Griz vs Lewis & Clark State

[mtgrizrule]

I don't think it is necessary to get carried away with diagnosing Will's FT shooting flaws based on one game. Remember, he was vastly improved in this area toward the end of last year.

I agree. Nonetheless, despite of the struggles, I love he is a player I can talk up and enjoy more than bitch about. That says a lot about a player. :thumb:

 

[Evizzerate]

I am on the Selvig bandwagon. His defense at the top with his 16 foot wingspan ( it seems) is just a nightmare for opponents. His court sense and passing may be the best on the team. When Selvig finds settles down on his perimeter shooting he will be " scary good" .
This is going to be a fun year but with a tough schedule to start and lots of new guys we can't hung up on record. We could also surprise some folks.
On a personal note, I have an chance to sit courtside with a freind at UCLA. He's a 30 year Bruin booster season ticket holder. Damn,, don't know if I can shell out the airfare right now.

 

[mtgrizrule]

I am on the Selvig bandwagon. His defense at the top with his 16 foot wingspan ( it seems) is just a nightmare for opponents. His court sense and passing may be the best on the team. When Selvig finds settles down on his perimeter shooting he will be " scary good" .
This is going to be a fun year but with a tough schedule to start and lots of new guys we can't hung up on record. We could also surprise some folks.
On a personal note, I have an chance to sit courtside with a freind at UCLA. He's a 30 year Bruin booster season ticket holder. Damn,, don't know if I can shell out the airfare right now.

If you are even near a major city, flight should be cheap. I would do it!!! :thumb:

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

I don't think it is necessary to get carried away with diagnosing Will's FT shooting flaws based on one game. Remember, he was vastly improved in this area toward the end of last year.

I guess shooting 58 - 106 (54.7%) is a vast improvement over how Cherry shot freethrows in the lewis & Clark game. Cherry shot 60.3% in conference (his last 5 games he shot only 60%), but I guess 60% is a vast improvement over the 46% he shot in non-conference at the freethrow line. it is still crappy shooting at the line and still will lose some games the Griz should have won.

With the way he goes to the basket a lot, he is going to be fouled quite often. He will need to improve his freethrow shooting much better then 60%, because if he doesn't, other teams will foul him before he even gets the line, become more physical with him as long as the team has a player not in foul trouble. Instead of hack a shaq, it could become hack a cherry.

I would like to see cherry improve that 60% to 70% this year from the line. 60% is crappy, 70% is at least respectable. for all practical purposes, the game against Lewis and Clark didn't exist when it comes to statistics. Time for him to forget it.

 

[Growler1]

Growler, believe me, I wish I could break his shot down to the basics too. I seen some obvious fundamental flaws last season. I only listened to the LC State game, but cannot wait to see him play to see what is going on now.

I have coached players that work on shooting very hard, and listen to their coaches. There are some players get so caught up in getting better, they mentally just do not get over it. Fortunately, Cherry is a guard and not a big with the same problem. Seriously, some bigs have too big of hands to make improvement more challenging (see Shaq). I am sure Cherry works hard and wants to get over it, it will take some time though, at this stage I am sure much of the battle is mentally.

He improved last year as the year progressed. Based on Tinkle's and Will's comments after the game, it sounds to me they know where the main problem is. His desire to succeed combined with his competitiveness works against him. A big part of this is him learning how to harness his emotions when he struggles. To be honest, other than his shooting (perimeter and FT) this guy is as a complete PG as the GRIZ can ask for. Physically he has an NBA ceiling. He also has that rare "IT" factor. I have a feeling he will improve his shooting, and when he does he will dominate the BSC and make waves nationally too.

Cherry is a flat out "baller". As ugly as his shooting looks, I love watching this kid play. His defense is the best I have seen in years, especially in the BSC. His leadership and confidence is off the charts. Providing he continues the path he is heading, and gets his FT shooting to 60% plus, I will not be surprised to see him get a legit shot in the NBA.

Speaking of pro ball, Mslacat might be right, Qvale has an outside shot for his size. If Qvale can put up double doubles and show some more offensive consistency, he could be in an NBA camp next year. I remember mslacat posting that one time, I really questioned it, but it looks like Qvale is rounding out to be a pretty damn good big man.

His shooting flaws on free throws are pretty fundamental. He needs to hold the ball more with finger tips, rather than the palm. He needs to put more arc on his flat shot. Finally, and most important, he needs to bend his knees and rise up from a bent potion as he shoots, causing the shot momentum to be towards the rim, and allowing him to follow-through properly.

 

[GrizWhiz]

Growler, believe me, I wish I could break his shot down to the basics too. I seen some obvious fundamental flaws last season. I only listened to the LC State game, but cannot wait to see him play to see what is going on now.

I have coached players that work on shooting very hard, and listen to their coaches. There are some players get so caught up in getting better, they mentally just do not get over it. Fortunately, Cherry is a guard and not a big with the same problem. Seriously, some bigs have too big of hands to make improvement more challenging (see Shaq). I am sure Cherry works hard and wants to get over it, it will take some time though, at this stage I am sure much of the battle is mentally.

He improved last year as the year progressed. Based on Tinkle's and Will's comments after the game, it sounds to me they know where the main problem is. His desire to succeed combined with his competitiveness works against him. A big part of this is him learning how to harness his emotions when he struggles. To be honest, other than his shooting (perimeter and FT) this guy is as a complete PG as the GRIZ can ask for. Physically he has an NBA ceiling. He also has that rare "IT" factor. I have a feeling he will improve his shooting, and when he does he will dominate the BSC and make waves nationally too.

Cherry is a flat out "baller". As ugly as his shooting looks, I love watching this kid play. His defense is the best I have seen in years, especially in the BSC. His leadership and confidence is off the charts. Providing he continues the path he is heading, and gets his FT shooting to 60% plus, I will not be surprised to see him get a legit shot in the NBA.

Speaking of pro ball, Mslacat might be right, Qvale has an outside shot for his size. If Qvale can put up double doubles and show some more offensive consistency, he could be in an NBA camp next year. I remember mslacat posting that one time, I really questioned it, but it looks like Qvale is rounding out to be a pretty damn good big man.

His shooting flaws on free throws are pretty fundamental. He needs to hold the ball more with finger tips, rather than the palm. He needs to put more arc on his flat shot. Finally, and most important, he needs to bend his knees and rise up from a bent potion as he shoots, causing the shot momentum to be towards the rim, and allowing him to follow-through properly.

growler- did you watch the game?

 

[montanatarheel]

biggest flaw in his mechanics is, he needs to tuck his elbow in.

 

[GrizWhiz]

biggest flaw in his mechanics is, he needs to tuck his elbow in.

tarheel- did you watch the game?

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

biggest flaw in his mechanics is, he needs to tuck his elbow in.

tarheel- did you watch the game?

Don't need to watch the game when a player shoots the ball 14 times and has the ball go in 2 times to know that there are mechanic issues. (2 for 6 from the floor, 0 for 8 from the FREE throw line) He left a lot of points off the board, anything close to that performance will likely down the Griz from here on out.

I'm a big fan of Cherry though, like we all are. The season (next 3) is going rest a lot on Cherry, so we are all pulling for him to put it in the bucket. He is a tremendous athlete. He has great great speed and agility, a great defender and leader. He has demonstrated it all thus far in his young college career, except a shooters touch. Guess he can't have that too, otherwise he would have ended up Pac 10 or the such. Here's to hoping he does develop a shot, because if he does, lookout bigtime! :thumb:

GO GRIZ

 

[GrizWhiz]

You need to watch the game if you are going to critique his mechanics (i.e. probably a good idea to see what he is doing before offering "helpful hints") :thumb:

 

[montanatarheel]

I did watch the game and while it is obvious he has worked on his form his shooting elbow still sticks out to much. needs to get his elbow more vertical. Raymond felton went through the same thing in his time at carolina. when he came in his form left a lot to be desired shooting elbow stuck almost straight out. shot low 30% from 3 as a freshman and soph and left as a junior as a 45% 3ball shooter. they had very similar form and once ray got his elbow to tuck in consistency went through the roof.

I am however not woried will is the type of player that doesnt rest on these things. and WILL be much better than last year.

 

[mtgrizrule]

You need to watch the game if you are going to critique his mechanics (i.e. probably a good idea to see what he is doing before offering "helpful hints") :thumb:

I am glad you asked, I was about to ask myself. I did not critique or offer suggestions because I have yet to see him play this season. Does not make sense to offer suggestions or fixes without seeing for yourself. :thumb:

Based on what I seen last year, inconsistent shooting was from too much upper body movement. In turn causing inconsistent releases, trajectory, weight distribution, and ball rotation. Last year, his footwork and balance started of solid, but needed some slight adjustments. He did have less upper body movement by season's end, and noticeable progress. Over the off season, I was told he worked on his shot a lot. As to if that is true or not, your guess is as good as mine.

If I see more smoothness/fluidity, less ball and upper body movement, I will believe he has worked on it, and knows what he needs to work on more. Until I can see for myself, I cannot evaluate or determine that. I have worked with many players from young kids through HS with shooting fundamentals. I have worked with a few that could stroke their FT's and perimeter shots very well in practice, but come game time they tensed up way too much and never did overcome the mental part during game action. (some players are just geared that way in some sports at one fundamental or the other.)

Coaches can only do so much to help, the rest is up to the player. Andrew Strait is a good example of a minor technique problem causing inconsistent FT shooting, and to date I wonder why he never changed it. All Strait had to do was stay on his toes through his release. He almost always fell back from his toes to his heels just as he released or too soon after release. He was very close to being a very good FT shooter, but it never happened. Why? again your guess as good as mine. I watched Strait in person his whole time at Montana, it was easy to evaluate. Since then, I no longer have that luxury. I guarantee I will be paying very close attention in person and online when I do see Cherry play. I just wish I could see him and the GRIZ every home game again. :thumb:

I too believe Cherry and the coaches will get his shot to par in time. :thumb: