Yeah. We don't really need PJC to be good on offense. We need him to be a legit option who gets the ball to people and gives them space to operate. If he can make threes and be a threat to get to midrange and hit the floater, that is all the scoring we need. This is similar to TJ, who was never our guy to light it up, but helped immeasurably when he could keep the D honest.rgdeuce wrote:Yep. Defense, heart, intangibles. He had control over the whole offense and made everyone around him better. It is the textbook, "stats aren't everything" example. Plus TJ was a warrior. When the game was on the line, he was the first to throw on war paint and jump in and others followed. If others didnt want to, he would go in by himself. So you dont have that, but at least the numbers show he can be "serviceable" and you just have to account for TJ's strengths from elsewhere, like you said, and deal with what comes when those strengths are from spots other than the point guard position. You and I both have expressed workarounds on the offensive end, and we seemingly have some passing strength from the wings which will help with that. I am fine with that, contingent on the fact that PJC/Kadeem have worked on feeding the low post players. That needs to be stressed and improved this year, I cant stomach 5-6 perimeter passes and then a contested shot late in the shot clock like last year.Spaceman Spiff wrote:What separated TJ was his defense. TJ was good on offense, but not so good that if PJC is efficient and distributes, he can't match that.
Defensively, PJC has had issues that TJ never did. TJ was always the guy who spearheaded our attack. PJC, at best, is a guy who fits into a strong defensive team. We need someone else to lead, more than likely our strength on the wing that was lacking last year.
I hope PJC is ready, but after last year, I hesitate.
I'd prefer working the inside out game early in the shot clock and early in the game if we aren't in transition. Feed Ristic and LM and Chance (in a favorable matchup). Give them the option, double Dusan, or he is going to have double digits before you can blink and/or get your bigs in foul trouble early. If they double, it opens up shots for everyone else, or a breakdown for our slashers to attack. One point I didnt make in this thread earlier, remember last year when I was going HAM on Dusan slowing down the game in the low post and his inability to just catch and go right up with it. He had two of those quick catch and go ups in the scrimmage and made both. Something he has clearly been working on and will make him even more difficult to contain.
Defensively, PJC just won't be TJ. What we need is for him to defend the pick and roll well and not get overpowered. He should have an easier time in the pick and roll bc Dusan/Ryan/Zeus were our big minute guys, and only Zeus was good. This year, Dusan should be improved, and I think Lauri and Chance should both be solid. PJC needs a running mate who doesn't make him shoulder the load. With Ryan and Dusan, we almost always had one so so pick and roll defender on the floor who made PJC perform.
If we can get solid PG play, I think we're more complete. Last year, we had deficiencies. You could isolate a guy on D and kill him. You could try to force Gabe to do it all. This year, we have a lot of options who aren't limited.
