pokecountant said:
Who would have guessed that J-Mac hit his peak 2 seasons ago? I guess it was a function of his only real responsibilities when Nance & Co. were there was to catch it, shoot it and take the occasional charge. Now he's asked to do WAY more than he has the tools to accomplish. Coaches loyalty often blinds them.
I agree with the concept that he is being asked to do more than he is capable/comfortable doing, but hitting his peak 2 seasons ago? No way. By far his best season was last year. 44% from 3, 14 ppg, etc. One of the best perimeter shooting seasons in the history of UW basketball. He was only a bit player (7th guy) that shot a respectable percentage 2 years ago. He was very good last year when he could play off of Josh Adams.
His decline this year is partially the fact that he is being asked to do too much, but I think it is also the fact that we no longer have an offense with consistent ball and player movement that generates quality looks. Our current strategy is too push the ball up the floor quickly and look for quick offense in transition or before the defense is settled. If we have to work it in the half-court, we set a couple of predictable/half-hearted screens and launch a 3. We are so easy to defend. Players like Naughton (inside) and JMac (outside) would be so much better in a Shyatt offense, but they aren't really equipped to "go get their own" like this offense requires.
Of course, that makes the rotations particularly interesting. We have a strategy that places a premium on individual playmaking, but then we give significant minutes to
players that function better in a controlled/designed offense. I think you have to go one way or the other. If we are just going to turn them loose, then play James/Adams/Dalton the bulk of the minutes and tell them to go to work. If we are going to play
Gorski/JMac/Lieberman, Kelly, then we need to be prepared to execute in the halfcourt.