What each player needs to tweak this summer...
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 4:05 pm
There's plenty of other threads for who should come and who should go, so let's forget about that here. What are reasonable expectations for our principal players to improve upon over the summer? Skip the fantasies of Cole becoming an elite defender, Isaac being healthy, Fultz developing a high-level 3pt shot, etc. Assuming we're running it back, what are realistic offseason priorities and/or targeted improvements by player? Obviously, all should be working on basic skills, but what should their "mission" be?
I'll start...
Suggs - just keep shooting. His improvement has been significant...if he matches it next year, his numbers will be approaching elite efficiency. I don't think that level of improvement is likely, but it just shows how significant his jump was this season.
Cole - open runs as a PG. Just refining his team-first decisions. Making players around him better. Walk in the gym with a plan to take what the game gives him with an emphasis on setting others up to score.
Fultz - learn to use that physicality and strength to draw contact and finish through it. Considering his excellent ability to move thru traffic while protecting the ball and going hard to the hoop, he should really be getting to the line (literally) twice as much as he does now. There's got to be effective drills to help develop that tendency...maybe, due to his injuries, he's learned to avoid significant contact with great body control...now he needs to seek it out when the matchups favor him. He's really clever on the court - I think he see a lot of little things. He needs to turn his skillset even further towards his strengths and pick up freebies from the line and more assists when defenses collapse on him.
Franz - I'm sure it's all subtle refinements with such a complete young player but I'd really like to see him up his "hunting of 3 pt shots". He's a really good shooter and his tendency is to ball fake and drive the majority of the time. He's an elite finisher at the rim and routinely extends beyond defenders and lays it in with a variety of touches and angles...I'd like to see him just step right into 3's when he receives a kick out pass rather than just pump fake and start the offense over. He certainly shoots 3's now, but I think he could hoist a lot more if he's thinking of them first.
WCJ - same as Franz. Stop pump-faking and passing up open shots. He has progressed significantly as a confident shooter and I'd hope he continues. I don't want or expect him to turn into Bamba and hang out on the perimeter, but he does pass up open threes and he's capable of making more, IMO. Everything is not about threes for him and Franz, but a few more points per game from the perimeter will only enhance both of their overall games by keeping defenders on their heels.
Harris - he is what he is and he knows what he brings...I just wish he'd be a little LESS selective and inject just a little bit of TRoss into his offensive mentality. He knows he's a solid spot up guy and that's what he should do, but maybe a little more effort running defenders into picks, etc and rolling into quicker shots.
Schofield, MCW, and Kevon - insane cardio. The only thing they bring is defensive intensity and they need to be able to go full-speed every minute they are out there...or they won't be out there. Also, one reliable spot-up location. PJ Tucker is not a good 3pt shooter, or shooter in general, but he's over 40% on corner 3's. Role players - just find your one or two things and master them.
M. Wagner - I really don't know how much defensive coaching you can do beyond a certain age...but he's a clever player and he's fearless. He does those little things to clear lanes for others and box out so others can get boards. I'd like to think he could maybe integrate a few more little 'dirty tricks' into his defensive game and up his 2-way value.
Banchero - move better without the ball. Learn what to do when you don't have the ball in your hands. He's still very young, despite his accomplishments and size...you can often find him disengaged if he doesn't have the ball. Defensive rebounding principles and offensive support play principles...all teachable.
I really don't know what's up with Okeke and Houstan and I don't really have great faith in Bol...but he does seem earnest about it. Maybe 8 hrs a day of basketball principles and drills....just getting him to learn the subtleties of the game more and how to contribute other than dribbling full-court and crashing towards the hoop. Who knows?
Again, not talking miracles or dreams here...just 10% improvement each.
I'll start...
Suggs - just keep shooting. His improvement has been significant...if he matches it next year, his numbers will be approaching elite efficiency. I don't think that level of improvement is likely, but it just shows how significant his jump was this season.
Cole - open runs as a PG. Just refining his team-first decisions. Making players around him better. Walk in the gym with a plan to take what the game gives him with an emphasis on setting others up to score.
Fultz - learn to use that physicality and strength to draw contact and finish through it. Considering his excellent ability to move thru traffic while protecting the ball and going hard to the hoop, he should really be getting to the line (literally) twice as much as he does now. There's got to be effective drills to help develop that tendency...maybe, due to his injuries, he's learned to avoid significant contact with great body control...now he needs to seek it out when the matchups favor him. He's really clever on the court - I think he see a lot of little things. He needs to turn his skillset even further towards his strengths and pick up freebies from the line and more assists when defenses collapse on him.
Franz - I'm sure it's all subtle refinements with such a complete young player but I'd really like to see him up his "hunting of 3 pt shots". He's a really good shooter and his tendency is to ball fake and drive the majority of the time. He's an elite finisher at the rim and routinely extends beyond defenders and lays it in with a variety of touches and angles...I'd like to see him just step right into 3's when he receives a kick out pass rather than just pump fake and start the offense over. He certainly shoots 3's now, but I think he could hoist a lot more if he's thinking of them first.
WCJ - same as Franz. Stop pump-faking and passing up open shots. He has progressed significantly as a confident shooter and I'd hope he continues. I don't want or expect him to turn into Bamba and hang out on the perimeter, but he does pass up open threes and he's capable of making more, IMO. Everything is not about threes for him and Franz, but a few more points per game from the perimeter will only enhance both of their overall games by keeping defenders on their heels.
Harris - he is what he is and he knows what he brings...I just wish he'd be a little LESS selective and inject just a little bit of TRoss into his offensive mentality. He knows he's a solid spot up guy and that's what he should do, but maybe a little more effort running defenders into picks, etc and rolling into quicker shots.
Schofield, MCW, and Kevon - insane cardio. The only thing they bring is defensive intensity and they need to be able to go full-speed every minute they are out there...or they won't be out there. Also, one reliable spot-up location. PJ Tucker is not a good 3pt shooter, or shooter in general, but he's over 40% on corner 3's. Role players - just find your one or two things and master them.
M. Wagner - I really don't know how much defensive coaching you can do beyond a certain age...but he's a clever player and he's fearless. He does those little things to clear lanes for others and box out so others can get boards. I'd like to think he could maybe integrate a few more little 'dirty tricks' into his defensive game and up his 2-way value.
Banchero - move better without the ball. Learn what to do when you don't have the ball in your hands. He's still very young, despite his accomplishments and size...you can often find him disengaged if he doesn't have the ball. Defensive rebounding principles and offensive support play principles...all teachable.
I really don't know what's up with Okeke and Houstan and I don't really have great faith in Bol...but he does seem earnest about it. Maybe 8 hrs a day of basketball principles and drills....just getting him to learn the subtleties of the game more and how to contribute other than dribbling full-court and crashing towards the hoop. Who knows?
Again, not talking miracles or dreams here...just 10% improvement each.
