The PG Experiment

[pnkranger]

What do you guys think about this experiment so far? Cousins is averaging 5.5 assists in our two exhibition games, but his offensive production has not been there otherwise. Woodard as well has seemed out of sorts offensively ... not able to get the ball in the places where he can be most effective.

Tonight there were a lot of times where Buddy was running down the floor with enough of a window to get a shot up or attack the rim, and Isaiah was too focused on getting the ball into the right spot and missed him. Woodard would have hit Buddy in stride.

I still think we'll see Woodard at PG before too long, but switching things up like this has me a bit worried because it seems to effect the flow of the offense.

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm more concerned about the lack of production on offense than Isaiah's point guard play.

If you'll recall, his scoring suffered when he was playing the point his freshman season. He's a combo guard who is much better at the two spot. So, IMHO, that is where he needs to be for this team to be successful moving forward.

Now that I have offered an opinion on this topic, I will keep my trap shut in the future and let our coaches do what they think is best.

 

[usedtobe1]

I think it's too early to give up on the experiment. They need the option to play "bigger" but need Isaiah and Buddy on the floor with 3 bigs. They can't panic after two exhibition games. There will be plenty of time that Woodard mans the point with our traditional lineup.

 

[furge]

Well... it is, after all, meaningless in this part of the season.

Lon said, in his postgame 107.7 interview, that Jordan had been looking better off-ball. But I think this is just an exercise to get Isaiah more time with the ball in his hands to recognize passing lanes and create offense, and conversely give Jordan some looks from 3 to build his confidence and maybe put some finishers' instincts into his dribble drives. Sometimes building depth is as easy as giving your established guys time to work on their skill sets, so you can stagger rotations in-season.

A fun hypothetical, but I doubt this carries over to the Memphis game in any meaningful way.

 

[DenverSooner]

It will be interesting to see what they do against Memphis Obviously in the last game OU was more interested in practicing than scoring I think OU could have gotten into a running game with those guys and scored 150 or more

 

[garyeb2]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Cousins is the point guard.

 

[jackson_supersooner]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Cousins is the point guard.

Interesting.

 

[BoulderSooner]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Cousins is the point guard.

a Jordan has gone from 2 year starter to not playing the position at all?

 

[garyeb2]

a Jordan has gone from 2 year starter to not playing the position at all?

I didn't make the change. Kruger made the change. i just reported the change. I have heard some of the rational behind the change. It makes sense to me.

It is likely to end well. Cousins is the better player in general and is likely to quickly evolve into a better point guard. Kruger has one agenda, to win basketball games. The staff believes this change will give them a better chance to do that. They may change again. But, this isn't a stick your toe in the water deal. They made a change at point guard.

 

[Stikboy]

I guess I don't understand what attributes Woodard has as a wing that improves things in this scenario. I think Woodard is a good point guard. I can understand Lon wanting to get bigger, but is it at the expense of whatever Woodard can or can't do as a wing? Will running the point affect Isaiah's offense? I think Jordan brings a lot to the table, just not sure what, in this scenario. Maybe an extra ball handler on the court? Now if he starts raining treys and averaging 14 ppg, I may see it..

 

[garyeb2]

I guess I don't understand what attributes Woodard has as a wing that improves things in this scenario. I think Woodard is a good point guard. I can understand Lon wanting to get bigger, but is it at the expense of whatever Woodard can or can't do as a wing? Will running the point affect Isaiah's offense? I think Jordan brings a lot to the table, just not sure what, in this scenario. Maybe an extra ball handler on the court? Now if he starts raining treys and averaging 14 ppg, I may see it..

Well, when the opponent starts sagging off Woodard to clog the passing lanes and denying the the ball to Buddy, especially in late game situations, that is a deal breaker for Kruger. Cousins is more of a vocal leader and defenses are less likely to cheat off him.

Woodard is well seasoned, a good ball handler, and a nice player. He knows the assignments and I would certainly rather have him at the #2 early on than either of the soon to be very good freshmen.

But, if i become aware of any other big changes, i will be happy to get back on here and report that too.

 

[campbest]

I'm unsure about it, but can see the rationale. Without a low post scorer in Thomas' departure, defenses have no incentive to double, which allows them to deny/hedge Cousins and Buddy. Until one of the bigs outside Spangler consistently hits a pick and pop 15ft shot, defenses are going to hedge HARD up top. No inside information, but with the shorter shot clock and increased emphasis on contact up top, Kruger is trying to get the ball in his playmakers hands sooner, push the pace, put pressure on the defense and let his athletes attack the glass. You can even run a nice two man game on Buddy or Cousins' dominant side to mess with the defense.

Sounds like if I'm Woodard, need to spend my entire practice shooting weak-side 3pts, because if the above is true, he is going to get a lot of them.

 

[Stikboy]

Well, when the opponent starts sagging off Woodard to clog the passing lanes and denying the the ball to Buddy, especially in late game situations, that is a deal breaker for Kruger. Cousins is more of a vocal leader and defenses are less likely to cheat off him.

Woodard is well seasoned, a good ball handler, and a nice player. He knows the assignments and I would certainly rather have him at the #2 early on than either of the soon to be very good freshmen.

But, if i become aware of any other big changes, i will be happy to get back on here and report that too.

Thanks. From what you've seen, do you think it's possible that Woodard gets supplanted by James or Odomes in the lineup this year? And, how has Odomes 3pt J looked in practice?

 

[scrybe]

Well, I'll admit that I was wrong when I opined that Jordan would play the point 80-85 percent of the time. Of course, that could still happen somewhere down the line.

I'm like many other posters, I'm somewhat confused by Lon's strategy on this. But he's the coach and I trust him to know what's best for the team. I agree with campbest: Woodward should get plenty of opportunities to shoot open treys. And if he is up to the task, that alone could make this experiment a success.

 

[garyeb2]

Thanks. From what you've seen, do you think it's possible that Woodard gets supplanted by James or Odomes in the lineup this year? And, how has Odomes 3pt J looked in practice?

I am a Woodard fan. I am rooting for him. Campbest explained it better than i could. The #2 guard will have a job to do do. The player that does it best will get it. And besides, Cousins won't play 40 minutes a game. Woodard should get plenty of run at the point and the freshmen guards will get their chances.

 

[bgrch1350]

It makes sense. You need a dynamic PG to go all the way in the tournament. Woodard is a solid player but he's not the PG to take us to the final 4. Cousins is a type of PG that can take us further.

The experiment could always end to. Its all about results. If we win with Cousins at point then it will stay and if we lose then Woodard will be back.

Them moving Woodard as a junior though tells us how bad of a loss it was to lose Pritchard.

 

[Section31]

Cousins is a type of PG that can take us further.

Based on what? Certainly not based on anything he's shown in his college career. I'm going to guess this experiment doesn't last long. IMO, Cousins can't even be an adequate D1 PG. Get ready to be pressed unmercifully. IMO, he's looked like the same ballhandler he's always been. IMO, Kruger is messing with everyone.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Based on what? Certainly not based on anything he's shown in his college career. I'm going to guess this experiment doesn't last long. IMO, Cousins can't even be an adequate D1 PG. Get ready to be pressed unmercifully. IMO, he's looked like the same ballhandler he's always been. IMO, Kruger is messing with everyone.

we will find out soon enough .. Memphis has enough talent to push us

what is strange to me is that Jordan didn't get any back up pg min in ex game 1 .. walker and buddy got them all ..

did Jordan play any point last night???

I guess I can see him not starting at the point ... but how is he not even the back up??

 

[Section31]

we will find out soon enough .. Memphis has enough talent to push us

what is strange to me is that Jordan didn't get any back up pg min in ex game 1 .. walker and buddy got them all ..

did Jordan play any point last night???

I guess I can see him not starting at the point ... but how is he not even the back up??

It is bizarre. I trust LK, so we'll see. There has to be a method to his madness

 

[Sooner04]

Some of you turkeys owe Gary an apology for mocking him following the delivery of the PG transition.

But, as always, IKWT.