re: Basketball beats Nicholls 74-62 - Game Notes

Appreciate it, Alt. I agree that everything about this game should be taken lightly and not read into too much. You brought out some great points.

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While I don't completely buy into it, Wade has mentioned on multiple occasions that LSU's "first shot defense" is generally pretty good.

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I actually agree with Wade on this. Even perceptionally in past years I have said the same to myself and others while watching a game. But Wade has thrown out stats/metrics in the past to support his statement on this; so it's not just him bs'ing to make others feel better or to be biased.

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The 8 turnovers by Gaines are not good. Particularly in light of the fact he will not play a much bigger role. That said, don't panic just yet.

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Agreed here as it was a bit frustrating to watch. However, I'll say that to his credit, it did seem like he did better in the 2nd half at protecting the ball. I wish I could see a breakdown to know if that is true.

The other factor is that he played like 38 of the 40 minutes of the game; so that combined with being the first game and I'm sure fatigue played a part in some of the turnovers. Plus both teams played a pretty fast and frenetic pace in this game. There was not a whole lot of walking the ball up the court. Eason fell into this some too as he probably handled the ball a little more than what he typically will in regular games, but he can get a little out of control at times.

One of the biggest concerns the Miller injury gives me is in the ball handling, turnover area of the game. If you think back to Wade's start, there have just about always been 2 guards on the court that could handle the ball well. Tremont had Skyler, and Smart had Skyler and then Thomas. This year Pinson/Gaines will have Murray and possibly Williams, which are both true freshman. And while I was impressed with Murray's play, his handles didn't stand out to me that much. I think they will struggle with hard pressing teams at times.

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This is a poor offensive lineup

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I'm really hoping you meant defensive here and not offensive. Because that is a good offensive lineup; but it is a bad defensive one.

I think the starting lineup is still going to be Pinson, Murray, Wilkinson, Days, and Reid. That's not the best offensive attack, but it is the most well-rounded lineup. However, Eason will play starter minutes rotating with Days and Reid primarily.

James Bishop had zero impact on LSU. Again try & follow the discussion. I don’t care if he turns into Allen iverson. But it is funny how his volume stats on a bad team in a shite conference hold weight lmao

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I don’t care if he turns into Allen iverson. But it is funny how his volume stats on a bad team in a shite conference hold weight lmao

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I hope you're at least aware of seeing the absolute oozing irony dripping from these statements in regards to Seneca Knight.

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He went back to a mid-major school to come off the bench,

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The WCC had a higher conference RPI than the ACC & the Big East last year

And of course byu was a higher seed than LSU

Pretend that you at least follow CBB

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James Bishop had zero impact on LSU. Again try & follow the discussion.

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How about you try and pay attention to who you are replying to as I have not mentioned anything about Bishop or gotten involved with your ridiculous argument on that topic.

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Really? I mean, 3 of our Top 5 scorers (averaged double digits per game) just 2 seasons ago were bigs, you realize that right? He doesnt have to have a "guard heavy" offense at all.

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His offense has been initiated by the double combo guard set up since he’s been at LSU.

Both guys share the PG responsibilities for the most part, and double as the leading shot takers. A little less so with Waters, but he was still your offensive catalyst.

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Nah, I think they’ll have some struggles offensively. Not enough shooters. And Wade’s reliability on his guard heavy offense just took a huge blow.

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You said it was a bad offensive lineup. My point wasn't that it is the best offensive lineup in the country or even the SEC; but I'm saying it would be their best offensive lineup for this team. You made it sound like it wasn't even that.

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Who will assert themselves? Do you think there are any all conference players on this time? Everything looks like a year away

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Look, I'm as bummed as anyone about losing Miller and his importance to this team; but can we quit being so dramatic and acting like the cupboard is now completely bare of scorers. That's just ridiculous.

Days will be a double digit scorer and probably close to being an avg. double double guy and will be on the All SEC team to end the year, just as he's on it to begin the season.

Reid will give them 10+ points per game and will be an SEC All-Freshman team member. Eason will be a double-double guy and possibly either NCOY for the SEC or 6th man of the year.

So I just gave you 3 double digit averaging scorers. Pinson will step up his offensive game. Is he Miller? No. But he was also willing to take a step back in an offensive role because of Miller. Now he will realize that role has changed some and will look for his opportunities to score more.

But at the end of the day, LSU just scored 74 points on a good Nicholls team...in a scrimmage...with their 2nd string and a walk-on pretty much. They averaged 82 ppg last year and only scored 86 against Nicholls with that talented team; so your perception of them struggling offensively is not based in reality.

And for reference, KenPom has LSU predicted as the 27th best offensive efficiency team in the country to start the season; so even his metrics don't expect them to "struggle" or be bad.

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Wade doesn’t recruit true PG because he likes to have two combo guards. Do you not understand that is by design? The whole offense runs through that. So you drop one like Miller & that’s huge

Guard heavy, guard reliant. Whatever you want to label it depends on you

I mean his best team even started 3 guards. Waters Mays smart

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Does Wade prefer that for his system? Yes. But he can also adapt and has even said that this year will look a bit different because of personnel. And that was before Miller was hurt.

His first year here they had the 33rd best offense in the country and that offense primarily ran through Water using screens with Reath and Epps. Yes, Skylar was 3rd leading scorer that year; but the offense did not run through he and Waters working off one another.