A thought about Tony Crocker...

[pnkranger]

...i was thinking about Tony's performance this year. I wonder if it had anything to do with a very subtle position change.

The previous year, our guard lineup was AJ, Crock, and Godbold. This meant that other teams usually guarded Godbold withthe bigger, stronger guards with length because of Godbold's strength and size.

At the same time, Crocker was usually being guarded by shorter, weaker 2's. This year, however, with Willie in the lineup, Crock moved into the 3. While not a whole lot different overall, it does change how other teams defend. The short quick guards stay with Willie in hopes of keeping him out of the lane, while the big bruisers are banging TC around and using their length to bother his shot.

Against UT he had Damion James shadowing him, banging him, grabbing, and pushing. Does anyone else think this subtle change could have had anything to do with Crock's inconsistency shooting the ball?

Good shooting is rhythm + confidence + form...looked to me like Crock was missing the first two items most of the year, which could come from being defended by a completely different animal.

Just a thought...I might be way off.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Tony scored 16 against Texas in Norman and 14 in Austin. I think he's just streaky and inconsistent.

 

[Krugerfan52]

I think it had a lot to do with Blake's dominance and Willie as the 2nd go-to guy. I think next year with Blake gone, Tony will step up and have a bigger role. At times, everybody was in Blake's shadow, and I think Tony was one that really deffered to him, taking away his aggressiveness at times.

I expect Tony's senior year to be the best of his career.

 

[OUjunkie]

I agree with pnkranger that TC couldn't find any rhythm this year which affected his confidence and shot, which is why he was streaky and inconsistent. But I believe its b/c TC likes to drive and create shots. He wasn't able to do this b/c the offense ran through BG and the defense would sink in the lane making it difficult to drive (even WW had trouble at times). But next years offensive scheme will be different, I believe with next seasons lineup and players, they'll be able to spread out the floor, thus creating more space for players like WW, TMG, and TC to drive the lane. I expect TC to have a great season next year.

 

[BigTime]

Interesting thought, pnk. I am sure it was at least a little bit of an adjustment for him. I also wonder if allowing him to defend the bigger, longer (but not as quick) guys (that Godbold mostly guarded last year) matched up better with his defensive strengths and helped him to improve as a defender as the year rolled on.

 

[Soonerspiff]

Interesting thought, pnk. I am sure it was at least a little bit of an adjustment for him. I also wonder if allowing him to defend the bigger, longer (but not as quick) guys (that Godbold mostly guarded last year) matched up better with his defensive strengths and helped him to improve as a defender as the year rolled on.

It is true that Godbold's season last year was very similar to Crock's season this year. Think about it. Both were considered our best defenders. Both were hot and then sometimes very cold on offense. Both were defined by hustle on the court, although Godbold (maybe because he was a senior) took more of a leadership role on and off. I hope Crocker does the same.

I'm not sure it's because of the matchups, but the similarities are weird.

*EDIT* I'm not saying their games are similar, rather just the type of seasons they had.

 

[coolm]

here's my TC thought:

Nice defense. now score more consistently or get left on the bench.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

TC as a freshman -- streaky and inconsistent
TC as a sophomore -- streaky and inconsistent
TC as a junior -- streaky and inconsistent

In the 30-plus years that I have had season tickets, no other player comes to mind that has been as inconsistent over a 3-year stretch like Crock.

Tony has shown that he can be an impact player one or two games a month. It is a mystery to me why he has a single big offensive game, then goes largely unproductive on offense for the next four or five games.

It is weird!

I am ready for a solid consistent senior season from Tony. I like Tony a lot and hope he expels the basketball demons that prevent him from excelling game-in and game-out.

:OUbball-logo:

 

[coolm]

agree with trav and I go even further.

he's WAYYYY past the do you know what or get off the you know what realm.

no excuses left and we have other options if he's not gonna put it in gear.

thats not to say he won't always be a factor - because with his defense he can have a role no matter what...but it's time for him to be a senior go-to guy with some consistency or a defensive stopper who comes off the bench to spell someone else who contributes more regularly on the offensive end.

 

[Darwin]

I think Godbold was streaky for 4 years. Something about Tony's shot, so many of his misses this last season from 3 were missed left of target. I noticed it early in the year and looked for it all season, distance good but a ball left. Seems like a fix wouldn't be hard.

 

[SoonerNorm]

When you have a player who has been streaky and inconsistent for 3 straight years, I wouldn't get a warm fuzzy feeling thinking that year number 4 is going to be any different.

 

[OUsky]

no excuses left and we have other options if he's not gonna put it in gear.

I wish you were right, however this past season we had two of the most inconsistent players and they both seemed to average 35 minutes a game. If they couldn't take minutes away from these two this year, I am not sure who are our other options for the upcoming season.

 

[Sid]

TC as a freshman -- streaky and inconsistent
TC as a sophomore -- streaky and inconsistent
TC as a junior -- streaky and inconsistent

I could not have said it any better. After watching Tony's magnificent performance against the Orange, I knew he would lay an egg against NC. With the new players Jeff has coming in next season, the Sooners should have plenty of guys on the team that can shoot the rock consistently. Over the summer, I would like to see Tony focus strictly on defense and let the other guys share the offensive load.

 

[soonermule]

I could not have said it any better. After watching Tony's magnificent performance against the Orange, I knew he would lay an egg against NC. With the new players Jeff has coming in next season, the Sooners should have plenty of guys on the team that can shoot the rock consistently. Over the summer, I would like to see Tony focus strictly on defense and let the other guys share the offensive load.

I think both Tony and Caid would be much better if they played in a half court Offense that has more rhythm to it like say TT or Mizzou play or have you noitced that neither of them have improved at all in the last two years.

 

[MsProudSooner]

have you noitced that neither of them have improved at all in the last two years.

To say they have neither one improved at all in the last two years is an exaggeration. They've both improved.

 

[EufaulaSooner]

Crocker has no game. That's his problem. All he can do is stand at the 3-point line and catch and shoot. Can't really blame him for this. I think he tries hard and seems to have a good attitude. He does the best he can, and that's all you can ask of anybody. He just isn't that good.

Rather than thinking he'll be better next year with the lane less packed, I think, if anything, he'll be worse. He's a spot-up 3-point shooter and that's it. His best chance to put up good offensive numbers was last year when we had a great post player drawing double teams every time he touched the ball. It didn't happen for him last year, so there's little chance it will next year.

I think a great 3 can really make a team. It's a hard position to play well, being the most versatile player on the floor. Having a 3 who can play inside or outside makes a team way better by giving them more flexibility. There's nothing wrong with having a defensive specialist there (I'm a Spurs fan and it has certainly worked for them), but you can really only afford one of those on the floor at a time IMHO.

 

[SoomerBooner]

Crocker has no game. That's his problem. All he can do is stand at the 3-point line and catch and shoot. Can't really blame him for this. I think he tries hard and seems to have a good attitude. He does the best he can, and that's all you can ask of anybody. He just isn't that good.

Rather than thinking he'll be better next year with the lane less packed, I think, if anything, he'll be worse. He's a spot-up 3-point shooter and that's it. His best chance to put up good offensive numbers was last year when we had a great post player drawing double teams every time he touched the ball. It didn't happen for him last year, so there's little chance it will next year.

I think a great 3 can really make a team. It's a hard position to play well, being the most versatile player on the floor. Having a 3 who can play inside or outside makes a team way better by giving them more flexibility. There's nothing wrong with having a defensive specialist there (I'm a Spurs fan and it has certainly worked for them), but you can really only afford one of those on the floor at a time IMHO.

You must be watching different games than I am watching. Tony is NOT just a spot up shooter. When he is on he scores in a multitude of ways (i.e. See at OSU in 2008 and Syracuse in 2009). Against Syracuse he hit a cross over 3 to end the first half and two high arching fade away shots in the lane over their big men. Tony does spot up for a lot of 3s, but when on (which is 3-5 games a year) his game is diverse. I agree with everyone else on this thread that Tony is the maybe the most inconsistent player that I have ever seen, but he is not simply a spot up shooter when he is playing well. Tim Hesket (sp?) and Michael Neal are better examples of pure spot up shooters.

 

[EufaulaSooner]

Tony is NOT just a spot up shooter...Tony does spot up for a lot of 3s, but when on (which is 3-5 games a year) his game is diverse.

I agree: Tony only has a diverse game 3-5 times per year, and just shoots 3s the rest. Therefore he is just a spot-up shooter.

 

[BigTime]

Will Tony become the consistent offensive option that we had hoped for this year? I dunno. More importantly, I want him to continue to play good defense.

I do know that he will work hard this summer on his game. I would like to see him work on finishing around the rim.

 

[DannyB]

good defense,but poor shooter:clap