RJ's dislocated finger

[DaveChapelle]

So up until last week you could split RJ's season into two parts. The first part was when the dislocated finger on his shooting hand was taped up, and he shot poorly. The second part was when the tape came off sometime in December, and his shooting percentages just sky rocketed.

Now the finger is injured again and we all saw how he shot tonight. He missed all his 3pt attempts even the wide open ones. He missed all his midrange pull up jumpers. He missed half his free throws.

He was our best shooter. But tonight he was getting worked on defense all night, losing his temper, committing multiple traveling violations, and shooting like Jackie Manuel. I'm not sure Hubert can afford to play him 35 minutes a game while his shooting hand is injured.

 

[dtodd4475]

He certainly had a rough night tonight. Some great looks that he clanked all night. To add insult to injury, Hinson was totally locked up, Burton stayed aggressive but was 6 for 18, but it was Cummings, his man that torched him, especially in the key stretch for them.

Not a good night for RJ, but I think he will bonce back.

 

[alabamaheel]

So up until last week you could split RJ's season into two parts. The first part was when the dislocated finger on his shooting hand was taped up, and he shot poorly. The second part was when the tape came off sometime in December, and his shooting percentages just sky rocketed.

Now the finger is injured again and we all saw how he shot tonight. He missed all his 3pt attempts even the wide open ones. He missed all his midrange pull up jumpers. He missed half his free throws.

He was our best shooter. But tonight he was getting worked on defense all night, losing his temper, committing multiple traveling violations, and shooting like Jackie Manuel. I'm not sure Hubert can afford to play him 35 minutes a game while his shooting hand is injured.

If Hubert limits RJ we will not win. Fact, take it to the bank!

 

[imajericho]

He certainly had a rough night tonight. Some great looks that he clanked all night. To add insult to injury, Hinson was totally locked up, Burton stayed aggressive but was 6 for 18, but it was Cummings, his man that torched him, especially in the key stretch for them.

Not a good night for RJ, but I think he will bonce back.

RJ wasn't on him for the majority of his points. They were on switches or busted plays.

 

[imajericho]

Cummings 1st 3. Guarded by RJ. Screened on it.

Cummings 2. Fadeaway over RJ. Initially screened, recovered, but turn around fade.

Cummings runner 2. Guarded by RJ. Screened on it. Bacot fell back too far and guarded essentially no one on this play.

Cummings 3. Rj was on the bench. Off an offensive rebound. No one covering him at all.

Cummings 2. Inside the arc jumper. Guarded by bacot who gave him a ton of room.

Cummings 3. Guarded by RJ but he gets moving screened all the way into the paint while Bacot contested and get shot over.

Cummings 3. Guarded by Dunn. Screened.

Cummings 3. Guarded by RJ. Screened and the screener moved to block him again when he was going underneath.

So RJ was covering him for half of his made shots I guess. The thing I see looking over all these plays is that UNC is very bad at reacting to screens. There is almost no show and they abused the screen the entire game. And multiple screens against RJ were moving in which RJ had no chance.

 

[dtodd4475]

Cummings 1st 3. Guarded by RJ. Screened on it.

Cummings 2. Fadeaway over RJ. Initially screened, recovered, but turn around fade.

Cummings runner 2. Guarded by RJ. Screened on it. Bacot fell back too far and guarded essentially no one on this play.

Cummings 3. Rj was on the bench. Off an offensive rebound. No one covering him at all.

Cummings 2. Inside the arc jumper. Guarded by bacot who gave him a ton of room.

Cummings 3. Guarded by RJ but he gets moving screened all the way into the paint while Bacot contested and get shot over.

Cummings 3. Guarded by Dunn. Screened.

Cummings 3. Guarded by RJ. Screened and the screener moved to block him again when he was going underneath.

So RJ was covering him for half of his made shots I guess. The thing I see looking over all these plays is that UNC is very bad at reacting to screens. There is almost no show and they abused the screen the entire game. And multiple screens against RJ were moving in which RJ had no chance.

OK, it's his assignment,it was his guy, we set screens for him as well. Cummings was giving him the buisness, and letting him know it. He felt very comfortable whether running him off of screens or going at him.

RJ had a rough night on both ends of the court in my opinion.

 

[imajericho]

OK, it's his assignment,it was his guy, we set screens for him as well. Cummings was giving him the buisness, and letting him know it. He felt very comfortable whether running him off of screens or going at him.

RJ had a rough night on both ends of the court in my opinion.

If there is a problem with screens, it is coaching. No one hedges the screen. The defender can't teleport through a screener.

 

[strummingram]

RJ is a key component to the team's success.

 

[dtodd4475]

If there is a problem with screens, it is coaching. No one hedges the screen. The defender can't teleport through a screener.

To an extent. How you battle over screens or defer to go under is a defensive trait. We hedge, but there is also fight over defenders.

RJ goes hard, he is under sized. He also reverts to the "flop" neck snap often on any contact. I am not getting on RJ, it was a rough game for him, but Cummings moved him as he wanted and got the space he needed into every rub. He went at him and dominated him on that given night.

 

[PittPoker]

As a Pitt fan I'll be honest, RJ is a really good player but Nelly owned him last night. Might have been 1 of RJ's worst games.

 

[dtodd4475]

As a Pitt fan I'll be honest, RJ is a really good player but Nelly owned him last night. Might have been 1 of RJ's worst games.

Yep, I'll take RJ in that matchup everyday of the week and twice on Sundays, but last night Nelly owned him.

 

[Archer2]

It’s ironic. In a game where the most important aspect is to score the ball, and on a team that has Lebo and Hubert on the staff, we can’t shoot the ball effectively from the perimeter. Now our best starting perimeter shooter‘s shooting hand is injured. And yet we have a great natural scorer on the pine. Makes no sense to me. Hubert’s substitution pattern is baffling and it’s going to cost us some good players to the portal.

#freenickel

 

[alabamaheel]

It’s ironic. In a game where the most important aspect is to score the ball, and on a team that has Lebo and Hubert on the staff, we can’t shoot the ball effectively from the perimeter. Now our best starting perimeter shooter‘s shooting hand is injured. And yet we have a great natural scorer on the pine. Makes no sense to me. Hubert’s substitution pattern is baffling and it’s going to cost us some good players to the portal.

#freenickel

I know they sag off Leaky for a reason but I too would love to see a drive and kick to both Dunn and Nickel.

 

[keysersosay#1]

Play Nickel more!!!!!!

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

Play Nickel more!!!!!!

This game might just be perfect for Nickel to play some serious minutes. Carolina surely needs a wing player who is not afraid to shoot and Nickel is definitely not gun shy

 

[dtodd4475]

I like the development of Dunn, he has to strengthen up a bit to compete big minutes, but his "college balls" have dropped so to speak and he is skilled. Should be a good piece moving forward. Nickel has the scorers mentality he is going to be solid down the line as well. They don't bring nearly enough offense as the 3rd or 4th options to offset all that Leaky is depended on to do otherwise.

I think Hubert is going to play his strength, he believes they can make a run. When Leaky got his cheap 4th, that is when Pitt made their run. Other then the fouls Leaky would not of been sitting at all.

 

[dtodd4475]

If there is a problem with screens, it is coaching. No one hedges the screen. The defender can't teleport through a screener.

As a point guard you know they are going to high screen, hell they run the same stuff for him, he knows howto set the defender up to use it. He got controlled by Cummings in that game, he lost his battle in that game. Cummings moved him got space and knocked down the tougher looks then what RJ missed.

I'll take RJ every day of the week and twice on Sunday over Cummings, but on that night Cummings abused him. No excuse, he out dogged him and knocked down his looks.