It's funny that people are putting hope in that 3 pt contest as a sign of improved shooting. I got crucified when I commented that the video of TJD working out and shooting some jumpers over trainers and practice defenders had me hoping for improvement from him in that regard, because it wasn't in a "game" environment. I'm still hoping he can do that and be comfortable and more of a threat out on the floor. I'm hoping Bates takes a big leap and can become a consistent outside threat, and that XJ remains one. I still believe Miller can be better than he was last year and so too can Geronimo. Maybe JHS can also be consistent and Banks can provide some shooting too. I think it will definitely be by committee and I don't expect us to be a great 3 pt shooting team, but I'd settle for competent and I think that would be enough for this team.
And no evil weed. At least before May.
I almost added a comment on weed, but my kids tell me I'm very 1980s-ish in my thinking, so wasn't sure how it would play. Don't want to sound too much like an old curmudgeon.
I didn't even bother watching the 3pt contest. To me it's like golf...there are guys who are driving range heroes, but put them between the boxes with trees on the right and water on the left, and they can't keep it in the fairway. Percentages drop as soon as someone is shooting with a hand in their face. I do agree, I think it will be by committee this year. But I do expect us to be a better overall shooting team from 3.
Almost 1/3 of IU's FTA came from TJD. If Woodson could somehow manage to get him fouled less the team percentage would go up. Then IU wouldn't have FT issues.
And Miller Kopp when the game is on the line
Sure, but forbidden or not is immaterial - simply not the path for steely-eyed missile men. Plenty of time to get high after the Season if needs be.
You make a good point and I think another area to consider is whether the ability of this team to set up and find an open shooter is better than last year. There are guys who can flat out shoot, like James Blackmon / Jay Edwards, and then there are guys who can hit an open 3, like Kirk Haston/ Dane Fife/ Victor Oladipo. Different skill. Someone like Geronimo, Race, Miller, or Xavier, those guys need to hit an open 3. And have an extra fraction of a second makes all the difference. That can happen with better ball movement and better schemes that stretch the defense.
Steely eyed missile men. Maybe they are volcano eyed lava hunters! KD is a straight killer on the court and weed helps him reach peak performance during the season by his own account.
That is very true, but it takes away a strategy to try and get your best player fouled less! How about we get him to just make an acceptable percentage? If he were a 75% FT shooter vs 67% that would have been 16 more points, plus gotten him a few more attempts and additional points for 2nd shot opps on 1 and 1s.
Yeah, thought the same thing when reading the post by @TMP. One way to reduce the number of FT attempts is make the shot, and if fouled you get the and 1. If you miss (and the missed bunnies have been well documented on here), and get the call you end up with a one and one or two shot free throw. Not sure if those numbers are differentiated somewhere statistically or not.
all valid points. TJD becomes a 70% FT shooter and we're a 70+% team. Plain and simple. X's form is still funky but he became one of (if not the most) reliable towards the end of the season.
yessir...X is far beyond legal drinking age, but no way we want him 'legally' tying one on in his apartment every night. A lot on the line for him this yr regarding his future, and it sounds like he's aware of that now. Hope it sticks.
we have been very good the past few seasons in the area of turning an old-fashioned 3 point play opportunity into a one-point play. Frustrating.
Well he would say that wouldn't he? All things being unequal, in this context less is probably more.
I totally agree with I'vegotwinners post, and am a big proponent of legalization, but the fact remains that isn't the situation today. KD can afford to risk it, because it's not a big deal if he gets caught. If you're on this team, it's too selfish to use a banned or illegal substance during the season and expose your future and teammates to that risk, imo.
Context is everything - comment was specific/exclusive to usage among current IU Players.
They have to play within the rules and as backasswards as the rules are, they can implode a season if not followed. Priorities, goals, sacrifice or gtfo the team.
Based on last year, I'd think Thompson is virtually certain to take more outside jump shots than Jackson-Davis. There's no Parker Stewart this year, so someone will automatically get to shoot more outside jump shots.
Stop wanking. Unclear you even understood what was posted. I merely implied that pot usage was likely inconsistent with Players and Team achieving optimum/peak performance during the Season, and that afterwards there would be ample time for them to indulge if they so chose. Same could be said for any drug though I wasn't thinking of such at the time, which is why I deemed your distinction between alcohol and pot to be "immaterial" - in the context of being the best and most succesful student-athletes/Team they can be, any controlled substance is likely to have negative effects, ergo your crusade is immaterial to the topic under discussion, i.e., pot (or any drug - alcohol included) isn't part of IU BB's Season prescription for success.
JHS right in the beginning.
A couple of NBA all stars looking good against College and HS kids. Whouda thunk it?
