Not everyone had the stomach to read my column from last night's game, and I understand. But I thought it was important to present this research from the game to you. Not to pile on or anything, I just think it's useful information. This is from near the en of my column:
Furthermore, why did Johnson, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds two minutes into the second half - and after just 18 personal game minutes on the floor - attempt only two shots over the final 17:12, especially with Plumlee saddled with four fouls for most of that time?
Why was he setting multiple screens 15-25 feet from the basket instead of posting up on Plumlee to draw that fifth foul but also continuing his pace from earlier? It wasn’t like he was red-hot from the perimeter and was bound to cool off.
One of the most impressive things about Johnson’s performance was how it all basically came within the framework of the offense. He didn’t go off script to rack up those points, so it’s quite plausible to figure he could have and should have been much more a part of the offense after that 17:12 mark.
But he wasn’t.
In fact, here is the field goal breakdown per Tar Heel over the final 17:12: Berry 1-9; Paige 0-6; Jackson 1-3; Meeks 2-3; Johnson 2-2; Isaiah Hicks 0-1; and Theo Pinson 1-1. Heels not named Johnson were 5-23 over that period.
It wasn’t just Johnson not getting looks inside, Carolina’s three bigs, including Meeks and Hicks, attempted only 6 shots over that 17:12 stretch. By contrast, that trio attempted 23 shots over the game’s first 22:48.
Furthermore, why did Johnson, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds two minutes into the second half - and after just 18 personal game minutes on the floor - attempt only two shots over the final 17:12, especially with Plumlee saddled with four fouls for most of that time?
Why was he setting multiple screens 15-25 feet from the basket instead of posting up on Plumlee to draw that fifth foul but also continuing his pace from earlier? It wasn’t like he was red-hot from the perimeter and was bound to cool off.
One of the most impressive things about Johnson’s performance was how it all basically came within the framework of the offense. He didn’t go off script to rack up those points, so it’s quite plausible to figure he could have and should have been much more a part of the offense after that 17:12 mark.
But he wasn’t.
In fact, here is the field goal breakdown per Tar Heel over the final 17:12: Berry 1-9; Paige 0-6; Jackson 1-3; Meeks 2-3; Johnson 2-2; Isaiah Hicks 0-1; and Theo Pinson 1-1. Heels not named Johnson were 5-23 over that period.
It wasn’t just Johnson not getting looks inside, Carolina’s three bigs, including Meeks and Hicks, attempted only 6 shots over that 17:12 stretch. By contrast, that trio attempted 23 shots over the game’s first 22:48.
