I expected a loss to MSU but not the Keystone Cops ...
It was so predictable. Alabama wasn't ready to play and proved it. This split personality of the Crimson Tide is getting old. If the Tide plays the way it did in Starkville expect losses to USC, Auburn, and LSU. Florida isn't a lock. Is it just me, or do have a major meltdown every season under Avery Johnson. Last year it took a last-second shot by a great player to keep Alabama's NCAAT hopes alive. In year four of the Johnson era, the Tide has proved they don't look ready for prime time. So what is the problem? Why can't we win? Here is my take.
1. Johnson hasn't recruited in a manner that puts good players at each position. You don't need five-star players to do this. While it was fun to watch Colin Sexton, I'm not sure a one and done is sound recruiting for Alabama at this point. Granted, we all want the best players but is it worth it?
2. Alabama has an appalling lack of quickness at the guard positions. Only Kira Lewis has the true guard skills needed to play Divison 1 basketball. Dazon Ingram is a really a small forward playing the two guard. Junior gives it all he can, but his limitations are obvious. Who else do we have to play guard? When you see Herbert Jones running the point do you get the feeling of who is running the asylum? Jones has no outside shooting ability at all at this point in his career. Tevin Mack isn't quick. Alabama isn't quick enough to compete with teams like Auburn, State, and LSU.
3. As a twisted sister to lack of quickness is poor ball handling. Lewis does fine, Ingram makes too many mistakes, Mack dribbles the ball somewhere around his waistline. As a bonus, most Tide ball handlers dribble the ball so far away from the torsos they can't protect. the ball. I'm sorry guys, you just can dribble the ball around the waistline and away from your body to be effective. Where is Gene Hackman when we need him. What shocks me about those problems is that Johnson and Pettway were both point-guards. In short, Alabama needs some ball handlers, and until we recruit a couple we will continue to self destruct.
4. Alabama is like one of the church leagues that gives recognition to everyone who plays. That doesn't work in college basketball. Alabama has no team chemistry due to an ever-changing rotation. Some of which seemingly make no sense. A lot of fans think chemistry is about offense only. Not true, too many lineups lead to lack of communication. That was clearly visible last night.
5. Alabama can't defend the perimeter due to lack of quickness, and Alabama doesn't have enough inside players to help out. Don'ta Hall is a good player. He isn't what I'd call a warrior, however. Galin Smith is undersized and doesn't seem to have the hops. Alex Reese is small forward. He is an outside shooter but has improved his inside presence to his credit. Of course, he now gets fewer minutes. Here's what happens to players like Alex who see their minutes reduced - they get lethargic or the words transfer portal comes to mind.
6. Riley Norris provides some senior leadership. He is clearly a player that Johnson looks to when on the floor. After that? Hall? Maybe he is but is not readily apparent. Lewis is just a kid. When things blow up like last night you need a couple of players who step up. They tell the team to calm down and focus.
7. No nice way to put this - Alabama needs to man up and knock a few people around under the boards. If Bama continues to lose the battle of the glass we will lose. We simply turn the ball over too much if we can't control the defensive glass. No disrespect to our coaches perhaps they need to reward the players who will play tough. That's why Avery Johnson is in a bind. To control the boards he needs to play two bigs, but we need our top scores to make up for turnovers.
Here is a recipe for disaster. Last night the Tide had 18 turnovers and State had 15 steals. State killed Alabama on the boards 35-26. Included in that stat were the 14 offensive rebounds. You cannot give a team 46 additional chances to score and expect to win. What Alabama gave State the keys to the car. I hope this loss was as embarrassing to the team as it was for the fans.
This is going to surprise you some. I think Johnson has done a good job considering our talent level. He signed all his players except Riley if I remember correctly. He picked them and he lives and dies with his talent. The mass substitution is probably because he wants to find someone to score. Whether he can coach 'em up leans strongly to the negative. Credit to the coaching staff for help Herb Jones some free throws. His arc is not as steep as before. This gives him the chance to have some baskets rattle around rather than clanging of off the rim. Same for Ingram. You want to see the perfect elevation on free throws? Watch Kira Lewis, Jr shoot free throws.
So here's where we are - this up and own will not end until some needs are met. The current signees are very good, but one is a pure shooter, the other guard is a great shooter, and the small forward is a decent ball handler. All three are quick. The young man from Hesperia, Cal is underrated. Think a better shooter than Lamar Peters and he has really could quickness. He needs some weight and strength training. Watford is the best all-around player this state has produced since Gerald Wallace in my opinion. If he suited up now he would start. He is a good ball handler and extremely quick for his size.
Beating State earlier this season is big. It makes that win look more impressive. A 10+ loss isn't going to help the NET.
One thing was pretty darn good. Alabama made 11-12 from the Freebie line.
It was so predictable. Alabama wasn't ready to play and proved it. This split personality of the Crimson Tide is getting old. If the Tide plays the way it did in Starkville expect losses to USC, Auburn, and LSU. Florida isn't a lock. Is it just me, or do have a major meltdown every season under Avery Johnson. Last year it took a last-second shot by a great player to keep Alabama's NCAAT hopes alive. In year four of the Johnson era, the Tide has proved they don't look ready for prime time. So what is the problem? Why can't we win? Here is my take.
1. Johnson hasn't recruited in a manner that puts good players at each position. You don't need five-star players to do this. While it was fun to watch Colin Sexton, I'm not sure a one and done is sound recruiting for Alabama at this point. Granted, we all want the best players but is it worth it?
2. Alabama has an appalling lack of quickness at the guard positions. Only Kira Lewis has the true guard skills needed to play Divison 1 basketball. Dazon Ingram is a really a small forward playing the two guard. Junior gives it all he can, but his limitations are obvious. Who else do we have to play guard? When you see Herbert Jones running the point do you get the feeling of who is running the asylum? Jones has no outside shooting ability at all at this point in his career. Tevin Mack isn't quick. Alabama isn't quick enough to compete with teams like Auburn, State, and LSU.
3. As a twisted sister to lack of quickness is poor ball handling. Lewis does fine, Ingram makes too many mistakes, Mack dribbles the ball somewhere around his waistline. As a bonus, most Tide ball handlers dribble the ball so far away from the torsos they can't protect. the ball. I'm sorry guys, you just can dribble the ball around the waistline and away from your body to be effective. Where is Gene Hackman when we need him. What shocks me about those problems is that Johnson and Pettway were both point-guards. In short, Alabama needs some ball handlers, and until we recruit a couple we will continue to self destruct.
4. Alabama is like one of the church leagues that gives recognition to everyone who plays. That doesn't work in college basketball. Alabama has no team chemistry due to an ever-changing rotation. Some of which seemingly make no sense. A lot of fans think chemistry is about offense only. Not true, too many lineups lead to lack of communication. That was clearly visible last night.
5. Alabama can't defend the perimeter due to lack of quickness, and Alabama doesn't have enough inside players to help out. Don'ta Hall is a good player. He isn't what I'd call a warrior, however. Galin Smith is undersized and doesn't seem to have the hops. Alex Reese is small forward. He is an outside shooter but has improved his inside presence to his credit. Of course, he now gets fewer minutes. Here's what happens to players like Alex who see their minutes reduced - they get lethargic or the words transfer portal comes to mind.
6. Riley Norris provides some senior leadership. He is clearly a player that Johnson looks to when on the floor. After that? Hall? Maybe he is but is not readily apparent. Lewis is just a kid. When things blow up like last night you need a couple of players who step up. They tell the team to calm down and focus.
7. No nice way to put this - Alabama needs to man up and knock a few people around under the boards. If Bama continues to lose the battle of the glass we will lose. We simply turn the ball over too much if we can't control the defensive glass. No disrespect to our coaches perhaps they need to reward the players who will play tough. That's why Avery Johnson is in a bind. To control the boards he needs to play two bigs, but we need our top scores to make up for turnovers.
Here is a recipe for disaster. Last night the Tide had 18 turnovers and State had 15 steals. State killed Alabama on the boards 35-26. Included in that stat were the 14 offensive rebounds. You cannot give a team 46 additional chances to score and expect to win. What Alabama gave State the keys to the car. I hope this loss was as embarrassing to the team as it was for the fans.
This is going to surprise you some. I think Johnson has done a good job considering our talent level. He signed all his players except Riley if I remember correctly. He picked them and he lives and dies with his talent. The mass substitution is probably because he wants to find someone to score. Whether he can coach 'em up leans strongly to the negative. Credit to the coaching staff for help Herb Jones some free throws. His arc is not as steep as before. This gives him the chance to have some baskets rattle around rather than clanging of off the rim. Same for Ingram. You want to see the perfect elevation on free throws? Watch Kira Lewis, Jr shoot free throws.
So here's where we are - this up and own will not end until some needs are met. The current signees are very good, but one is a pure shooter, the other guard is a great shooter, and the small forward is a decent ball handler. All three are quick. The young man from Hesperia, Cal is underrated. Think a better shooter than Lamar Peters and he has really could quickness. He needs some weight and strength training. Watford is the best all-around player this state has produced since Gerald Wallace in my opinion. If he suited up now he would start. He is a good ball handler and extremely quick for his size.
Beating State earlier this season is big. It makes that win look more impressive. A 10+ loss isn't going to help the NET.
One thing was pretty darn good. Alabama made 11-12 from the Freebie line.
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