Chaz Lanier watch thread

#301
#301
Chaz has played well and exceeded realistic expectations for this season after a huge step-up in competition...and, he has done that while playing in arguably the most competitive conference in NCAA history and while being the #1 guy every team schemes to shut down. Without him, there is no way we have only 5 losses and are a solid 2 seed this late in the season.

Based on this, one could argue the real issue is that other players haven't stepped up consistently enough to make other teams pay for their focus on Chaz. Most of our losses are due to games where everyone struggles to score. ZZ and Igor have really struggled this year from 3-pt range vs. their prior seasons although Igor has heated up in recent games - let's hope that trend continues. Gainey has struggled as well in SEC games having only scored 10 or more in 5 of 11 games all while shooting above 33% from 3 only 3 times.

I had hoped Chaz would utilize a good shot fake to get into a 1 or 2 dribble pull-up more often to this point given the tendency for the defenders to jump out of their shoes knowing he has such a quick release (esp since he clearly struggles to finish at the rim and rarely ever draws a foul)...to often he instead tries to dribble his way to his spot but he lacks the handles and speed required to get a clean look so he shoots way too many that are contested imo.

Hopefully we continue to evolve as a team and peak at the right time. GBO!
 
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#303
#303
MinisterofDef#92 said:
Chaz has played well and exceeded realistic expectations for this season after a huge step-up in competition...and, he has done that while playing in arguably the most competitive conference in NCAA history and while being the #1 guy every team schemes to shut down. Without him, there is no way we have only 5 losses and are a solid 2 seed this late in the season.

Based on this, one could argue the real issue is that other players haven't stepped up consistently enough to make other teams pay for their focus on Chaz. Most of our losses are due to games where everyone struggles to score. ZZ and Igor have really struggled this year from 3-pt range vs. their prior seasons although Igor has heated up in recent games - let's hope that trend continues. Gainey has struggled as well in SEC games having only scored 10 or more in 5 of 11 games all while shooting above 33% from 3 only 3 times.

I had hoped Chaz would utilize a good shot fake to get into a 1 or 2 dribble pull-up more often to this point given the tendency for the defenders to jump out of their shoes knowing he has such a quick release (esp since he clearly struggles to finish at the rim and rarely ever draws a foul)...to often he instead tries to dribble his way to his spot but he lacks the handles and speed required to get a clean look so he shoots way too many that are contested imo.

Hopefully we continue to evolve as a team and peak at the right time. GBO!
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MinisterofDef#92 said:
Chaz has played well and exceeded realistic expectations for this season after a huge step-up in competition...and, he has done that while playing in arguably the most competitive conference in NCAA history and while being the #1 guy every team schemes to shut down. Without him, there is no way we have only 5 losses and are a solid 2 seed this late in the season.

Based on this, one could argue the real issue is that other players haven't stepped up consistently enough to make other teams pay for their focus on Chaz. Most of our losses are due to games where everyone struggles to score. ZZ and Igor have really struggled this year from 3-pt range vs. their prior seasons although Igor has heated up in recent games - let's hope that trend continues. Gainey has struggled as well in SEC games having only scored 10 or more in 5 of 11 games all while shooting above 33% from 3 only 3 times.

I had hoped Chaz would utilize a good shot fake to get into a 1 or 2 dribble pull-up more often to this point given the tendency for the defenders to jump out of their shoes knowing he has such a quick release (esp since he clearly struggles to finish at the rim and rarely ever draws a foul)...to often he instead tries to dribble his way to his spot but he lacks the handles and speed required to get a clean look so he shoots way too many that are contested imo.

Hopefully we continue to evolve as a team and peak at the right time. GBO!
Click to expand...

Exceeded Realistic expectations?

Disagree with that. He hasn't shown up in some of the biggest games. If he just hits his average, vols probably win a couple of those games.

I don't think it's unrealistic to expect him to show up in the big games.
 
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#304
#304
MinisterofDef#92 said:
Chaz has played well and exceeded realistic expectations for this season after a huge step-up in competition...and, he has done that while playing in arguably the most competitive conference in NCAA history and while being the #1 guy every team schemes to shut down. Without him, there is no way we have only 5 losses and are a solid 2 seed this late in the season.

Based on this, one could argue the real issue is that other players haven't stepped up consistently enough to make other teams pay for their focus on Chaz. Most of our losses are due to games where everyone struggles to score. ZZ and Igor have really struggled this year from 3-pt range vs. their prior seasons although Igor has heated up in recent games - let's hope that trend continues. Gainey has struggled as well in SEC games having only scored 10 or more in 5 of 11 games all while shooting above 33% from 3 only 3 times.

I had hoped Chaz would utilize a good shot fake to get into a 1 or 2 dribble pull-up more often to this point given the tendency for the defenders to jump out of their shoes knowing he has such a quick release (esp since he clearly struggles to finish at the rim and rarely ever draws a foul)...to often he instead tries to dribble his way to his spot but he lacks the handles and speed required to get a clean look so he shoots way too many that are contested imo.

Hopefully we continue to evolve as a team and peak at the right time. GBO
Click to expand...

Exceeded Realistic expectations?

Disagree with that. He hasn't shown up in some of the biggest games. If he just hits his average, vols probably win a couple of those games.

I don't think it's unrealistic to expect him to show up in against the better competition
 
#305
#305
vols 30 said:
Exceeded Realistic expectations?

Disagree with that. He hasn't shown up in some of the biggest games. If he just hits his average, vols probably win a couple of those games.

I don't think it's unrealistic to expect him to show up in against the better competition
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Agree with you but IMO it's because the better teams can put an athletic player on him that keeps him covered up and as other posters have noted he does not appear to have the want to or ability to get himself open. Barnes needs to show him some film of Vescovi. That guy was always moving trying to get himself open. DK seemed to also get open a lot when team were always scheming against him.

There are ways if Chaz wants to do it.
 
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#306
#306
vols 30 said:
Exceeded Realistic expectations?

Disagree with that. He hasn't shown up in some of the biggest games. If he just hits his average, vols probably win a couple of those games.

I don't think it's unrealistic to expect him to show up in the big games.
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It’s called an average for a reason - even Seth Curry has different degrees of shooting success on different nights and Chaz is no different.
 
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#309
#309
Minister nailed it IMO. If you're doing the scout, outside of Lanier, who do you really worry about going off on you? Mashack? Okpara? ZZ? Gainey? Igor has shown flashes, but in all honesty we don't have another starter that any opponent would be all that concerned about. You focus on Lanier and take your chances with everyone else. He's not knecht who could beat you any way he wanted so it's really impressive that Lanier has done as well as he has. Add on to that the adjustment he has faced playing defense at the level Barnes demands and you have to give the kid some credit and leeway. This is a very stout defensive team, but very limited on offense. To be where we are with this roster is a heckuva coaching job.
 
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#315
#315
vols 30 said:
Exceeded Realistic expectations?

Disagree with that. He hasn't shown up in some of the biggest games. If he just hits his average, vols probably win a couple of those games.

I don't think it's unrealistic to expect him to show up in against the better competition
Click to expand...
Fair enough but we took a guy from the portal from a much smaller conf who had 1 good year...so, yeah, he def has exceeded my expectations but if your expectations were for him to "just hit his average" in all of our tough games then I guess that's where we can agree to disagree about that being realistic especially since he is basically a spot up shooter.

Of our 16 games against Top 50 KP teams, Chaz has scored 15 or more pts 10 times so I would say he has showed up against better competition.

Of the games we lost, Chaz scored 15 or more points in 2 of those games (Vandy and KY home). I doubt we win @ FL even if Chaz went for 25 - the whole team sucked that game. That leaves 2 games imo where it's fair to say he could have helped us win if he scored more.

I frankly wouldn't have believed someone preseason who told me Chaz would play so well that we are nitpicking the 2 games where he could have scored more for us to possibly win. Basketball is a team sport and, frankly, too often our other players haven't taken advantage of the attention Chaz is commanding imo. GBO

UL: 19 pts (3/6 from 3, 27 current KenPom) Win
Baylor: 25 pts (7/10, 29 KP) Win
Illinois: 17 pts (2/6, 20 KP) Win
Ark: 29 pts (5/9, 39 KP) Win
FL: 10 pts (1/9, 4 KP) Loss
TX: 10 pts (2/6, 34 KP) Win
GA: 5 pts (1/9, 44 KP) Win
Vandy: 17 pts (4/6, 42 KP) Loss
Miss St.: 23 pts (5/12, 30 KP) Win
Auburn: 10 pts (2/6, 1 KP) Loss
KY: 15 pts (3/10, 19 KP) Loss
FL: 19 pts (5/9, 4 KP) Win
MO: 10 pts (2/5, 14 KP) Win
OK: 21 pts (3/10, 45 KP) Win
KY: 10 pts (0/7, 19 KP) Loss
Vandy: 21 pts (2/5, 42 KP) Win
 
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#316
#316
MinisterofDef#92 said:
Fair enough but we took a guy from the portal from a much smaller conf who had 1 good year...so, yeah, he def has exceeded my expectations but if your expectations were for him to "just hit his average" in all of our tough games then I guess that's where we can agree to disagree about that being realistic especially since he is basically a spot up shooter.

Of our 16 games against Top 50 KP teams, Chaz has scored 15 or more pts 10 times so I would say he has showed up against better competition.

Of the games we lost, Chaz scored 15 or more points in 2 of those games (Vandy and KY home). I doubt we win @ FL even if Chaz went for 25 - the whole team sucked that game. That leaves 2 games imo where it's fair to say he could have helped us win if he scored more.

I frankly wouldn't have believed someone preseason who told me Chaz would play so well that we are nitpicking the 2 games where he could have scored more for us to possibly win. Basketball is a team sport and, frankly, too often our other players haven't taken advantage of the attention Chaz is commanding imo. GBO

UL: 19 pts (3/6 from 3, 27 current KenPom) Win
Baylor: 25 pts (7/10, 29 KP) Win
Illinois: 17 pts (2/6, 20 KP) Win
Ark: 29 pts (5/9, 39 KP) Win
FL: 10 pts (1/9, 4 KP) Loss
TX: 10 pts (2/6, 34 KP) Win
GA: 5 pts (1/9, 44 KP) Win
Vandy: 17 pts (4/6, 42 KP) Loss
Miss St.: 23 pts (5/12, 30 KP) Win
Auburn: 10 pts (2/6, 1 KP) Loss
KY: 15 pts (3/10, 19 KP) Loss
FL: 19 pts (5/9, 4 KP) Win
MO: 10 pts (2/5, 14 KP) Win
OK: 21 pts (3/10, 45 KP) Win
KY: 10 pts (0/7, 19 KP) Loss
Vandy: 21 pts (2/5, 42 KP) Win
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He was a 4 year mid major player who is roughly top 5 in scoring in the best league, by far, in the country. Have to put it in perspective.
 
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#317
#317
VolGee4 said:
He was a 4 year mid major player who is roughly top 5 in scoring in the best league, by far, in the country. Have to put it in perspective.
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Exactly. Chaz is doing this as the #1 player to shutdown from 3 in all of our opponents' scouting reports in the best conference arguably in the history of the NCAA. Even DK, whom we've seen now in the NBA, struggled to adjust to SEC play last year and he's much more athletic and explosive than Chaz.

Edit: And he doesn't have the luxury of having other 3 pt threats around him like the other top SEC teams who command floor spacing. Mashack (very few attempts obviously) is interestingly the only other player (I'm not counting Okpara's 1 for 1 so as to avoid incurring CRB's wrath...lol) on the team who have who is shooting over 33% on the season from 3!?!?! Granted Igor has really come around of late as has ZZ.
 
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#318
#318
MinisterofDef#92 said:
Exactly. Chaz is doing this as the #1 player to shutdown from 3 in all of our opponents' scouting reports in the best conference arguably in the history of the NCAA. Even DK, whom we've seen now in the NBA, struggled to adjust to SEC play last year and he's much more athletic and explosive than Chaz.

Edit: And he doesn't have the luxury of having other 3 pt threats around him like the other top SEC teams who command floor spacing. Mashack (very few attempts obviously) is interestingly the only other player (I'm not counting Okpara's 1 for 1 so as to avoid incurring CRB's wrath...lol) on the team who have who is shooting over 33% on the season from 3!?!?! Granted Igor has really come around of late as has ZZ.
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In what way did Knecht "struggle to adjust to SEC play"? In the first 13 SEC games, he averaged 24.38 ppg, shooting 49.32% from the floor, 42.68% from 3, 73 rebounds, 30 assists, 11 steals, 13 blocks. Yeah, his first game he only had 8 points, but he was 50% from the floor, 33% from 3.
 
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#320
#320
whobethis16 said:
In what way did Knecht "struggle to adjust to SEC play"? In the first 13 SEC games, he averaged 24.38 ppg, shooting 49.32% from the floor, 42.68% from 3, 73 rebounds, 30 assists, 11 steals, 13 blocks. Yeah, his first game he only had 8 points, but he was 50% from the floor, 33% from 3.
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I didn't go back and check the game logs...I guess that Ole Miss game felt like 2 or 3 games to me...lol
 
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