In Reply to: Game thoughts posted by TheHappyBurgermeister on December 18, 2025 at 11:39:04
thoughts built on thoughts (yours, HB)
Dailey is, at this point, a total ball stopper. His head is on hero ball - "What can I do to carry my load and lift the team??" What wins is TEAM offense as well as TEAM defense. We're doing well with the latter and sometimes with the former. Sadly we're doing better in terms of team offense when Dent is on the bench.
In pure numbers.
Dent's confidence is rising and he led the team in scoring - great stuff - but Kris Johnson points out this morning that we did far better when he was out than when he was in. Our key runs happened when he sat - his penetration is great and he needs to be a threat to score so teams respect him, but when he focuses in his drive to trying to score the ball himself, the TEAM produces fewer positive results than when he sits and it's Perry out there with Clark.
Same with Dailey - lack of energy on defense the last couple games and complete ball stopper on offense.
Cronin said post game that we need more help from the 3 and 5 spots. Brown is - as you note - a dynamite three point shooter with David Singleton's feel for what makes for a good shot; Brandon Williams fights hard and does exactly what his HC feels is needed at any time. Right now they are better answers on the floor than is Dailey.
If Dailey can regain his game and fit back into the team concept - moving the ball and joining the team choreography to create and find the best shot for the team, no matter who will take it - he most definitely raises the team's ceiling. But right now, he's not an answer out there.
The five spot is much harder to see getting solved. Booker came - as he noted aloud a number of times - seeking to expand his game in the post to elevate his career options. That's a total rework from the approach he's had his entire life. It's most likely a multi-year process. We need to see results in another month or two. Big ask.
Jamerson's game is hard working physical. He must learn to play without fouling all the time. Throwing his body around is what got him this far but it is also what is sending him to the bench so he's unable to help us at the five by late in the first halves of games. He may or may not be able to get over that hump mentally or physically in this single season.
We must have at least one of the two accomplish that transition to make us a contender this season. If not, it's like last year all over again but with more parts in the back court.
Cronin has a helluva job - building players' confidence - especially Dent's - while also changing their game focus - with Dent that's assists and defense - without hurting their confidence all over again. It seems to be working with Dent on defense
We've noted, several of us, that the men's team this season is most interesting. That is certainly not entirely a wonderful thing..