JB Trib Star Read

[SycamoreStateofMind]

https://www.tribstar.com/sports/loc...cle_88494080-0916-5f2c-bdc4-50abdf1914b8.html

A few thoughts to generate some conversation...

I don't think that Lansing can afford to ride JB the way he did last season through another 20% conference shooting drought. He/Lansing didn't have a lot of other options - but he has other options this year. I'm glad to see them both acknowledging that Barnes has to be come a better passer and better defender for his game to take that next step. We will see pretty quickly if that is just lip service or if they intend for him to actually be a pass first player. For me - I think that will require a lot of focus and attention to detail that I'm not sure Barnes is capable of. Having watched him for 3 years now - I see him always looking for opportunities to let it fly (that's fine scorers look to score) and not all that often looking for ways to get others involved or looking for the hot hand.

My 3 keys for JB:

- Take better care of the ball. This wasn't mentioned but he's not always making sound decisions.

- Pass first.

- Defense. Defense. Defense.

 

[Bluethunder]

First, it was a typical Todd Golden article in that it had many phrases that were too cute by half, as well as typos that went uncorrected.

Second, I think of all the players mentioned that can take some pressure off Barnes, Cam is the most important. If Cam can play the point where Barnes doesn't have to have the ball in his hands so much and can come off screens, catch and shoot, etc it will help everyone.

I don't think Barnes is a true point guard and it's pretty late in his career to turn him into one. Having Bacote take that job and makes Barnes less responsible for handling and distributing the ball would be a big plus.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Honestly, having read it, it makes me feel like they may be laying the ground work for a 4 guard lineup with Barnes at the "2" and Williams at the "4".

Or, if you get enough production from what bigs you have, you could just run hockey shifts once you find the right groupings.

 

[TreeTop]

Honestly, having read it, it makes me feel like they may be laying the ground work for a 4 guard lineup with Barnes at the "2" and Williams at the "4".

I don't know, here's the quote from Lansing:

"He has to be a point guard and more of a true point guard. He can really make shots and score it, but his advancement as a player is as more of a pass-first point guard. I use Fred VanVleet as an example when he and I have talked about it,” Lansing said.

Sounds like Barnes will be running the show whenever he's on the court. I'd rather seen him at the 2.

 

[sycamorebacker]

My question is how good would Williams be at the point? As far as JB playing the 2, he can't because of Key and Neese.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

My question is how good would Williams be at the point? As far as JB playing the 2, he can't because of Key and Neese.

He ran it plenty last year. Not interested in watching it again.

 

[sycamorebacker]

He ran it plenty last year. Not interested in watching it again.

Well, if he is going to play forward, I hope he can be more consistent on his rebounding.

 

[BrokerZ]

I'm not sure I totally agree with Golden's statement that Barnes "re-focused on being a distributor" the second half of the conference season last year.

He did increase his assists and limit his turnovers slightly better than the first half, but it wasn't noticeably different. He basically averaged one more assist per game in the last 9 regular season games and our 1 tournament game than he did in the first half (3.2 versus 1.9). He did have a positive assist to turnover ratio in the second half, which was an improvement, but he has a loooong way to go before I would consider him a distributor.

Barnes has to really make some changes this year to be back to All-MVC. Based on the article, I'm not sure he's completely self-aware about what he needs to do.

 

[sycamorebacker]

I'm not sure I totally agree with Golden's statement that Barnes "re-focused on being a distributor" the second half of the conference season last year.

He did increase his assists and limit his turnovers slightly better than the first half, but it wasn't noticeably different. He basically averaged one more assist per game in the last 9 regular season games and our 1 tournament game than he did in the first half (3.2 versus 1.9). He did have a positive assist to turnover ratio in the second half, which was an improvement, but he has a loooong way to go before I would consider him a distributor.

Barnes has to really make some changes this year to be back to All-MVC. Based on the article, I'm not sure he's completely self-aware about what he needs to do.

I’m not worried at all. He has plenty of skills to help us.

 

[HOOPSFAN]

The quicker that Lansing & Barnes realize that Barnes is not the best Sycamore on the floor the more successful the team will be. They should have learned that last season during MVC play. It won't be any easier this time around.

 

[Southgrad07]

The quicker that Lansing & Barnes realize that Barnes is not the best Sycamore on the floor the more successful the team will be. They should have learned that last season during MVC play. It won't be any easier this time around.

I am pretty certain everyone is on the same page there and is well aware Key is the best player on the team. I don't see anything in the article or from hearsay to suggest otherwise. The big ? is whether or not Barnes is just playing lip service to the whole being more of a pass oriented guard that realizes he has to defend to the best of his abilities or if he truly learned from his experiences..My honest and humble opinion is he won't change and that's a shame..

Would love to be wrong and if he does?? We will win the league or be right there like we haven't been in almost 20 years..Mark that down. If he could look to probe defenses to get it shifted and look to find teammates instead of just hunting his own shot?? It would open it up for others sure, but more importantly he would get far easier looks and would probably average close to what he has been..Just 10X more efficiently for himself and the whole team in the process. Nobody thinks he should be a total pass first guard like Clemons or something..But there is a balance great scoring PG's have to have in order for the team get the most out of itself..A good example given by GL with FVV, he could of scored 20+ at WSU but they never would of won shit..FVV chose being a winner and that is why he's stuck in the NBA as a 5'11 slowish guard... It requires some sacrifice on the guard driving the ship and lately with Barnes and Scott before him we've had guys more worried about PPG than keeping the ship afloat.

Now the difference between this year and last is one you have a proven 20ish PPG guy in Key, another proven sniper in Neese on the other side, and a guy lurking everyone is high on in Bacote. When you ask people about his game one the first things that is always said is he is a "true point guard"...So you have plenty of scoring around your PG spot and an incoming talented guy that is known for trying to get scorers looks..This is why this year is different.

Lansing could say he didn't have any other options to run the point the last two years and lack of overall scoring if you subtract JB..Thus justifying rolling with Barnes as a damned if you do or don't situation...This year that won't be the case. If JB doesn't step up to the challenge it is up to GL to make a change...But as I alluded to before if you could get a guy with JB's talent to play the role that is needed and have a stellar 6th man option in Bacote?? Wooah watch out Valley...

 

[bent20]

The quicker that Lansing & Barnes realize that Barnes is not the best Sycamore on the floor the more successful the team will be. They should have learned that last season during MVC play. It won't be any easier this time around.

For a few years now the best player from the previous season seems to regress and a new best player emerges only for the cycle to repeat the next year.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

I don't know, here's the quote from Lansing:

"He has to be a point guard and more of a true point guard. He can really make shots and score it, but his advancement as a player is as more of a pass-first point guard. I use Fred VanVleet as an example when he and I have talked about it,” Lansing said.

Sounds like Barnes will be running the show whenever he's on the court. I'd rather seen him at the 2.

A leopard doesn't change his spots. I've watched Barnes since his AAU days. Even then, he was a big time shot maker.

If Bacote is the true point I think he is, also having seen him way back in the AAU days, I think Barnes could do a lot of damage playing along the wing. Drive and kick to Barnes provided his body and shot is right could be a lot like when Brenton was playing the 2 for us and got a lot of great looks because Devonte had defenses collapse on him.

We have never been this deep at guard, ever. We watched Wichita State and now Loyola dominate the Valley using guard-centric lineups. I think it is time we gave it a shot because if it doesn't work with as much as we have, it likely never will for us.

 

[bent20]

A leopard doesn't change his spots. I've watched Barnes since his AAU days. Even then, he was a big time shot maker.

If Bacote is the true point I think he is, also having seen him way back in the AAU days, I think Barnes could do a lot of damage playing along the wing. Drive and kick to Barnes provided his body and shot is right could be a lot like when Brenton was playing the 2 for us and got a lot of great looks because Devonte had defenses collapse on him.

We have never been this deep at guard, ever. We watched Wichita State and now Loyola dominate the Valley using guard-centric lineups. I think it is time we gave it a shot because if it doesn't work with as much as we have, it likely never will for us.

Would seem the key to that would be for the coaches to be clear about role responsibilities and execution.

 

[BrokerZ]

A leopard doesn't change his spots. I've watched Barnes since his AAU days. Even then, he was a big time shot maker.

If Bacote is the true point I think he is, also having seen him way back in the AAU days, I think Barnes could do a lot of damage playing along the wing. Drive and kick to Barnes provided his body and shot is right could be a lot like when Brenton was playing the 2 for us and got a lot of great looks because Devonte had defenses collapse on him.

We have never been this deep at guard, ever. We watched Wichita State and now Loyola dominate the Valley using guard-centric lineups. I think it is time we gave it a shot because if it doesn't work with as much as we have, it likely never will for us.

I love this idea and think it gives us our best opportunity to win, but this will require Key, Williams and whomever is playing the post to rebound like madmen. Having Bacote and Barnes on the floor will make us extremely vulnerable on the glass...unless Bacote rebounds like Clemons. I'm not so much worried about defense since Bacote has some size to guard opposing 2-guards to leave Barnes on the PG defensively, but rebounding could be a big liability.

I suppose it will no matter which lineup we roll out because I think we'll be weak on the glass regardless...

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Passing/sharing and playing the PG the right way is an art form - you don’t just wake up one day and decide that’s what your MO is... I don’t think one can just flip a light switch and suddenly start playing this way.

 

[sycamorebacker]

Passing/sharing and playing the PG the right way is an art form - you don’t just wake up one day and decide that’s what your MO is... I don’t think one can just flip a light switch and suddenly start playing this way.

That's definitely true but players like Brown and Scott improved their guard skills during their careers. We can expect JB to improve them also. Lots of D1 teams play without ideal, true PG's.

 

[Southgrad07]

I think JB is probably best suited off the ball too...but my issue is if you play him and cam together you either have to leave key or neese off the floor (our best two players during the valley season a yr ago) or if you do play both you are going ultra small...I get small ball has worked and you want to maximize talent on the floor...but Loyola had 6'4-6'5 guys and dudes who wanted to mix it up on the glass..If you are going 4 guards I think you have to have Williams or Lavaria in the mix given makeup of our other guards. That is why to me either JB figures out how to run point effectively or he watches cam do it during crunch time.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

I think JB is probably best suited off the ball too...but my issue is if you play him and cam together you either have to leave key or neese off the floor (our best two players during the valley season a yr ago) or if you do play both you are going ultra small...I get small ball has worked and you want to maximize talent on the floor...but Loyola had 6'4-6'5 guys and dudes who wanted to mix it up on the glass..If you are going 4 guards I think you have to have Williams or Lavaria in the mix given makeup of our other guards. That is why to me either JB figures out how to run point effectively or he watches cam do it during crunch time.

That is why I proposed the hockey lines option. If we could form two legit guard trios, have them push the pace and then just sub them to keep them fresh since we know that has been Lansing's MO anyhow. You could even have groupings based on scouting report -- shooting trio, defensive trio, etc.

 

[bent20]

So, best case scenario, what's the ceiling for this team based on a four-guard lineup and the coaches apparently not using the players effectively (based on what I'm reading here)?