(12-21-2014 12:37 PM)TigerBo Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 11:36 AM)450bench Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 10:54 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Pookie is finally NOT getting yanked after one bad pass or missed shot. Iverson still gets benched too much imo. Yesterday early in the second half Nick got caught watching the ball and gave up a layup. Josh immediately got Shaq up to go in for him. Nick then scored on the other end. Josh then told Shaq to go in for Iverson instead. He didn't play again until late in the game. The other thing that drives me nuts is Burrell didn't start the second half because he had 3 fouls. That's fine but he never got back in until the 9 minute mark. It'd like he goes from one extreme with the other with his substitution patterns. That's my biggest problem with him from day one. He's just too much of a micro manager.

And when Burrell got his second, he should have been taken out so as not to get his 3rd in the first half. When he picked up the 3rd, it was on Josh. Ridiculous.

Agree... that was a head scratcher.

Sooner or later you have got to learn to play with fouls. Might as well learn it now. If he fouls out a few times then he will learn how to play without fouling.

(12-21-2014 08:53 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Only took nine OP before constructive and even critical commentary turned into the same old reactionary bashing...those doing the bashing soon to be whining about me making the comment about it.

Remember, everything Paster has done is ridiculous, the players are faultless, and another coach would be undefeated now...evidenced by...er...really very little.

What a miserable bunch.

Agree. I'm critical of Pastner at times myself, mainly for his communication skills, but the team is looking better and we should enjoy the successes. We may not be world beaters this year but, since we all knew the team would be young and inexperienced, continued improvement is what I am really looking for.

(12-21-2014 10:58 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Markel's only fault was the coach playing him out of position. I think someone with knowledge said that he had "never played point guard in his life", yet he was starting there a few games for us.

I hope his lack of minutes the last two games is related to his injury and not a sign that he has been left out of Josh's new shorter rotation. I'd rather see him get the minutes that Woodson is getting.

(12-21-2014 09:23 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 10:54 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Pookie is finally NOT getting yanked after one bad pass or missed shot. Iverson still gets benched too much imo. Yesterday early in the second half Nick got caught watching the ball and gave up a layup. Josh immediately got Shaq up to go in for him. Nick then scored on the other end. Josh then told Shaq to go in for Iverson instead. He didn't play again until late in the game. The other thing that drives me nuts is Burrell didn't start the second half because he had 3 fouls. That's fine but he never got back in until the 9 minute mark. It'd like he goes from one extreme with the other with his substitution patterns. That's my biggest problem with him from day one. He's just too much of a micro manager.

Pookie was never being yanked for a bad pass or missed shot. He was being yanked for not playing with in the system. Playing out of control. It was not the bad pass, but the stupid pass that got him yanked.

Be prepared this year to see Cunningham on the floor as the PG and Pookie as the off guard and go to scorer. When both learn the system Cunningham has more quickness needed at the point and can get to the basket better.

Nah, I'd be more prepared to see Pookie at the 1 all years and Markel/Woodson at the two. Cunningham will be an adequate back-up for Pookie if Johnson never gets his stuff together.

(12-21-2014 09:23 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 10:54 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Pookie is finally NOT getting yanked after one bad pass or missed shot. Iverson still gets benched too much imo. Yesterday early in the second half Nick got caught watching the ball and gave up a layup. Josh immediately got Shaq up to go in for him. Nick then scored on the other end. Josh then told Shaq to go in for Iverson instead. He didn't play again until late in the game. The other thing that drives me nuts is Burrell didn't start the second half because he had 3 fouls. That's fine but he never got back in until the 9 minute mark. It'd like he goes from one extreme with the other with his substitution patterns. That's my biggest problem with him from day one. He's just too much of a micro manager.

Pookie was never being yanked for a bad pass or missed shot. He was being yanked for not playing with in the system. Playing out of control. It was not the bad pass, but the stupid pass that got him yanked.

Be prepared this year to see Cunningham on the floor as the PG and Pookie as the off guard and go to scorer. When both learn the system Cunningham has more quickness needed at the point and can get to the basket better.

Maybe in situations if Woodson isn't shooting well, we need a little boost on offense & we don't need much D in the backcourt. But normally we'll need a bigger guard like Markle defensively, assuming his knees are OK. That said, Pookie is playing surprisingly well on D at times & he seems to be playing bigger than his 6'1". For sure if opposition backcourt quickness is bothering us, a combo of Cunningham & Pookie might get it done. But between the inconsistency of the team & JP's substitution patterns, it's difficult to see the best role for several of our guys.

Pookie is on his best game offensively when he's running pick and rolls, which means that he's almost wasted at the 2 guard spot.

What? I hope you guys aren't buying this guy's schtick, Pookie is this guy's Paxton Lynch, meaning no appreciation at all

(12-22-2014 11:56 AM)MemphisCanes Wrote:  Pookie is on his best game offensively when he's running pick and rolls, which means that he's almost wasted at the 2 guard spot.

Would agree if we ran an offense with a traditional point & 2G but Pookie could still be comfortable in this offense at the 2G - at some point in the future (prefer next yr). Would prefer to see Pookie work at the point, continue his improvement, run the team without TOs, making others better with penetration & hitting the outside shot, i.e., get it down before giving him something else to learn. Related, don't remember at what point in the OR game but we actually ran some effective dribble drive involving Pookie, the 2G & SF at some point so the parts need to be somewhat interchangeable.

(12-21-2014 10:58 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Markel's only fault was the coach playing him out of position. I think someone with knowledge said that he had "never played point guard in his life", yet he was starting there a few games for us.

His H.S coach said that was his position. He could play it in a pinch, We have been in a pinch.

(12-22-2014 12:06 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(12-22-2014 11:56 AM)MemphisCanes Wrote:  Pookie is on his best game offensively when he's running pick and rolls, which means that he's almost wasted at the 2 guard spot.

Would agree if we ran an offense with a traditional point & 2G but Pookie could still be comfortable in this offense at the 2G - at some point in the future (prefer next yr). Would prefer to see Pookie work at the point, continue his improvement, run the team without TOs, making others better with penetration & hitting the outside shot, i.e., get it down before giving him something else to learn. Related, don't remember at what point in the OR game but we actually ran some effective dribble drive involving Pookie, the 2G & SF at some point so the parts need to be somewhat interchangeable.

Pookie is as much of a SG as Markel is a PG. Pookie can get his own shot off a screen or can facilitate a teammate. If he's the best at doing those two things on the team (which he is right now), why would we slide him to 2 guard to be essentially a spot-up shooter and use someone who is worse at running the point than Pookie at the 1?

If Pookie isn't at the 1 for us this season (and most likely until he graduates) we'll have someone WORSE than Pookie is at the 1. No reason for that, just play Pookie there.

(12-22-2014 01:03 PM)MemphisCanes Wrote:  

(12-22-2014 12:06 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(12-22-2014 11:56 AM)MemphisCanes Wrote:  Pookie is on his best game offensively when he's running pick and rolls, which means that he's almost wasted at the 2 guard spot.

Would agree if we ran an offense with a traditional point & 2G but Pookie could still be comfortable in this offense at the 2G - at some point in the future (prefer next yr). Would prefer to see Pookie work at the point, continue his improvement, run the team without TOs, making others better with penetration & hitting the outside shot, i.e., get it down before giving him something else to learn. Related, don't remember at what point in the OR game but we actually ran some effective dribble drive involving Pookie, the 2G & SF at some point so the parts need to be somewhat interchangeable.

Pookie is as much of a SG as Markel is a PG. Pookie can get his own shot off a screen or can facilitate a teammate. If he's the best at doing those two things on the team (which he is right now), why would we slide him to 2 guard to be essentially a spot-up shooter and use someone who is worse at running the point than Pookie at the 1?

If Pookie isn't at the 1 for us this season (and most likely until he graduates) we'll have someone WORSE than Pookie is at the 1. No reason for that, just play Pookie there.

Pookie has no business playing anywhere but the 1 with the rare exception that we have him and Cunningham on the court at the same time. Pookie has already starting growing into a good passer and he is only 10 games into his freshman year. He is going to add to the long line of great guards to play for Memphis.

Pookie just needs time. He was very effective in AAu running a team. Granted, this aint AAU...that's why he needs time. If you start a freshman PG you have to live with mistakes. Yanking him isn't helping. That being said, I like his prospects as a pick & roll PG. He can shoot it, i refuse to believe he can't. That was his calling card in high school. If he can find his shot, that becomes a huge weapon. A pick & roll PG who can shoot opens up a lot of options for everyone else.

Markel is just an athlete. That's what he was at Melrose. He is what I'd call a slasher. He isn't a point, but he doesn't have the range to be a threat on the wing nor does he have the handles to create for himself at this level yet. He may have lost some athleticsm too with the injuries, but nonetheless, he will have to learn to play within the offese a la Tony Allen (weak side crash, off ball cuts, etc.). That comes with time & chemistry...

Kuran is a 4. I've said that all along. He's a face-up, high post PF. He can't dribble well enough (yet) to play the 3 and his shot isn't there. He's not strong enough to post up on the block & i dont think he has the post moves to do anything with it down there. What he can do is - get the ball on the elbow, use his length and playmaking ability to create for others (Hi-Lo) or 1-2 dribble mid range pull up a la Robert Dozier.

There are plenty of minutes for KI & Pookie. If Josh lets them learn on the court and work through mistakes, they can be good players for us.

Better question, what is Pastner's system?

If we knew that, we might know what the players are doing right/wrong.

Pastner's system has them working together like a fine, well-oiled machine.
I believe you will see the evidence of this going into January!
We're clicking on all cylinders and are on track for that elusive sweet sixteen appearance this year!

I BELIEVE! What about you TIGER NATION?!?!?!?!?!?!

(12-21-2014 11:39 AM)Malachi Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 11:36 AM)450bench Wrote:  

(12-21-2014 10:54 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Pookie is finally NOT getting yanked after one bad pass or missed shot. Iverson still gets benched too much imo. Yesterday early in the second half Nick got caught watching the ball and gave up a layup. Josh immediately got Shaq up to go in for him. Nick then scored on the other end. Josh then told Shaq to go in for Iverson instead. He didn't play again until late in the game. The other thing that drives me nuts is Burrell didn't start the second half because he had 3 fouls. That's fine but he never got back in until the 9 minute mark. It'd like he goes from one extreme with the other with his substitution patterns. That's my biggest problem with him from day one. He's just too much of a micro manager.

And when Burrell got his second, he should have been taken out so as not to get his 3rd in the first half. When he picked up the 3rd, it was on Josh. Ridiculous.

It's just a reactive pattern with no real plan for what he's doing. When he sees the substitution he makes isn't doing what he thought he's quick to make another, and another, and so on.

There's a deeper underlying problem in there somewhere either on the coach or players, or both.

Look in the mirror.