re:A quick review

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

I would agree with many of Jessen's assessments.

>>Baker's quickness has improved by leaps and bounds. His hops seems to have 
improved along with his ability to finish and mobility. We didn't see the 
newborn calf look that was so prevalant last year....<<

 
Very true.  And despite not having any plays run for him he was still able to 
make plays himself and contribute to the team in a meaningful way, which I 
hope marks an end to the excuses and blaming of coaches and teammates we heard 
last season from the Baker apologists.


>>James showed well with ability to shoot the open jumper, ability to pass 
the 
ball ahead and start the break with north/south ability. Showed a veteran's 
poise. He can get the ball down the court under pressure better than Delk but 
looks like he could improve in that area. Likely the starter at PG.....<<

I agree.  James pushed the ball very well and handled the press reasonably 
well.
Unless Marcus has some sort of epiphany between now and then, I expect to see 
James starting at the point.  Delk is a long shot.


>>Banks was a disappointment. He showed his great quickness and dribbling 
ability but showed a lot of rookieness, if I can make up a word. He picked up 
his 
dribble in the back court a couple of times, a high school mistake for a 
point 
guard. He ran away from the ball during the press, a college mistake for a 
point guard. Chauncey schooled him early and often on both offense and 
defense. <<

He picked up his dribble in the backcourt just about every time he was 
pressured.  O'Brien can talk about not having his team ready for pressure and try to 
deflect that criticism, but the fact remains, like Jessen said, that is a 
high school mistake and Banks should know better.  Chances are that college teams 
stayed away from pressing UNLV because of Banks reputation as a speedster.  
Hopefully the kid is a quick learner.
On defense, after his initial pressure on the ball handler which is usually 
very good, it seems he tends to get lazy.
He doesn't fight through picks and he doesn't give much help or pick up the 
open man on rotations.  All things that could limit his playing time as long as 
O'Brien is in charge.


>>Williams/McCarty didn't show anything......<<


I honestly can't remember a single play they were involved in.  Oh wait, I do 
remember Walter fouling someone on a lay-up after the fact, one of his 
favorite plays. 

>>Blount seemed to be the worst of the four centers we had but he was 
starting. 
Didn't show me anything that Obie was raving about. Completely lost on the 
offensive end....<