Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

[Maverick008]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

The Big 12 has devised defenses to stop Trea. They have no choice because they will lose if they don't slow him down. Trea has tried to overpower those defenses and 1 vs 5 basketball is tough. All he has to do is get back under control and let the game come to him and take better advantage of the flaws in those overloaded defenses. He has excellent ability to do that.

I don't disagree that Big 12 teams have worked harder at least to slow him down a little after getting a little film on shutting down Trae's early tendencies. However, the consensus is to harp on the others for help but each game right now looks like the last to me offensively. Personally I feel like it would help Trae and the team overall if Lon and the staff threw other looks at the opposing teams offensively throughout the game.

Put Shep at the point with Trae at the two for a few mins....have trae give it up early and run through some screens without the ball looking for a shot instead of running around the court just to come back to the top of the key to get the ball back without really looking for a shot.... have him run some more back door cuts after passes....etc... instead of 4 low, high ball screen and roll, rinse and repeat. I'm not saying to never do it, but mix other things in like we did on defense last game just to give the occasional "other" look.

Also, this has probably already been said, but get back to wanting to push every possession. Don't let the other team get comfortable. I get that it takes a lot of of you to play that style (it takes it out of them as well) but why prepare for it that way all off season and during the non conference schedule just to shut it down when you get to conference because you lose once or twice? OU was generating a LOT easier offense (see the first OSU game) than they are right now. Get back to what was working early on. That style itself made the guys be more unselfish.

Just my thoughts

 

[SoonerinNC]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Yes some posters object vigorously to any criticism about Trae and I sort of understand their feeling. But while watching him play like he has played the last few games while artistic and pleasing to the eye doesn't always win the tougher games.

A good offense has good player movement and good ball movement. We haven't had either the last few games. Trae is in charge out there. He has to make that happen. When he does we will be capable beating a lot of top teams.

 

[oketex]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Guys I know when I post what I'm about to say some of you are going to want to take me behind the wood shed and kick the crap out of me but here goes.

I have been around basketball for a very long time, I officiated in the Big 10, SWC, MO Valley and small school for over 25 years, I was fortunate to see Pistol Pete play vs UCLA, what a player, I was even lucky enough to work one of Larry Bird's games, so I have seen some great ball players. OU is lucky to have Mr. Young on our team and I'm happy he plays for us instead of KU or OSwho but with that said, here goes load your shot guns, we need Mr. Young to play as a Team Player instead of a One Man Show.

Now think back to the first 10 or 12 games, because of Mr. Young's play everyone was involved in the game, he made his points and most important he had few turnovers and a lot of assists. Look at the last five games, yes teams are playing him close but he is taking the majority of the shots, his assists are down and turnovers up. I think Saturday he took 38 or 39 shots which takes the rest of the team our of the game. When he was passing the ball everyone was looking for the ball and everyone seem to take pride in what they were doing but lately Mr. Young appears to want all the glory, he gives off the appearance the game is about him. Some of this is because of the positive press some may not be but if OU is going to be successful Mr. Young needs to get back to involving the entire team in the game and when that happens he will still get his points, his turnovers will go down and his assists will go up and OU will WIN as a team.

Just and "Old Man's" opinion

oketex

 

[skyvue]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Now think back to the first 10 or 12 games, because of Mr. Young's play everyone was involved in the game, he made his points and most important he had few turnovers and a lot of assists. Look at the last five games, yes teams are playing him close but he is taking the majority of the shots, his assists are down and turnovers up. I think Saturday he took 38 or 39 shots which takes the rest of the team our of the game. When he was passing the ball everyone was looking for the ball and everyone seem to take pride in what they were doing but lately Mr. Young appears to want all the glory, he gives off the appearance the game is about him. Some of this is because of the positive press some may not be but if OU is going to be successful Mr. Young needs to get back to involving the entire team in the game and when that happens he will still get his points, his turnovers will go down and his assists will go up and OU will WIN as a team.

The rest of the team also needs to get back to hitting their shots. It's not either/or. His teammates are too often not getting the job done for much of the game, so at some point, he feels his taking over is the only shot the team has (and he's been right about that at least a few times).

I have no problem with critiquing his play -- he's a freshman playing D1 ball; of course there's room for improvement. But putting all or even most of the blame on him when the rest of the team is struggling is ironic.

 

[oudna]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Toby Rowland is blasting said fans for dogging Trae!

Get to twitter and take a look.

No one should’ve been “dogging” Trae

Though the team and Trae needed to reassess their MO

Glad they did!

 

[sooner8693]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

makes me sad that he feels the need to defend himself. I guess thats just par for the course when you get such notoriety - but still sad. You can tell it hurts him. I hope he knows some fans have his back.

Agree. He is a 19 year old YOUNG man. It is not right for that much weight and pressure be put on him. Let him play the game and not carry the weight of the college basketball world on his shoulders.

 

[thebigabd]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Agree. He is a 19 year old YOUNG man. It is not right for that much weight and pressure be put on him. Let him play the game and not carry the weight of the college basketball world on his shoulders.

Give me a break...... He's in the spotlight now. He's a professional player amongst amateurs. His dad was a big time athlete. He has been prepped for this for a long time. The attention he is getting now will help him as a professional.

We send 18-19 year olds to fight wars, die, get seriously injured, etc.... This guy is playing basketball, prepping to become extremely wealthy, and being famous. Let's have some perspective here.

 

[coolm]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

have some perspective?

we're talking about a 19 year old. I think you're the one who needs to have some perspective abd.

Listening to Trae after the game last night makes it very clear that he's still a kid. very. A nice kid, but still a kid.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Give me a break...... He's in the spotlight now. He's a professional player amongst amateurs. His dad was a big time athlete. He has been prepped for this for a long time. The attention he is getting now will help him as a professional.

We send 18-19 year olds to fight wars, die, get seriously injured, etc.... This guy is playing basketball, prepping to become extremely wealthy, and being famous. Let's have some perspective here.

:ez-roll: you off your meds bro?

 

[skyvue]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Give me a break...... He's in the spotlight now. He's a professional player amongst amateurs. His dad was a big time athlete. He has been prepped for this for a long time. The attention he is getting now will help him as a professional.

We send 18-19 year olds to fight wars, die, get seriously injured, etc.... This guy is playing basketball, prepping to become extremely wealthy, and being famous. Let's have some perspective here.

No one's saying he won't benefit, in many ways, from what he's experiencing this season, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Fame carries with it its own challenges and difficulties, and when it comes to you when you're 18 and trying to play basketball (and take care of your academic requirements), I'm sure it can be trying at times.

I've not experienced fame (much less fortune) firsthand but I've experienced it secondhand and it can definitely be a double-edged sword.

 

[opsooner]

I like what Trae said in the presser last night. He basically said he was just being too aggressive in the past two games and needed to just be competitive but let the game come to him. I think he hit the nail on the head.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[scrybe]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Listening to Trae after the game last night makes it very clear that he's still a kid. very. A nice kid, and a very polite kid, but still a kid.

"Thank you, Miss Holly Rowe."

 

[thebigabd]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

:ez-roll: you off your meds bro?

Come on, man!

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

"Thank you, Miss Holly Rowe."

I was so proud of the way he handled himself in that interview! Trae Young is so special, there may never be another like him!!!

 

[coolm]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

"Thank you, Miss Holly Rowe."

yeah. you can tell his folks raised him to be a respectful young man. it's so nice to see that. he will be an excellent ambassador for whatever team is lucky enough to get him in the league.

 

[skyvue]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

I was so proud of the way he handled himself in that interview! Trae Young is so special, there may never be another like him!!!

I don't know if there's any way to access it now, but I was very impressed with Odomes' postgame interview on the radio. So respectful, so eager to share credit with and express support for his teammates -- we've got some great kids in the program right now.

 

[scrybe]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

I don't know if there's any way to access it now, but I was very impressed with Odomes' postgame interview on the radio. So respectful, so eager to share credit with and express support for his teammates -- we've got some great kids in the program right now.

It's like our players are an extension of our coach. I can't help but believe that Kruger is looking for this type of kid when he recruits to OU.

 

[coolm]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

It's like our players are an extension of our coach. I can't help but believe that Kruger is looking for this type of kid when he recruits to OU.

great point. If I didnt believe this I would have issues with CJ. But I trust Lon's evaluation of character.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

It's like our players are an extension of our coach. I can't help but believe that Kruger is looking for this type of kid when he recruits to OU.

I thought the poise they showed throughout the game was a reflection of Coach Kruger, as well.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Re: Young: "I'm going to be playing a little different from now on" | AP

Kruger has long exasperated many here by his coaching style of letting player play their way out of circumstances that most coaches would micro-manage with time-outs and instruction. However it has been my observation that come seasons end Kurgers kids tend to play much better in tight situations as a result of having learned on their own to get themselves back on even keel. Kruger just has a different way to skin the cat while teaching his team how to deal with circumstances in tight games.

Sometimes it cost us a win like it did in Stoolwater. But is could also warrant us an extra win or two in the NCAA's.