Why no backtracking or apologies?

[Canadian Dimes]

I would think all those that ripped Junior after the LSU game including the guy from Cracked Sidewalks would be on here today saying they were grossly wrong and were guilty of panic, exaggeration, and in many cases a low bball IQ.

My comments from after the LSU loss...

A few points....

1.  The constant knocks on Junior taking too many shots are completely stupid.  Absolutely stupid.  All of his shots were good shots.  He missed a couple threes and a couple pull up jumpers.  He also had a drive down the left side that had he used his left hand would have been a basket, we have discussed his inability to use his left and the ball got blocked. He also scored on a couple of really nice drives and a really nice pull up.  His 10 shots were all good shots.  Stupid monday morning quarterbacks see he went 3-10 and say that is too many shots.  Others look at his 10 shots and see they were all very good shots within the offense, had a few more fallen people would be saying he had a good game.

[tower912]

I'm with you dimes.   I didn't see him taking bad shots against LSU, just missing good ones.   Yes, I would like him to make that mid-range J more often, but I haven't found much to be critical of as far as decision making. 

[APieperFan3]

With you as well, Dimes.

I've got buddies (who know hoops) that get on Junior a little bit - mostly because of their frustration that he "can't shoot". But they are starting to come around as well...

[DCWarriors04]

Team looks better on offense when he's out there...have no problem with him being more assertive on the offensive side.

[Big Papi]

I have no problems with Junior on the offensive end.  He is willing to shoot this year unlike last with a lot better results.  I wish we would not continue to gameplan Junior picking up pressure in the backcourt as that exposes his lack of quickness on the defensive end.  Not his fault.

[MauraDay]

I thought the best thing about Junior last night was his play in response to a loss. He SHOWED UP and it was clear that he was going to be more assertive on the offensive end if that's what it took for his team to win. I don't think Jr is a player who always thinks score first due to his point guard mentality, but he will if the normal scorers aren't. IMHO, this showed me how a player should respond after a loss, regardless of the opponent.

[ATWizJr]

I'm with you dimes.   I didn't see him taking bad shots against LSU, just missing good ones.   Yes, I would like him to make that mid-range J more often, but I haven't found much to be critical of as far as decision making. 

I think that missing good ones is the issue.  Not which shots he is taking.

[MU B2002]

Dimes you should know by now, people rarely apologize when wrong. In life and especially on the 'Scoop.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Junior took several bad shots last night. Who are you kidding? I like Junior, but I'd have to say he's basically just serviceable. And he's, far and away, the least athletic player Buzz has recruited as head coach.

He had a nice game. I think I'd leave it at that.

[DCWarriors04]

Who cares if Junior isn't the best offensive threat on the court or the best lock down defender out there. He's probably the best floor general we have right now and isn't afraid to drive the lane from time to time when he needs to. Most importantly, he's probably more athletic than 99.9% of the people on this board.

[bamamarquettefan]

I agree completely.  There are two things I should have thrown in during the post-LSU discussion from my perspective being there.

1. Before the game I was talking to LSU fans, and they were really excited about their point guard getting a chance to start against a Top 10 team.  I guess he was Mr. Kentucky in basketball last year - not a weak state - and Louisville and Kentucky just didn't want him because he was too short, so Junior really did have a tough assignment.  Junior's defense is not great - that was one thing I didn't think our fans appreciated about Buycks.  It is rare to have someone playing the point with the strength and quickness that Buycks had, and I don't believe Junior will ever play at that level of defense, but if we get Otule back to protect the basket if someone slips by him it won't hurt nearly as much.

2. As for his assists, i thought Junior was like the quarterback who has a core of receivers that are smothered by cornerbacks for the entire game and simply has to scramble.  Sitting near the court, there were ZERO passing lanes.  I simply didn't think anyone was "open" for a shot that could have resulted in an assist.  I am very happy with Junior's offense.  He sees the court so well that he really makes it run - but unfortunately what he saw so well against LSU was that they had everyone blanketed.  So I believe he can be a very good offensive player, and hopefully a decent defensive player.  While he is on the court, 37.3% of our baskets (that he doesn't score) come off an assist from him, and that is the 6th best total of any Big East player.  His overall offensive rating is 100.4, which is just above average, but we have faced much tougher than average defenders, so that is a very solid number, though it is still held back by a few too many turnovers.

Overall, thrilled to have him and agree the criticism was off the mark.

[JD]

So this thread was started to get an apology?  I would apologize if there was a reason to.  I never "ripped" on Juniors shooting ability that I'm aware of.  I've said numerous times he's a liability (to say the least) on the defensive end.  Junior played a good game against UWM!  Not sure if we should throw a parade quite yet. 

[MUMac]

1.  The constant knocks on Junior taking too many shots are completely stupid.  Absolutely stupid.  All of his shots were good shots.  He missed a couple threes and a couple pull up jumpers.  He also had a drive down the left side that had he used his left hand would have been a basket, we have discussed his inability to use his left and the ball got blocked. He also scored on a couple of really nice drives and a really nice pull up.  His 10 shots were all good shots.  Stupid monday morning quarterbacks see he went 3-10 and say that is too many shots.  Others look at his 10 shots and see they were all very good shots within the offense, had a few more fallen people would be saying he had a good game.

I was one of those who made a comment on the 10 shots.  Mine, though, was in relation to the lesser number of shots the other "scorers" took.  Juniors shot's may not have been bad, but when he is taking those shots, he is not setting the others up to score.  I believe MU is better with Junior attacking and scoring, but selectively.  There are better scoring options, IMHO.  To you, that is stupid I guess.  I will have to live with that.

Interesting, though, Blue goes 3-10 and the board has a meltdown with his shot selection. 

One thing I have noticed the past two games.  Junior is taking the shot on the break when he has an option to pass.  It has not worked.  I would prefer that he get the ball to a better finisher.

[JD]

Most importantly, he's probably more athletic than 99.9% of the people on this board.

Thanks for this wonderful insight, I'm glad to know that the most important thing about Junior is he's probably more athletic then me! 

When this is a reason for your starting point guard in a major D1 basketball school to be playing I think people may tend to have problems with his performance.

[NYWarrior]

I would think all those that ripped Junior after the LSU game including the guy from Cracked Sidewalks would be on here today saying they were grossly wrong and were guilty of panic, exaggeration, and in many cases a low bball IQ.

My comments from after the LSU loss...

A few points....

1.  The constant knocks on Junior taking too many shots are completely stupid.  Absolutely stupid.  All of his shots were good shots.  He missed a couple threes and a couple pull up jumpers.  He also had a drive down the left side that had he used his left hand would have been a basket, we have discussed his inability to use his left and the ball got blocked. He also scored on a couple of really nice drives and a really nice pull up.  His 10 shots were all good shots.  Stupid monday morning quarterbacks see he went 3-10 and say that is too many shots.  Others look at his 10 shots and see they were all very good shots within the offense, had a few more fallen people would be saying he had a good game.

Dimes, I was quick to compliment Junior's play last night as he performed well down the stretch when the team needed a leader.  Well done by Junior (link below from the game thread).  

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=29302.msg338797#msg338797


BTW as for your assessment of 'constant knocks on Junior taking too many shots' -- you noticed the one time I  commented on his usage during his entire career at MU.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Junior's not as athletic as DJO for sure, but he's got a very quick first step which is key when blowing by defenders to get into the paint.  I hope he uses it more, because when he's in attack mode our offense is better.

[Bieberhole69]

I don't think he had a bad game, but he had 1 assist and 2 TO's in 30 minutes.  The offense is better when he's moving the ball around and looking to create for other guys.

[77ncaachamps]

Junior's got to take the shot when it's given to him.

But he's got that hitch when you know he's going to cross over or hit the lane, he's got to hit the lane harder without the hitch in the dribble.
He'll get by in a step or step-half.

Yet, when he hits the lane, the other Warriors have to crash. Looking back, there's probably one guy down there - either Jae or Davante - because they were ALREADY camped there. The rest are on the perimeter.

[PGsHeroes32]

Junior is definitly knocking shots down better than last year. I only get frusterated by him when he makes careless TO's by losing the ball or get caught in the air out of control.

[Boone]

Apologize for being right that JR played poorly vs. LSU?! Yeah, that makes sense. JR shot the ball well last nite, but I expect a better assist-to-turnover ratio than 1:2 from our point guard.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Some people are going to bitch and complain about individual players in any given game no matter what happens.  They'll find a stat in the box score that's not what they think it should be and off they'll go.  Some of it has some credibility, some of it doesn't.

One thing is pretty clear.  LSU has shown teams how to defend us and beat us.  Stop our primary wing/guard scorers at all costs and make somebody else beat you.  Not every team is going to have the horses to make that work, but most in the Big East do. 

One other thing is pretty clear.  Junior is nobody's defensive priority, for good reason based on his historical offensive performance.  LSU played off him as will most teams.  I'm sure our coaching staff have told him that he HAS to shoot, he HAS to attack the basket.  IF he can do that with SOME success, all of the sudden the LSU blueprint isn't going to work.  It will open up our offense.   

Junior being even OK shooting the ball is going to make this team much better in the long run.  I for one hope the more assertive Junior we've seen these last couple of games is the Junior we get for the rest of the year because it's how we need him to play to be successful. 

[lab_warrior]

So every post is subject to ex-post-facto apologies now? 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I'm sure our coaching staff have told him that he HAS to shoot, he HAS to attack the basket.  IF he can do that with SOME success, all of the sudden the LSU blueprint isn't going to work.  It will open up our offense.   
 

I think this was clearly the case last night. Junior was practically out of his comfort zone as far as being aggressive. I'm willing to bet they told him if he's not going to get involved on offense they might as well go with Wilson who's way better on defense.

[only a warrior]

So every post is subject to ex-post-facto apologies now? 

Only with the petty idiots on the board that go back and have the time to research every post you've ever made and bring it back to you when it turns out you were incorrect.  Grow up folks.

[avid1010]

Junior took several bad shots last night. Who are you kidding? I like Junior, but I'd have to say he's basically just serviceable. And he's, far and away, the least athletic player Buzz has recruited as head coach.

He had a nice game. I think I'd leave it at that.

I believe you said something along the lines of D. Wilson being better than Junior by now in a comment you made earlier in the year.  He's not the least athletic player Buzz has ever recruited, and he gets to the hoop and finishes better than many more athletic players that MU has had in the past and currently has.  He's got 1.5 years of playing time under his belt.  He's far from being where he needs to be, and I like the Mayo, DJO, Vander line-up, but IMHO, he's head and shoulders above D. Wilson in an overall comparison.