Stephens played really well tonight

[GodFamilyCountryPurdue]

I assume "if" the D is not honest that AJ can take one dribble and shoot a FT shot. I would also prefer a pass to teh wing and Biggie if he is down low to provide a back screen for AJ after he passes and AJ dive to the basket and then Biggie is at high post. "IF AJ misses it may be a quick transition basket down the other end. There are a lot of people that can shoot the perimeter shot that AJ doesn't need long 2's or 3's IMO. If a player is not playing honest D, can AJ get closer...will AJ have a board advantage with the D being out of position to block him out if the D is not honest? Lots of variables to this and sometimes AJ may need to shoot, but if "you're" open...there is a reason...

So, you would rather him dribble into the defender and take a contested jump shot?

 

[tjreese]

So, you would rather him dribble into the defender and take a contested jump shot?

"YOU" said the D was not honest. I assume not honest on a 7 footer would be not guarded closely and laying deep in the lane. If I misread what you stated, please explain. If I read it correctly then AJ can do what I stated. Get closer and still could be open around the FT line, pass and catch a backscreen and interchange with Biggie or Vince either one. As I also said...there are plenty of shooters on the team, AJ's stock doesn't increase by making a couple of those through the year...AND it could cost Purdue. I don't think the scoring for Purdue is dependent on AJ getting ANY shots at the three or a long two and as I said..."IF" the "D" is NOT honest...perhaps there is a reason?

When you look at Purdue offensively...do you really see a need for AJ to shoot long 2's or 3's? I don't and if you really do see that as a need to complete this team offensively, then I guess you and I will disagree. Personally if I'm coaching the other team....I'm begging AJ to shoot shots he may not be good at ...and most importantly being at a spot he can't rebound. When a coach on an opposing team sets up a D...he tries to take away what the other team does well as a team...AND breaks down every player's strengths and weaknesses on the other team. Do you think the other teams are thinking about ways to stop AJ from taking long 2's and 3's? I don't. I think they are worried about keeping him off the boards...making him turn over his right shoulder, denying him position...lots of things, but I can't imagine why they would spend time worrying about AJ shooting long 2's or 3's and how to stop that. So, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree or if I didn't understand the need to shoot long 2's or 3's...try again.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

If he starts hitting them, fine. One made shot tonight isn't a pattern, and a bunch of misses extending back to last year is. But even if he has improved some, we have several guys shooting 40+% from 3 right now. I don't think we need AJ shooting long 2's and 3's. We need him hitting that jump hook over and over and over and over again. Learning to play to your strengths is perhaps the biggest lesson to learn in life; it'll help our team if AJ learns it.

Mr. Haas is moving to the head of the class on this, but I have seen some signs that AJH has put in the work and knows what the team needs.

This team also looks more assertive......mistakes? yes......still need to clean-up some things.....but there's a lot of potential if they stick with what CMP wants. JMO

 

[CRBoiler]

Adding a jumper to the arsenal is something JJ did and did well as an upperclassman. I can't help but think AJ is trying do do something similar. The difference between the two players is noticeable. JJ was usually 10 - 12 feet out, and he was ready to take those jumpers in rhythm when he got the pass. AJ is usually 12 - 16 feet out, close to the top of the key, and it always seems like a secondary choice (the first being to keep passing and go back down into the paint). It almost seems like AJ feels disrespected and responds out of emotion, "You're going to leave me wide open here? Then I'll show you." Problem is AJ usually misses (at least using last year's performance). JJ hit his jumpers at a high percentage.

I love the idea of AJ expanding his game, but if he wants to shoot from deep then he needs to hit more of them. I am fine with him trying in 4 out of the next 6 games (all except New Mexico and Pitt), once we get a lead. But if he doesn't prove that jumper is a reasonably high percentage shot during that time, I would say red light Butler forward.

 

[CRBoiler]

Mr. Haas is moving to the head of the class on this, but I have seen some signs that AJH has put in the work and knows what the team needs.

This team also looks more assertive......mistakes? yes......still need to clean-up some things.....but there's a lot of potential if they stick with what CMP wants. JMO

Agree. I admire every guy on the team; it really is a special group. I appreciate their offseason work. I'm only suggesting AJ have a red light from deep because I see that it is a low percentage shot that could contribute to losses. I want so much to see our team win as many games as their potential allows.

 

[mathboy]

If he starts hitting them, fine. One made shot tonight isn't a pattern, and a bunch of misses extending back to last year is. But even if he has improved some, we have several guys shooting 40+% from 3 right now. I don't think we need AJ shooting long 2's and 3's. We need him hitting that jump hook over and over and over and over again. Learning to play to your strengths is perhaps the biggest lesson to learn in life; it'll help our team if AJ learns it.

I understand your concern, but I think you have to reset your mental meter with the start of this new year. Shots he took and missed last year should not count against him this year. After a whole off-season working on these parts of his game, he deserves a fresh start in our minds. Just MHO.

 

[GodFamilyCountryPurdue]

"YOU" said the D was not honest. I assume not honest on a 7 footer would be not guarded closely and laying deep in the lane. If I misread what you stated, please explain. If I read it correctly then AJ can do what I stated. Get closer and still could be open around the FT line, pass and catch a backscreen and interchange with Biggie or Vince either one. As I also said...there are plenty of shooters on the team, AJ's stock doesn't increase by making a couple of those through the year...AND it could cost Purdue. I don't think the scoring for Purdue is dependent on AJ getting ANY shots at the three or a long two and as I said..."IF" the "D" is NOT honest...perhaps there is a reason?

When you look at Purdue offensively...do you really see a need for AJ to shoot long 2's or 3's? I don't and if you really do see that as a need to complete this team offensively, then I guess you and I will disagree. Personally if I'm coaching the other team....I'm begging AJ to shoot shots he may not be good at ...and most importantly being at a spot he can't rebound. When a coach on an opposing team sets up a D...he tries to take away what the other team does well as a team...AND breaks down every player's strengths and weaknesses on the other team. Do you think the other teams are thinking about ways to stop AJ from taking long 2's and 3's? I don't. I think they are worried about keeping him off the boards...making him turn over his right shoulder, denying him position...lots of things, but I can't imagine why they would spend time worrying about AJ shooting long 2's or 3's and how to stop that. So, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree or if I didn't understand the need to shoot long 2's or 3's...try again.

Yeah, if you think playing honestly means standing under the rim when your man is at the 3 point line, then I don't know what to tell you. How has AJ done shooting long range this year?

 

[tjreese]

Yeah, if you think playing honestly means standing under the rim when your man is at the 3 point line, then I don't know what to tell you. How has AJ done shooting long range this year?

I have no idea what you said then. Perhaps you can explain defending honestly? I know how teams defended Kip Jones a burger boy honestly. Purdue is not about AJ adn in every team sport there could be "things" that reins in certain players to do certain things. A 5 normally (unless we are talking about pros and Bill Lambeer) works on offensive moves at the low, mid and high post. I consider the FT line the high post area and that is why I could see AJ having a green light to that point...unless he misses several.

The topic was long 2's and 3's...which tells me we are looking around the 20 foot mark. Now if a team's strategy is to NOT play honest on AJ that far out should AJ shoot it or do as I said or be a constant screen for "shooters" since AJ's man is apparently not playing him honestly? Obviously if AJ doesn't shoot it out that far and his defender is not playing honest, then that also means AJ's defender cannot help out on shooters coming off AJ's screens. Again, I'm speaking in general thoughts since this is all hypothetical, but there are so many reasons why AJ should not have a green light to fire it up at will. Matt has always shown more freedom to shooting the ball than Keady and he will allow AJ to take "a" shot or maybe two if open, but I can guarantee you Matt, does not want an unchained AJ shooting with a green light every game and all game at those spots. I can also guarantee you that EVERY opposing coach wants AJ to shoot that shot. Now again, if I misunderstood your definition of playing honestly ( you can find film of AJ laying in the lane and his man going out to the 3 last year for sure) or a distance outside of the high post area you might talk in specifics. Again, I may have misunderstood what your definition of playing honest D on AJ is and I suppose a long 2 could be the high post area which is okay with me, but I consider that high post and not long 2 or comparable to a 3 ball. I have never known any coach to ever allow all players the same shots, nor guard the opposing players the same. Wisconsin with a somewhat inverted flex offense into the swing offense does allow their bigs to step out and shoot the ball while the guards (no PJ's on that team) go down and post up, but they recruited for that and practice that. If you watched Iowa back in the 80's with Tom Davis and George Ravling you mihgt remember them running the flex (pretty common back then) and with that offense all five players are at all five spots with 5 passes and Iowa would have their bigs out to the 3 line...unguarded. Anyway, I'm not sure if we just disagree or I misunderstood some definitions. If AJ hit 45% I still wouldn't want him having an unreined green light out there as it doesn't punish the other team, provides less boards and there are other players that can hit it that places AJ in better board position and places the other team defending AJ in the war in the paint. Course it really isn't about us, it is about Matt and the opposing coach.

 

[tjreese]

Yeah, if you think playing honestly means standing under the rim when your man is at the 3 point line, then I don't know what to tell you. How has AJ done shooting long range this year?

Not sure if you worded this the way you wanted when placed in context with your other posts, but it implies to me your definition of "NOT playing honest) would be not laying back per se, but under the rim when AJ is at the three. I don't believe you intended that since AJ would have an open shot at the high post or FT line and not need to "dribble into traffic" as surmised earlier. Bottom line I tried to outline some concerns and you appear to be more interested in AJ having a green light on long 2's or 3's to help the other personnel on Purdue's team for a better Purdue team. I think we disagree on what is needed to help Purdue be better and that is fine. I would be very concerned if everyone were in agreement with me on all things...or even "most" things...and so unless I have a big misunderstanding we should probably agree to disagree because I "think" our minds are set on different things...AND that is okay.

 

[GodFamilyCountryPurdue]

I have no idea what you said then. Perhaps you can explain defending honestly? I know how teams defended Kip Jones a burger boy honestly. Purdue is not about AJ adn in every team sport there could be "things" that reins in certain players to do certain things. A 5 normally (unless we are talking about pros and Bill Lambeer) works on offensive moves at the low, mid and high post. I consider the FT line the high post area and that is why I could see AJ having a green light to that point...unless he misses several.

The topic was long 2's and 3's...which tells me we are looking around the 20 foot mark. Now if a team's strategy is to NOT play honest on AJ that far out should AJ shoot it or do as I said or be a constant screen for "shooters" since AJ's man is apparently not playing him honestly? Obviously if AJ doesn't shoot it out that far and his defender is not playing honest, then that also means AJ's defender cannot help out on shooters coming off AJ's screens. Again, I'm speaking in general thoughts since this is all hypothetical, but there are so many reasons why AJ should not have a green light to fire it up at will. Matt has always shown more freedom to shooting the ball than Keady and he will allow AJ to take "a" shot or maybe two if open, but I can guarantee you Matt, does not want an unchained AJ shooting with a green light every game and all game at those spots. I can also guarantee you that EVERY opposing coach wants AJ to shoot that shot. Now again, if I misunderstood your definition of playing honestly ( you can find film of AJ laying in the lane and his man going out to the 3 last year for sure) or a distance outside of the high post area you might talk in specifics. Again, I may have misunderstood what your definition of playing honest D on AJ is and I suppose a long 2 could be the high post area which is okay with me, but I consider that high post and not long 2 or comparable to a 3 ball. I have never known any coach to ever allow all players the same shots, nor guard the opposing players the same. Wisconsin with a somewhat inverted flex offense into the swing offense does allow their bigs to step out and shoot the ball while the guards (no PJ's on that team) go down and post up, but they recruited for that and practice that. If you watched Iowa back in the 80's with Tom Davis and George Ravling you mihgt remember them running the flex (pretty common back then) and with that offense all five players are at all five spots with 5 passes and Iowa would have their bigs out to the 3 line...unguarded. Anyway, I'm not sure if we just disagree or I misunderstood some definitions. If AJ hit 45% I still wouldn't want him having an unreined green light out there as it doesn't punish the other team, provides less boards and there are other players that can hit it that places AJ in better board position and places the other team defending AJ in the war in the paint. Course it really isn't about us, it is about Matt and the opposing coach.

Anyone who needs to write this long of a response to a simple conversation overcomplicates things. I quit reading after the first few sentences. Keep it simple. 2 page answers don't impress me. Like I said, if your definition of honest is 15 foot off the player, then there is really no reason to have this conversation with you. Have a good one.

 

[tjreese]

Anyone who needs to write this long of a response to a simple conversation overcomplicates things. I quit reading after the first few sentences. Keep it simple. 2 page answers don't impress me. Like I said, if your definition of honest is 15 foot off the player, then there is really no reason to have this conversation with you. Have a good one.

show me "where" I said 15 foot off the player. I have no idea what the problem is, but I tried to list specific concerns and it appears your 15 foot is a straw man. it makes no difference to me whether you agree with me or not. YOu are entitled to your opinion adn that is okay, but if your questions are basketball specific, then let's discuss the specifics. Now, take anything I said and react to those things rather than something else and we can discuss. Or you can just believe that Purdue is better off with AJ having the green light...that is your right and that is fine. Still, I can't recall anything complicated I mentioned, but perhaps I did?