(02-15-2017 03:00 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(02-15-2017 12:50 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  If only Murphy wouldn't have shot 2-10 from the field. Or turned it over 15 times. Or not hustled back on defense.

Luckeyone is the type of fan to paint a picture in either black or white. Basketball isn't one or the other; it's a combination of many factors that determine a season. Murphy has coached poorly this year, but putting ALL the blame on him utterly ridiculous. The players need to bear some of the responsibility. Many times, there are better passes for Toney/Mangum/Lee to make, yet they force up an awful shot. Thompson loses his head at least every other game.

Murphy hasn't been good at leading this horse to water, but the players don't always seem like they want to drink anyway.

Sam,

You like to put words into my mouth.

Ultimately this is Murphy's system, his offense, his defense, his transition between O & D, the allowance of bad shots taken, his allowance for lack of effort, his assitant coaches, and overall his players. The coach makes $250 k per year to shoulder the blame or credit. Ultimately it is on Murphy.

Of course there are an infinite number of decisions made during a game but how you prepare with the system He put in place with His players will proportionately determine wins and losses.

See, if you would've said that initially, I would've agreed with you.

(02-15-2017 03:07 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(02-15-2017 01:42 PM)realistEagle Wrote:  

(02-15-2017 12:58 PM)emu steve Wrote:  "Many times, there are better passes for Toney/Mangum/Lee to make, yet they force up an awful shot. "

I watch a lot of our opponents pass the ball like it is a hot potato. Pass it every second until someone sees a shot they like.

We dribble, dribble, dribble... and end up with a forced shot, frequently in traffic.

That's was drives me

I'm not as frustrated by the defense because they scramble so much, trying to jump the passing lanes, that open shots are the natural result.

To me, jumping the passing lane is like jumping the route in FB. If you are successful, possible INT. If unsuccessful, maybe long gainer or TD for the offense.

Maybe they are just not that good basketball players? Ability to make the right decision in the right situations is what makes great players in my opinion. Unfortunately this team is full of very low basketball IQ guys. Yes they are very talented but so what?

And in the Ray Lee vs. Murphy feud - I think if you guys had some insight in the reality of the situation, your perception would be VERY different.

Regarding Ray Lee vs Murphy feud it's a very simple solution. If Ray Lee was not hustling in practice, he shouldn't play period ever. However, Murphy has played Lee and which one can only derive that Lee practices hard. When Lee has played and performed well there are times he sits for a dozen minutes or so. Why?

This was the same situation with Derek Thompson. He was our best scorer and player but would often sit for unknown reasons. The players told me DT was a very hard worker in practice.

The bottom line is if Ray Lee doesn't play hard in games or practices, he shouldn't ever see the floor period but since Murphy plays him, I don't think that's the case.

But then this is the speculation that drives me nuts. We aren't at practices, and Murphy plays Lee because he is the most talented player on the team. If either Ray or Willie was scoring 25 points per game at an efficient rate, then the other would probably play less. Sadly, neither guy is producing well right now, so the minutes have to go somewhere.

To suggest that coaching isn't the primary cause for this team's downfall is ridiculous.

This team has a discipline issue: that's a coaching issue.
This team has issues with basketball fundamentals (boxing out, running the break, spacing, pick n' rolls, passing): those are coaching issues.
Basketball players don't develop between seasons: that's a coaching issue.
This time has system issues on both offense and defense: those are coaching issues.

Issues in this program point to Murphy. Murphy has done a great job finding talent. This team is talented and nobody will deny that. But as a coach, you have to be able to take talent and manufacture wins. This team is shooting almost 45% (7th in MAC, the leader is at 48%) and almost 75% (2nd in MAC) at the line. They have a +5 turnover margin (1st in MAC). They have an even rebound margin. This team isn't being beaten like the scoreboard says. They are being out-coached.

(02-15-2017 05:02 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  To suggest that coaching isn't the primary cause for this team's downfall is ridiculous.

This team has a discipline issue: that's a coaching issue.
This team has issues with basketball fundamentals (boxing out, running the break, spacing, pick n' rolls, passing): those are coaching issues.
Basketball players don't develop between seasons: that's a coaching issue.
This time has system issues on both offense and defense: those are coaching issues.

Issues in this program point to Murphy. Murphy has done a great job finding talent. This team is talented and nobody will deny that. But as a coach, you have to be able to take talent and manufacture wins. This team is shooting almost 45% (7th in MAC, the leader is at 48%) and almost 75% (2nd in MAC) at the line. They have a +5 turnover margin (1st in MAC). They have an even rebound margin. This team isn't being beaten like the scoreboard says. They are being out-coached.

Exactly!!!!