Moving Forward and AAC Play

[AZ Shocker]

Do you guys think the lack of height and possibly some quickness at the 2 guard spot (Conner) is a detriment to our perimeter defense? As to say...we got a 6'-5" point guard in Shament but when he plays alongside with Conner our height may be causing some of these unbelievably shooting nights from our opponents.

With that in mind...and with McDuffie coming back...do we start him at the 3 spot...Brown at the 2 ..Shament at the 1...Kelly at the 4 and Big ShaQ at the 5??? Perhaps that could help some of our defensive woes on the perimeter to start the game and shut the opposition down from going nuts on the 3 ball..

Then of course have Conner and Willis first ones off the bench.

Wonder what Coach will do once Duff gets his legs back?

However we slice it...it will be a nice problem to have getting McDuffie back that's fer sure.

[asiseeit]

I am in the camp that Connor is not a bad defender. His only drawback defensively is being a little
slow defending a quicker guard that likes to drive BUT it seems ALL of our guards struggle with
the same thing. Connor has good court sense and that carries over to his defense and his ability
to anticipate. His BBIQ is very high and he just takes such good care of the ball. Don't care what his
shooting stats are right now he is still the best perimeter shooter on the team. Bottom line he starts,
plays significant minutes, and I wish he would create and shoot more. The biggest question is with
MM's minutes growing to twenty a game where do they come from? Like last year I think he will
play both small forward and big stretch forward. I can see some minutes coming from SM as DW
plays a few more at center, in fact, DW could start there consistently with MM and ZB. Hopefully
this motivates SM although it hasn't yet. So, a few minutes from SM, a few from ZB, a couple from RN,
and a few from DW. Unless SM gets better consistently I see a DW, MM,, ZB, CF and LS starting
line up. I think the CJ experiment is about over as we have four solid guards and MM coming back
to spell ZB when needed. AR also playing some minutes at the small forward if more shooting
is needed at the other wing.

[Shaqness]

I am in the camp that Connor is a good defender.

I agree and I FIFY.

I don't think the height or the personnel is the problem. Freddy was 5'10 (lets be honest), and Ron was 6'5. Kel' was 6'2 after a quick google. That perimeter could D it up.

I honestly think Gregg is going to continue giving ZB minutes. MM will be a slow come back. I think MM slowly eats at ZB minutes.

CF is starting, IMO. Always. Scorer with MTXE.

[im4wsu]

Defense	Raw	Rank	2016-Raw	2016 Rank
FG%-D	39	29	37.8	5
3fg%-D	33	102	31.2	19
2FG%-D	43.6	36	42	7
FT%-D	73.7	284	69.8	135
OREB-D	7.2	101	6.5	61
REB-D	27.3	79	26.8	107
ASST-D	10.8	77	10.1	52
STL-D	6.3	222	5.1	134
BLK-D	3.8	270	3.2	245
TO-D	11.8	134	12.6	295
PF-D	20.2	275	20.4	340

Our numbers are, not surprisingly, down in every category but the last two.
To me, giving up better shooting percentages is the result of giving better looks at the basket. Same with assists for wide open looks. IMHO, it is the result of less pressure on the ball, allowing the opponent to drive (or otherwise require help defense) and the helping/collapsing defense allows for assists to better selection of shots and poorer rebounding position because our bigs have left the man they're blocking out.

[proshox]

Do you guys think the lack of height and possibly some quickness at the 2 guard spot (Conner) is a detriment to our perimeter defense? As to say...we got a 6'-5" point guard in Shament but when he plays alongside with Conner our height may be causing some of these unbelievably shooting nights from our opponents.

With that in mind...and with McDuffie coming back...do we start him at the 3 spot...Brown at the 2 ..Shament at the 1...Kelly at the 4 and Big ShaQ at the 5??? Perhaps that could help some of our defensive woes on the perimeter to start the game and shut the opposition down from going nuts on the 3 ball..

Then of course have Conner and Willis first ones off the bench.

Wonder what Coach will do once Duff gets his legs back?

However we slice it...it will be a nice problem to have getting McDuffie back that's fer sure.

You are solving a problem that doesn’t exist. Oh and you are creating a bigger problem for our offense.

This team is showing that it plays much better with three guards not one guard.

[im4wsu]

I am in the camp that Connor is not a bad defender. His only drawback defensively is being a little
slow defending a quicker guard that likes to drive BUT it seems ALL of our guards struggle with
the same thing. Connor has good court sense and that carries over to his defense and his ability
to anticipate. His BBIQ is very high and he just takes such good care of the ball. Don't care what his
shooting stats are right now he is still the best perimeter shooter on the team. Bottom line he starts,
plays significant minutes, and I wish he would create and shoot more. The biggest question is with
MM's minutes growing to twenty a game where do they come from? Like last year I think he will
play both small forward and big stretch forward. I can see some minutes coming from SM as DW
plays a few more at center, in fact, DW could start there consistently with MM and ZB. Hopefully
this motivates SM although it hasn't yet. So, a few minutes from SM, a few from ZB, a couple from RN,
and a few from DW. Unless SM gets better consistently I see a DW, MM,, ZB, CF and LS starting
line up. I think the CJ experiment is about over as we have four solid guards and MM coming back
to spell ZB when needed. AR also playing some minutes at the small forward if more shooting
is needed at the other wing.

I agree with your comments about Conner's defense.
I have a difficult time declaring Conner the best perimeter shooter on the team -- Landry has matched Conner every year, has a career 44.9% compared to Conner's 38.7% and is 50% to 36.5% this year. Has a fast, clean release, too -- Austin is a career 48% to Conner's 38.7% (with a season best of 44%). Granted he does not create his own shot and takes mainly open catch and shoots. He need to be a bit less reluctant to shoot, though.

As for minutes, there are so many possible combinations. You may be right on there.

[wsushox1]

With that in mind...and with McDuffie coming back...do we start him at the 3 spot...Brown at the 2 ..Shament at the 1...Kelly at the 4 and Big ShaQ at the 5??? Perhaps that could help some of our defensive woes on the perimeter to start the game and shut the opposition down from going nuts on the 3 ball..

No.

That lineup would turn the ball over so much. Shamet is the only competent dribbler in that lineup.

[ROOT ANGRY!]

It's Shamet, damn it.

[wufan]

Conner is an okay defender. He gives us a lot on the offensive side of the court. Brown is a good defender that gives us little on the offensive side of the court. McDuffie is good on both sides of the court. Markis will be the major minutes getter at the wing forward position rotating in with Brown and Kelly.

It’s unclear how many minutes Brown, Kelly, or Willis will lose to McDuffie.

[Slykryck]

Maybe I’m one of the few that feels it’s a bit to early to be concerned about our defense. Not to say it hasn’t been a problem at times, but until MM is back I’m not going to overreact. Aside from points and rebounds, he led the team in steals last year at nearly two a game. He guards the perimeter and the post and with his combination of length and athleticism, he gives of players trouble on both ends of the court. If if we hit mid January-early February and our defense still looks the same, then I will be concerned.

And as far as Conner being the best perimeter shooter, I too have to disagree. Shamet is shooting a higher percentage on a similar number of attempts. Just like Conner, he makes them in ISO, catch-and-shoot, and coming of screens. Plus, his height allows him to get better looks over smaller defenders. Conner is a great perimeter shooter, but Shamet is better.