(01-25-2020 11:42 AM)GFlash68 Wrote: (01-25-2020 09:30 AM)Skinny Pete Wrote: (01-24-2020 10:33 PM)JimJoyce Wrote: I may be in the minority here, but I think Danny Pippen has earned his right to have the longest leash on the team.
I agree. He was fierce on the boards and on D.
As a team they got after it, specifically on the " 50-50's."
The banks at the end were great!
I am not sold on DP yet. His ability far exceeds his contribution. I am not referring to last night. He finally positioned himself where he should be playing, rather than where he wants to position himself. I would guess that coach worked on that this week. DP is needed around the basket. He actually made an in close dish off that helped the overall team involvement. He is an awesome force around the rim on defense and made the win possible. I do not mind him occasionally stepping out for a 3, but he is too valuable in the post to live outside. Show me another game like this one, and I will be on your side.
Two things ... every long/tall player is not a 'true' post player. I agree Pippen spends far too much time around the 3-point arc. But he does not have true post moves inside, either.
What he is starting to do is drive it to the basket, but even then - after his injuries - he has no explosion UP to the rim.
The one play that showed this was in the first half when he drove to the basket, and actually had a dunk under normal circumstances for a 6-9 guy. But he would have to go to the rim off of one leg, so he passed the ball back to a trailing teammate for a layup.
A bit more of a midrange game from Pippen would go a long way. More help (Whittington) on the block would go even further.
His defensive presence remains strong around the rim. But after he blocks the shots someone has to get the rebounds, and that is not a strong suit right now for Kent State.
Pippen needs help. He is not a player who can score tons of points, shy of a big night at the FT line, or a big night w/3-pointers both of which do not come regularly at all.
Kent was strongest this season when five guys were averaging in double figures. W/o checking, I'd bet the last time that happened was maybe the Toledo game.
If Kent can get back to that, collectively, the team is good enough to compete w/the rest of the league.
(I just checked ... Toledo was the last game Kent had five guys in double figures.)