Im biased but I think this is somewhat accurate. Still no excuse for the sloppy ball handling and the broken shot. He needs to be way better. But it doesn't help that the roles are ill defined due to the lack of one true ball handler that can be counted on to get the team into sets less than 40 ft out AND while actually facing towards the bucket.Crawfoso1973 said:This unrealistic mindset for a one-and-done player is the reason so many people complained about KB last year and George this year. It's unfair to say "he's got to perform" and "dominate grown men." I think the reason for George's struggles is the kind of role he's expected to perform, immediately thrown into the fire as the alpha and the focus of every opposing defense. By contrast look at Sochan last year, he wasn't expected to immediately dominate. Hell, he didn't even have to start for us. He had a low-usage role and could kind of blend in and grow gradually with so much talent around him. He started the year as a role player and little by little grew into a star by the time the tourney rolled around. If we had a true PG to complement George and take the pressure off him, he would be much more efficient and there would be much less complaining about him.bear2be2 said:I don't want to pile on George too much. He's super talented and seems like a good kid. But when a guy comes in with that kind of hype and is inserted into that kind of role, he's got to perform. And so far, the game has been too big for him against good teams.IvanBear said:bear2be2 said:It's not deflection at all. This team plays point guard committee, with Flagler and George handling the bulk of the ball-handling. One of those guys has done his job in big games. The other has been exposed as an overwhelmed freshman.Quinton said:That wasn't the question. That doesn't address the problem or the comment. That is deflection. Everyone can clearly see George is struggling badly and it is becoming a big problem. Ill take it as conceding the point.bear2be2 said:George is a much bigger problem than Flagler currently.Quinton said:Love Flagler and thought he could have that breakout in skills when Mitchell came back after working all offseason but it hasn't happened. He is a pace guy and a natural scorer off the ball. Struggles against anyone speeding him up right now.Crawfoso1973 said:That's why I smh anytime people say Flagler is our PG. Not a knock on Flagler at all, but he is a scoring guard. Since we have no true PG I originally thought Grimes would get a lot of minutes at PG or even start, but they are redshirting him to stagger his eligibility with Bonner and Flagler, which makes sense.Quinton said:
Thought Flagler would have greatly improved ball handling by working it all offseason but it's still so shaky against any pressure
Against Virginia, UCLA and Marquette, Flagler has averaged 17.6 points while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 52.2 percent from 3, to go with 4.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 turnovers per game.
Those are good numbers.
By contrast, in those same games, George averaged 12 points on 35.1 percent shooting and 23.5 percent from 3, with 1.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 4.3 turnovers per game.
Those are really bad numbers.
To be a really good team, we need waaaaayyyyyy more from George than he's giving us right now.
And again.. never said it was even close to the biggest problem on what is currently a deeply flawed poor coached team right now. Defense is obviously #1, #2, and #3. But making a comment about something obvious as its happening over and over is pretty standard during a game. Never said it was the top problem.
My only issue is that feels really unfair to Akinjo who despite all his flaws when healthy could at least get to the rim and score against anyone, something I've yet to see George do.
George has made zero progression since we saw him in the summer and his attitude/demeanor at least watching from a TV looks really bad. Not selfish like akinjo just frustrated and ready to quit.
But I'm not a big one-and-done guy in general. I got roasted for saying this last year, but most freshmen aren't ready physically, mentally or emotionally to dominate grown men in high-major Division I college basketball. So in most cases, you're going to get an unfinished, frustrating player for one season and be replacing that roster spot the next.
Too many times we've started action so far out with a defender right on the guys hip or back. You use your body to shield from time to time but when getting to your spot to start offense you typically have a ball handler good enough to go face up at that point. You typically see the constant back to the defender pivots over and over from lower level teams with lesser athletes with weaker ball skills to ensure they don't turn it over.
Most pg's at the higher level can open up and get a step/space to their spot. Even Akinjo after shielding would make a move or a hesitation and open up to initiate offense fairly easily. Its something the ones who site stats might not notice but for those who know the game will be concerned when they see it over and over.
I think George could be good as secondary playmaker. Still think he will get there but its obviously not looking good right now. Just flashes of huge talent with constant mistakes. The primary defender will be on Flagler then Cryer at least for the next month or so. College teams don't usually have more than 2 high quality individual defenders. Makes it easier to bring the ball up when a mediocre on ball defender is stuck on him if we can count on him to calm down and do it. I think the coaches need to explicitly flesh out these roles a bit better. I mean against Va the only offense we could generate for a time was action through George.
He was deferring and playing in the system early. Once we stepped up comp and he's sitting in the corner watching the others struggle to make plays/get past their defenders he started really forcing things. Not an excuse and has been terrible lately but as you said someone to play off of would be huge right now.
The shot being completely off isn't helping to take the pressure valve off.
