I was looking at some stats and DJ has a 2.9:1 assist to TO ratio which is pretty solid. Levance Fields is one of the top guys at this stat at 4.2:1 ratio. DJ doesn't get enough credit for his passing ability I feel because all we worry about is his shooting. This is something he needs to work on it but he continues to lead our team and plays very tough defense.I am anxious to see if DJ can increase his ratio throughout the rest of the year. If he does, I think we will be very successful down the stretch which will be necessary with the last few games in the Big East heading into the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
Fields also has Blair and Sam Young to throw it to down low. Give DJ those guys and he's right at that level. He had another great pass last night that Lazar couldn't handle and ended up travelling. Hopefully the scouts look past his already solid assist/turnover, and see it could be even higher with teammates with better hands or better at finishing.
ya you're right, our guys are really keeping DJ from unlocking his true potential. I really hope you are joking.
How about the two full court passes by Lazar that were muffed by James, one mishandled and one just straight missed? The numbers don't show those type of things or aired three pointers. As much as I love the kid, DJ has been killing us lately.
I think the point is that MU takes some chaces with long passes, which have a higher tournover risk. I have not watched Pitt enough to know if they do this also. My feeling is they are more of a half court team. The point about Blair and Young is valid. To get an assist the other person has to score. A pass down low to Blair is likey to result in two points. A pass to Burke is likely to result in a turnover. Frankly, I do not understand why we ever pass to Burke or Hazel.
A pass down low, followed by a dribble, a move, a fake, and then a shot is not an assist.
Fields does not get all his assists by pumping the ball into his big men. A swing to a streaking McNeal or a Hayward in the corner for 3, is an assist. There is no need to discount Fields' performance when compared to James. If anything, James is in an assist happy offense.
After watching MU lose two in a row I am convinced we'll go as far as DJ takes us, which means he needs to shut his man down, find open players and not turn the ball over. I thought he was terrible in the USF loss (focusing on his shot rather than passing) and his defense against Nova was terrible. Not that either loss lies completely on his shoulders, but when he plays the role he needs to for this team they are tough to beat. When he seem more interested in scoring they seem to struggle. Time will tell.