JJ Mania

**waterhead** · 01-02-2014, 08:42 PM

It seems like a lot of fans are really high on JJ right now and for good reason. It's not that he just finally put together two back to back good games. He has been on a 5 game tear with good to great play. That is a serious trend developing. I understand he will have to face a few better big men in the future (and on the road) but right now I am optimistic he can play well. We desperately needed at least one additional dimension to SK.

He's been doing just about everything right. Scoring, rebounding, blocking, assisting, stealing, coaching, staying out of foul trouble, predicting, deflecting, leading, playing hard, intimidating, encouraging, playing with intelligence, etc etc etc.

Right now our two best leaders by example, emotionally, and verbally just happen to be our two best AND most experienced players. These are the type of models we want our younger guys to watch and emulate. It's also not bad that our third captain is right behind them in all around stat production, effort and is our best defender.

Plug a crafty, controlled, and clutch TC into this mix along with getting one more player to rise up...this team could be extremely dangerous come March. I know I am getting ahead of myself but these guys seem to be coming together. The D is stifling as usual but the offense has a different dynamic now than what we have been use to.

**waterhead** · 01-02-2014, 09:01 PM

I think we all could have predicted what SK and TR would be contributing but I am not sure we could have predicted how JJ has transformed his game and how TC has already been playing like a veteran.

I think the one thing on a lot of wish lists right now is for Thomas to start playing at the level he was toward the end of last year and hopefully even better. I might add with consistency.

Before the season started I was thinking we would not make the dance. As of right now I have much more optimism. I gotta give a lot of credit to the players but also to Cronin for his recruiting these players and inspiring them to work as hard as they do in games and in off season.

Scheids21 · 01-02-2014, 09:06 PM

18.9 points 9.7 rebounds 3.5 blocks...

Scheids21 · 01-02-2014, 09:09 PM

...those are Kenyon Martin's senior year stats. No, of course Jackson is not on his level. However, his last five games are not far off and I'd like to give the young man credit for the progress he has made. Again, this team will go as he goes this year.

**waterhead** · 01-02-2014, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scheids21

18.9 points 9.7 rebounds 3.5 blocks...

That looks like a K-Mart stat...

**waterhead** · 01-02-2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scheids21

...those are Kenyon Martin's senior year stats. No, of course Jackson is not on his level. However, his last five games are not far off and I'd like to give the young man credit for the progress he has made. Again, this team will go as he goes this year.

Haha...I knew it wasn't JJ but

How does 15.8...10...and 4 (ish) sound in the last 5 games?

Robert · 01-02-2014, 09:14 PM

I'll be happy with 12, 8, and 3 if he can stay out of foul trouble and continue making good decisions on offense.

**waterhead** · 01-02-2014, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

I'll be happy with 12, 8, and 3 if he can stay out of foul trouble and continue making good decisions on offense.

Me too

Bearcat_NTS · 01-02-2014, 09:31 PM

Since his 1 point performance against Xavier here are Jackson's averages:

15.8 points
10.0 rebounds
3.8 blocks
2.4 steals
2.2 assists
Shooting 62.3% from the field (33/53)

Jason Maxiell as a senior averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks on 54.3% shooting.

Eric Hicks as a senior averaged 15.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks on 47.9% shooting.

Yancy Gates as a senior averaged 12.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks on 47.4% shooting.

**waterhead** · 01-02-2014, 09:32 PM

How much fun was it to watch the "clear out" to give JJ space to operate and beat his man? How bad did we need that dimension inside? As of right now JJ has such lightning quick moves for a big man that he can also use that to his advantage for a step fake pull back 10 foot jumper. His shot isn't too bad...but his defenders are going to be worried about getting beat with a spin move or the one dribble baby hook. If it's not there he is also a great passer (sometimes a little too flashy) but he seems to be scaling back the less intelligent plays and fouls.

I think he is finally realizing when he plays 30+ minutes he is a stat stud and Cronin has likely been trying to beat that into his brain. You can see defensively he is making decisions so he can stay on the court.

01-02-2014, 08:42 PM	#1
waterhead Senior Moderator Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 9,298	JJ Mania It seems like a lot of fans are really high on JJ right now and for good reason. It's not that he just finally put together two back to back good games. He has been on a 5 game tear with good to great play. That is a serious trend developing. I understand he will have to face a few better big men in the future (and on the road) but right now I am optimistic he can play well. We desperately needed at least one additional dimension to SK. He's been doing just about everything right. Scoring, rebounding, blocking, assisting, stealing, coaching, staying out of foul trouble, predicting, deflecting, leading, playing hard, intimidating, encouraging, playing with intelligence, etc etc etc. Right now our two best leaders by example, emotionally, and verbally just happen to be our two best AND most experienced players. These are the type of models we want our younger guys to watch and emulate. It's also not bad that our third captain is right behind them in all around stat production, effort and is our best defender. Plug a crafty, controlled, and clutch TC into this mix along with getting one more player to rise up...this team could be extremely dangerous come March. I know I am getting ahead of myself but these guys seem to be coming together. The D is stifling as usual but the offense has a different dynamic now than what we have been use to.

01-02-2014, 09:01 PM	#2
waterhead Senior Moderator Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 9,298	I think we all could have predicted what SK and TR would be contributing but I am not sure we could have predicted how JJ has transformed his game and how TC has already been playing like a veteran. I think the one thing on a lot of wish lists right now is for Thomas to start playing at the level he was toward the end of last year and hopefully even better. I might add with consistency. Before the season started I was thinking we would not make the dance. As of right now I have much more optimism. I gotta give a lot of credit to the players but also to Cronin for his recruiting these players and inspiring them to work as hard as they do in games and in off season.

01-02-2014, 09:06 PM	#3
Scheids21 Epic Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,692	18.9 points 9.7 rebounds 3.5 blocks...

01-02-2014, 09:09 PM	#4
Scheids21 Epic Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,692	...those are Kenyon Martin's senior year stats. No, of course Jackson is not on his level. However, his last five games are not far off and I'd like to give the young man credit for the progress he has made. Again, this team will go as he goes this year.

01-02-2014, 09:14 PM	#7
Robert Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,030	I'll be happy with 12, 8, and 3 if he can stay out of foul trouble and continue making good decisions on offense.

01-02-2014, 09:31 PM	#9
Bearcat_NTS Epic Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: #DumpMick Posts: 7,333	Since his 1 point performance against Xavier here are Jackson's averages: 15.8 points 10.0 rebounds 3.8 blocks 2.4 steals 2.2 assists Shooting 62.3% from the field (33/53) Jason Maxiell as a senior averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks on 54.3% shooting. Eric Hicks as a senior averaged 15.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks on 47.9% shooting. Yancy Gates as a senior averaged 12.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks on 47.4% shooting.

01-02-2014, 09:32 PM	#10
waterhead Senior Moderator Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 9,298	How much fun was it to watch the "clear out" to give JJ space to operate and beat his man? How bad did we need that dimension inside? As of right now JJ has such lightning quick moves for a big man that he can also use that to his advantage for a step fake pull back 10 foot jumper. His shot isn't too bad...but his defenders are going to be worried about getting beat with a spin move or the one dribble baby hook. If it's not there he is also a great passer (sometimes a little too flashy) but he seems to be scaling back the less intelligent plays and fouls. I think he is finally realizing when he plays 30+ minutes he is a stat stud and Cronin has likely been trying to beat that into his brain. You can see defensively he is making decisions so he can stay on the court.