Hysteria aside, what can realistically be changed?

[GMUSig03]

Diving deep into the stats, the most glaring statistics are all Otis'. Aside from his assists and steals, he is having his statistically worst year in EVERY other category.

This is now 4 straight games, including the exhibition, where Otis has looked the same/bad. He needs a hard reset, like when your computer has worked perfectly for the last 3 years but then freezes. Sometimes you just have to unplug it and whamo, everything is back to normal. He probably needs to sit (temporarily).

When you look at Kier, yeah his TO's are up/too high, but he at least is having his best year, or close to it, in nearly every other statistical category.

I think it all boils down to Otis' t/o's (averaged about 2 per game over career, which is fairly good given how much he has had to dominate possession/dribbling/bringing ball up the court), and our defense or lack there of. Plus Mar's complete lack of contribution while having played the 4th most minutes (2 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist in 65 minutes). He needs to be at the bottom, or out, of the rotation and work his way back up.

 

[Mason2005]

Change the starting line up. Replace Mar and Reuter with AJ and Calixte. Calixte looks terrible so far but it might be because he isn't getting the start. Go back to our defense last season. Stop subbing out players who are playing well in the game.

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[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Conduct a study on the long term effects of consuming vast ammounts of Mountain Dew. Particuarly in the case of decision making and convincing talented young men to attend your university on atheltic basketball scholarships.

 

[GMU_DCU]

Diving deep into the stats, the most glaring statistics are all Otis'. Aside from his assists and steals, he is having his statistically worst year in EVERY other category.

This is now 4 straight games, including the exhibition, where Otis has looked the same/bad. He needs a hard reset, like when your computer has worked perfectly for the last 3 years but then freezes. Sometimes you just have to unplug it and whamo, everything is back to normal. He probably needs to sit (temporarily).

When you look at Kier, yeah his TO's are up/too high, but he at least is having his best year, or close to it, in nearly every other statistical category.

I think it all boils down to Otis' t/o's (averaged about 2 per game over career, which is fairly good given how much he has had to dominate possession/dribbling/bringing ball up the court), and our defense or lack there of. Plus Mar's complete lack of contribution while having played the 4th most minutes (2 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist in 65 minutes). He needs to be at the bottom, or out, of the rotation and work his way back up.

Amazing that Mar is shooting 9% from the floor and has less points (2 pts.) in 65 minutes than JDS has in 1 minute (3 pts.). I mean there is something mental going on with Mar and Otis, not sure what it is but they need to get their heads right. It's almost as if Otis forgot how to dribble and not pass to someone in the other team's jersey while Mar just looks lost in space.

 

[dr. gunnie]

Lineup changes are hard for fans because we only see such a small percentage of the work that these guys put in. We see the 2 hour game, but we don't see the other 15 hours or so of work a week like the coaches do. We think we know what's best based off of those 2 hours, but it's such a small percentage. Sometimes coaches miss, but most of the time (if they are worth a damn) they have a very good reason for going with the guys they are putting out there. Now, if a player can do it in practice and they can't in a game, that's a problem. It usually take time to see... time that we don't have the luxury of having any longer (and really shouldn't need with everyone back).

I will say this - I've coached high school sports for 17 years - both as a head coach and assistant. I have never met a coach on any level in any sport that didn't put what he or she thought was the best group of players out to win the game. When I read that Dave is playing his favorites, I cringe. Do you really think a coach at any level, is willing to lose their job and the paycheck that their family depends on because they play kids that they like even though they aren't as good? Dave is not playing favorites. He's putting the guys out there that he thinks gives us the best chance. He might be wrong, but it's not because he has "favorites".

 

[masonjoe]

Change the starting line up. Replace Mar and Reuter with AJ and Calixte. Calixte looks terrible so far but it might be because he isn't getting the start.

I get that Mar isn't playing well but this just dumb

 

[gmujim92]

Change the starting line up. Replace Mar and Reuter with AJ and Calixte. Calixte looks terrible so far but it might be because he isn't getting the start. Go back to our defense last season. Stop subbing out players who are playing well in the game.

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Gotta politely disagree. Calixte and AJ should not be on the floor together other than emergency situations. But I do agree AJ needs to play the 4 because we are getting nothing from Goanar and that can’t continue.

 

[Junkees9]

I would definitely sit Mar for awhile and replace him with AJ. As for Otis, he is simply going to have to play his way out this slump, unless he has an injury. Prior to this year, he had been our best overall player. So unless he straightens out, we aren't going to succeed anyway. And I would hope JDS could get some playing time. Maybe he hasn't shown enough in practice for Paulsen to give him playing time yet. But the biggest key is Otis -- if he turns it around, we will be fine/good. If not, you can kiss this season goodbye.

 

[sleeperpick]

Gotta politely disagree. Calixte and AJ should not be on the floor together other than emergency situations. But I do agree AJ needs to play the 4 because we are getting nothing from Goanar and that can’t continue.

why?
don't speed or rotations on defense because nothing has shown me that Reuter is better than either one of them in that category.
Don't say hustle or stamina because Reuter is worst on the team in both categories
just want to hear some reasoning behind this claim. I know the limitations of Calixte but I am not seeing much of a difference with rotating Calixte and Reuter at the 5 with AJ at the 4.

 

[Mason2005]

Gotta politely disagree. Calixte and AJ should not be on the floor together other than emergency situations. But I do agree AJ needs to play the 4 because we are getting nothing from Goanar and that can’t continue.

If we insist on playing man and getting blown on drives for layups, might as well put in both our rim protectors at the same time. Reuter has 0 rim protection skills.

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[Falco]

Otis was/is our best shooter, I think he should play off the ball. I think Kier could run the PG.

The chemistry is not there with Reutter yet, so I would like to see him come off the bench. Calixte earned his starting spot last year. If Reutter wants it, he should earn it. I fear the team will will lose trust in DP if he continues to play his favorite players instead of the best players.

 

[dr. gunnie]

I fear the team will will lose trust in DP if he continues to play his favorite players instead of the best players.

Yep, Dave doesn’t want to earn the $400,000 in bonuses by trying to put the best team he can on the floor. He would rather put out the guys he likes instead. You nailed it.

 

[gmujim92]

why?
don't speed or rotations on defense because nothing has shown me that Reuter is better than either one of them in that category.
Don't say hustle or stamina because Reuter is worst on the team in both categories
just want to hear some reasoning behind this claim. I know the limitations of Calixte but I am not seeing much of a difference with rotating Calixte and Reuter at the 5 with AJ at the 4.

Because Calixte is almost a total non-threat offensively and we are too streaky shooting the ball to go with zero paint presence for long stretches.

I would pair Reuter/AJ and Calixte/Mar as their respective strengths (normally) complement each other.

Regardless, our defensive problems begin and end with the guards being unable to prevent penetration. Unless that changes, it won’t make any difference if we have a “rim protector” on the floor because even AJ can’t block them all.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

One of my coaching mentors, I believe it was Ernie Nestor, used to say whiffle ball was a good change of pace. Sometimes just going to see a movie with the old wife used to clear his head.

 

[MASONscott]

Lets go old school - at every media timeout make the team do 20 pushups for every turnover...

Ok, maybe it isn't practical but it is amazing how it can change a youth practice.

 

[Bricker]

Lineup changes are hard for fans because we only see such a small percentage of the work that these guys put in. We see the 2 hour game, but we don't see the other 15 hours or so of work a week like the coaches do. We think we know what's best based off of those 2 hours, but it's such a small percentage. Sometimes coaches miss, but most of the time (if they are worth a damn) they have a very good reason for going with the guys they are putting out there. Now, if a player can do it in practice and they can't in a game, that's a problem. It usually take time to see... time that we don't have the luxury of having any longer (and really shouldn't need with everyone back).

I will say this - I've coached high school sports for 17 years - both as a head coach and assistant. I have never met a coach on any level in any sport that didn't put what he or she thought was the best group of players out to win the game. When I read that Dave is playing his favorites, I cringe. Do you really think a coach at any level, is willing to lose their job and the paycheck that their family depends on because they play kids that they like even though they aren't as good? Dave is not playing favorites. He's putting the guys out there that he thinks gives us the best chance. He might be wrong, but it's not because he has "favorites".

I came here for the freak-outs -- not rational suggestions.

Cancel the program.

 

[smccart5]

[QUOTE=" When I read that Dave is playing his favorites, I cringe. Do you really think a coach at any level, is willing to lose their job and the paycheck that their family depends on because they play kids that they like even though they aren't as good? Dave is not playing favorites. He's putting the guys out there that he thinks gives us the best chance. He might be wrong, but it's not because he has "favorites".[/QUOTE]

There is one person that keeps saying "favorites" and I think they are related to a certain player or something.

 

[smccart5]

Assuming Otis and Mar wake up, the most important change is stopping the layup line. We have to go to a zone, at least for stretches.

No coach wants to change the whole system 2-3 games in, but some decisions are made for you.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Assuming Otis and Mar wake up, the most important change is stopping the layup line. We have to go to a zone, at least for stretches.

No coach wants to change the whole system 2-3 games in, but some decisions are made for you.

Agreed...People are clamoring for JDS, but I'm thinking his defense is probably not up to par yet, which is funny because our perimeter D has been nothing short of atrocious...To show that I'm not all negative, I say go with a more defensive lineup because we made 14 f-ing 3s last game. I think we've shown we can get things done offensively if we make a few shots.

 

[Falco]

Yep, Dave doesn’t want to earn the $400,000 in bonuses by trying to put the best team he can on the floor. He would rather put out the guys he likes instead. You nailed it.

Otis had 2 points in 33 minutes. Otis was clearly having an off night but he played nearly the whole game.