Pledger

[mattham4]

Pledger was the best player on our poor teams. Now he's the 4th or 5th best player because our team is better.

I have noticed that every time I'm about to say something negative about him he will knock down a big shot.

He is what he is. It's best to appreciate what he brings to the table without expecting too much.

Bingo

 

[globecode]

I think LK changed the offense this year because of the personnel and this has affected Pledger significantly. No longer are we running sets to get him open off of double screens, cross screens and the like. We are running more of a free flow dribble/drive hybrid offense, especially with the guards. This is not the best offense to highlight his skills. I think that is why you see his feet not set nearly as much.

I still think Pledger has played about as well as he could with this change. He is not a plus defender but he is defenitely a dangerous option on offense.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Pledger was the best player on our poor teams. Now he's the 4th or 5th best player because our team is better.

I have noticed that every time I'm about to say something negative about him he will knock down a big shot.

He is what he is. It's best to appreciate what he brings to the table without expecting too much.

I couldn't have said it any better. :clap

And, as another poster said:

This a situation where a guy who was used to being a primary scoring option has slid into a complementary role. I believe he is playing best basketball of his career. With the reduction in minutes, his effort is better, his defense is better and he is doing well on the boards.

I don't know if he's playing his best basketball because he's been in a bit of a slump, but the first sentence of that statement is spot-on.

He's a dangerous shooter especially when he's open, but he's never been confused with a player that has great athleticism. He is what he is and that's a deadly shooter who is average on defense and ball-handling. He reminds me of a Kelley Newton,Tim Heskett, or Michael Neal.

 

[AdaSooner]

Pledger was the best player on our poor teams. Now he's the 4th or 5th best player because our team is better.

I have noticed that every time I'm about to say something negative about him he will knock down a big shot.

He is what he is. It's best to appreciate what he brings to the table without expecting too much.

Dang, boca! You have come through with a few nuggets I agree with lately. Is it you, or am I just getting soft in my old age? :ez-laugh:

I believe everyone knows by now that I have been one of Pledger's biggest supporters over the years. That doesn't mean I have to turn a blind eye to his faults or shortcomings. The term "fleet of foot" does not apply in Steven's case. It's also true that he takes plays off from time to time. I have been critical of that myself. However, it would not be fair of me (or anyone else) to focus on his weaknesses and ignore the good things he does.

As you said so well, it's best to appreciate what Steven brings to the table and not expect too much out of a player who may not be able to deliver everything we want in a two guard. I have a feeling he will be appreciated more after he's gone, at least by most fans, just as A. J. was when he was no longer around.

 

[garyeb2]

I couldn't have said it any better. :clap

And, as another poster said:


I don't know if he's playing his best basketball because he's been in a bit of a slump, but the first sentence of that statement is spot-on.

He's a dangerous shooter especially when he's open, but he's never been confused with a player that has great athleticism. He is what he is and that's a deadly shooter who is average on defense and ball-handling. He reminds me of a Kelley Newton,Tim Heskett, or Michael Neal.

This is where you guys always lose me on this topic. It is one thing to point out things that he does well or give him a pat on the back for working on things that he doesn't.

But, if any of those 3 mentioned were on this team, Pledger would be regulated to the pine in the blink of an eye. He isn't in the same league with solid contributors on some of the better OU teams.

 

[KBaden145]

I think LK changed the offense this year because of the personnel and this has affected Pledger significantly. No longer are we running sets to get him open off of double screens, cross screens and the like. We are running more of a free flow dribble/drive hybrid offense, especially with the guards. This is not the best offense to highlight his skills. I think that is why you see his feet not set nearly as much.

We run some sets for him just not as many. We run a lot of our offense now through follow through weave to get the defense and the ball moving and single high post to get Ro and MBaye going. We still run some stuff for him especially off late clock resets and out of timeouts. He also gets looks in transition. He is in a bit of a slump but he always seems to come up with timely big shot.

 

[KBaden145]

I think he is very comparable to Newton and Neal. Very similar players.

 

[WTSooner]

I think he is very comparable to Newton and Neal. Very similar players.

Agreed. I think those are two of the best comparisons there are.

 

[bocabull]

When Pledger dropped 38 on the road vs Iowa St. his sophomore season our expectations were elevated to unwarranted levels.

What we have come to realize is that day by him was like our miraculous day on the golf course when we smoothed every swing and sank every putt. Then it was back to normal the next round!!

I still bet Pledger has a big game in him that gets us a needed win. Teams are going to focus more on Osby, M'Baye & Hield as we go through conference & Pledger is going to come through!!

 

[WTSooner]

I think Pledger could be doing more this year, but like was mentioned above, LK has steered the team in a different direction. That's fine, we're winning, so it seems to be working out for the team. But what we do on offense is probably about the worst thing for Pledger's offensive game. I think Pledger would have excelled under Kelvin and his offense. But he doesn't really fit in well with the more uptempo, motion offense. He just doesn't have that skill set. That, coupled with the mental part of just being a "piece" of the offense this year and not the focal point, and I think you see why his percentages have dropped.

I don't think people give him enough credit for what he did last year. His shooting percentages, at the volume of shots he was taking, with very little other offense on the team, was pretty amazing.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

I think Pledge takes all this criticism and drops 20-25 against KU at the Phog to keep the Sooners in the game.

 

[KBaden145]

I think Pledge takes all this criticism and drops 20-25 against KU at the Phog to keep the Sooners in the game.

I think he has a couple of games like that left in him.

 

[Big Old Booger]

This is where you guys always lose me on this topic. It is one thing to point out things that he does well or give him a pat on the back for working on things that he doesn't.

But, if any of those 3 mentioned were on this team, Pledger would be regulated to the pine in the blink of an eye. He isn't in the same league with solid contributors on some of the better OU teams.

That's your opinion, but I didn't compare him to those 3 (Newton, Heskett or Neal). I said he reminds me of them and I meant as in his role on this team reminds me of the role they played.

 

[garyeb2]

That's your opinion, but I didn't compare him to those 3 (Newton, Heskett or Neal). I said he reminds me of them and I meant as in his role on this team reminds me of the role they played.

Fair enough. I wasn't taking a shot. Just using your post as an example.

 

[campbest]

This is where you guys always lose me on this topic. It is one thing to point out things that he does well or give him a pat on the back for working on things that he doesn't.

But, if any of those 3 mentioned were on this team, Pledger would be regulated to the pine in the blink of an eye. He isn't in the same league with solid contributors on some of the better OU teams.

I agree on Heskett and Newton...IMO Pledger is a step ahead of Neal.

 

[AdaSooner]

I think he is very comparable to Newton and Neal. Very similar players.

I think Pledger is more like Newton than Neal. Mike was quicker in using screens to get his shots. Steven's lack of foot speed is one of the reasons he has trouble in getting open sometimes. That's not a knock on the kid, he's just not quick enough to get to a spot before the defender has time to recover.

 

[KBaden145]

The main thing for me is they are all shooters who need help getting their scoring opportunities.

 

[AdaSooner]

The main thing for me is they are all shooters who need help getting their scoring opportunities.

Except for Hield.

 

[WTSooner]

Except for Hield.

I think he was talking about Pledger vs Heskett/Newton/Neal.

 

[DenverSooner]

I agree on Heskett and Newton...IMO Pledger is a step ahead of Neal.

Neal was awfully good his junior season. In the right setting Neal was a great college basketball player. I think OU could really use a guy like Neal this year. Someone to come off the bench and hit 3 point shots would be huge for this team. It might move OU to a top 10 team.

I was really hoping Tyler Neal could do that but he can't seem to find his shot. (I am not saying I thought Tyler could be as good as Michael, I was just hoping he could shoot 35%+ from 3 point range coming off the bench.)