Interesting observation as I was thinking something similar - mostly kept the Hulk in check
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Game 18: AT University of Massachusetts, Wednesday, January 16th, 7 PM, ESPN+
- Thread starter Washingtonian
- Start date
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And had 5 assists!
He also didn't take a single shot, but he had 5 assists, which means he was playing really unselfishly. UMass's defense was really active around the basket, so it was good to see him looking for his teammates rather than forcing up shots.
Post game press conference:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/MasonAthletics/videos/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/MasonAthletics/videos/
Well, let's be honest, his shots simply don't fall. Maybe he had an effective game because he didn't shoot!
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So I'm not sold on his mid-range shot quite yet, but I will agree that he's probably the best passer on the team (he's thrown multiple great passes this season that the guy on the receiving end wasn't even expecting which has skewed his turnover numbers). He is softer than baby shit in the paint though and we need to find a way to start having him work to his strengths rather than Paulsen trying to force him to play down low. He has all the qualities you'd look for in a traditional stretch 4 minus him being about as unathletic as most of the posters on this board, I'd love to see him start posting up around the elbow so he can open up the driving lanes for Kier/Javon/Otis/ Miller? Really enjoy watching him play within his limits for once though.
NewPatriot
Starter
Great win!!!
4-1 in conference; 3-0 on the road!!!
4-1 in conference; 3-0 on the road!!!
Ugly win, but a win is a win. Thought we played 35 minutes of solid defense tonight. Last game the announcers mentioned Paulsen said the team had been searching for an identity and he thought they finally found it, hard nosed defense regardless of how they were playing offensively. I for one would absolutely get behind our team being known for being a defensive terror. Kier and Javon have made huge leaps this season. Even though Otis' numbers are down I don't think of that as a regression, I think that there's just other great scorer's on the team and scorer's are going to get there's. If we can make it through the season without any other major injuries to key guys like Boyd/Kier/Javon/Calixte/Otis then I would not want to face us come March.
Yeah I mean he isn't Kier or Otis but he can hit a wide open shot from the elbow. If he wasn't being forced into the 5 role it would be a good skill to utilize more.
I don’t have a shot chart handy but I’m pretty sure he’s made only about a hand full of elbow jumpers in almost 20 games. I don’t really know what his strengths are other than being an amazing passer for a big man, talkative on defense and missing layups.
I'll admit I was abroad for work and missed large swaths of the OOC so I could be off but I haven't seen him miss when he's taken a jumper (again, small sample size.) My point is his skills just don't match his size so he doesn't really do us much good.
Shout out to Javon Green. He could very well be the best at holding his ground and taking charges. He needs to teach and demonstrate his technique to his teamates. No doubt a break out year for Kier. He should be 1st team all A10. But something about Javon's game . He does it all, getting better at 3s, great free throw shooter, best defender on the team, great rebounder, takes those charges. Lets hope our boys keep grinding.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY
Hall of Famer
So why is our defense now good, especially minus Mar? We playing more pack line defense again?
GMU_DCU
All-Conference
So nice having a team that hits free throws..made a huge difference in tonight’s game and will go a long way to keep us in games throughout the season.
Javon Greene, keep up the great defensive effort..looking like a A-10 first team defensive player.
Kier’s confidence is off the charts right now. He’s stepped up at the right time, glad we have someone who can get a bucket when we
Need one.
Didn’t think we would start out 4-1 but am glad they have exceeded expectations. Keep taking things one game at a time and this team will be in the hunt for top 4 at end of the season.
Javon Greene, keep up the great defensive effort..looking like a A-10 first team defensive player.
Kier’s confidence is off the charts right now. He’s stepped up at the right time, glad we have someone who can get a bucket when we
Need one.
Didn’t think we would start out 4-1 but am glad they have exceeded expectations. Keep taking things one game at a time and this team will be in the hunt for top 4 at end of the season.
Here's the write up from the local MA paper:
https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-slide-hits-five-with-loss-to-George-Mason-22809256
https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-slide-hits-five-with-loss-to-George-Mason-22809256
Thats what it looks like. They are rotating hard off screens, doubling the post and leaving no perimeter shot open. Also jumping in passing lanes as they can.
Seems like its pack line with an eye on steals. Had we played this defense to start season we would be 15-3.
smccart5
Starter
Totally agree regarding the free throws and it's impact on wins. For the last decade + we've always been a very average free throw shooting team, and it always killed me because how many games have we lost by just a few points? I looked at the stats going back to 2006 and this is our best FT shooting season, and we've gotten a little better each year under Paulsen. We're now a hair under 75% as a team, where typically we've been in the mid-upper 60's
good stuff.
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