meme, please? Its annoying, repetitive faux-psychology.

[lasalle69bestever]

Feb 20, 2014 9:30:55 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Can we stop with the "scared to shoot / miss" meme, please? Its annoying, repetitive faux-psychology.

No it's not. It's one of the themes of our season.

[MisterD]

Projected by a faction of our fanbase. You have no idea why players aren't shooting and you're equating "fear" with not shooting and "courage" with shooting. Just like everyone would be slamming Duren as out of shape or unmotivated or regressing if no one leaked his foot injury.

[durenduren]

You're not a Bob Cousy Award candidate if you're afraid to shoot.

[lasalle69bestever]

Feb 20, 2014 9:42:52 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Projected by a faction of our fanbase. You have no idea why players aren't shooting and you're equating "fear" with not shooting and "courage" with shooting. Just like everyone would be slamming Duren as out of shape or unmotivated or regressing if no one leaked his foot injury.

OK - Why do you think G has cut down on using our floor general to bring the ball upcourt and instead having him play off the ball so much more? Have you not noticed this? Do you think G wanted to do this or felt he had to due to team makeup?

Also, put yourself in the place of a coaching staff preparing to play La Salle. How do you think they are prepping their defense? I'll give you a hint about one great aspect of it:

"Don't worry about Mills and Peterson - just stay within 5-7 feet of them and they won't shoot. Guard the pass. We need to concentrate on Duren, Wright and Zack. Be prepared for Garland to beat his man & drive to the hoop. We should be able to swat it since he's putting it up regardless. He's not a driver and disher - if he does pass it a couple of times it's alright".

Sorry, but it's the way I see it.

[MisterD]

I don't disagree that our offense would be more dangerous if Mills shot more, I'm taking issue with the "scared" garbage.

[durenduren]

Feb 20, 2014 10:00:30 GMT -5 lasalle69bestever said:

Feb 20, 2014 9:42:52 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Projected by a faction of our fanbase. You have no idea why players aren't shooting and you're equating "fear" with not shooting and "courage" with shooting. Just like everyone would be slamming Duren as out of shape or unmotivated or regressing if no one leaked his foot injury.

"Don't worry about Mills and Peterson - just stay within 5-7 feet of them and they won't shoot. Guard the pass. We need to concentrate on Duren, Wright and Zack. Be prepared for Garland to beat his man & drive to the hoop. We should be able to swat it since he's putting it up regardless. He's not a driver and disher - if he does pass it a couple of times it's alright".

not sure how this makes Tyreek afraid to shoot?

[lasalle69bestever]

I never said Duren was afraid to shoot. Where did you get that?

[MisterD]

Right, but you did say Mills and DJ. And you don't know.

[lasalle69bestever]

Anyone into symbolism?

Here's the symbol of our season:

Last play of first half. About 7-8 seconds left. Cavanaugh has come out to double team Duren before falling back. Tyreek passes to DJ with about 4-5 seconds left. DJ is briefly uncovered with a Flyer covering the man closest to him and a defender is between him and Duren and watching Duren and playing Duren pretty tight anticipating the pass to him.
DJ - instead of maybe FAKING a pass to Duren and being open for a nice shot - passes to the covered Duren who has to come up with a desperation shot with little to no chance.

If anyone thinks I'm full of crap - slow mo it on your DVR if you recorded it. Because it's symbolic of our season.

[MisterD]

I like when fans know what players are thinking. Leads to great discussions.

[lasalle69bestever]

Feb 20, 2014 12:53:34 GMT -5 MisterD said:

I like when fans know what players are thinking. Leads to great discussions.

Maybe you oughta venture outside of DJ's mind and consider what Tyreek might be thinking:

" I make a pass out of tight coverage to DJ. They are obviously keying on me. So how come DJ - who is not closely covered - doesn't fake a pass to me (drawing coverage my way) and take what would be an open shot? How come I have to try my darn-est to try to free myself up enough to take a prayer shot with a second left? Can I get a little help here? ".

Yeah, it leads to discussions. Discussions about why we are 12-13 with Tyreek and some others bustin' their balls on offense while others like to pass first even if it results in an inferior shot to beat the clock.

But Duren won't let on because he's the consummate team player and (silent) leader.

[23won]

Feb 20, 2014 10:00:30 GMT -5 lasalle69bestever said:

Feb 20, 2014 9:42:52 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Projected by a faction of our fanbase. You have no idea why players aren't shooting

WHO CARES WHY THEY ARE NOT SHOOTING.  THEY AREN'T SHOOTING, THEY AREN'T BEING PRODUCTIVE OFFENSIVELY AND AT 12 OUT OF 13 IN THE A10 IN BOTH FG D AND 3 POINT D, THEY AREN'T BEING DEFENSIVELY PRODUCTIVE.  THOSE ARE REALITIES, NOT PROJECTIONS.  THE REAL QUESTION IS WHY IS G PLAYING THEM SO MUCH?

OK - Why do you think G has cut down on using our floor general to bring the ball upcourt and instead having him play off the ball so much more? 

IT'S PRETTY FAIR TO CONCLUDE THAT HE IS DOING THIS TO MAKE UP FOR THE LACK OF PRODUCTION BY THE OTHERS ON THE PERIMETER


Also, put yourself in the place of a coaching staff preparing to play La Salle. How do you think they are prepping their defense? I'll give you a hint about one great aspect of it:

"Don't worry about Mills and Peterson - just stay within 5-7 feet of them and they won't shoot. Guard the pass. We need to concentrate on Duren, Wright and Zack. Be prepared for Garland to beat his man & drive to the hoop. We should be able to swat it since he's putting it up regardless. He's not a driver and disher - if he does pass it a couple of times it's alright".

IT CERTAINLY LOOKS PLAUSIBLE.  AS I STATED IN ANOTHER THREAD (YOU ARE WHAT YOUR RECORD SAYS YOU ARE), G & CO HAVE USED 3 PLAYERS AT 2 FULL POSITION SPOTS (OUT OF 5) WHO ARE INCREDIBLY UNPRODUCTIVE.



IF YOU ADD THE STATS FOR MILLS, DJ AND LEWIS AND DIVIDE THEM BY TWO POSITIONS, YOU GET A STAT LINE THAT READS PER POSITION (OVER THE PAST 7 LOSSES):

35 MINUTES PER GAME
27.2% FG %
19% 3 %
UNDER 2 FTAs PER GAME
4.7 POINTS PER GAME

OR BASED ON TWO POSITIONS ABOUT 40% OF YOUR LINEUP:

SHOOTS
 27.2% FROM 2
 19% FROM 3
SHOOTS 4 FTAs
ACCOUNTS FOR 9.4 POINTS

THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK IN CYO BALL

YET DUNN, WHO PROVIDED THE ONLY SPARK FROM 3 POINT LAND AGAINST SJU, SITS FOR THE FIRST 39 MINUTES WHEN WE CAN'T SCORE IN THE NEXT GAME AT DAYTON.

WHY IS THE COACHING STAFF LETTING THIS HAPPEN?

My thoughts are in CAPS above.

[coachd]

Ramon brought the work ethic, fire and passion with him that rubbed off on others... they succeeded despite the deficiencies in the coaching staff. The one constant has been G's unwillingness to bring in new blood to help run offensive sets and teach solid defense. The apprehensive shooting comes from not working with a shooting coach in the off-season to correct flawed shooting habits. As these losses mount it brings back into focus the failures of previous seasons under G. Next year is big not only for La Salle but for G. We need to make the NCAA's next season.

Not sure what Jameer taught Tyreek in the off-season other then how to get injured like Jameer!

[jellybean]

Little attention goes to the fact that Tyrone Garland worked out with Tyreek at those Jameer Nelson practices.

[a10champion15]

I also don't want to hear there scared too shoot or this player is the problem I am tired of hearing that. This disappointing season falls on G shoulders hands down.

I am unbelievably frustrated with him. It is week after week I am questioning him and his decisions on the court. The intangibles factor is complete bullshit. Yes, Ramon had a lot of energy out there and really willed this team BUT willing and intangibles aren't the complete cause of this years disaster.I had my NCAA hopes but tired to be realistic I knew an NIT birth was the more likely scenario without Ramon.

However,

The roster rotation is god awful. When were in a situation where we need to play D why would Garland or Wright be out there? Wright is not good on the defensive end and Garland is just undersized. The SLU game G scheme there was completely wrong. You knew Jett was going to drive to the basket so why not force him to shoot the three? Why hasn't Zack developed a shot whatsoever. Zack has had an awesome season and I know he can shoot, saw the guy back in high school hitting threes so why hasn't he developed a decent shot. Wright is a one dimensional player whois unstoppable in the post but can't drive to the basket even within 10 feet. I just have so many issues with the style he has used all season long, that I want to freak on him. Bottom line, even without Galloway this should have been at least a decent NIT team. Don't get me wrong I am proud of G getting to the sweet sixteen but with each game I questioning who really got us there Galloway or G?

I had a long discussion with a few of my buddies I graduated with. If you took away the Ramon Galloway seasons G doesn't have much to work with. He has a talented roster that can get the job done, he recruits well but when it comes to simple x's and o's I don't know what he is doing a lot of the time. Bottom line, I am questioning how much Galloway ran directed the offense and the entire team as opposed to G.

In closing of my rant, I am not saying fire G but with the most talented roster to date coming in next year and still a solid core with Zack, Wright, Rohan, Petersen, Khalid and I guess Davis I expect over 500 season with a NIT birth. I really do not think that is asking too much.

So with that I hope they finish the season strong and win a few games in the A10 tourney if I decide to go.

Keep the faith!