Chemistry

[Aargh]

I think the team chemistry could be better this year than it's been in several years.

Durley was an admitted "lazy" player. He had less of an issue with that later in his career, but he still got benched from the starting lineups a few times that we wouldn't have expected. I suspect he was still lacking some work ethic and that affected some of the other players on the team.

Stutz was and is a great person, but I can't imagine Murry, Kyles, and Stutz really being buddies. Some of the things about Stutz that fans find outstanding may have been seen as arrogance by his teammates.

It's easier to recognize chemistry problems from previous seasons than from the current season.

I think the next several seasons will have fewer chemistry problems than the last two or three seasons.

[molly jabali]

I not nthink you are right, in a lot of ways...unfortunately, ones' beliefs are often a lightening rod, even if the person holding them does not try to be a jerk about them.

[SHOXAAC]

I think the team chemistry could be better this year than it's been in several years.

Durley was an admitted "lazy" player. He had less of an issue with that later in his career, but he still got benched from the starting lineups a few times that we wouldn't have expected. I suspect he was still lacking some work ethic and that affected some of the other players on the team.

Stutz was and is a great person, but I can't imagine Murry, Kyles, and Stutz really being buddies. Some of the things about Stutz that fans find outstanding may have been seen as arrogance by his teammates.

It's easier to recognize chemistry problems from previous seasons than from the current season.

I think the next several seasons will have fewer chemistry problems than the last two or three seasons.

You and I define chemistry differently. I could care less if Armstead walks Baker's Grandmother across 21st and Hillside.
It makes no matter if EO changes the light bulbs at the Wessel household without the use of a ladder. What I care about is how this team executes on the floor. This chemistry will be the challenge. The past two teams did this reasonably well.

[molly jabali]

oops....I meant"I think you are right"...losing my proofing skils!:)

[CBB_Fan]

I think team may have more off the court chemistry, but what I would worry about is the meshing of talents. Last year, we were carried by the in-and-out game between Stutz and our 3PT shooters (and we had a lot of them). This year, we have an entirely different dynamic to learn, and we lack the advantage last year had in that a lot of them had a year's experience with each other.

For instance, remember the play in the Pitt State game where Wiggins was going to the basket after a steal and Early had the clear chance for an easy bucket after his man went to help. Wiggins decides to go against both men and shoots instead of passing to Early for the easy basket. He makes it, but the play showed a lack of chemistry. Also, watch the interplay between our guards and Orukpe, White, and perhaps Lufile (when he comes back). Last season, the post feeds came often and easily, while this year the guards seemed to have a great reluctance to pass the ball inside to anyone not named Hall.

The potential for chemistry is there (first play of the exhibition), but the execution is not yet. It is significantly better than I thought it would be at this point, but we have a long ways to go.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I understand the chemistry argument, but I have little doubt that Coach Marshall will nip it in the bud, if it exists.

Perhaps Wiggins should have passed the ball, but I am not concerned yet. I doubt there will be any "me first" on the floor. Sitting at the far end of the bench solves a lot of "me first" problems.

[CBB_Fan]

I understand the chemistry argument, but I have little doubt that Coach Marshall will nip it in the bud, if it exists.

Perhaps Wiggins should have passed the ball, but I am not concerned yet. I doubt there will be any "me first" on the floor. Sitting at the far end of the bench solves a lot of "me first" problems.

I wasn't trying to say that Wiggins was selfish, just that the pre-conscious chemistry isn't there yet. Chemistry comes from knowing where your teammates will be on every play, making those types of plays instinctual. Right now, making that pass to Early isn't second-nature to our guys. Maybe the post feeds stem a little more from lack of trust, but I still think that a lot of it is just getting those plays ground into their brains so that they don't have to think about making them.

[pinstripers]

Wiggins was selfish, but he will not do that again.

[molly jabali]

'Chemistry' (making the extra pass, etc) sometimes is hard to define when in past scenarios(hs,juco) you've been instructed at times to take over games, in so many words...trust and redefined roles/expectations are key.

[1972Shocker]

For instance, remember the play in the Pitt State game where Wiggins was going to the basket after a steal and Early had the clear chance for an easy bucket after his man went to help. Wiggins decides to go against both men and shoots instead of passing to Early for the easy basket. He makes it, but the play showed a lack of chemistry.

I do recall that play and have a little bit different take on it. IF Nick can properly time AND execute a good pass he probably gets Cle an easy basket. But remember 3G's early observations on Nick were that he was a little loose with the ball. No doubt it has been drilled into Nick's head day-after-day-after-day to take care of the ball and not force things. Nick made a decision to forego the pass and take it to the hoop resultng in an easy basket. The bottom line was the Shocks scored an easy basket. If I am Cle in that situation I give Nick a high-five and kudos on a great drive to the hoop. (Don't really recall what Cle's reaction was one way or the other).

Also, watch the interplay between our guards and Orukpe, White, and perhaps Lufile (when he comes back). Last season, the post feeds came often and easily, while this year the guards seemed to have a great reluctance to pass the ball inside to anyone not named Hall.

That was more notable. No doubt their is a confidence issue inovlved there that is part of team chemistry. Also we don't know how 3G has instructed the guys to attack this year. He may prefer the get the ball to the big guys more by driving and dishing the entering with a pass from the perimeter. The Shocks did make a couple of entry passes to EO later in the game that he converted on. I don't expect we will run the offense through the post anywhere close to the level we did that last year with Garrett, but I could be wrong about that.

Team chemistry is one of those things that consists of a variety of little things, both tangible and intangible, and can be hard to define. But, generally, you know it when you see it and you like it when you get it.

[Heinro]

Even though team chemistry is formed in multiple ways it will be really difficult for these guys to forge as good of chemistry as we have had in previous years. There is just something about playing with each other everyday for 4 years that allows your teammates to learn your preferences: where you want the ball passed to, how quickly you come off of a screen, etc. That is much more difficult when most of the team has been together for less than 2 years.

What I am more interested in seeing is if we can find a team leader. Unfortunately Hall is a post, I'm really hoping we have a guard step up quickly that can provide the leadership that Hannah and Ragland have in previous seasons.

[1972Shocker]

What I am more interested in seeing is if we can find a team leader. Unfortunately Hall is a post, I'm really hoping we have a guard step up quickly that can provide the leadership that Hannah and Ragland have in previous seasons.

I think you will see that from Malcolm.

[im4wsu]

I do recall that play and have a little bit different take on it. IF Nick can properly time AND execute a good pass he probably gets Cle an easy basket. But remember 3G's early observations on Nick were that he was a little loose with the ball. No doubt it has been drilled into Nick's head day-after-day-after-day to take care of the ball and not force things. Nick made a decision to forego the pass and take it to the hoop resultng in an easy basket. The bottom line was the Shocks scored an easy basket. If I am Cle in that situation I give Nick a high-five and kudos on a great drive to the hoop. (Don't really recall what Cle's reaction was one way or the other).

From what I saw in the praxctice and the "learning experience" Nick received from the coaches, the comment "loose with the ball" was in reference to when he had it in his hands, as opposed to errant passed. The remainder of the comment was to the effect of,maybe you shouldn't have skipped some weight training sessions."

[wufan]

Last season, the post feeds came often and easily, while this year the guards seemed to have a great reluctance to pass the ball inside to anyone not named Hall.

I specifically remember wondering why on earth Murry and especially Ragland would not throw the ball to Stutz when he had his man fronted. Kyles and Smith did a good job of getting him the ball, but Ragland refused to pass him the ball on so many possessions. I came to the conclusion that Murry and Ragland either did not trust Stutz to catch it or they did not know how to make the entry pass to the post. I am hopeful that VanVleet, Baker, Cotton and Wessel will be able to make that pass. I am hopeful that White, like Stutz, will know when to kick it back out.

[wufan]

Marshall believes that winning creates chemistry, not the other way around.