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For Sooners to succeed, Pledger has to get open
- Thread starter OUHoops
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No doubt. He and Osby really are the only ones that can score consistently.
p230
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For Pledger to get open shots some other guard is going to have to step up and make other teams worry about him rather than Pledger. When you don't really have to worry about the other guards it makes it a lot eaiser to stop the one.
AdaSooner
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Fitz can score, too. But Osby, Fitz and Pledger are the only consistent threats to score, which makes it way too easy to game plan defensively to virtually shut down OU's point production.
With Cam contributing very little on the offensive end and Tyler going into a shell of late, Kruger is essentially out of options. I don't believe he'll get it from Grooms. He's shooting 34% from the field and 23% from three point range. Even his free throw shooting (mid 60) is suspect. I think that may be why we saw more of Blair Monday night. However, Sam is still the best option to distribute the ball.
Garyeb2 offered a suggestion a few days ago that may be the best way to go right now. Since Grooms is the safest bet as a ball handler and passer, move Pledger to the three and play Blair at the two. That gives us two scoring threats in the back court, sets up Pledger to (hopefully) get more open looks, plus Grooms is good at penetrating the lane to put more pressure on defenses.
We're giving up some length by bringing Clark off of the bench. But Pledger is a good rebounding guard (third on the team in rebs) and Blair had 10 boards in the OSU game, so we may not be giving up that much with Cam averaging 3.8 rpg. The question is, how will a smaller lineup affect our defense?
I'm not sure that plan will work? But we have to try something to produce more points when our opponents scheme to stop the only three consistent scoring options we've got.
WTSooner
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This. I realize Pledger doesn't have great speed, or ball handling that allows him to get his own shot, regardless of what is happening around him, but he is no slob either. It is downright impossible for a guard to get open though, when the other two guards are doing nothing offensively. I'm not saying that to diss Grooms and Cam, but they are shooting the ball as poorly as I remember any two guards shooting the ball while at OU. Cam has been especially bad in this regards. If I were coaching against OU, I'd shade my entire defensive game plan to Pledger, which is what is happening.
I would like to see us push the ball more. That will result in a few more open looks. The team has to be smart though. Don't push it and settle for a Sam Grooms jump shot, but push it, and if Pledger, or Osby gets an open look, since both have had struggles in the half court, I'd have no problems with them taking quick shots. But that comes back to being a smart team, and realizing your strengths and weaknesses. If Cam cannot accept that he shouldn't be firing up early shots with his slump, then running doesn't help.
You mentioned pics to me the other day. Which made me curious about the one you display. Are you the adult or child?
My participation on this message board isn't for the sole purpose of bashing Pledger. The article is pretty much reflective of my opinions on the subject. And WT isn't making what I would consider outlandish claims about the kid's ability.
If I had something either pro or con to say, I wouldn't be bashfull about jumping in.
campbest
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I like to think I am a little bit of both.
That was pretty funny!
Sam
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So you have a unibrow like Drake?
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