Chaz Lanier watch thread

[bleedingTNorange]

TBH, that’s about 30% better numbers than I expected and his defense isn’t a liability. Chaz is exceeding my expectations for sure!

It feels like, to me at least, if it wasn’t for what DK did last year that he’d be getting a lot more recognition both locally and nationally.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

It feels like, to me at least, if it wasn’t for what DK did last year that he’d be getting a lot more recognition both locally and nationally.

It’s just not very flashy. He doesn’t create his own shot a ton (he does a few times a game) and he doesn’t take a lot of contested “in your face” shots (partially because his release is so quick and partially because he plays within the offense and isn’t prone to throwing up a “heat check” as often as others).

It’s just methodical. He has the quietest 20 point games I can remember.

 

[cncchris33]

It’s just not very flashy. He doesn’t create his own shot a ton (he does a few times a game) and he doesn’t take a lot of contested “in your face” shots (partially because his release is so quick and partially because he plays within the offense and isn’t prone to throwing up a “heat check” as often as others).

It’s just methodical. He has the quietest 20 point games I can remember.

Agree on this. Chaz is more oportunistic...to a fault, sometimes, while Knecht was ultra-aggressive (also to a fault, sometimes).

 

[Lefteye]

It’s just not very flashy. He doesn’t create his own shot a ton (he does a few times a game) and he doesn’t take a lot of contested “in your face” shots (partially because his release is so quick and partially because he plays within the offense and isn’t prone to throwing up a “heat check” as often as others).

It’s just methodical. He has the quietest 20 point games I can remember.

DKs height made it easier to get the ball in his hands. Chaz has to work harder than he’s ever had to get open enough to catch a pass. I even think a case could be made that he, at times, doesn’t put the effort in to getting open to get the ball.
So apples to apples are hard kinda. Imo I’d say CLo would definitely agree.

 

[walkenvol]

DK’s ability to drive the lane and consistently finish at the rim against most anyone is what was so impressive partnered with his elite 3 point shooting. Teams had to pick their poison when DK was “feeling it” and sag off to avoid getting posterized leading to good looks from 3 or guard tighter on the perimeter and roll the dice. We could space the floor and give him the ball on the perimeter without screening and he could get a good 3 pointer. He is the poster child for a 3 level scorer.

Chaz is a great shooter, both from 3 range and free throw distance. He doesn’t excel at dribble drive to the rim and finishing at a high level. Teams don’t fear being posterized so they guard Chaz closer on the perimeter making his distance shots more challenged. We can’t space the floor and throw him the ball and let him do it by himself which to me is the big differentiator between them.

We are very fortunate to have had both guys portal in!

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Knecht’s presence was paralyzing to an opponent, but also often had a similar effect on our offense. We stood around and watched way too often, waiting for him to get open or make a play in iso. This year our screen and rolls, 1 to 5 lobs, high actions etc. mean that any player can get an open look if they play in the system. Mashack may be the only player who isn’t enough of a threat to score, but even that is improving. I obviously loved watching Knecht play, but this team is much less likely to be shut down. We’ve had some ugly droughts, but we’ve grown more from those situations than we ever did when DK was here.

 

[cncchris33]

Through 25 games:

Points scored:
Dalton Knecht: 489
Chaz Lanier: 424

3 point shots made:
Chris Lofton: 72
Chaz Lanier: 84...still 84

This was easy to update.

 

[HambyVol]

Another poor performance when we needed him most. Oh well. Prob be 4-5 seed now in the Sec tournament and maybe win one game. 2 seed in NCAA.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Lanier can’t drive the lane. He has little to no explosiveness. Can’t create his own shot. Is as average defender and has limited midrange game. He disappears when we need him the most.

 

[SicEmSmokey33]

Lanier just isnt that guy...feasted on less talented teams early. Disappears when there is any form of pressure or an equal opponent.

 

[vols 30]

Knecht showed up in big games and I'm pretty darn sure Lofton did. Chaz? Not so much.

Who cares about the numbers! Who shows up when it matters the most?

 

[Go47]

Lanier . . . Again . . . Pulled a disappearing act last night. 8 points. Blocked at the rim . . . Again (a theme with him - seems to happen more than it should). The same lazy looking / slow off of cuts plays.

It is what it is at this point. The team needs him to score to win . . . An when he doesn’t, we will probably see what we saw last night - overall scoring in the low 60s.

He tends to disappear against the better teams. There are exceptions . . . But he is very inconsistent at this point in the season.

As bad as I hate to say it . . . Our tourney run will probably go as he goes. If he scores his average / makes some momentum changing shots last night - UT wins.

 

[orangemadam]

Yeah, DK could put a team on his back and carry them, Chaz can not.

This team will only go as far as Chaz takes them, which is scary come tourney time.

 

[87Vol]

Chaz is a good kid, but he is just a mediocre player against good competition at this level. He is a complementary player at best and not a lead dog. We've seen enough to know that he will be MIA most all of the time when we need big 3's against the best teams.

 

[lostsheep]

I think it is fair to say that having DK for a year has ruined me to some degree. Knowing that he would have monkey-dunked on the drive to the basket that Lanier got swatted on makes the play feel even worse.
That being said, expecting every transfer player to be like DK isn't realistic and the reality is most will likely be more like Lanier.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Lanier is the first player in history to have off nights. Someone call Guinness.

 

[Orange.]

Lanier is the first player in history to have off nights. Someone call Guinness.

Instead of the book of world records, many last night seemed to be calling on the Extra Stout.

 

[87Vol]

Lanier is the first player in history to have off nights. Someone call Guinness.

Yes call Guinness, because it's beyond remarkable how his scoring ability simply disappears into thin air whenever we play a top tier team. He might be the greatest magician of all time !!!

 

[cncchris33]

Lanier is the first player in history to have off nights. Someone call Guinness.

You and I usually see things thru a similar lens, but 12 games into the conference season, it's probably fair to point out that he's not just had an off night here and there.

In our 5 losses, his shooting %s are 9 points lower than in our 7 wins (30.8% to 39.4% overall, and 26.3% to 35.6% from 3).

And combined in SEC play, he's only shooting 35.3% overall and 31.3% from 3. For a guy who doesn't contribute significantly in many other areas, that's not great. For comparison, that 3-pt % is almost identical to what Tyreke Key shot over the SEC portion of the schedule in his one year at Tennessee.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

You and I usually see things thru a similar lens, but 12 games into the conference season, it's probably fair to point out that he's not just had an off night here and there.

In our 5 losses, his shooting %s are 9 points lower than in our 7 wins (30.8% to 39.4% overall, and 26.3% to 35.6% from 3).

And combined in SEC play, he's only shooting 35.3% overall and 31.3% from 3. For a guy who doesn't contribute significantly in many other areas, that's not great. For comparison, that 3-pt % is almost identical to what Tyreke Key shot over the SEC portion of the schedule in his one year at Tennessee.

I think Lanier has shown himself in SEC play to be best suited as secondary scorer. If he's the vols primary offensive plan the other teams defense has demonstrated they can fairly easily take him out of the game.

I keep harping on it but if Igor can go up a level and be the teams primary offensive threat maybe it opens things up for Lanier.

 

[GBO18]

You and I usually see things thru a similar lens, but 12 games into the conference season, it's probably fair to point out that he's not just had an off night here and there.

In our 5 losses, his shooting %s are 9 points lower than in our 7 wins (30.8% to 39.4% overall, and 26.3% to 35.6% from 3).

And combined in SEC play, he's only shooting 35.3% overall and 31.3% from 3. For a guy who doesn't contribute significantly in many other areas, that's not great. For comparison, that 3-pt % is almost identical to what Tyreke Key shot over the SEC portion of the schedule in his one year at Tennessee.

Comparing Lanier to Key is wild. Teams were not focusing on Key like they are Lanier to make sure he doesn’t get open looks.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Chaz is a good kid, but he is just a mediocre player against good competition at this level. He is a complementary player at best and not a lead dog. We've seen enough to know that he will be MIA most all of the time when we need big 3's against the best teams.

In his defense, he did get hot against a top 5 team when 2 of our best 3 players were out for the entire game. I do agree he is more suited to be a complimentary player. Maybe Barnes will shift more to Igor now as our go-to guy and take the pressure off of Chaz

 

[cncchris33]

Comparing Lanier to Key is wild. Teams were not focusing on Key like they are Lanier to make sure he doesn’t get open looks.

No, but let's not make that mention of Key any more than it was...a mention. I'm not saying Lanier is no better than Tyreke Key. Just giving a reference point as to where his current SEC 3-pt% sits. I used the word "comparison" so that's on me, but it wasn't meant as a like for like correlation.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

You and I usually see things thru a similar lens, but 12 games into the conference season, it's probably fair to point out that he's not just had an off night here and there.

In our 5 losses, his shooting %s are 9 points lower than in our 7 wins (30.8% to 39.4% overall, and 26.3% to 35.6% from 3).

And combined in SEC play, he's only shooting 35.3% overall and 31.3% from 3. For a guy who doesn't contribute significantly in many other areas, that's not great. For comparison, that 3-pt % is almost identical to what Tyreke Key shot over the SEC portion of the schedule in his one year at Tennessee.

I don’t disagree. It’d be nice if he shot better, particularly against guards who overcommit. I also noted ZZ being late on passes to him last night, and even not seeing him open. Gainey was largely useless on offense and Mashack again couldn’t contribute much on offense. Igor didn’t take advantage of open looks, and everyone seemed tired. When ZZ believes that creating off the dribble is our only option, we’re usually in trouble. His vision wasn’t great last night and he tried to carry the team. Two road games on a two day turnaround is tough. Kentucky’s length at guard was exhausting to our guys too. It was a bad offensive game and an ok defensive game following the best game of the year at both ends against OU. We need to be better, more consistent, and hungrier. My only problem is the people who want to throw in the towel on Barnes, Chaz, ZZ etc. Chaz has not fared well against long guards who run him. Some of that is definitely on him. He also is what he is. He’s a good shot when he’s open, a mediocre driver, and a defender with weaknesses. I’m up for criticism, I’m not in on calling players “lazy” or implying they don’t care. There are no excuses in sports. You win or lose with what you have. I think whether this team goes deep in the tournament will be based on matchups. We’re playing the best teams who know us best now. I still see that paying dividends later. Not many teams outside the SEC can handle this defense, nor do many teams have the defense to shut us down the way a few teams have this year. This is not a bulletproof team by any means, but they do have strengths that put them in a position to win.

 

[Lekvolrrah]

Instead of the book of world records, many last night seemed to be calling on the Extra Stout.

That's good stuff