quote:
The shots were there early on. We had wide open corner threes anytime we wanted we just didn’t hit em. What we should’ve done is try some different guys like Ward or even Wilk to knock down those shots. If we get some to fall they would’ve had to adjust instead of us and the offense probably opens up even more. Ward hit a couple but mostly he wasn’t on the floor with Cook so we didn’t get as many open looks with him out there. Mac has to do a better job with player combinations on the fly.

Ward is the best 3 point shooter. The problem is he doesn't defend, so you are hesitant to leave him out there for long stretches. I thought we would see Baker take more of a KJ Williams role. Particularly working the pick and pop 3. But LSU just hasn't done that. Instead, they've kept him inside where he's often been overmatched.

Ultimately, I think the biggest issue with the rotation is that while it is deep (legitimately 11-12 players), there's not a lot of separation between the group outside of Cook. Thus, McMahon can never truly go into a game knowing what he is going to get from an offensive standpoint. Baker may score 15...or he might get bullied off the court. Fountain can give you a hustle 12 points...or he might be a non-factor. Ward can give you some spot up 3's...then allow 10 points with poor defense. Reed might dominate...or he might be clumsy mess of turnovers. Wright may do what he did on Saturday...or he might force 17 shots and shoot below 30%. You just really don't know, so every game is trial and error for most of the first half.

That might just be the make up of the team and their identity could be on the defensive end. Start there and try to figure out the offense as you go with Cook being the catalyst. The one thing I would do is not be afraid to have a quick hook with the C/PF position. I think Dean gives you a toughness defensively and on the boards. Yes, his offensive ceiling is far lower than Baker's. But I though his insertion into the game Saturday kept A&M within reach while LSU tried to figure out the rest.

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Posted by Madking

Member since Apr 2016

48018 posts

Posted on 1/8/24 at 10:48 am to Alt26

I don’t disagree but that’s the view from 10,000 feet. I’m talking about in game adjustments particularly our last game. ATM was giving us the corner 3 and packing the lane to stop the roll or the drive. Now coach Mac could’ve extended the offense and gave Cook room to threaten the D from the perimeter. He didn’t do that but we did have open 3s so we’re getting wide open looks Williams couldn’t hit so you needed to try someone who could if only until ATM changed coverage. That’s your tipping point to open things up but coach didn’t do it. Second half was better, we flipped our play side alignment, used more pick and pop to pull guys up and it opened the wing lanes for Wright.

This post was edited on 1/8/24 at 10:50 am

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Posted by Tiger Ugly

Baton Rouge

Member since Jul 2008

14544 posts

Posted on 1/8/24 at 12:17 pm to Alt26

quote:
I thought we would see Baker take more of a KJ Williams role. Particularly working the pick and pop 3. But LSU just hasn't done that. Instead, they've kept him inside where he's often been overmatched.

I never actually thought about that - but I guess I should have as Baker was supposed to be a decent 3-point threat, although I've not seen much evidence of it at least here....7-21 for the year.

That they tried to force him as a primary threat inside as you say, has troubled me all year, as Nichols in the second game showed how to easily counter that, and every team that has chosen to do the same since has easily shut him down.

As you say I'd start giving Dean more of Baker's minutes. He does not possess the scoring potential of Baker, but does IMHO...everything else better and besides as I said above it's too easy to take Baker out of the offensive mix the way we are using him.

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