Is J James our most important player for success?

#26
#26
He's much stronger physically I think now than Hubbs ever was. He also effects the game on both ends more than Hubbs as well I think. Its's a good comparison though. He reminds me of VFL Fred Jenkins and Tn HS great Ron Mercer. I think he'll produce similar to JP Prince when it comes to effecting the game in all phases at times.
Hubbs was dramatically over hyped. He was rated as a 5* recruit and highly recruited by all the blue blood programs but yet never panned out to what his ranking was. Not saying he wasn’t a decent player but I still don’t understand how he was a highly rated 5*.
 
#28
#28
Mr D will be the most important in the Fla St game. Take them to the land of Pitt. Low scoring and Ugly.
 
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#29
#29
James will be fine. Hopes he stays to play with Springer. That would be an awesome combo.
Where the heck do you think he’s going?
I think he’ll be a fine player but he is way too passive on the offensive end to leave early.
 
#30
#30
Where the heck do you think he’s going?
I think he’ll be a fine player but he is way too passive on the offensive end to leave early.
With Barnes getting in his face more and more have to wonder how long before he brings out the BEAR and if it's THERE.
 
#32
#32
Maybe, but that was an awful offensive display. I thought our lack of an inside game really hurt us.

that's the one single thing that worries me going through SEC play...wished Plav was available...oh, well, we'll see...

GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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#33
#33
Maybe, but that was an awful offensive display. I thought our lack of an inside game really hurt us.
I thought the difference in the game was our energy. Our guys like to run and got bored with the half court game. Chatt was really good at getting back on defense and completely shut down our fast break game. Even when we tried it they were there to force the half court contest.
 
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#34
#34
As others have pointed out, he's not a scorer and I'm fine with that, BUT I will say that I agree that he needs to find some semblance of an offensive game for us to have the success we want. He doesn't need to be Anthony Edwards, but we really do need him to start being a little more of a scoring threat on the offensive end, as that will force the really good teams to put some additional focus on him and relieve pressure on Bowden and Turner. Because right now, and the point was made by commentators the other night, when we start to play the tougher part of our schedule, good teams are going to create the entire game plan around shutting down Bowden and Turner, so other players are going to have to step it up if we want to win big games.
 
#35
#35
I thought the difference in the game was our energy. Our guys like to run and got bored with the half court game. Chatt was really good at getting back on defense and completely shut down our fast break game. Even when we tried it they were there to force the half court contest.
They are a bunch of saggers, too. Told us to beat us big, you're going to have to hit the 3's.
 
#36
#36
The guy just flat out can't shoot from really anywhere on the court. I caught some flak for that when I saw him in the exhibition game, but that form isn't going to be consistent at this level.

He's not the only player that doesn't have a good shooting form. Look at Ben Simmons and Michael Carter Williams (and markelle fultz this year). Those are all big point guards that can't shoot. He needs to attack the basket with authority. His handle isn't great, but it should be good enough to get to the rim consistently. He does all the other things well, but scoring wise he's just bad right now. We have enough bad offensive players, we're going to need more from him.
 
#37
#37
James looks like a grown man out there. If we expect to dance, with no dominant big men, this season the guards need to drive to the basket score or get fouled a lot more than the 1st 5 games. The last game we had no free throws at the half. I expect Barnes to let #5 start driving anytime now. He is 20lbs heavier and 4 inches taller than most point guards, should be able to impose his will.
 
#38
#38
Right now he’s giving 5ppg 7rpg 3apg, I agree I would’ve expected more PPG but at the same time he missed the entire month leading up to the start of the season, which is probably the most important practices. I think we will see him continue to grow offensively and probably end up around 8ppg by seasons end, which is about what I expected from him.

So you criticized someone for expecting more offensively from James, which is fair, he’s a top 25 5* recruiting, at least scoring-wise, and then later post “I would have expected more PPG.” So it’s also fair to say that you expected more scoring from JJJ, even though you criticized a poster for saying the exact same thing?
 
#39
#39
Where the heck do you think he’s going?
I think he’ll be a fine player but he is way too passive on the offensive end to leave early.

I completely agree. He’s way too passive. People are confusing it for unselfishness but I disagree. He has little confidence. He isn’t showing he can beat people off the dribble yet. Now, unlike Hubbs, he does everything else great. He’s an excellent rebounder. Very good defender. Good passer. He’s strong, a good athlete.

But there’s a lack of dribbling or ability to beat guys off the dribble that surprises me. Also I’m disappointed that he’s shown zero ability in the pick and roll.
 
#40
#40
So you criticized someone for expecting more offensively from James, which is fair, he’s a top 25 5* recruiting, at least scoring-wise, and then later post “I would have expected more PPG.” So it’s also fair to say that you expected more scoring from JJJ, even though you criticized a poster for saying the exact same thing?

Apparently you missed the “HUGE contributor on the offensive end” part of that comment? 👍🏻
 
#42
#42
Why would it not be fair to expect a 5* freshmen one a team that is losing four starters to be a huge contributor offensively?
Because that’s not his game, and if anyone paid attention they’d have known that, how many points and FGA did he have in the MCDAA game?
 
#43
#43
Because that’s not his game, and if anyone paid attention they’d have known that, how many points and FGA did he have in the MCDAA game?

You based your expectations on the MCDAA? I wouldn’t call that smart.

So you were expecting 5 points and 2.5 assists per game on 36% shooting from JJJ? You even said yourself you expected more scoring. So obviously you were expecting bigger expectations. Nobody was expecting 20/10 but I think most people assumed he’d be the third leading scorer around 10-12 per game
 
#44
#44
You based your expectations on the MCDAA? I wouldn’t call that smart.

So you were expecting 5 points and 2.5 assists per game on 36% shooting from JJJ? You even said yourself you expected more scoring. So obviously you were expecting bigger expectations. Nobody was expecting 20/10 but I think most people assumed he’d be the third leading scorer around 10-12 per game

I never said I based my expectations on that game? I’m saying that was further indication as to his game, which if you or anyone else had paid attention to would have realized to not expect “huge offensive contributions”. I also said above I would expect him to get up to around 8ppg, so not sure why you’re doubling down on his current numbers when I clearly stated my expectations?
 
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#45
#45
Once Vescovi comes aboard in January, I think you might see JJJ replace Bowden at shooting guard in some sets.
 
#46
#46
"A three-time state champion, James averaged 29.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 4.9 assists per game his senior season at Porter-Gaud School en route to South Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year"
From that I don't think it would be unsmart to think he'd find 10 a game in his freshman season. and he still might.
 
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#47
#47
"A three-time state champion, James averaged 29.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 4.9 assists per game his senior season at Porter-Gaud School en route to South Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year"
From that I don't think it would be unsmart to think he'd find 10 a game in his freshman season. and he still might.

Iirc Gaines averaged around 40ppg his senior year of HS, also had multiple quadruple doubles.
 
#49
#49
Only one has the college ready body though. I just a bout bet James raises his average before SEC play. he's rebounding like he was in HS, shooting will follow.
Agree. James has already shown that he has the body and athletic ability to be an elite, undersized, rebounder. Which leads me to believe if he decides to attack the basket more and be just a little more selfish, he could easily average 10+ points a game. JJJ's shot is a little flat, but so was mine and I used to dominate on "want to" and athletic ability. Of course, I'm talking about JV and adult league rec ball, no comparison to D1 college ball, but if u are a better athlete, with a high level basketball IQ and a will to win, it still translates. Player's like that (JJJ), will always have success in whatever level of basketball, they are playing.

Look at that, u can tell I'm feeling the Thanksgiving holiday "Love", because I'm breaking out the, "I used to be a balla stories". Bwaa-ha-ha
 
#50
#50
Only one has the college ready body though. I just a bout bet James raises his average before SEC play. he's rebounding like he was in HS, shooting will follow.
I agree his PPG will likely go up, and have said just that, I just didn’t expect him to come in and be a huge offensive contributor Day 1...I didn’t expect him to come in and light the world on fire, but not a shock this fanbase thought he would.
 
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