What do you hope to see/learn in these foreign games?

[bleedingTNorange]

Yes, we are definitely all in on small ball this year. Awaka may get about 8 minutes or so at the 4 against bigger teams but otherwise it is all JJJ and maybe a bit of Knecht.

JJJ, Knecht, Mashack & DJ all played some 4 this trip….JJJ played some 5 even.

 

[johnfnkelly]

Yea if JJJ is gonna shoot like that he can’t play the 3, which he almost exclusively played the 4 so maybe that’ll stick. I would prefer we not see Mashack and JJJ on the floor together either, and probably DJ either, 1 of those guys at a time. Until ZZ comes back I’m all for Dilione, Santi, Knecht & Gainey eating up all the minutes 1-3.

Dilione/Gainy
Santi/Gainey
Knecht/Gainey
JJJ/Mashack/DJ
Aidoo/Awaka/JP

Really didn’t expect much contribution from Gainey but after seeing him on this tour I’m 100% bought in. I don’t think we’ve ever been 3 deep at the point like we are right now in the CRB era.

 

[therickbol]

Not enough Mashack IMO.

I think we see Tobe and Jonas on the floor together with Mashack at the 3 quite a bit this year.

Mashack/Tobe/Awaka on the floor would be a great rebounding lineup. Good defensively. But I do not think we could be very effective offensively with that lineup for long stretches.

 

[walkenvol]

We are so guard deep, and talented there, need to use that to our advantage. Give me…

Dilione 12/Zeigler 28
Santi 10/Dilione 13/Gainey 17
Knecht 15/Santi 20/Gainey 5
JJJ 20/Mashack 15/Knecht 5
Aidoo 20/Awaka 20


Santi 30
Zeigler 28
Dilione 25
Gainey 22
Knecht 20
JJJ 20
Aidoo 20
Awaka 20
Mashack 15

You’re more impressed with Gainey than myself if you’re playing Gainey more than Mashack. Maybe I need to take a closer look at Gainey.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

You’re more impressed with Gainey than myself if you’re playing Gainey more than Mashack. Maybe I need to take a closer look at Gainey.

I could see those numbers creeping closer together…to me Gainey can play PG which we will need early on more than likely. He also provides elite outside shooting and for a team that has struggles offensively that will be welcomed. It’s gonna be tough imo to play Mashack & JJJ together, but Gainey can play with both of those guys.

 

[Vol49er]

We are so guard deep, and talented there, need to use that to our advantage. Give me…

Dilione 12/Zeigler 28
Santi 10/Dilione 13/Gainey 17
Knecht 15/Santi 20/Gainey 5
JJJ 20/Mashack 15/Knecht 5
Aidoo 20/Awaka 20


Santi 30
Zeigler 28
Dilione 25
Gainey 22
Knecht 20
JJJ 20
Aidoo 20
Awaka 20
Mashack 15

No way Mashack's minutes go down imo. I'm not going to draw too much from three exhibition games against sub par teams. Mashack has just gotten better and better in the two years he's played here. I could see him being our second best player.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

No way Mashack's minutes go down imo. I'm not going to draw too much from three exhibition games against sub par teams. Mashack has just gotten better and better in the two years he's played here. I could see him being our second best player.

Yea, maybe a few minutes taken away from Dilione, Gainey & JJJ each…I could see that as well.

Dilione 12/Zeigler 28
Santi 10/Dilione 10/Gainey 20
Knecht 20/Santi 20
JJJ 20/Mashack 20
Aidoo 20/Awaka 20


Santi 30
Zeigler 28
Dilione 22
Gainey 20
Knecht 20
JJJ 20
Mashack 20
Aidoo 20
Awaka 20

 

[omghulkhands]

Mashack/Tobe/Awaka on the floor would be a great rebounding lineup. Good defensively. But I do not think we could be very effective offensively with that lineup for long stretches.

If Tobe’s offensive development we’ve seen with him on team USA and now here is real (and especially the FT shooting) then he gives the ball a place to go down low.

Aidoo would play the 4 in this scenario and the staff seems to be convicted on him stretching the floor and shooting the 3 a little bit. He is also good high post / nail area. Decent at shooting that 15 footer from the FT line.

With two shooters at guard (any combo of Santi/FD/Gainey) then I think you can play Either Mashack or Knecht at the 3. Or you can play all 3 guards in the lineup as well.

Mashack also did a decent amount of ball handling after ZZ went down. I know that was more an emergency situation, but he isn’t terrible. If Gainey can’t compete on defense, he’ll get bumped out of the lineup as is typical Barnes style.

 

[Freak]

Grant Ramey combined all three games of stats. (not the best formatting, I realize)

Jordan Gainey: 68:14, 13-33 FG, 9-23 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1 offensive rebound, 4 defensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 38 points, 7 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Freddie Dilione V: 66:19, 13-33 FG, 3-13 3FG, 4-6 FT, 2-6 8 rebounds, 33 points, 16 assists, 6 turnovers, 7 steals, 0 blocks
Dalton Knecht: 65:01, 18-34 FG, 12-25 3FG, 1-2 FT, 3-6 9 rebounds, 49 points, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 steals, 3 blocks
Jahmai Mashack: 62:39, 9-20 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-4 FT, 4-5 9 rebounds, 24 points, 12 assists, 1 turnover, 10 steals, 1block
Santiago Vescovi: 61:47. 11-20 FG, 10-18 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0-8 8 rebounds, 36 points, 15 assists, 2 turnovers, 6 steals, 1 blocks
Josiah-Jordan James: 59:23, 9-24 FG, 3-15 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2-12 14 rebounds, 21 points,, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Tobe Awaka: 51:24, 16-20 FG, 0-0 3FG, 8-14 FT, 15-16 31 rebounds, 41 points, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Jonas Aidoo: 47:58, 10-22 FG, 0-3 3FG, 8-8 FT, 26 rebounds, 28 points, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 6 steals, 6 blocks
DJ Jefferson: 46:28, 8-25 FG, 2-13 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1-4 5 rebounds, 21 points, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 steals, 3 blocks
JP Estrella: 49:03, 7-11 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-3 FT, 14-5 19 rebounds, 16 points, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks

 

[MoCo_Vol]

No way Mashack's minutes go down imo. I'm not going to draw too much from three exhibition games against sub par teams. Mashack has just gotten better and better in the two years he's played here. I could see him being our second best player.

Mashack plays elite defense = Barnes will reward him for doing so with minutes.

But I don't know if I'd say he's our second best player...

For me the absolute most exciting thing was how well our 3 bigs played and scored. Awaka, Aidoo, and Estrella all rebounded well and had no issue scoring at a higher %.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Grant Ramey combined all three games of stats. (not the best formatting, I realize)

Jordan Gainey: 68:14, 13-33 FG, 9-23 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1 offensive rebound, 4 defensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 38 points, 7 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Freddie Dilione V: 66:19, 13-33 FG, 3-13 3FG, 4-6 FT, 2-6 8 rebounds, 33 points, 16 assists, 6 turnovers, 7 steals, 0 blocks
Dalton Knecht: 65:01, 18-34 FG, 12-25 3FG, 1-2 FT, 3-6 9 rebounds, 49 points, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 steals, 3 blocks
Jahmai Mashack: 62:39, 9-20 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-4 FT, 4-5 9 rebounds, 24 points, 12 assists, 1 turnover, 10 steals, 1block
Santiago Vescovi: 61:47. 11-20 FG, 10-18 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0-8 8 rebounds, 36 points, 15 assists, 2 turnovers, 6 steals, 1 blocks
Josiah-Jordan James: 59:23, 9-24 FG, 3-15 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2-12 14 rebounds, 21 points,, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Tobe Awaka: 51:24, 16-20 FG, 0-0 3FG, 8-14 FT, 15-16 31 rebounds, 41 points, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Jonas Aidoo: 47:58, 10-22 FG, 0-3 3FG, 8-8 FT, 26 rebounds, 28 points, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 6 steals, 6 blocks
DJ Jefferson: 46:28, 8-25 FG, 2-13 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1-4 5 rebounds, 21 points, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 steals, 3 blocks
JP Estrella: 49:03, 7-11 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-3 FT, 14-5 19 rebounds, 16 points, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks

Tobe 6 TOs

Mashack 10 steals, 12 assists

JJJ 24 FG attempts, 3-15 from 3 but 6-9 weren’t 3s. ZERO free throw attempts. In 59 minutes. Too much settling for 3s, but scoring isn’t his role. Hopefully the 15 3s weren’t being forced.

 

[cncchris33]

Grant Ramey combined all three games of stats. (not the best formatting, I realize)

Jordan Gainey: 68:14, 13-33 FG, 9-23 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1 offensive rebound, 4 defensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 38 points, 7 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Freddie Dilione V: 66:19, 13-33 FG, 3-13 3FG, 4-6 FT, 2-6 8 rebounds, 33 points, 16 assists, 6 turnovers, 7 steals, 0 blocks
Dalton Knecht: 65:01, 18-34 FG, 12-25 3FG, 1-2 FT, 3-6 9 rebounds, 49 points, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 steals, 3 blocks
Jahmai Mashack: 62:39, 9-20 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-4 FT, 4-5 9 rebounds, 24 points, 12 assists, 1 turnover, 10 steals, 1block
Santiago Vescovi: 61:47. 11-20 FG, 10-18 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0-8 8 rebounds, 36 points, 15 assists, 2 turnovers, 6 steals, 1 blocks
Josiah-Jordan James: 59:23, 9-24 FG, 3-15 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2-12 14 rebounds, 21 points,, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Tobe Awaka: 51:24, 16-20 FG, 0-0 3FG, 8-14 FT, 15-16 31 rebounds, 41 points, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Jonas Aidoo: 47:58, 10-22 FG, 0-3 3FG, 8-8 FT, 26 rebounds, 28 points, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 6 steals, 6 blocks
DJ Jefferson: 46:28, 8-25 FG, 2-13 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1-4 5 rebounds, 21 points, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 steals, 3 blocks
JP Estrella: 49:03, 7-11 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-3 FT, 14-5 19 rebounds, 16 points, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks

Good stuff! Thanks!

JJJ only being credited with 3 TOs seems extremely generous.

 

[tev.sm]

Grant Ramey combined all three games of stats. (not the best formatting, I realize)

Jordan Gainey: 68:14, 13-33 FG, 9-23 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1 offensive rebound, 4 defensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 38 points, 7 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Freddie Dilione V: 66:19, 13-33 FG, 3-13 3FG, 4-6 FT, 2-6 8 rebounds, 33 points, 16 assists, 6 turnovers, 7 steals, 0 blocks
Dalton Knecht: 65:01, 18-34 FG, 12-25 3FG, 1-2 FT, 3-6 9 rebounds, 49 points, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 steals, 3 blocks
Jahmai Mashack: 62:39, 9-20 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-4 FT, 4-5 9 rebounds, 24 points, 12 assists, 1 turnover, 10 steals, 1block
Santiago Vescovi: 61:47. 11-20 FG, 10-18 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0-8 8 rebounds, 36 points, 15 assists, 2 turnovers, 6 steals, 1 blocks
Josiah-Jordan James: 59:23, 9-24 FG, 3-15 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2-12 14 rebounds, 21 points,, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Tobe Awaka: 51:24, 16-20 FG, 0-0 3FG, 8-14 FT, 15-16 31 rebounds, 41 points, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Jonas Aidoo: 47:58, 10-22 FG, 0-3 3FG, 8-8 FT, 26 rebounds, 28 points, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 6 steals, 6 blocks
DJ Jefferson: 46:28, 8-25 FG, 2-13 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1-4 5 rebounds, 21 points, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 steals, 3 blocks
JP Estrella: 49:03, 7-11 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-3 FT, 14-5 19 rebounds, 16 points, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, 0 blocks

Gainey at 39% 3FG, Knecht at 48% 3FG and Vescovi at 55% 3FG is very encouraging. Awaka at 31 rebounds across 3 games is also solid.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Dilione leafing FTA along guards, JJJ not attempting a single FT over 3 games is a troubling/yet not unexpected sign.

 

[cncchris33]

Dilione leafing FTA along guards, JJJ not attempting a single FT over 3 games is a troubling/yet not unexpected sign.

Probably attributed to 15 of his 24 shots coming from the three-pt line, only making 3 of them. He's going to have to be better than that, or stop shooting. We have too many good shooters to allow one cold one to shoot us out of games when the games count.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Probably attributed to 15 of his 24 shots coming from the three-pt line, only making 3 of them. He's going to have to be better than that, or stop shooting. We have too many good shooters to allow one cold one to shoot us out of games when the games count.

Yup, he doesn’t need to be option 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc…Mashack is similar but seems to understand that/his role better than JJJ. Both guys need to be small ball 4’s who do the dirty work, are defensive pests, and defer to 4 other guys on the court offensively.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Maybe JJJ staying mostly on the perimeter and not mixing it up in the paint was by design. There’s really very little to be gained by drawing fouls in meaningless games and he doesn’t need to be injured in August. It also gave him an opportunity to show what he could do from 3. He didn’t do much.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Maybe JJJ staying mostly on the perimeter and not mixing it up in the paint was by design. There’s really very little to be gained by drawing fouls in meaningless games and he doesn’t need to be injured in August. It also gave him an opportunity to show what he could do from 3. He didn’t do much.

That would be more believable if the rest of his career didn’t show a similar unwillingness to draw fouls

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

That would be more believable if the rest of his career didn’t show a similar unwillingness to draw fouls

Santi doesn’t get to the free throw line a whole lot more.

Fouling JJJ on the perimeter would just be stupid. He makes 80% of his free throws. Zero free throws in a summer swing through Italy. Nothing there really.

Again, drawing fouls by ramping up his physicality versus weak opponents in August doesn’t make much sense. It won’t suddenly make him better and there’s a risk of sustaining an injury that could plague him in the summer and fall workouts. A better idea is to attempt to prevent yet another pre-season injury.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Santi doesn’t get to the free throw line a whole lot more.

Fouling JJJ on the perimeter would just be stupid. He makes 80% of his free throws. Zero free throws in a summer swing through Italy. Nothing there really.

Again, drawing fouls by ramping up his physicality versus weak opponents in August doesn’t make much sense. It won’t suddenly make him better and there’s a risk of sustaining an injury that could plague him in the summer and fall workouts. A better idea is to attempt to prevent yet another pre-season injury.

Santi is a 40% sniper from deep that is considered one of the best 3pt shooters in the country, JJJ is a 6’7” forward that struggles from deep, he should be driving the lane drawing contact, comparing him to Santi for number of FTA only further proves my point.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

The weird thing is JJJ has been at about 1.7 FTAs per game his entire career, even though he averages near 4 2PAs per game. For comparison, Santi averages 2.3 FTAs per game and just 2.6 2PAs per game...so it seems that JJJ actively avoids contact in his shot selection, so settling for jumpers even when shooting inside the arc. I don't blame him really with his history of injuries, but it'd be nice if he took less 3s. Even though he shoots more jumpers inside the arc his FG% is mostly low (38%) because of his 3P% being down.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Santi is a 40% sniper from deep that is considered one of the best 3pt shooters in the country, JJJ is a 6’7” forward that struggles from deep, he should be driving the lane drawing contact, comparing him to Santi for number of FTA only further proves my point.

And my point is that JJJ didn’t need to mix it up in the paint versus Latvanthusia in August.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

And my point is that JJJ didn’t need to mix it up in the paint versus Latvanthusia in August.

We’ll see if he suddenly shows to be a different player come the season, my guess is that it’s not likely, and this 3 game sample wasn’t a good sign. If they were that worried about injuries then they’d have held him out imo, he’s played enough ball in his career. He’s been under 2FTA per game every season, my guess is that happens yet again, would love to be wrong.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The weird thing is JJJ has been at about 1.7 FTAs per game his entire career, even though he averages near 4 2PAs per game. For comparison, Santi averages 2.3 FTAs per game and just 2.6 2PAs per game...so it seems that JJJ actively avoids contact in his shot selection, so settling for jumpers even when shooting inside the arc. I don't blame him really with his history of injuries, but it'd be nice if he took less 3s. Even though he shoots more jumpers inside the arc his FG% is mostly low (38%) because of his 3P% being down.

IMO his 3-point attempts versus 2-point attempts stat is skewed because he’s just not an offensive oriented player. If he’s left alone then he’ll have to put up some 3s. He’s not looking to score, but if opponents dare him he’ll have to put up some 3s.

His role on offense might be more to find open teammates and to pull opposing 4s and big 3s away from the paint. He’s only scored 20+ 4x in 108 games. But another odd offensive stat: 79 assists as a freshman yet only 55, 51, and 44 in the last 3 years. I suppose that that is related to having Chandler and ZZ at the PG.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

We’ll see if he suddenly shows to be a different player come the season, my guess is that it’s not likely, and this 3 game sample wasn’t a good sign. If they were that worried about injuries then they’d have held him out imo, he’s played enough ball in his career. He’s been under 2FTA per game every season, my guess is that happens yet again, would love to be wrong.

I don’t expect him to suddenly becoming a dynamic scorer. However if the offense is run at a faster pace he could get some fast break baskets at the rim. It will also help him to have what appears to be more productive offensive teammates. JJJ probably would have been more productive on offense the last couple of years if Bailey and Key and Powell had been more consistent. Defenses that were shutting down Vescovi turned JJJ into a player that was no longer complementary but instead sometimes the next option. That’s not his game.

Perhaps with Mashack and Dilione handling the ball JJJ could score while cutting to the rim without the ball. Dribbling through the paint is something his game lacks.