McNeal clearly not the same player w/o DJ

[79Warrior]

Lousy shot selection, out of control play. constant whining about fouls, throwing his hands up in the air. Certainly not playing like a senior.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Lousy shot selection, out of control play. constant whining about fouls, throwing his hands up in the air. Certainly not playing like a senior.

Ummm...if you haven't realized the whole team isn't the same without DJ. Did you check out Wesley's line today? He shot terrible and hasn't been nearly as effective scoring the basketball since DJ's injury either. Hayward looked lost most of the 1st half. The bottom line is McNeal and Matthews are now the only one's on the team that can create their own shot and create for others. So without DJ and a real threat in the post they feel like they have to do it all on their own at times(and quite frankly they do). As far as McNeal's constant whinning about fouls, you got to admit he got raped in their at times and Nova grabs and holds like crazy out on the court.

[schubert33]

Both JM and WM need to step up.  Both are potential NBA players.  They should be able to make a significant impact with or without James. Maybe James stock will rise from this...

[mr.MUskie]

Both JM and WM need to step up.  Both are potential NBA players.  They should be able to make a significant impact with or without James. Maybe James stock will rise from this...

Yep, best thing that ever happened to him.

[CTWarrior]

McNeal's body language is awful lately.  Looks beaten 10 minutes into the game.  Probably just something I never noticed before.  He is very good at driving and dishing.  Someone has to get that through his head that that is still a great strategy.

[WarriorHal]

I just watched the game again on espn360.com. Jerel began the last drive to the basket with 13 seconds still on the shot clock and 18 seconds left in the game. If he takes off with 8 seconds on the shot clock, Nova gets the ball off the block and starts up the court with probably 8 seconds left. They almost certainly would have had to settle for a quick jumper. If it goes in, I could have accepted that a lot easier than what actually happened. There's a ton of things that happen over the course of a game that affect the outcome, but it's hard to overlook those two atrocious "plays" by Jerel at the end of the game. And that doesn't even take into account the 3 pointer he jacked up with just under a minute to go, and 12 seconds still left on the shot clock in that possession. After that great comeback, I can't remember a more devastating, disheartening MU loss.

[CTWarrior]

After that great comeback, I can't remember a more devastating, disheartening MU loss.

This loss hurts, no doubt, but last year against Stanford was worse, if for no other reason because it ended our season.

[WarriorHal]

This loss hurts, no doubt, but last year against Stanford was worse, if for no other reason because it ended our season.

The difference is that Stanford had to execute and Lopez had to make a shot. Jerel absolutely gave Nova the game on a silver platter. An uncontested layup for the win after two idiotic plays on the offensive end. Even Wes said they gave it away in his post game comments. Stanford game was obviously more important, but I find this loss much more difficult to take. If a team makes a play and hits a shot at the buzzer to beat us, that's a tough loss. But what happened against Nova--the mindboggling stupidity--was something entirely different and a lot tougher to accept. Still pissed 9 hours later and can't sleep.

[Pardner]

Jerel and Jimmy were the only two who kept us in the game in the 1st half even though Rel struggled.  Wes was as cold as ice, and the others didn't want to shoot.  However, Jerel's last minute of the game was just not smart basketball.  He shot too early twice.  We rely on him--good or bad--but he has to be smarter and use the clock.

What is really puzzling, though, were his two basic defensive lapses that cost us games at the end recently.  First, inexplicitly, letting Flynn loose vs. SU to break behind him.  And, now today where he was frozen in concrete.  Rel has to man up and get with the program.

[tower912]

The original topic of the post is accurate.   Combined, since DJ went down, Wes and Jerel are shooting in the 30% range.   Mo Acker is competent, but he cannot break down defenses, get into the lane at will, cause defenses to shift, then pitch it to Wes/Jerel so that their defenders are in recovery mode/off balance and they can can then attack.     Currently, when Wes and Jerel catch the ball, their defenders are square and the whole defense is in help mode, not recovery mode.  So they are simply not getting the same looks.    MU made their comeback through those guys playing the facilitator role, driving, drawing the defense, and then pitching to Lazar, Mo, and JB.   Hopefully, those lessons sink in by next week.

[CTWarrior]

The original topic of the post is accurate.   Combined, since DJ went down, Wes and Jerel are shooting in the 30% range.   Mo Acker is competent, but he cannot break down defenses, get into the lane at will, cause defenses to shift, then pitch it to Wes/Jerel so that their defenders are in recovery mode/off balance and they can can then attack.     Currently, when Wes and Jerel catch the ball, their defenders are square and the whole defense is in help mode, not recovery mode.  So they are simply not getting the same looks.    MU made their comeback through those guys playing the facilitator role, driving, drawing the defense, and then pitching to Lazar, Mo, and JB.   Hopefully, those lessons sink in by next week.

+1.  Couldn't have said it better.

[deep vacuum]

from: tower912 on Today at 05:58:20 AM
The original topic of the post is accurate.   Combined, since DJ went down, Wes and Jerel are shooting in the 30% range.   Mo Acker is competent, but he cannot break down defenses, get into the lane at will, cause defenses to shift, then pitch it to Wes/Jerel so that their defenders are in recovery mode/off balance and they can can then attack.     Currently, when Wes and Jerel catch the ball, their defenders are square and the whole defense is in help mode, not recovery mode.  So they are simply not getting the same looks.    MU made their comeback through those guys playing the facilitator role, driving, drawing the defense, and then pitching to Lazar, Mo, and JB.   Hopefully, those lessons sink in by next week.

+1.  Couldn't have said it better.

Agree on all counts.

[Lighthouse 84]

Yep, best thing that ever happened to him.

I know it was teal, but there's truth to your statement.  It's painfully obvious now how much DJ meant to this team.  For all the naysayers earlier in the year bashing Nic, I hope you now realize what we had in him.  One of THE best on ball defenders in the country, one who could go 94 feet for 40 minutes a game, a great penetrator and a great passer. 

My guess is scouts watching the Warriors now recognize DJ's value and his stock may be up when he's healthy again.