The Missing Brady Manek Moments

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I know we miss Brady's outside shooting. But it isn't just that.

Last year down the stretch, a couple of times a game, Brady would leave the perimeter and get to the baseline at the edge of the backboard. RJ would drive and dish to Brady, who would turn, take a quick step and put it in.

I saw that play last week for the first time this season. It was Armando at that spot receiving the dime from RJ. I was delighted to see that play. I hoped it meant we could be heading into another great stretch run.

Last night RJ drove again and again. He got to where that play would work . . . if only someone had been there to receive the dish. But instead, the play usually ended with a block and RJ on his back on the floor.

Why can't Pete do that? Why can't Puff do that? Jalen? Leaky? Styles? Surely someone can fill the Brady role in that play.

I don't get it. What am I missing?

 

[imajericho]

Takes basketball IQ to find the open spot and when to go to it. Manek had high basketball IQ.

 

[sctarheel30]

Takes basketball IQ to find the open spot and when to go to it. Manek had high basketball IQ.

IQ what a thought

 

[TarHeelFanWV]

Id rather play Jalen or Puff over Nance any chance I get personally.. Jalen can knock down the jump shot and Puff can knock down the 3. Nance has the flattest shot in history and he is a weak rebounder and defender for his size. Nance is a role player. Someone you bring off the bench. Honestly though, Nance, Puff, Styles, Nickel, Jalen are all role players. We dont have a good starting 4. Brady was that dude. He was clutch and he was a dead eye shooter. One of my favorite Tar Heels ever in just 1 season. Hard to believe.

 

[ChiShankCity]

The Duke game ultimately shows who Hubert trusts on this team. He trusts basically 6 guys when they're healthy and that's it. All the clamoring for Caleb to get benched. For who? Do you trust Trimble? Absolutely cannot play him with Leaky and Bacot and have 3 zero shooters on the floor at the same time. Do you trust Dunn? Some people think Dunn is prime Jrue Holiday. But I think it's much more likely Dunn provides much less than Caleb despite his chaotic nature.

And one thing about Nance. The Duke game was probably too big for him. This is a guy who's biggest rivalry game during his career was playing Illinois. This isn't in the same ballpark and he went up against significantly more talented dudes. Another point on Manek. Manek played with Trae Young as a freshman. So he was used to playing with a ball-dominant guard and knew how to play with that. I don't know if replacing him for Cam does a whole lot either way.

The solution isn't easy because we're not all that talented. This season comes down to a couple of simple things. Caleb and RJ will have to shoot the ball really well in March. And Caleb is going to have to be great. That's it. The rest of it are masking tape on significant holes on this ship.

We always do this, lol. But if RJ and Caleb go 10/30 and 3/12 from 3 in non-garbage time minutes, we're going to lose to a lot of teams. On this team, our stars need to play like stars (Bacot, Caleb, RJ).