Look familiar?
- Thread starter FloridAlum
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I'm here, still watching every game, still waiting for Scottie Lindsey to wake up, still waiting for Demps to pass the ball to an open Pardon, still waiting for Demps to play defense, still waiting for Collins to try switching defenses when the zone isn't working, still waiting for Turk to fall off his flat earth. (Kidding! I love Turk.)
On the glass is half full front, though, I'm excited for the future. Watching us rebound is pretty awesome. Pardon is going to be one of the best players we've ever had, and we're gonna be good next year, unless our yearly devastating pre-season injury happens to be to McIntosh. And the NIT is still possible this year--just have to win one of these next two games. (That would be much more likely to happen if Lindsey decides to plays hard, with body language that isn't so dispiriting when things aren't going his way, which is increasingly most of the time. Or, failing that, that we play Taphorn more than three minutes. Much has been made about Taphorn's defense, but when Lindsey is asleep out there, I'd much rather play Taphorn.)
I'm obsessed with Northwestern basketball in a way that isn't good for my mental health, and I continue to watch every game, and I think next year could be the year. We miss Law sooooo much this year. But I'm all-in with Coach Collins and his staff, and I've never been as excited about the future of Northwestern basketball.
On the glass is half full front, though, I'm excited for the future. Watching us rebound is pretty awesome. Pardon is going to be one of the best players we've ever had, and we're gonna be good next year, unless our yearly devastating pre-season injury happens to be to McIntosh. And the NIT is still possible this year--just have to win one of these next two games. (That would be much more likely to happen if Lindsey decides to plays hard, with body language that isn't so dispiriting when things aren't going his way, which is increasingly most of the time. Or, failing that, that we play Taphorn more than three minutes. Much has been made about Taphorn's defense, but when Lindsey is asleep out there, I'd much rather play Taphorn.)
I'm obsessed with Northwestern basketball in a way that isn't good for my mental health, and I continue to watch every game, and I think next year could be the year. We miss Law sooooo much this year. But I'm all-in with Coach Collins and his staff, and I've never been as excited about the future of Northwestern basketball.
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I thought it was interesting that Lindsey started the second half. Wasn't sure if that was because Falzon had three fouls or because Linsey was able to guard the perimeter.
Lindsey on D is similar to Jershon Cobb with one exception. He's very smooth for his size and has decent quickness, so it can look like he's not trying. The exception is that too often he reaches out an shot attempts and gets the ticky tack foul.
I don't parcel out Scottie from criticisms of the rest of the offense. Like the others, he either jacks it up from three or passes. He is one of less than three on the roster who has the ability to put it on the floor and create something 15 feet in. Falzon has started to do this, thank God.
With Tre and B Mac, that flat thing behind the rim is called a backboard. If you learn to use it, it provides help in shooting over taller players and with many runners can greatly increase your shooting percentage.
Lindsey on D is similar to Jershon Cobb with one exception. He's very smooth for his size and has decent quickness, so it can look like he's not trying. The exception is that too often he reaches out an shot attempts and gets the ticky tack foul.
I don't parcel out Scottie from criticisms of the rest of the offense. Like the others, he either jacks it up from three or passes. He is one of less than three on the roster who has the ability to put it on the floor and create something 15 feet in. Falzon has started to do this, thank God.
With Tre and B Mac, that flat thing behind the rim is called a backboard. If you learn to use it, it provides help in shooting over taller players and with many runners can greatly increase your shooting percentage.
Your point is well taken regarding Lindsey's style of movement, which can make it seem like he's not trying. I'm not suggesting that he's literally not trying--I'm just saying that his effort isn't where it needs to be out there. And his defense is frustrating to me, because he could get more steals if he reacted a bit quicker. And I still see guys blow by him way too often.
On offense he isn't adding much of anything, which is surprising because I really expected him to progress. He has the raw tools. I just wish I saw some emotion out of him.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I've always been a Taphorn fan and really wish we would play him more and get him more looks, especially when we can't buy a bucket from 3. He's still our best 3 point shooter, and he's built his body to be a better rebounder and defender. He's still not a great defender, but in a zone he's fine for 10-15 minutes per game, and more if he's hot. But lately he's barely playing.
Couldn't agree more with your backboard comment.
On offense he isn't adding much of anything, which is surprising because I really expected him to progress. He has the raw tools. I just wish I saw some emotion out of him.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I've always been a Taphorn fan and really wish we would play him more and get him more looks, especially when we can't buy a bucket from 3. He's still our best 3 point shooter, and he's built his body to be a better rebounder and defender. He's still not a great defender, but in a zone he's fine for 10-15 minutes per game, and more if he's hot. But lately he's barely playing.
Couldn't agree more with your backboard comment.
First Falzone needs to get Lindsey's minutes. CC needs to run layup drills over and over this week and focus a spotlight up that thing called a backboard. I've bitched about the "finger roll" thing numerous times but was shouted down that our "small" guards would get killed going to the hoop. Maybe but if they survived and drew shooting fouls, those bumps and bruises could produce points.
Lindsey is a conundrum to me. In 5 of our conference games, by coincidence the 5 losses, the offense has performed better when he is in the game, despite the fact that he has scored a total of 12 points on 4-20 shooting. I don't know if opponents have a scouting report that pegs him as dangerous despite the lack of production or what, but for whatever reason we play better on offense when he is out there. The problem, of course, is that his defense has been absolutely atrocious. For a guy as athletic as Lindsey is, I would think he should be much better at it. I'm certainly disappointed that he hasn't taken a jump forward from last season, although looking at my numbers, he was a lead weight on the offense last year while this year he's at least not completely hurting the cause.
On an unrelated note, in the first half yesterday Aaron Falzon somehow managed to post a -24 in 10 minutes of play, which is pretty damn remarkable. I wasn't able to watch the game, so I'm not quite sure what he was doing or not doing to be that bad, but those numbers jumped out at me.
