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Post by nbdlion22 on Feb 16, 2024 11:58:02 GMT -5
To all my Lions fans, I have a serious questions. Are we all actually proud and satisfied with the game yesterday?
I'm confused because as exciting as the game was it was very obvious to me that NOTHING has changed this season. NOTHING has improved. Coach has 0 strategy and does not understand Xs and Os. Doesn't under stand game clock management, and does not understand his personnel. Yes it is a shame we have so many injuries (which I attribute to bad luck but also has to be on the coaching staff for not managing players health and minutes IMHO) But yesterdays game was ONLY decently acceptable because Will had a once in a lifetime career game. Kudos to him. Literally that was the only difference! We had terrible turnovers, we had no offensive sets, we got burned in the paint every time. This is the same ol same ol!
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Post by ALioninWinter on Feb 16, 2024 13:45:39 GMT -5
nbd - from what I’m seeing in the comments isn’t satisfaction with where the program is. I think everyone is thinking the same thing I am - the guys played really hard. They didn’t give up despite the odds. They deserve A LOT of credit for how they played last night.
The state of the program is a whole other issue. We’re seeing all of Coach Stan’s weaknesses coming to the forefront. Xs and Os, managing timeouts, and player usage are all issues. But I think the bigger problem is how he builds his rosters.
This year is a good example. There’s a lot of individual talent on this season’s team, but it’s not a good team. We have 4 guys that play the “2” spot fairly well. But none of them are a point guard. The PG is the most important player on the team. He is the on court coach. He directs the offense. He gets the other four players involved in the game. He knows each player’s strengths and plays to those strengths. He makes the team work together. The reason why we have so many TOs is because guys who shouldn’t have to handle the ball so much are attempting passes they shouldn’t have to make.
The second big roster deficiency is the complete lack of a competent “3.” There’s no way you can compete at a high level without a 6’6” mobile wing who can threaten from both inside and outside. Coach Stan seems to love 6’2” combo guards but they cannot match up against guys 6” taller than them.
I have more but need to run.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Feb 16, 2024 15:21:24 GMT -5
It was a very good game vs the Zags following our worst game of the year in our first outing in Spokane just weeks ago. We do have talented SGs but no real PG as Winter notes. I want to praise Theismann for playing one of his best games of the year. He was physical on defense and strong on offense (as strong as he can be). I think the Zags focused on Alex to slow him down. Graham played his usual hustling game. With Harris back, our squad can make some noise in Vegas.
Coach Johnson needs a good and focused recruiting year to fill some voids in the roster next season.
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Post by ALioninWinter on Feb 16, 2024 15:32:54 GMT -5
Lars played very well. As the announcers stated numerous times, he played great defense against very talented 5 last night. Lars has taken a lot of criticism this year. Some of it has been deserved, but not all of it. He’s criticized for not having good hands. Let’s face it. Few bigs have good hands. Yes he’s missed (too many) passes this year. But some of those passes have been ripped! Again, a good PG knows his passing target and will adjust. None of our guards have that ability.pair Lars with a good PG and he’ll be in double figures every game.
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Post by ALioninWinter on Feb 16, 2024 15:50:50 GMT -5
More roster issues -
Coach Stan talks about defense; and to his credit, I’ve seen stretches where the team defense had been very good. BUT, he seems to ignore a player’s individual defensive ability in his recruiting. For the most part our guys have been poor one-on-one defenders. How many times have we been killed by guard penetration? Coach doesn’t seem to appreciate the need for a couple guys who have the lateral quickness to stop those penetrations.
And, as I mentioned in the previous post, we are totally vulnerable to any quality 6’6”-type wing who can penetrate or take open outside shots.
Coach needs to build a team roster, not just a roster full of seemingly talented players.
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Post by cs17 on Feb 16, 2024 16:25:54 GMT -5
Oh man, if we are not allowed to enjoy last night’s impressive performance by our short handed guys, than I sure as hell better not see any Zags fans or their players celebrating the win or their personal stats either!
Gersten was rocking last night. That first half was electric. I was expecting to be down 20 at half. If Will had hit that three (heat check) after the steal, the roof would’ve blown off Gersten.
Proud to be a Lion last night. Proud to tell Few to take more Ubers.
Excited to go the game vs USF on Saturday night.
Some of you need to get out more.
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Post by lmu2008 on Feb 17, 2024 0:48:21 GMT -5
Oh man, if we are not allowed to enjoy last night’s impressive performance by our short handed guys, than I sure as hell better not see any Zags fans or their players celebrating the win or their personal stats either! Gersten was rocking last night. That first half was electric. I was expecting to be down 20 at half. If Will had hit that three (heat check) after the steal, the roof would’ve blown off Gersten. Proud to be a Lion last night. Proud to tell Few to take more Ubers. Excited to go the game vs USF on Saturday night. Some of you need to get out more. Most of here don't get out enough, that's why we're here! Two things can be true, no one is "wrong" here. The team played with incredible grit and heart. The coaches deserve credit for that given the tough circumstances. However, it's also fair for some on the board to ask for more from the program (recruiting, X&Os etc). That's how the best programs are built.
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Post by cs17 on Feb 17, 2024 3:35:58 GMT -5
Most of here don't get out enough, that's why we're here! Two things can be true, no one is "wrong" here. The team played with incredible grit and heart. The coaches deserve credit for that given the tough circumstances. However, it's also fair for some on the board to ask for more from the program (recruiting, X&Os etc). That's how the best programs are built. Agreed on the X's and O's, plenty to be desired there and maybe that's where a first time HC really needs to improve. I've posted this before on here but the biggest uphill battle we face is NIL money. Fact of the matter is recruiting, now that "paying" is "legal", is so much based on how much $$$ we can offer to recruits in the portal, and even HS players. Stan really has put his face out there, to the fans and to potential recruits. I think he has done about as solid a job at putting together rosters the last few years as anyone could ask of a first time HC. The big obstacle becomes how can we as "fanbase" or donor base provide enough in funds to pay players to come here. I know it sounds sad, but that is the now and the future. Coaches like Few (Calipari etc) have long been slimy and paid players through back channels. Now it doesn't matter, just have the funds ready. It is not everything, but it is a huge part of the equation. A good coach can only take us so far if we cannot raise enough in NIL. NIL truly has changed the game for worse (or better)....who knows. I do think players deserve to have some kind of income, but I hate how it has made the strong even stronger, and the weak even worse off.
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