In the past, and I think he'll admit this, there were 900 voices in his ear ..."

And Joe's measurable improvement ->

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...er=popular

This article scares me. Every time there is something written about how Joe is improving all hell breaks lose. Maybe it will be different this time. It looks like it will be with the way he is playing.

"......and he's not listening to people that he shouldn't be listening to who have never coached or played at this level"

Now if only some would quit listening to some around here

(01-08-2013 09:36 AM)BigTigerMike Wrote:  "......and he's not listening to people that he shouldn't be listening to who have never coached or played at this level"

Now if only some would quit listening to some around here

My kids stopped listening to me a long time ago.

(01-08-2013 10:32 AM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(01-08-2013 09:36 AM)BigTigerMike Wrote:  "......and he's not listening to people that he shouldn't be listening to who have never coached or played at this level"

Now if only some would quit listening to some around here

My kids stopped listening to me a long time ago.

I stopped listening to them recently....

(01-08-2013 10:32 AM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(01-08-2013 09:36 AM)BigTigerMike Wrote:  "......and he's not listening to people that he shouldn't be listening to who have never coached or played at this level"

Now if only some would quit listening to some around here

My kids stopped listening to me a long time ago.

did you say something?

I do what the voices in my head tell me

Of course Joe's resurgence has nothing to do with the fact that we are running less high ball screens when he's in there and are just letting him beat his man off the dribble.

(01-08-2013 11:23 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Of course Joe's resurgence has nothing to do with the fact that we are running less high ball screens when he's in there and are just letting him beat his man off the dribble.

Not in IMO. Jackson has never had a problem 'beating his man off the dribble.' In fact, his problems always seemed to be what to do *after* beating his man. His decisions now are light years better.

Has everything to do with Joe being comfortable it the set- that instantly makes his decision making better.

He's like a QB- sometimes, you just need to simplify the offense, and the numbers will improve.

Its amazing how a team and or player responds to a coaching staff that communicates well with players.

(01-08-2013 11:34 AM)madtiger Wrote:  Has everything to do with Joe being comfortable it the set- that instantly makes his decision making better.

He's like a QB- sometimes, you just need to simplify the offense, and the numbers will improve.

You mean like making him a two guard? Oh wait . . .

G Johnson is a big reason For Joe's improvement. Johnson can take the ball to the hole and get his own shot. Coaches can no longer scheme to simply keep joe outta the lane. Johnson has also taken the pressure off of Joe being the one who has to play well all the time for Memphis to win. Joe can finally just play ball and not have the city of Memphis on his shoulders. Joe has always been great, just some coaches scheme well and make things hard on Joe and it impacted greatly how Memphis played.

(01-08-2013 11:23 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Of course Joe's resurgence has nothing to do with the fact that we are running less high ball screens when he's in there and are just letting him beat his man off the dribble.

Some truth to this. When the screener is not great roll (or pop) candidate, it can simply bring a functional double team to the pic/roll trigger man. For all of Black's other strengths, he is as good on the roll in my observation as he is a 'post anchor'

Also having Black not in due to injury can free up the lane for drives b/c the other bigs in our rotation are either comfortable in the high post (Shaq), can spot up (DJ), or understand their value is crashing post shot for boards (Stan)

(01-08-2013 11:27 AM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Jackson has never had a problem 'beating his man off the dribble.' In fact, his problems always seemed to be what to do *after* beating his man. His decisions now are light years better.

There is some truth to this as well. Jackson getting by his man is rarely the problem. It's more likely the issue of what happens when the bigs rotate. He has had issues at the rim (any small guard would). He is not taking every drive all the way to the cup and is learning the value of the probing drive.

Also, there are fewer bigs at the cup since our 4/5 rotation w/o Black don't have to be in the post to contribute.

(01-08-2013 07:30 PM)memphomike Wrote:  G Johnson is a big reason For Joe's improvement. Johnson can take the ball to the hole and get his own shot. Coaches can no longer scheme to simply keep joe outta the lane. Johnson has also taken the pressure off of Joe being the one who has to play well all the time for Memphis to win.

Having another true off the bounce threat is never a bad thing. For all of Crawford's and Barton's other strengths, the best penetrator by far has been JJ in his time here. Having another guard you have to account for off the bounce makes the defensive rotations a little harder for the opposition.

>>>>>

A lot of truth in all your posts actually.

Key point, the emergence of GJohnson and the removal of TBlack (injury) has been a short term good (shockingly) for the two lead guards to find a groove, it is still imperative for this team to have Black clicking in March as getting points in the paint is still the easiest way to get a quick score and Black is still our best back to the basket operator.

It will be interesting if the idea of a '4-1/2 out' type offense can work as seamlessly with a post space eating big like Black. Honestly it has to, but melding these two major strengths into a cohesive offense might be harder than we all think.

This team will go as far as JJ, GJ, and TB take us. Getting them all to play to their individual strengths within the same system might be a challenge. But... If Pastner and staff can pull it out... It's on.

Or maybe he is maturing as a person and player just like most college players do with time and experience. Again the parallel between Joe and Andre Turner is not coincidental. For some with the talent it only takes a season to adjust to the college level, but for most it takes 3 and 4 years to develop the talent we are now seeing from Joe or DJ for that matter. Most of the teams that have won the NC were loaded with juniors and seniors. It is now their turn to shine. Lets hope everyone stays healthy for the rest of the season.