I think by tournament time our defense and rebounding will be good enough to get us deep in the tourney. Right now we are too one dimensional on offense. AJ is great, but a couple of other guys have to step up and score. It doesn't even have to be the same guys every game, but we will not continually be able to throw the ball to AJ every time against good teams and have him score every time. Thank goodness Dakota came up big late.
Too one dimensional
- Thread starter rjmpu82
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Agreed. This game was won in the 2-3 minutes where we were multi dimensional. The post game can get sloppy and forced unless there is some variety of scoring threats. It was most noticeable when AJ was on the bench. There are times when we need to throw the ball back out of the post when the defense collapses down 2-3 players. Should be a wide open shooter somewhere if you make the proper pass at the right time. Or often you can repost in a deeper position and get the ball back.
Those 2 threes by Mathias late showed how that is done. Punish the "D" both ways. We must see more of that.
Agree that's what Purdue will have to do all season. Someone will have to step up late and hit some key baskets. If you noticed as the game got tight late. The Badgers were all over Hammons forcing a couple turnovers before Mathias hit those 3's. Every opponent knows where Purdue is going late which is in the post. Last night Mathias hit a couple open 3's and Purdue sealed the game. It could be someone else the next game. Purdue doesn't have to have a wing player put up 25. But they need someone to hit key open shots late. The shots will be there with all the attention in the post.
I think ideally, someone is getting involved in the offense before it's "late" in the game. We became way too 1 dimensional last night. That is not ideal nor will it work every game.
Teams will focus in on AJ from the get go every game, so let's get people involved throughout the game.
By this point in the season, it's obvious we do have a primary weapon and his name is AJ Hammons. We are never more likely to score then on plays when we get the ball into him. Nobody in the country is likely to stop him on any given play under the basket - money in the bank.
He will open up shots around the perimeter as defenders collapse on him, and when he gets the ball 12 feet from the basket he needs to have confidence that kicking it out to the perimeter will result in more points per play than a 12 foot Hammons jumper.
If this team were somehow able to shoot 40% on threes the rest of the season they'd be a 1 seed. IMO 3-point shooting is this team's Achilles heel, not PG play. Not that 3-pt shooting is overall bad, but with this team, they're a strong perimeter game away from being the best team in the country on any given night.
And maybe I'm not as well versed in basketball as many other posters, but I don't see how having a consistent driving threat goes far in opening things up - wouldn't a potential driver with the ball in his hands on the dribble just make it more likely the defense clogs the lane? If that's the case, then again the only thing it opens up is the perimeter and we still have to be able to hit those.
He will open up shots around the perimeter as defenders collapse on him, and when he gets the ball 12 feet from the basket he needs to have confidence that kicking it out to the perimeter will result in more points per play than a 12 foot Hammons jumper.
If this team were somehow able to shoot 40% on threes the rest of the season they'd be a 1 seed. IMO 3-point shooting is this team's Achilles heel, not PG play. Not that 3-pt shooting is overall bad, but with this team, they're a strong perimeter game away from being the best team in the country on any given night.
And maybe I'm not as well versed in basketball as many other posters, but I don't see how having a consistent driving threat goes far in opening things up - wouldn't a potential driver with the ball in his hands on the dribble just make it more likely the defense clogs the lane? If that's the case, then again the only thing it opens up is the perimeter and we still have to be able to hit those.
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I like some of your points, FW. One thought about the dribble-drive penetration, and I think it would help if it's from the top of the key or near the elbows (which is obviously being contested heavily from other teams) because it's easier to get it to the wing (or ideally the corner) shooter for a good look (fairly uncontested) at a three. Otherwise, you'll need strong ball reversal or overplay from the defense to get that kind of look IMO.
I agree that IF (emphasis added) this can get worked out (and IF the TO's get worked down some), Purdue is capable of beating anyone. I think what's hurting some of the guys (who are probably the best outside shooters) is that recently, more of these shots appear forced and are being contested heavily.....you also don't get in rhythm that way. The ones who are still able to get pretty good looks generally have been VE and CS....why do you suppose that is?
What I liked from DM last night is that he continue to shows he's not hesitant or backing down from the clutch shot. The first three was good O, and he had a great look and did what he should.....knocked it down. The second one I thought was a good look, but it was contested.......just a great shot at crunch time. Purdue definitely has more guys this year capable (including Ray D who until late last year was a little hesitant to shoot it.....not now, although he is still picking his moments). It still will take discipline and good ball movement because most of those guys haven't shown they can hurt you (or at least the defense doesn't think that yet) other ways. KS and RC will get their moments......they just have to keep working and understand that.....and keep playing D like their life depends upon it.
Will this come to fruition as CMP is planning? Who knows, but I think the chances are better this year than last......there is still a lot of games left to see. You'd rather see the team work this through now and be ready for March when the stakes get higher.
Two things: first, March is the time to put it all together. We need the keep working with the shooters to bring up their confidence. Second, we need to get back to our bigs sending the ball back out to open shooters. We aren't doing that right now. I think that leads to our TO's.
I agree that we need to mix in the screens/perimeter game more....but I think the team adjusted and played to the style and pace of the game. 3s weren't dropping early so we went to our old stand by....pounding it inside. We stopped taking outside shots because honestly, we didn't need to at that point. How we won doesn't bother me.
All the bitching about outside shoooting and it was 2 big late 3s by Mathias that iced the game. I agree that we have to be more balanced....but when teams want to play a slugfest vs. us....we might as well slow it down, ugly the game up and win in a tight grinder vs. get in a shooting contest with other teams and potentially lose. We pulled away from Vandy because of our inside game. We put distance between us and Wisky last night because Hammons had an incredible stretch of made baskets when Wisconsin missed several outside shots.
What doesn't worry me is that Mathias was cold shooting wise (hadn't taken many or any shots) and stepped up and got open and hit them when he was called on. That's all we really need to win and keep teams honest. Cline did it vs. Vandy and Pitt and Mathias and Stephens will do it at times this year as well.
All the bitching about outside shoooting and it was 2 big late 3s by Mathias that iced the game. I agree that we have to be more balanced....but when teams want to play a slugfest vs. us....we might as well slow it down, ugly the game up and win in a tight grinder vs. get in a shooting contest with other teams and potentially lose. We pulled away from Vandy because of our inside game. We put distance between us and Wisky last night because Hammons had an incredible stretch of made baskets when Wisconsin missed several outside shots.
What doesn't worry me is that Mathias was cold shooting wise (hadn't taken many or any shots) and stepped up and got open and hit them when he was called on. That's all we really need to win and keep teams honest. Cline did it vs. Vandy and Pitt and Mathias and Stephens will do it at times this year as well.
Great post and spot on. Doesn't matter how you win as long as you win and every game will be different.
Purdue needs to score more points. This won't cut it in March. Still plenty of time to work the offensive issues out, but it can't just be Hammons carrying the squad game in and game out.
Sure it can because not many people can stop him. That is what stars do for a team, like Valentine for MSU as an example.
What is funny is early on, when there was more outside shooting, there were countless threads saying "We need to give it to AJH every time down the floor" .. now that is happening and there are countless threads saying "we need more outside shooting!"
You all need to make up your mind
. That aside, I think the outside shooting will come, similar to last year and how it came around towards the end of the season, right when it mattered most.we might only play 3-4 better defensive teams all year. We scored to the pace of the game. It is what it is.
Sure it can because not many people can stop him. That is what stars do for a team, like Valentine for MSU as an example.
What is funny is early on, when there was more outside shooting, there were countless threads saying "We need to give it to AJH every time down the floor" .. now that is happening and there are countless threads saying "we need more outside shooting!"
You all need to make up your mind
I'm not calling for "more outside shooting." I'm calling for more scoring. Defense will be the bread and butter of most Purdue teams, but it's going to need to show more offensive versatility (even a little bit) down the road.
Guys like Ray Davis and VE can make something happen off the bounce (and Hill, to a certain extent).
I'm just saying, we'll meet another team like Butler who will be as talented, or a bit less talented, well-coached, and will take away Hammons' ability to dominate (note, I didn't say stop him, just not allow him to go crazy); how will this team counter offensively?
All in all, getting out of Wisco with a win is always a good result, no doubt. I'm bringing up "negatives," because, well, it's a message board, and I think it's worth discussing.
Shot fakes by the perimeter guys... if we plant the seed that the guards /forwards will drive the ball inside via the shot fake when they receive that kick-out pass, that opens up a WORLD of options for the skyline down low, as well as the perimeter assassins.....
My primary gripe is that we settle for the 3 waay too early in the posession... you don't want dissuade the shooters from shooting, but it's proven that things work BEST from the inside out..IMO the less pressure our guards have to knock down the 3, the better they will be at making them.
It would be nice to have a consistent second and third option. Different players have done it on different nights, but it is always a mystery or uncertainty.
The last BIG title and NCAA tourney threat had the big three, Hummel, Moore, and Johnson. Now it seems like we just have one (Hammons), and a bunch of (albiet good) role players. I expected Kendall and Vince or perhaps Ray to be those go to guys. They are on defense. But offensively, we need a consistent 2nd and 3rd option. Maybe doing it by committee will work, but I don't think so.
The last BIG title and NCAA tourney threat had the big three, Hummel, Moore, and Johnson. Now it seems like we just have one (Hammons), and a bunch of (albiet good) role players. I expected Kendall and Vince or perhaps Ray to be those go to guys. They are on defense. But offensively, we need a consistent 2nd and 3rd option. Maybe doing it by committee will work, but I don't think so.
