(07-18-2013 08:49 PM)Easterwood Wrote:  Ya'll like GP now?

#snickerdoodledoo

Always nice to hear these things about our players, but there were a couple of rules.. could not turn your back, and could not dribble behind your back.. makes things quite a bit tougher

Great story. Isn't all that surpising. Henderson is a spot up shooter, not a ball handler. Even worse when you ask him to try to go the length of the court (without using screens) against a junkyard dog who was likely hell bent on shutting him down.

Would have loved to have seen them matched up in the NCAA's last year.

(07-19-2013 10:01 AM)Tigermaniac Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 09:04 AM)tigers1125 Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 08:49 AM)Tigermaniac Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 05:51 AM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  Geron Johnson vs Russ Smith will be the matchup of the season. We likely see it 3 times.

Geron can make life miserable for any guard in the country.

The last time we played them Smith was 3-11 from the field 1-6 from 3. The problem was refs hooked him up with 12 free throws. He was held to 7 points from the field. I feel very confident we can do it again except this time there won't be depth issues. If Geron gets in foul trouble he'll still have to deal with either Chris Crawford, Markel Crawford or Michael Dixon. Joe will take care of Jones and if Joe get's into magically foul problems The same will go for him. (I didn't list Pookie because I personally don't know about his defense, I hear that's his weak point but I definitely could be wrong).

Our Back court will be able to score plenty, what I think put's us over the top is our defensive ability in the back court.

CC can't guard Russ Smith; JJ and Dixon can.

I think CC can. He was an Honorable mention pre preseason All American. He is much bigger then Smith. CC's biggest problem guarding smaller guards in my opinion has been his weight. He was always just a bit too heavy. Now that he has dropped weight his speed and agility should be improved. I think he went through a funk last season and had some lull moments, but overall he should be able to at least hold Smith. Smith would not kill him. Crawford is also a more efficient offensive player. He shoots better and even with his funk last season his 3 point % and Floor % was higher than Smith's. Smith guarding C. Crawford on the perimeter would be a dream scenario for us. Chris could shoot over him and back him down if if it came to that. Smith would have to rely on help the entire time.

Kind of how DJ had to rely on help guarding players who were 5-6 inches taller then him. It was not fair to him to guard a player like Payne so he relied on help which opened up the floor for shooters because our guards or other big would have to help out. I do not think that will be the case this season. It was hard for us to put Shaq and Black in at the same time because they were each others back ups. When they were on the court at the same time the results were pretty good when they were both playing with intensity.

We could mix and match our bigs and still have viable back ups this season.

Shaq and Woodson
Nichols and Pellom
Shaq and Nichols
Woodson and Pellom
Pellom and Shaq
Nichols and Woodson

Against smaller teams we can even throw Iverson at the 4 to pair with them.

All of those line ups have both their strengths and weaknesses but it's nice to have 4 viable bigs to rotate instead of 2.

Our guards will be a nightmare scenario for any team. Yes, some teams can match it. However having to guard and be guarded by Dixon, Joe, Geron, C. Crawford, M. Crawford, Pookie and Craft is not something teams would look forward too.

Our wings will also cause major match up problems King, Iverson and Wilson. Even if team shave that 1 good player on the wing he's going to have to deal with that rotation. It will not be a fun night for him. If he's able to shut all that down for 40 minutes and still have the energy to score over 6'6, 6'7 and 6'9 then he should have been in the NBA already. King and Iverson can both shoot the ball well. Iverson can break most defenders down pretty easily.

I know we have a lot to prove but I just don't see many team matching up with that. Not even Louisville. Yes they return 7 players from a title team. However most of those players were 0.5-5 PPG scorers. Hancock simply got hot in the NCAA Tournament he only avg 8 PPG. He was solid but not great. Smith is the only great scorer and player returning which I think we can nullify with our guard rotation. If we have to we can even play Iverson on him however, I don't think it will come to that. We matched up well against them last season and it took something special for them to beat us. I don't know what having Dieng would have done for them but it doesn't matter because they don't have him now.

I think they only teams that will give us trouble are the teams that can match us up front who have veteran big's. I also think that will only hurt us in the beginning of the season. By the end of the season Nichols and Woodson will have more experience and the great thing is, it will be gained against quality opponents.

I might be drinking to much of the blue koolaide but it's more fun for me to think about things like this then it is thinking about how our opponents could beat us.

Agree that Smith would have tough time guarding CC but Smith's speed would put CC in foul trouble if Smith chose to attack the basket.

DAMN... Geron Johnson is gonna be scary good next season...

You can tell that Geron is preparing big time to become a first round pick for the 2014 NBA Draft.

(07-18-2013 09:41 PM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  Now if refs will stop calling bs fouls on Geron when he is playing straight up good D.

He's a magnet for fouls much as Dorsey was. Refs just seem to pick on some players. It could be the opposing coaches bending the ears of the refs to get them to over react. The nickel and dime call on Joey in the NC game may have cost the Tigers the game, but they couldn't muster the courage to call one on Rose trying to pick up one.

[quote='natebshaw09' pid='9508551' dateline='1374247712']
Always nice to hear these things about our players, but there were a couple of rules.. could not turn your back, and could not dribble behind your back.. makes things quite a bit tougher
[/quote]

There are always rules and this drill was supposed be hard. But shame a high level player into crying " no more, I have a headache" is a big deal. He never made half court!

You can have your but back.

(07-19-2013 10:56 AM)tigers1125 Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 10:01 AM)Tigermaniac Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 09:04 AM)tigers1125 Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 08:49 AM)Tigermaniac Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 05:51 AM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  Geron Johnson vs Russ Smith will be the matchup of the season. We likely see it 3 times.

Geron can make life miserable for any guard in the country.

The last time we played them Smith was 3-11 from the field 1-6 from 3. The problem was refs hooked him up with 12 free throws. He was held to 7 points from the field. I feel very confident we can do it again except this time there won't be depth issues. If Geron gets in foul trouble he'll still have to deal with either Chris Crawford, Markel Crawford or Michael Dixon. Joe will take care of Jones and if Joe get's into magically foul problems The same will go for him. (I didn't list Pookie because I personally don't know about his defense, I hear that's his weak point but I definitely could be wrong).

Our Back court will be able to score plenty, what I think put's us over the top is our defensive ability in the back court.

CC can't guard Russ Smith; JJ and Dixon can.

I think CC can. He was an Honorable mention pre preseason All American. He is much bigger then Smith. CC's biggest problem guarding smaller guards in my opinion has been his weight. He was always just a bit too heavy. Now that he has dropped weight his speed and agility should be improved. I think he went through a funk last season and had some lull moments, but overall he should be able to at least hold Smith. Smith would not kill him. Crawford is also a more efficient offensive player. He shoots better and even with his funk last season his 3 point % and Floor % was higher than Smith's. Smith guarding C. Crawford on the perimeter would be a dream scenario for us. Chris could shoot over him and back him down if if it came to that. Smith would have to rely on help the entire time.

Kind of how DJ had to rely on help guarding players who were 5-6 inches taller then him. It was not fair to him to guard a player like Payne so he relied on help which opened up the floor for shooters because our guards or other big would have to help out. I do not think that will be the case this season. It was hard for us to put Shaq and Black in at the same time because they were each others back ups. When they were on the court at the same time the results were pretty good when they were both playing with intensity.

We could mix and match our bigs and still have viable back ups this season.

Shaq and Woodson
Nichols and Pellom
Shaq and Nichols
Woodson and Pellom
Pellom and Shaq
Nichols and Woodson

Against smaller teams we can even throw Iverson at the 4 to pair with them.

All of those line ups have both their strengths and weaknesses but it's nice to have 4 viable bigs to rotate instead of 2.

Our guards will be a nightmare scenario for any team. Yes, some teams can match it. However having to guard and be guarded by Dixon, Joe, Geron, C. Crawford, M. Crawford, Pookie and Craft is not something teams would look forward too.

Our wings will also cause major match up problems King, Iverson and Wilson. Even if team shave that 1 good player on the wing he's going to have to deal with that rotation. It will not be a fun night for him. If he's able to shut all that down for 40 minutes and still have the energy to score over 6'6, 6'7 and 6'9 then he should have been in the NBA already. King and Iverson can both shoot the ball well. Iverson can break most defenders down pretty easily.

I know we have a lot to prove but I just don't see many team matching up with that. Not even Louisville. Yes they return 7 players from a title team. However most of those players were 0.5-5 PPG scorers. Hancock simply got hot in the NCAA Tournament he only avg 8 PPG. He was solid but not great. Smith is the only great scorer and player returning which I think we can nullify with our guard rotation. If we have to we can even play Iverson on him however, I don't think it will come to that. We matched up well against them last season and it took something special for them to beat us. I don't know what having Dieng would have done for them but it doesn't matter because they don't have him now.

I think they only teams that will give us trouble are the teams that can match us up front who have veteran big's. I also think that will only hurt us in the beginning of the season. By the end of the season Nichols and Woodson will have more experience and the great thing is, it will be gained against quality opponents.

I might be drinking to much of the blue koolaide but it's more fun for me to think about things like this then it is thinking about how our opponents could beat us.

Agree that Smith would have tough time guarding CC but Smith's speed would put CC in foul trouble if Smith chose to attack the basket.

I agree with that. However, CC would still give him plenty of problem especially if Smith wants to hang around the mid range or perimeter area. He would have to drive or rely on his team to set picks. Then he would probably have either Joe, Dixon, Geron or one of the wings on him. Not to mention a little foul trouble won't hurt as nearly as much as it did last season. We are sooooo deeeep. I'm very excited about this season. Should be a lot of fun!

GO TIGERS!

(07-19-2013 08:49 AM)Tigermaniac Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 05:51 AM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  Geron Johnson vs Russ Smith will be the matchup of the season. We likely see it 3 times.

Geron can make life miserable for any guard in the country.

The last time we played them Smith was 3-11 from the field 1-6 from 3. The problem was refs hooked him up with 12 free throws. He was held to 7 points from the field. I feel very confident we can do it again except this time there won't be depth issues. If Geron gets in foul trouble he'll still have to deal with either Chris Crawford, Markel Crawford or Michael Dixon. Joe will take care of Jones and if Joe get's into magically foul problems The same will go for him.
Our Back court will be able to score plenty, what I think put's us over the top is our defensive ability in the back court.

That's all fine and good but the guy that really beat us and Michigan for the national title is named Luke Hancock.....somebody better be able to check him.

(07-19-2013 10:36 PM)ItsDude Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 08:49 AM)Tigermaniac Wrote:  

(07-19-2013 05:51 AM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  Geron Johnson vs Russ Smith will be the matchup of the season. We likely see it 3 times.

Geron can make life miserable for any guard in the country.

The last time we played them Smith was 3-11 from the field 1-6 from 3. The problem was refs hooked him up with 12 free throws. He was held to 7 points from the field. I feel very confident we can do it again except this time there won't be depth issues. If Geron gets in foul trouble he'll still have to deal with either Chris Crawford, Markel Crawford or Michael Dixon. Joe will take care of Jones and if Joe get's into magically foul problems The same will go for him.
Our Back court will be able to score plenty, what I think put's us over the top is our defensive ability in the back court.

That's all fine and good but the guy that really beat us and Michigan for the national title is named Luke Hancock.....somebody better be able to check him.

The only reason he got open was bc there were several ridiculous (mostly offensive but not legit) fouls that put us in trouble and made us switch to zone.

He hit several 3s in a minute of game time and we switched back but our lead was cut way down.

Since the refs are obviously against us, why even play the game ?

For the money?

(07-20-2013 08:09 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Since the refs are obviously against us, why even play the game ?

Don't think they are always against us. But I have talked to a number of neutral parties who saw that game and they brought up how bad the officiating was and how it hurt us in that game.

I guess I should pretend that there was nothing wrong with it so I can impress people or something, but I can live with telling the truth and let people think of me what they will. Bc any honest person who saw the game knows that the way it was called affected the outcome.

In this case the point is about the effect of that on defense and esp, defending Hancock. He didn't go off until we had to switch to zone. Having more depth would help, even in the same officiating scenario.

This year we finally don't have the match up problems (DJ was way too short to play PF)
or the youth issues or the JK distraction or weak schedule or whatever
We really have a team with all the pieces and depth
We can be pretty good - how good we will have to wait and see
But it should be entertaining

(07-18-2013 08:49 PM)Easterwood Wrote:  Ya'll like GP now?

(07-18-2013 08:49 PM)Easterwood Wrote:  Ya'll like GP now?

Never stopped....listen to his podcasts all the time!

(07-19-2013 10:16 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(07-18-2013 08:49 PM)Easterwood Wrote:  Ya'll like GP now?

#snickerdoodledoo

#indubitably