Let's Talk about this team - Strengths/Weaknesses?

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I have not had the opportunity to see the team much this season due to reasons out of my control.

I know this is a good place with a lot of good insight.

What are you guys seeing out of the team? I know it's early, but I'm sure there are some opinions.

Looks like late game situations could still be an issue?

What are the strengths - shooting?

Weaknesses? PG play?

New additions to the team going to have a big impact?

 

[FlavRunit]

Pros:
* lights out shooting
* Experienced players with a good mix of young talented players to build around
* Depth

Cons:
* Chemistry - getting everyone acclimated to playing together. Establishing a rotation.
* Defensive identity - We still aren't strong one on one defenders. Still need to learn to finish games.
* Guard Play - With the return of David Johnson this could change, but play without DJ has been good, but not great.

 

[Cue Card]

Pros:
* lights out shooting
* Experienced players with a good mix of young talented players to build around
* Depth

Cons:
* Chemistry - getting everyone acclimated to playing together. Establishing a rotation.
* Defensive identity - We still aren't strong one on one defenders. Still need to learn to finish games.
* Guard Play - With the return of David Johnson this could change, but play without DJ has been good, but not great.

To expand on that analysis which is really good, I would add the pack line defense is a serious work in progress. Right now the off the ball defenders are out of position which creates issues especially on the baseline. This should get better once the kids learn to judge distance on the floor better. The on the ball defender is getting beat like a drum off the bounce too and this is why we're giving up way too many easy shots inside the arc.

 

[davecmc]

At this point, worries are intangibles like response to game pressure and opponent runs which are variables we don’t know about, yet.

It was a weakness last year and that’s a mental aspect that you can’t evaluate until it happens on the court. To me, this area is where we need to improve to be a true championship contender. The physical tools, depth of talent and versatility won’t be a short coming. Only this mental aspect is our barrier to elite status.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Strengths:

1. Jordan Nwora. Kid is a star and is carrying us. This may be the best individual season by a Cardinal we’ve seen in our lives. Enjoy it folks, you don’t get kids like this very often.

2. Depth. We can go 9-10 deep with solid players. Found trouble won’t be a issue. We’ve seen how we can still manage even with 2 players injured.

3. Length. Sometimes it’s just good to be long. I think we’ve handled business so far because teams just can’t go inside on us if they can’t match our length. And it goes perfect with our pack line. We’re going to shut down the paint and force some bad looks this year.

4. Shooting. We have plenty of good shooters and can space a defense out. Nwora, Sutton, and McMahon are flat out deadly. Perry, Williamson, DJ, Malik, and Fresh all can shoot well too.

Weaknesses

1. Point Guard play. We don’t have a point guard that I’m confident can lead us. Darius is developing nicely, but still not where we need him to be at this point. Fresh really is just a guy that can give us a few minutes a game. DJ is a freshman right now, probably can give us scoring but not the ability to run the offense. We have to be able to slow a game down and run a play late. We also can’t have McMahon playing big minutes against athletic guards, he’s limited in that respect.

2. Man to man defense. They just can’t stay in front of their man at times and get lost. I don’t know if it’s focus, but we are getting beat too often and letting too many guys have wide open shots. Who is going to be a guy that’s a lockdown defender we need come March?

3. Secondary scorer. Right now it’s Nwora and everyone else is trying to be a role player. Who is going to be that 2nd star? Say Jordan picks up 2 quick fouls at a place like coRUPPt Arena, who picks up the slack when he can’t play? Who is going to be the 2nd or 3rd guy we can count on behind him?

4. Quickness. I don’t know what it is, but this team feels like it lacks an element of speed. Granted we are used to Rick, but I see us always being a step slow to things. Playing McMahon big minutes doesn’t help, but the again he’s our 2nd best scorer right now so we need him.

 

[FlavRunit]

I'm a little surprised that Nwora went through the draft evaluations and he still has some work to do in certain area's. One being assist to turnover ratio. Luke talked at length about going into the draft with a terrible ratio. He currently has 7 assist with 12 turnovers, this is something that needs to drastically improve.

I think his one on one defense has gotten a little better, but I would like to see him work on getting others involved instead of searching for shots at every opportunity. He can practically shoot a long range three at anytime, but can he be patient enough to let the game develop and get others involved. We needed a shot searching Nwora last year, this year, we need a better playmaker with an emphasis on efficiency moving forward.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

I'm a little surprised that Nwora went through the draft evaluations and he still has some work to do in certain area's. One being assist to turnover ratio. Luke talked at length about going into the draft with a terrible ratio. He currently has 7 assist with 12 turnovers, this is something that needs to drastically improve.

I think his one on one defense has gotten a little better, but I would like to see him work on getting others involved instead of searching for shots at every opportunity. He can practically shoot a long range three at anytime, but can he be patient enough to let the game develop and get others involved. We needed a shot searching Nwora last year, this year, we need a better playmaker with an emphasis on efficiency moving forward.

I think Nwora is what he is by now. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a way better player. NBA drafts on potential, and they know he can shoot but didn’t think he can develop into a strong passer or 3 and D. Basically he came back to refine his craft to become a pro that can last longer, instead of just going on potential.

You can become the best version of yourself and Jordan’s body style and his position, he’s not going to get quicker and not going to become a great passer.

Now he can be in better shape and smarter. He can play smarter defense and he can be able to handle some more physical play and be more durable. He can make smarter passes. But he’s not a super athletic freak and isn’t built to be quick like a guard. He’s got lanky forward size with wing/2guard skills.

He’s not going to be a guy that can get everyone involved and dominate in a Zion Williamson type of way. He’s going to be an elite scorer that can draw an entire defense around him. He’s going to just change a game with a big transition 3, grab a big rebound, or just plain get a bucket when we need.

 

[FlavRunit]

I think Nwora is what he is by now. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a way better player. NBA drafts on potential, and they know he can shoot but didn’t think he can develop into a strong passer or 3 and D. Basically he came back to refine his craft to become a pro that can last longer, instead of just going on potential.

You can become the best version of yourself and Jordan’s body style and his position, he’s not going to get quicker and not going to become a great passer.

Now he can be in better shape and smarter. He can play smarter defense and he can be able to handle some more physical play and be more durable. He can make smarter passes. But he’s not a super athletic freak and isn’t built to be quick like a guard. He’s got lanky forward size with wing/2guard skills.

He’s not going to be a guy that can get everyone involved and dominate in a Zion Williamson type of way. He’s going to be an elite scorer that can draw an entire defense around him. He’s going to just change a game with a big transition 3, grab a big rebound, or just plain get a bucket when we need.

I disagree. He's not improving his stock doing the same things he did last year. Searching shots and firing three's means he didn't listen to what the evaluators where telling him he needed to improve. Luke spoke quite a bit about the things that Nwora needs to do, primarily taking care of the ball, Improving his assist to turnover ration and getting players involved. That has nothing to do with athleticism, and every thing to do with better decision making and becoming a more efficient basketball player. I think he's looking a little better defensively at times, the season is still young so he has time to improve.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

I disagree. He's not improving his stock doing the same things he did last year. Searching shots and firing three's means he didn't listen to what the evaluators where telling him he needed to improve. Luke spoke quite a bit about the things that Nwora needs to do, primarily taking care of the ball, Improving his assist to turnover ration and getting players involved. That has nothing to do with athleticism, and every thing to do with better decision making and becoming a more efficient basketball player. I think he's looking a little better defensively at times, the season is still young so he has time to improve.

Stock is overrated.

Trezl came back and dropped, but guess what? He ended up having a better career for coming back. It didn’t matter.

 

[FlavRunit]

Stock is overrated.

Trezl came back and dropped, but guess what? He ended up having a better career for coming back. It didn’t matter.

It depends on the player. The reason you go through the process is for the feedback. If you don't listen to the feedback, and Nwora worked out for several teams, it could work against him. The season is still young, and he's got plenty of time to improve his draft stock by working on a few things.

 

[shadow force]

Other posters have elaborated strengths and weaknesses in more detail so I'll keep my post shorter.

Weaknesses :

Lack of elite point guard and floor general. I have the feeling this might come to haunt this team as the schedule gets harder.

Basketball IQ/Situational Awareness aka the mental makeup of being a great team. I don't like the way this team handles pressure situations, holding big leads, and playing smart in the clutch. I'm happy that even though there have been close calls the team was able to still pull away with the win.

 

[SDRMR]

The defensive concern I see is when we switch defenders on a screen or double a man at the top of the key - we release an opposing player streaking to the hoop in the paint. So far, no one is lobbing it to them for easy baskets, but it will happen.
I like the wealth of perimeter shooting. If Enoch can continue sinking the baby hook with either hand, that will be huge. Would like to see him challenge more shots though.

 

[WeRUL]

Until we play some stiffer competition who really knows? Although the Ohio St thing was just a scrimmage it didn’t sound promising.