Eastern Illinois

[Bearcat_NTS]

No real proof of this but my best guess is it might have been a result of the rules changes (charge rule, freedom of movement etc) which resulted in more ftas and higher efficiency. I don't know if the data supports this theory though

BTW, in 2012, 31 teams averaged at least 110.0 points per 100 possessions...while in 2014, 70 teams were at or above that mark.

 

[bearcat jeff]

There is definitely a pattern but I go back to the fact that Mick has not brought in consistent shooters nor guys that take people off the dribble and get to the rim. You can either shoot or you better be able to create if the offensive system doesn't create for you and his teams do not screen well or move well. He's tried to run a pro style offense with no pros.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

If Cobb is the best shooter on a team with no shooters, I'm a complete idiot if my reason to keep him off the floor is so he can backup Caupain. Guyn is an experienced senior and is just fine as Caupain's backup. E. Ellinois was so bad that he shouldn't have even given a single thought to Caupain having a backup. We should have handled that team easy even with Quadri Moore running the point. If Cobbs performance the previous game was closer to his normal performance, there's zero chance that those two won't be on the court together....plain and simple!

Sorry, this reasoning is ridiculously dumb. Keeping one of your best 5 out of the lineup because he needs to serve backup duties? That's got to be one of the lamest reasons I've ever heard. Whether Cobb deserves to start is a legitimate question (I happen to think he should have started last game), but to suggest he doesn't start because he needs to be a backup...c'mon.

Guyn was unable to play. The comment is why KJ got the start over Cobb in place of Guyn. KJ can't run point right now. He's a turnover machine. Mick's not going to start his only two options at point guard and then have numerous minutes where we have neither on the floor. You want to question Mick on that logic go ahead. You guys seem mad at me as if I made the decision to start KJ. I'm answering my opinion as to why Mick started KJ. I'll agree that when Guyn is available again it might warrant starting Cobb if he shows to be way better than KJ and Guyn.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Which is fine to want to start off with a strong defensive lineup, even though I completely disagree with it (not sure what that does for you, and it sure doesn't get them off to a strong start as is evidenced by how they perform in the first ten minutes of games). But it sure as hell shouldn't be because you want to save them for backup duties.

And let me clarify, and NTS kind of touched on it. Mick plans for 40 minutes. Last year Guyn started at point and we wonderend why when Caupain clearly looked better. Mick has his first team and second team of sorts. Last year it made sense to have your least skilled pg in with SK and the starters and your more skilled one in when you have to create offense without SK. This year Caupain is starting at point guard. Cobb is the second best option to run point. Therefor he's running the second team. It's not really an issue of demeaning the player and relegating him to playing back-up duty. It's an issue of maximizing your team for all 40 minutes. If Caupain and Cobb both get roughly 25 minutes. Then Mick wants them for 40 at pg and on the floor at the same time for 10. If they both start and play 20 minutes together then there are 10 minutes of the game where someone else plays point. With Guyn out, that means KJ, Morman, Sanders.

 

[bearcat jeff]

And let me clarify, and NTS kind of touched on it. Mick plans for 40 minutes. Last year Guyn started at point and we wonderend why when Caupain clearly looked better. Mick has his first team and second team of sorts. Last year it made sense to have your least skilled pg in with SK and the starters and your more skilled one in when you have to create offense without SK. This year Caupain is starting at point guard. Cobb is the second best option to run point. Therefor he's running the second team. It's not really an issue of demeaning the player and relegating him to playing back-up duty. It's an issue of maximizing your team for all 40 minutes. If Caupain and Cobb both get roughly 25 minutes. Then Mick wants them for 40 at pg and on the floor at the same time for 10. If they both start and play 20 minutes together then there are 10 minutes of the game where someone else plays point. With Guyn out, that means KJ, Morman, Sanders.

Good breakdown.

 

[Bearcat04]

There is definitely a pattern but I go back to the fact that Mick has not brought in consistent shooters nor guys that take people off the dribble and get to the rim. You can either shoot or you better be able to create if the offensive system doesn't create for you and his teams do not screen well or move well. He's tried to run a pro style offense with no pros.

Best diagnosis of Mick's offensive system. It's a square peg in a round hole. They rarely create easy chances for one another, nevertheless themselves. The perimeter passing and screening always seems on autopilot, with no real concept other than to drain the shot clock. For instance, having Shaq consistently handle the ball well outside the 3-point line is worthless. I'm to the point where I actually think their passing is much worse than their shooting.