DJO's obsession with the pump fake

[gumbyandpokey]

Just shoot the ball!

Outside of the first 10 minutes vs Louisville, DJO hasn't played well at all recently. 

DJO has to quit passing up a good shot, which is followed by multiple shot fakes and then the bad pass...

[MU B2002]

I think at times his pump fake is quite effective and is usually a useful way for him to get past his man and into the lane.  That being said he didn't really seem to interested in driving to the hoop today.

[damuts222]

 The pump fake works, yet two areas he will improve on are his mid-range jumper and his free throws.

[PGsHeroes32]

His pump fake is very solid but i do agree he did it too much today. He seemed completely disinterested in shooting after that first possession tre.

[The Pickle]

I agree.  There were a couple of times in the ND game where I thought instead of pulling the trigger it seemed like he was waiting for his defender.  He'll get better as he gets more experience...

[nyg]

And he was a turnover machine for awhile.  Buzz pulled him and put in Buycks, who had previously made a terrible inbound pass turnover.  But then Buycks made two consecutive drives to the basket in which he scored.  

DJO dribbles to the corner and stops, then does his pump fakes, then seems to lose control.  

Need to set him some screens for his outside shots to get him going again.  

[Danny Noonan]

The pump fake works, yet two areas he will improve on are his mid-range jumper and his free throws.

Good call, but the number one thing DJO may need to work on this off season is his ball handling-especially dribbling in traffic, to eliminate the TO's. I can't wait to see him develop into a stud.

[mosarsour]

What do you expect from a poster who is being ignored by 49 Scoopers...

[NersEllenson]

What do you expect from a poster who is being ignored by 49 Scoopers...

+1 - Though I will say that there could be some, key word "some" merit to this post, as opposed to 98% of Gumby's other posts.  I'm a huge DJO fan..huge...but..I think earlier in the season, he just let his shot go, a lot more frequently.  I have seen a number of 3's that he could have taken, but passes them up.  My take:  He wants to be unselfish, is also aware that paint touches are a key for this team..and as a result doesn't want to jack up a shot early in the possession, and wants to try to help get paint touches.  This could be a case where it might be okay for "us," not to be "us," and give DJO free reign to pull the trigger, whenever, and virtually wherever.

[augoman]

good post Ners, I agree totally about the fakes..., he was much more effective with the quick release 3 then he is with the fake and flounder.  I hope he reverts to his previous form.  It reminds me of Mark Anglivar, a prolific 3 point shooter for a few years, then a major faker/fumbler from outside.  Also, how many games back did Jimmy Butler start the jump pass in traffic?  He, too, was more effective before adding that to his repetoire.

[HoopsMalone]

I think DJO could step up a little more when we got through 3-4 mins of no FGs.  He needs to score more than he did today going forward.

Chalk up today to a young kid stepping on the floor at the Garden for the first time.  Hopefully he will score more going forward.  He and Butler can really showcase their stuff in the next few games, and the team will be better off if they do.