With JT vs without JT

[jay santos]

JT's a good player. He's one of the best players in the MWC. He has a great outside shot (when open and feet set square to the basket), he's very experienced and very smart and crafty both on offense and defense.

But sometimes good players don't help a team get better.

Few got to see it, but last night those in attendance saw the potential for this year's team. In all the four games I've seen so far, the only time BYU has looked like it could be as good or surpass last year's team was last night in the 20 minutes that Tav sat on the bench.

When he's in the ball goes Jimmer to Jackson to Tav who shoots with a guy's hand in his face. Or Jimmer to Tav, tries to shoot can't, pump fakes not open, steps under and fakes still not open, falls away and shoots. Or Jimmer to Haws to Tav not open, tries to drive, he's in traffic, stops in the key pump fakes, falls away and shoots.

When he's out of the lineup the ball goes Jimmer to Jackson to Haws back to Jackson to Jimmer, wide open three swish. Or Jimmer to Jackson to Hartsock out to Haws wide open three swish. Or Jimmer to Haws to Emery wide open fakes passes makes extra pass to even more wide open Haws, man runs wildly at Haws, Haws drives dishes to Miles for easy layup.

Do you see the pattern?

I'm not a JT hater. He has the potential to be the second best player on a great team, but he's got to get his act together fast.

[pelagius]

Good question Jay ... I can't say much about since I have yet to see them play this year but it is a good question.

[Non Sequitur]

Every year I've held out hope that JT will finally get it. It hasn't happened yet, and I have no reason to expect to happen this year. He desperately wants to be the man, and that's going to kill him. Handling the dynamics of this team is where Dave Rose is going to earn his money. It'll be interesting to see how he handles JT this year.

[LiveCoug]

Here is an interesting stat:

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=5016124

[jay santos]

Another issue with BYU's effectiveness with or without JT is not just the +/- you get with JT's play but the +/- you get with his replacement.

With JT at the 4, we're a little soft inside on rebounding and interior defense. With Hartsock, he's not significantly worse than JT defending a 4 on the perimeter but drastically better inside on D and in rebounding.

Especially with Haws in the game, when you go Jimmer, Emery, and Haws on the perimeter, you have an extremely effective perimeter scoring offense. JT's perimeter offense may not be as big of a plus with that lineup.

[jay santos]

Here is an interesting stat:

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=5016124

I don't like that stat. It unfairly penalizes three point shooters. But no matter how you look at it, JT's shooting stats are abysmal.

[smokymountainrain]

I don't like that stat. It unfairly penalizes three point shooters. But no matter how you look at it, JT's shooting stats are abysmal.

And it penalizes a guy who gets to the line a ton but may not shoot a great %. When you get to the line, you get individuals in foul trouble and you get your team in the bonus. You might go 10-15 from the FT line, which isn't good, but the good you are doing by drawing all those fouls makes that 10-15 very, very, valuable.

[falafel]

And it penalizes a guy who gets to the line a ton but may not shoot a great %. When you get to the line, you get individuals in foul trouble and you get your team in the bonus. You might go 10-15 from the FT line, which isn't good, but the good you are doing by drawing all those fouls makes that 10-15 very, very, valuable.

This is true. However, JT doesn't have a single FT attempt this year. This has nothing to do with the stat, however. Just bad news.

[Flystripper]

This is true. However, JT doesn't have a single FT attempt this year. This has nothing to do with the stat, however. Just bad news.

You don't get free throws when you fall away on every shot. I dislike JT's game and attitude. I am happy that Coach Rose agrees with me.

[Goatnapper'96]

Every year I've held out hope that JT will finally get it. It hasn't happened yet, and I have no reason to expect to happen this year. He desperately wants to be the man, and that's going to kill him. Handling the dynamics of this team is where Dave Rose is going to earn his money. It'll be interesting to see how he handles JT this year.

I would bet that this year Rose has the option of it being as short a string as it was when JT was a freshman. He has the depth and if Haws gets consistent and Emery is as improved as folks say, Rose will have the perimeter scoring. I hope he heat checks Tav and then either lets him play or benches him.

[SeattleUte]

Good question Jay ... I can't say much about since I have yet to see them play this year but it is a good question.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smokymountainrain]

You don't get free throws when you fall away on every shot. I dislike JT's game and attitude. I am happy that Coach Rose agrees with me.

Bingo. It's incredible that a guy could shoot as much as JT and not shoot a single FT. If that isn't evidence that he's soft and ultimately hurting the team, I don't know what is.

[pelagius]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I didn't mean to offend you, SeattleUte. But to be fair I really didn't think you would get so emotional about JT's playing time. Still, it was insensitive of me. I just realized he is a bit danseur like on the court.

[cougjunkie]

Great quote from Rose about Tav:

“I think the first game he forced a lot of shots,” Rose said. “There were quite a few shots that were ill-advised. We kind of worked through that. I think tonight he took really good shots, for him. He’s just having a hard time making them, but he’s a confident guy and we have a lot of confidence in him.”

[Flystripper]

Great quote from Rose about Tav:

Tav has never seen a shot that wasn't good for him at least in his own mind. I wish he had a more conventional understanding of what a good shot truly is.