Question on Jr. Pearl and Some Perspective

#1
99bubble

99bubble

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#1
First of all, we are 8-3 with a bad stretch. We shot 2/17 from 3 in one game and lost by 1. A few extra points in that stretch and we only have 1 loss. So, I don't feel like the sky is falling. I'll be interested to see how the team progresses through the season. With improvement we are a top 20 team yet again.

However, my one concern is the way Pearl Jr. is being played so much. I'm a basketball guy; played the sport, watched it for the better part of my life and have a pretty decent understanding of the ins and outs of the game. Can someone please help me figure out the reason Pearl Jr. is playing so much? I'm afraid this is a coach being blinded by the "he's smart" thinking. I have seen coaches play their kid and give the reason "well, he's not athletic, but he plays smart and gives us the best chance" kind of thing. I truly think they can be blinded by this thinking. When Bradshaw was here I loved his effort, but i told several people "when he's gone we'll improve." That wasn't a knock on Bradshaw, you just get to the point where you increase talent and even if they make mistakes, over the course of a game, it's an upgrade. I feel the same about Pearl Jr. right now and don't even get me started on McBee. Maybe Pearl Sr. knows what he's doing, but I don't understand it. If anyone has a good argument, please expound and help me out a bit here. I genuinely want to get everyone's thoughts on this, from a fundamental basketball perspective.

Thanks VN.
:hi:
 
#2
#2
I think that he is showing his loyalty to these guys because of what they did last year during that 9 game stretch. They also worked really hard in the off season and have pearl has been there for a while now. Also, the other guys were not ready. Speaking of McRae. Maymon is just starting to find his place on this team and Bone is out. I think that they have been played so much this year is for these reasons. They aren't as bad as people make them out to be but I also don't believe that they should be seeing double digit minutes. The rotation will probably be spot on by the Memphis game. It will be but we will see for the rest of the season.
 
#3
#3
Pearl gave them a good five minute stretch last night. He was left in too long.
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#5
#5
Pearl provides a spark and is a great defender. He creates offensive spacing when he is playing the PF position. He is a decent passer and excels in the hustle categories. Pearl's value to this team cannot be measured on the stat sheet. The reason he gets PT and deserves 8-12 minutes a game is because of his intangibles. McBee... I don't really have an answer. He fouls consistently outside of 22' from the rim, he has not proven to be a consistent scorer from the perimeter and doesn't have much of a dribble drive game. He isn't even an average defender, and doesn't really add a whole lot to the team. The biggest thing he has going for him is WHEN he does knock down a shot, it does get the home crowd into the game as it is only natural for the majority of our fans to pull for the local kid.

I hope that helps a little and I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!
 
#6
#6
I can only agree with him getting minutes if it is at the 4 not the 3. That position should belong to Tatum, McRae, and even Harris depending on the situation.
 
#7
#7
misplacedfan#1 said:
I think that he is showing his loyalty to these guys because of what they did last year during that 9 game stretch. They also worked really hard in the off season and have pearl has been there for a while now. Also, the other guys were not ready. Speaking of McRae. Maymon is just starting to find his place on this team and Bone is out. I think that they have been played so much this year is for these reasons. They aren't as bad as people make them out to be but I also don't believe that they should be seeing double digit minutes. The rotation will probably be spot on by the Memphis game. It will be but we will see for the rest of the season.
Click to expand...

You could be right about this. Hopefully the rotation gets there soon, like you say. Thanks for responding.
 
#8
#8
He's a stronger and more athletic version of Dane Bradshaw, but he has severe offensive limitations. I do like that he plays within himself.
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#11
#11
DaDuRkEr said:
Pearl provides a spark and is a great defender. He creates offensive spacing when he is playing the PF position. He is a decent passer and excels in the hustle categories. Pearl's value to this team cannot be measured on the stat sheet. The reason he gets PT and deserves 8-12 minutes a game is because of his intangibles. McBee... I don't really have an answer. He fouls consistently outside of 22' from the rim, he has not proven to be a consistent scorer from the perimeter and doesn't have much of a dribble drive game. He isn't even an average defender, and doesn't really add a whole lot to the team. The biggest thing he has going for him is WHEN he does knock down a shot, it does get the home crowd into the game as it is only natural for the majority of our fans to pull for the local kid.

I hope that helps a little and I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!
Click to expand...

When you say he provides a spark, what does that mean? I don't see guys playing harder or following him as a leader. I also don't see the "great defender" part. I will say, if guarding a big, with his strength he can rattle them a bit. But, guarding anyone else, I don't see him as a great defender. What are his stats on steals, etc? I need to look those up. I think it's easy to say he excels in the hustle stats. A lot of guys that excel in hustle stats do so because they have to. In other words, they weren't in the right position to begin with, so they hustle to get back in the play.

I could be wrong and I appreciate your response. I'm not swayed by your argument, but you could be right. I'm still trying to figure it out with him.

Merry Christmas to you as well. :)
 
#12
#12
Anytime man. I have been following this team for many years and lot more since I have made the time to do so. But this is still my opinoin. I maybe right and I maybe wrong. It just seems to be the case. I do honestly believe that things will be clicking on all cylinders either before the Memphis game or during that game. Man they got manhandled last night at home.
 
#13
#13
Pearl averages 1pt per game and 1 rebound per game so I'm not too sure where his contribution to the team lies. Yes, he brings some energy sometimes but it doesn't translate into any type of production.
 
#14
#14
All of production doesn't come on the stat sheet. So peoples production comes from them simply being on the court. I don't think that not playing pearl is the answer. I do think that his minutes need to decrease to 0 at the 3 and about 3-10 at the 4.
 
#15
#15
99bubble said:
First of all, we are 8-3 with a bad stretch. We shot 2/17 from 3 in one game and lost by 1. A few extra points in that stretch and we only have 1 loss. So, I don't feel like the sky is falling. I'll be interested to see how the team progresses through the season. With improvement we are a top 20 team yet again.

However, my one concern is the way Pearl Jr. is being played so much. I'm a basketball guy; played the sport, watched it for the better part of my life and have a pretty decent understanding of the ins and outs of the game. Can someone please help me figure out the reason Pearl Jr. is playing so much? I'm afraid this is a coach being blinded by the "he's smart" thinking. I have seen coaches play their kid and give the reason "well, he's not athletic, but he plays smart and gives us the best chance" kind of thing. I truly think they can be blinded by this thinking. When Bradshaw was here I loved his effort, but i told several people "when he's gone we'll improve." That wasn't a knock on Bradshaw, you just get to the point where you increase talent and even if they make mistakes, over the course of a game, it's an upgrade. I feel the same about Pearl Jr. right now and don't even get me started on McBee. Maybe Pearl Sr. knows what he's doing, but I don't understand it. If anyone has a good argument, please expound and help me out a bit here. I genuinely want to get everyone's thoughts on this, from a fundamental basketball perspective.

Thanks VN.
:hi:
Click to expand...

I do not know what the plus/minus is when he is in the game, but I am a great believer in tallying how many points are gained/lost against the other team when a player is in the game.

Every player has something that makes him valuable when he is on the court. If you are a lights out shooter, then everyone notices that, but what is most important is whether you are gaining or losing ground when you are in (on average).

Although I am not an expert, I have coached in rec leagues for years, and I have played the sport. I believe it is really not fair to just count stats. His job may be "intimidator." How do you show that in the stat sheet, other than the foul count?

Anyway, when the subs are in, you expect the team to struggle just a little bit (unless the other team's subs are in as well). If they can just hold things even for five minutes at a time, then as a coach, you have succeeded. I think that is the case for most teams.

I have been in Coach Pearl's position before. People were saying that my son was shooting too much, but he was the only one who could consistently get open looks on his own. It didn't matter though. Everyone had to cry favoritism - especially the other players. It can become a no win situation for the coach.
 
#16
#16
Well I am going to respond to myself. It seems that I should have noticed the other threads first. There are two threads about the +/- system.

It seems that, as I expected, Pearl Jr. was doing just fine when he was playing at the 4 position. Now that he is playing at the 3, he does not have the necessary quickness.

It seems that even Scotty and Harris are not doing so well in the +/- department.

This also explains why McCrae is getting another shot.
 
#19
#19
Pearl Jr. makes the other teams perspire; his talent is minimal, but strength & desire are unquestioned. Anyone watching the game last night saw how the level went up the moment he entered the game. Yeah, he's a role/spot player at best...but if Hopson brought the same intensity he'd be unstoppable.
 
#20
#20
Baby pearl is a huge liability. He is always the worst player on the court. For every good thing he does he does two bad things. For example he threw the ball backwards over his head to the other team for a layup!!!! Is that smart? Is it good defense?
 
#25
#25
Volman93 said:
Pretty sure I could start at auburn
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If you intended and are true in speaking in first person, then you're dumb.

Lying to 'AA dumb.

I'd delete this, and maintain my anonymity.

ASAP.
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