What Losing Jodie Meeks to the NBA Means
by Glenn Logan on Jun 15, 2009 5:01 PM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
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Jodie Meeks' decision to stay in the NBA draft is probably the best thing for him, but it is definitely not the best thing for the Kentucky Wildcats next year. This puts UK in a real pickle when it comes to outside shooting. Let's take a look at the leading 3-point shooters from last year:
| Name | 3pt Field Goals | ||||
| 3pt Field Goals Made | 3pt Field Goals Attempted | 3pt Field Goal Percentage | % of 3 point shots made | Remaining | |
| Jodie Meeks | 117 | 288 | 40.60% | 57.92% | |
| Michael Porter | 32 | 97 | 33.00% | 15.84% | |
| Darius Miller | 18 | 55 | 32.70% | 8.91% | 8.91% |
| DeAndre Liggins | 12 | 51 | 23.50% | 5.94% | 5.94% |
| Ramon Harris | 6 | 25 | 24.00% | 2.97% | 2.97% |
| Josh Harrellson | 5 | 15 | 33.30% | 2.48% | 2.48% |
| Landon Slone | 4 | 15 | 26.70% | 1.98% | |
| Perry Stevenson | 3 | 10 | 30.00% | 1.49% | 1.49% |
| A.J. Stewart | 2 | 5 | 40.00% | 0.99% | |
| Mark Halsell | 1 | 1 | 100.00% | 0.50% | |
| Mark Krebs | 1 | 4 | 25.00% | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Dwight Perry | 1 | 2 | 50.00% | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Jared Carter | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Kevin Galloway | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Patrick Patterson | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Totals | 202 | 100.00% | 22.77% | ||
Now, just let that chart roll around in your mind for a few minutes.
If that doesn't cause you a moment of panic, I don't know what will. UK is losing 78% of the team's three-point scoring from last year, and bringing in only one player, Darnell Dodson, who is somewhat known for his shooting. Jon Hood is also a decent 3-point shooter, but he is much more like Michael Porter in that respect than Jodie Meeks. What does that say to every coach in college basketball? That's right, boys and girls -- we are going to get a lot of practice playing against zone defenses next year, or seriously sagging man-to-man from teams that eschew the zone. Why would you not force a team with a profile like next year's Wildcats to put up the three ball rather than pass it in to huge post studs or allow a lightning-quick Wall or Bledsoe to get to the rack by playing man-to-man?
So Calipari is now faced with an interesting challenge, and probably one that he does not relish. The Dribble Drive Motion Offense depends on good three-point shooting to function well. Without it, man-to-man defenses will be sagging into the middle like crazy, and zones will be as passive as they want to be. Heck, the perimeter players might even be touching fingertips with each other daring UK to shoot.
This really changes things, folks. Anyone who understands basketball knows that, too. With Meeks on the perimeter, other teams had real problems -- he could spread the floor by acting as a decoy, opening up driving lanes and making it hard on everybody, even if he never put up a shot that wasn't unopposed. Now, every 3-point shot is going to be largely unopposed, because that's what opponents will want UK to take, not slash to the rim for a layup or a dish to Patterson, Orton or Cousins.
The old Chinese curse comes back to the fore. We are living in interesting times, unless Dodson is better than I think he is, or Hood suddenly develops into Rex Chapman.
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The key will be...
to push the ball and push it again and again and again. We cannot allow a zone to get set and we have just the antidote for that in Wall and Bledsoe. It will be run and gun and get to the rack against teams that play zone, even more so than normal with the DDMO.
Xbox Live Gamertag: hoopchi
Miller Will Get First Shot
Calipari says that going to league will be a risk for Meeks but …
“I’d like to have had his shooting,” Calipari said. “But with Miller playing well, we’ll be fine.”
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
What ANYONE did last year is considered suspect
in my opinion…..I think almost all of the kids that return will perform better under different circumstances. Dodson, Miller, Hood, and Co. will be alright Tru…..fear is the mind-killer….fear brings panic…..fear makes men do things they shouldnt do….lol
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Oh boy ...
… a Dune reference. Or at least part of one. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Wait, I thought that was Roosevelt?
;)
We're all just a banana peel away from eternity.
ICQ: 591535544
Yahoo IM: jacksbrain
Weakness Rather Than Strength
Jodie Meeks’ dominance of the 3-point shooting/scoring statistics while being a tribute to him individually is a glaring example of the overall offensive shortcomings of 2008-9 Wildcats. The thoroughgoing dependence on Meeks for perimeter scoring and the eventual defensive focus it precipitated contributed greatly to the end-of-season collapse. I see his loss while being an obvious liability actually being an asset in that it offers an opportunity for offensive balance and variety, and poses serious challenges to opponents hoping to defend.
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
That's true.
Meeks’ production was as much an indication of team weakness as his strength, and in the end, it made us very easy to defend.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I agree completely...
Let’s face it…last season, it was incumbent upon Meeks (or Patterson) to win every game for us. I watched time after time as someone (excluding Patterson) other than Meeks caught a pass with a deer-in-the-healights look and then looked frantically for Jodie to dump it off.
Basically, guys were afraid to shoot and that could have been due in part to BCG offense but, at any rate, I truly believe that was our major weakness. We were incredibly easy to guard, as demonstrated by LSU & Mississippi State, to name a few, late in the season. The incoming class has the ability to change that, especially under the DD offense.
I have many fond memories of Jodie on the court, but I very much look forward to the wide range of weapons that we are poised to posses this upcoming season.
BTW, Photo Does Not Appear, Only Code
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
Weird.
That’s happened before, and I don’t have the first clue why. It appears just fine on my browser.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Code also on mine
Figured that was a demonstration of “FAIL” referenced in the caption. . .
The King is dead! Long live the King!
We lost just as much
3-point shooting after the 2007-2008 season.
Tru, if you’ll do a similar summary I think you’ll see that when we lost Crawford, Bradley, and Jasper we lost pretty much the same percentage of the 3-point scoring at the close of 2008 as we did at the end of the 2009 season.
So, no need to despair over the statistics. They point out that Jodie was a phenomenal threat on a fairly weak team. If we can find two or three players that are legitimate threats from deep, it will by okay.
Well ...
… I’m hardly despairing. But it is a problem.
The difference when we lost Crawford and Bradley was that we knew we had Meeks, and to a much lesser extent, Porter. But perhaps we can make up for it, who knows? My biggest concern is that it will have to be made up largely by freshmen, rather than sophomores and juniors.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Open looks
Sounds like our boys will be getting plenty of wide open looks early in the year beyond the arc. A lot of players take it as an insult to be left open and dared to shoot. Hopefully some guys will rise to the challege and emerge as our new deep threat (I’m looking at you guys Dodson, Hood and Miller).
Still not a crook!
Get used to days like today...
With Cal and the talent level that he recruits, we will be going through this every summer from now on. These are the kind of problems that I do not mind having.
Still not a crook!
Early NBA Departures
Tom Payne 1971. Rex Chapman 1988. Jamal Mashburn 1993. Antoine Walker 1996. Ron Mercer 1997. Nazr Mohammed 1998. Kelenna Azubuike 2005. Rajon Rondo 2006. Randolph Morris 2007.
And Jodie Meeks 2009.
Only 10 in UK history.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 15, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions
That number will surely increase exponentially in the coming years. Likely at least three more after next season.
Still not a crook!
1 For Rupp
1 for Sutton. 3 for Pitino. 4 for Tubby. 1 for Gillispie.
Maybe 1 for Hall if you count Bill Willoughby in 1975 but he never attended UK.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 15, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
meeks i think
it looks like 60 has mash, walker, and mercer for pitino, nazr, kelenna, rondo, and morris for tubby. i would assume meeks would be gillispie’s 1.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Jun 15, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Meeks
Gillispie was his last UK coach.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 15, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, ok
I was hoping we could give Meeks to Tubby, Patterson to Cal and just pretend the whole Gillispie thing never happened…
Still not a crook!
Absolutely
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Jun 16, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Early out
Its amazing that there have only been ten UK players to leave early. From looking at that list, most of them did quite well for themselves. I agree with some of the other comments about the likelihood of this being an annual event for Kentucky fans.
by chicagoblues on Jun 15, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
We will see so much more of this
in the future it will be mind boggling….not just because of Cal…..but look at the trend….95% of those were since 1988. I only see 1 REAL mistake in there, and that’s Morris. Although I do not know the circumstances of Payne….other than what little I have read on it.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Jodie Meeks
Good luck man,ihope you didnt blow it,Were going to be fine patrick wont see triple teams this year even though the editor took shots at our new offense,besides Meeks everyone who left should have never been here not good enough for the cats good luck jodie i hope your agent didnt sell you some B.S
truzen
Losing Jodie looks like 60 plus% of our 3 pointers sloan was garbo stewart hit less than 6 we all know porter (he hustled )but he couldnt hit the broad side of a barn
Thanks Jodie Meeks
For making last year bearable … for working your tail off when others may have quit ,,, for being a class act and for being more grown up than some of the grown ups around you . Good luck in the NBA – I’m glad you’ll always be a CAT!!!
I don’t think Jodie made a mistake (still wwould have liked to see him in a UK uniform next year) … He probably learned alot playing through a nagging injury for a year … another one could end his career before it started. I think he got the guarantee he was looking for. I know he has some weak parts to his game, few that go to the league are ready to step in and start, but he has a tremendous upside … his speed, strength and work ethic will serve him well at the next level .. Anyone want to speculate on who might draft him???
I don't see 33% as bad 3-pt shooting.
It equals 50% 2-pt shooting, and that’s not a bad percentage unless you’re shooting a lot of layups (DDMO anyone?) :-)). The amazing thing to me is that we had several teams in the late 60s/early 70s that had a number of guys shoot right around, or better than, 50% from the field. We haven’t had that kind of shooting percentages the last decade or so. Why? Are defenses that much better? Are guys not working on shooting the J any more? Is it a combination of factors? I don’t know. Somebody help me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.
No moral victories--it's all about Ws and Ls!!!
sportscenter
sportscenter has killed off the fundamentals. jump shots don’t get you on the highlight reel, unless they’re game winners.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Jun 16, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
true, but
that’s more the exception that proves the rule. :)
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Jun 21, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Defenses are better. They are a lot more physical. Even with the closer hand-checking rules, you can put a lot more ‘body’ on now than you could in those days without being called for a foul.
schizm, I'm gonna throw the BS flag on that. College play has always been physical.
I played (albeit freshman ball) in the 60s, but we played a few games against former varsity players (The “Lexington YMCA” team was staffed with a lot of former UK players) and I’ll tell you the hand-checking was rampant. ‘Matter of fact, Scotty Baesler was the hand-checkingest SOB I ever played against, and, from what I saw during my time at UK, he wasn’t the master of the art. Unless you’re old enough to have seen those games from 30-40 years ago, you can’t make that call.
I will give you this: the players are lots bigger than they were then, but they’re not quicker. Nobody, ever, was quicker and had better springs than David Thompson, and he and a lot of other great athletes played in the days when good teams shot well.
There’s more to it, and I think UKWildcatFanatic above is on the right track.
No moral victories--it's all about Ws and Ls!!!
LOL!
I LOVE IT!!!
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Jun 16, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
GOOD LUCK JODIE!!!
I LOVE YA, GUY!!!…THANX FOR HELPING US SURVIVE LAST YEAR!!!…BEST TO YOU AND I’LL FOLLOW YOU CLOSELY!!!…YOUR BRAND WILL ALWAYS BE AWESOME!!!…GO CATS!!!
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as much as you please."...Mark Twain.
Weakest Draft This Decade
Fran Fraschilla says Meeks made good decision. Next Michael Redd?
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
Bold/Ballsy Decision For Meeks
No guarantees and leaving much behind or as the old saw reads: Faint heart ne’er won fair lady. There is a more risque version regarding porcupine intercourse but I think you get the point.
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
Bilas: 3rd Coach Impact
Bilas speaks from experience:
"Having to prove yourself all over again for a new coach is not always something guys want to do."
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
Yeah ...
… I was thinking that, too. This would be his third. Maybe one too many for Jodie. I could totally get that.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
good luck and God bless Jodie:
Man I hate to see that guy leave! One of my all-time favorites. Wish I would wake up about now, and I don’t have to say what I wish for!! I agree with you Tru. Jodie’s 3-pt. shooting next year will be hard to replace. I’m curious what C-Cal may have up his sleeve concerning a now open scholorship? We may see a JUCO outside threat come on board late. Don’t know who may be out there?! Just a thought. Makes letting Pilgrim slip away even more curious. Heard he was a decent outside shot, for an inside banger.
We have some options, but we WILL HAVE TO PROVE ourselves from the outside. No doubt about that one. I’m still jacked up about next year though. Can’t wait.
Food for thought: The virgin birth has much more to do with the absense of a natural earthly father then the use of a virgin mother. Now, chew.....Because, it's called a "corrupt seed", not a "corrupt egg"!
by blubloodcatfan on Jun 15, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions
Dear Jodie...
I wish you the best in the draft and ultimately in the league. Selfishly I wish you had stayed, but you have to do what is best for you. I can never be mad at someone who dropped 54 on Tennessee at their house! Greatest individual performance I’ve ever seen. Light ’em up in the NBA!!!
Still not a crook!
LOL
Nice kernel panic image. Love it.
Good luck to Jodie in the NBA. He’ll be missed for more than just his stats.
Heh.
Glad somebody but me could see it. I’m going to have to submit a bug report on this, it makes no sense.
I have seen the kernel panic message a few times in my life. Not in a while, but I remember a time when Linux was not quite so mature as it is now and it was easy to set up situations where you would get a kernel panic.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Conference
It seems to me that the biggest beneficiary of all the withdrawals (Meeks excepted) from the draft is the SEC. Think about all the players that are coming back that everyone thought were likely (or possibly) gone: Downey and Archie at USC, Varnado at MSU, T. Smith at UT, Tasmin Mitchell at LSU, and even the kid from Arkansas (whose name escapes me right now). It should make for some monster in conference games next season, just in time for ESPN’s deal (if I were more of a tin-foil hat person, I’d say there was causation there).
Really, the only team that lost a significant member (I believe) is Florida with Billy Donovan’s illegitimate son going to Greece. Couldn’t happen to a better program. . .
The King is dead! Long live the King!
Threes
I think that Dodson, Miller, and Hood will be our three point shooters next year. Dodson is somewhat proven in that aspect and Hood (IMO) is already better than Michael Porter was. Miller just keeps improving more and more. I think we will be fine.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Jun 16, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions
Miller
will be that 3 point threat that Jodie left behind…not as good, but definately a threat…he started showing it torwards the end of last season, and now with the confidence that Cal will have in him, he will become a very good overall player.
That's what she said.
Meek's departure and 3 point shooting-- "We'll be fine"
I was worried about playing time for Wall, Bledsoe, etal. anyway. Ego’s can be troublesome. I also suspect Meek’s 3 point production may have been a product of the previous coach’s philosophy, anyway. It looked to me that everyone besides Meeks and Patterson were afraid to shoot. I think this team can spread the possibilities out and the 3 point shooting will improve. UK has got some horses inside that will balance the attack out too. Yes, they are a young team but Rose was a freshman and Cal did a pretty good coaching him.
To quote our new coach — “We’ll be fine”.
Good luck Jodie. I’m sorry you’ll miss out on an exciting year at UK. I hope the money is good in the NBA. I’d have made the same decision.
Hoping for the best for Jodie
This year’s weak draft makes it a lot easier for Jodie to go now. It is very likely that if he came back to college and improved significantly in all areas he could still go later in the draft next year than he will this year simply because of more good players.
As for the three point shooting, I’m not too concerned. As I recall, some (most?) of Cal’s recent Memphis squads were not exactly great from beyond the arc and that didn’t prevent them from having success and going far in the tournament. (A quick look at the last several seasons at Memphis shows they were an average 3pt shooting team that typically only featured 1 above-average shooter.)
I think it’s far more important for UK to defend the 3pt shot well. If they can do that, then the game becomes a battle of the interior or an up-and-down runfest and there will be very few teams that can keep up with the Cats in those kinds of games.
There is no gravity - the earth just sucks.
Leadership Void
I fear that we will miss Jodie’s leadership and experience more than his 3-point shooting. No matter how talented the incoming freshman are, they are still only freshman who have never played a D-1 college game, never played together as a team, and never played under Coach Calipari’s system. This, my Blue friends, scares the heck out of me, and keeps my expectations for the upcoming season at a hopeful but realistic level.
Perhaps we will get more leadership from the likes of Stevenson and Harris. You never know…these guys might surprise us.
Patterson is your man tb.....he will step up and fill the void
he has now seen it all in game situations….Cal will make him the new leader….freshmen will follow
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
The next Jodie Meeks
As much as I do hate to see this guy go, I wish him well. But, honestly, did anyone really expect this guy to have the monster year that he put up last season? I don’ t think it came out of nowhere, because he is a very athletic, talented college basketball shooting guard, but lets think about the reality of him coming out and trying to do this again this year with this team…it couldn’t happen.
So, let’s take into consideration the distinct possibility that someone else might fill some of the scoring void that Jodie left behind. Miller? Possibly. I am not sure who it is, but I think with a team like this, it will be more like a committee of talented players, rather than one shining star.
I am of the group that thinks that this Kentucky team will be so vastly different than ones we have been used to in terms of style of play that we might not need a designated, bail-out 3 point shooter like Jodie had to become last season. I would think that with this new offense (and defense) that the players must make themselves into complete players and not rely totally on just dribble drive. You have to be able to shoot, and I think the kids will learn this as the year progresses and they grow more in their roles and positioning in the system.
Don’t get me wrong, I think we will sorely miss a player and leader like Jodie Meeks, but I think this team will be so different in so many ways, we might not have had to depend upon him the way we did last year.
"You have to be able to shoot"
Can somebody give me an “AMEN?”
No moral victories--it's all about Ws and Ls!!!
UK's Career Best 3-Pt FG (%) Shooters
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/career3ptfieldgoalpercent.html
Some names might surprise you.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 17, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
If U Prefer Overall FG (%) Stats
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/careerfieldgoalpercent.html Aagin, some names might be a surprise.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 17, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Too funny.
I see his loss while being an obvious liability actually being an asset…
If we can find two or three players that are legitimate threats from deep, it will by okay.
First, Tru, good commentary and analysis. Interesting that I brought this up (re: lack of outside shooting besides Meeks) in last season’s pre-season analysis, but I got nothing but argument and push back. Glad you are learning. :-)
UK will have a very good team next year, not a great team. Miller is no where close to being the shooter that Jodie was. His game is completely different. He is a fair spot shooter, but isn’t a screen shooter. You can disagree, but he only made 18 three pointers last year. Where is the consistency? On what basis does one think he can fill in this huge gap?
Hood may be able to shoot, but he will be such a defensive liability, I don’t see him on the floor much. Admittedly, I don’t know a damn thing about Dodson. But if he is as great as a player as Pilgrim is that I read about for months and months, he will be fantastic. I understand this Dodson kid is a real beast. :-)
Good athletes on this team but not shooters…and this offense needs shooters.
But just to admit I don’t know it all, I thought there would be no way Patterson would have come back. He will have to learn a completely different game. His next face-to-the basket 15’ jump shot will be his first…period. If he can’t learn to shoot, his stock will fall. I just don’t see that in his game as of yet. However, it is certainly possible he can learn it given his athletic ability…but it is not a given.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Despite All That De-Syphering
UK will pound the snot oout of Louisville next season.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 17, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Ohhhhh....I am really scared.
Once again, showing a lack of insightful & original analysis without being able to lean on the crutch of statistics…..which anyone can regurgitate from numerous websites.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Here's Why
MUCH better coach. (Than Pitino)
MUCH better players. (Than U of L)
Equals MUCH better result for UK.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 17, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow...
Good effort…for you.
I certainly agree that UK has a stronger team in talent than UofL next year. Young but talented. But I am ashamed and disappointed that your ‘insightful’ analysis has No-NCAA-Championship Cal ahead of Pitino. Your childish bias is showing and it isn’t pretty.
Thanks for playing but try again. You’ve got homework to do, kiddo.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Calipari >>> Pitino NOW
Pitino was > in the 1990’s.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 17, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
You may not be scared yet Hoze,
but to quote a little green friend of mine……“you will be…..you WILL be”….lol…I wont quote stats, or numbers, or anything but this, UL will be lucky to win 2 of the next 10 against the Cats….UL now has to contend with the same headaches you have had in the past, with Calipari tacked on….or to quote another famous movie….." we just made your job twice as hard"….not the exact quote but it will suffice…..
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
I thought it was fun
to see Forty make a snarky comment with no basis and no statistics.
by Gobe Igbloo on Jun 20, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions
You dont know squat about Hood either
He has the physical tools to play good defense. Doesnt mean he will but the tools are there.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Eh?
First, Tru, good commentary and analysis. Interesting that I brought this up (re: lack of outside shooting besides Meeks) in last season’s pre-season analysis, but I got nothing but argument and push back. Glad you are learning. :-)
That was last season, and you were talking about shooting period, not three-point shooting – which, by the way turned out to be wrong. In fact, your analysis about three point shooting turned out to be wrong, too – UK wound up shooting 35.5% from 3 on the year, which isn’t stellar but it certainly isn’t “lacking.”’ You’d probably know that if you could have looked it up, but it looks to me like you broke both your arms patting yourself on the back. :-)
Kentucky will be young next year. We don’t know whether the young players will be as worse, as good, or better than advertised, so how you can presume them “good not great” is a mystery. Based on what? Hood a “defensive liability?” I have seen Hood play, and whether or not you believe me, I can say with confidence that he will not be a liability on either end of the floor. He is quick enough and long enough to guard smaller as well as bigger players, so your comment there is puzzling, to say the least. Hood was a stellar defender in high school, and he’ll have no problem at all holding up that end for Kentucky.
What UK doesn’t have is PROVEN shooters. We may have them, and just not know it yet, so don’t be too quick to judge. My concerns are that without proven shooters, many teams will zone Kentucky and nullify the DDMO. We’ll just have to see, but I do think it is a concern. This offense does need shooters, but if it turns out that we don’t have them, Calipari will just have to play some other offense. He has already said that he would do that if necessary.
Patterson can already shoot, he just hasn’t had many opportunities to do so. All you have to do is look at his free throw percentage and form to see that. Whether or not he can shoot out to the three-point line is surely an open question, and what we really should be concerned about is Patterson’s ability to put it on the floor, which he has not shown at all to date. He also is a bit too right-handed, which he’ll have to overcome.
Oh, and don’t forget – If Patterson’s stock does decline this year, he will still have one more year in college if he wants it. In two years, he should be able to learn to do everything he needs to become a high draft pick, and the 2011 draft is looking weaker at his position after the big surge next year. So his decision really isn’t so questionable, now is it?
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Wrong & Wrong
1. Last year I commented on how UK was lacking shooters with the departure of Bradley and Meeks. You were the one that talked about field goal percentage and how UK had shooters. I tried (and failed obviously) to show you that field goal shooting alone did not relate to outside shooting. No one in their right mind would now argue that one of UK’s primary weakness last year was outside shooting. I was right. You’re welcomed.
2. In regards to UK’s 3-pt shooting last year, I said they were lacking shooters besides Meeks. Jodie’s 41% percentage is phenomenal and skews the team number. The rest of the team shot 29%. That sucks. Besides, don’t be too forty-like and get all wrapped up in stats. What the stats don’t show is the number of 3-pt shots that UK didn’t take and couldn’t take. Ask Patrick how he liked playing last year being smothered because there wasn’t an balanced outside attack. Right again.
3. Yea, you are right that Patrick has other reasons and I concur that his biggest weakness in putting the ball on the floor. But this discussion was about shooting and I sure as heck didn’t want to come across as all too negative. :-) Seriously, for all the reasons Jodie had in entering the draft, Patrick has them and more…in spades. I guess there is no accounting for dumb.
4. The 2011 draft?!? Wow. You have me there. If you can see that far in the future you are the smartest man that has an opinion of basketball.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
One more thought...
5. Interesting point in regards to Patterson’s FT form. You may have a point. I do think he has the athletic ability of course, to improve his game and he may be able (even likely) to show this next year. My point is that it is not a given and therefore, a risk. I mean if he can do it and do it now, it begs the question: Why wasn’t this part of the offense last year?
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
You know something Hoze....that is the very first
sane question I have heard you ask…..I have also wondered why…..again I think we are back to the type of offense that BCG wanted to run….that shot for Patterson was not part of the game plan…the same way he “didnt want Jodie shooting so much”….maybe he had his reasons, but with last year’s team they just do not seem to follow his thinking…..someone stated that there was no way that Meeks should have been shooting as much as he did. I will agree on that with one qualifier, if Gillispie didnt want him shooting so much, then the other guys were going to have to step up, and that didnt happen much last year.Patterson will do it next year….its not a risk, last year, no one asked him to.
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[UPDATED 01/18/2012]
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