Hey gary, curious, why do you think Roy didn't start Joel last season, I have discussed my thoughts on why, just curious what your thoughts are on why? I think I know Roy's thinking on this but I have said many times that I disagreed and I see Roy's usage of Joel later season stand as proof that my thinking early was on target.
Dave, I've posted this before in bits and pieces, but what has transpired since the season ended has pretty much borne it out.
At the start of the season Roy had a dilemma on his hands. He had Jackson and Berry who were both ready to start from Day 1, but what to do about JP? He was experienced and versatile and knew the system and a starting slot was his to lose. So that only left one open job. Roy's dilemma thus became whom to start --- Jackson or Berry?
I thoroughly believe it came down to what Roy had gone through the previous season, when, as we remember, because of the suspensions Roy was forced to start Britt at the outset... and once teams figured out his weaknesses that didn't go well at all. Fact is the only thing that saved us from an NIT fate in 2013-14 was McDonald coming back and Roy moving him into the starting lineup at the 2 and Paige back to the Point.
Bottom line is that Roy was likely still a bit gun-shy about starting another freshman PG. Even though JB came in head-and-shoulders better than Nate at the same stage (folks can scoff at that if they wish, but it is what it is), it is true that the learning curve for Carolina PGs is the steepest of any position in the system, so Roy decided to play it safe with Marcus' experience at PG and gambled that Jackson could fill the missing 2-guard role. Meanwhile Berry could learn behind Paige.
Well, we all saw how that worked out. Jackson just isn't inclined to the role of secondary ball-handler --- he is a born 3 --- and JP had 2-guard ambitions and just assumed the role by default, and that of course set the stage for what turned out to be a season of
offensive dysfunction, as well as what we now know to have been a recurring conflict with Roy over JP's role on the team.
This isn't meant to slam Roy. Coaches have to make tough personnel decisions and sometimes they turn out to be mistakes. Roy gambled and lost on this one. It happens. Roy recognized that the hard way, and was set to make the move once Berry came back from injury and showed with zero doubt he was ready to run the show and how much better a team we were with he and Marcus in the backcourt. But then the virus hits and sets it back and by then Roy just hoped he could cobble through with Berry just playing an expanded role. Again, unfortunately, mistake. Of course, by that time the JP situation might have made any adjustment problematic chemistry-wise.
Dave, you and I both knew that from an ability, skills and mindset standpoint, Berry was our best PG the moment he stepped on campus. All that was missing was the learning curve for the position. We were both advocates from the outset that Berry be handed the keys and tackle the learning curve on the fly (the way Jones was at dook). As it turns out, Roy would have been better served choosing that option.
As much as I pulled for JP, his leaving has solved the chemistry dilemma. And there is no doubt as to the best fits for respective roles going forward. Berry is our best PG. Paige is our best 2. Jackson is our best 3. Brice is our best 4. Meeks is our best 5. That is a loaded starting lineup and we have talented depth. If Roy goes with anything other than that, well... that's when I might have to stop scratching my head and join the Roy-bashing crowd.
