These two guys have been the difference over the last four games.
During this stretch Drayton is averaging 10.3 pts. and 6.5 rebounds per game while going 15-21 from the FT line.
Also during this 4 game win streak, Mitchell has 20 assists and only 4 turnovers.
Four turnovers total against four teams that really get after it defensively (Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston and DePaul) is unreal.
Only thing that worried me about Mitch the last few games is so few points (or even shots taken). Just had to wonder if his shoulder bothered him.
But as of last night, seems like it’s fine (he drove to the hoop, just missed a lot).
You’re right - only 4 TOs out of any starting PG is killer.
Think Mitch has lost a little confidence in his outside shot…but good to see him taking it to the hoop. And HOW ABOUT THAT JAM…HE’S GOT AN AWESOME VERTICAL!!
Whatever confidence he has “lost” it hasn’t stopped him from shooting the 3. Drayton has really progressed this season into a excellent source of energy and points off the bench.
I agree these guys have played better. But it’s hard to overlook Eddie and CW. Last 4 games:
Eddie - 17 pts, 10rebs, 5 assist, 4 steals
CW - 23pts, 8rebs
Plus Mitch did guard Diener most of the night, Mejia went 2 for 11.
Mitch guarded him? <_< He ran his ass off chasing Diener but Diener was on in the 2nd half.
I love Mitch but Diener was a tough matchup for him. Watching him makes me know how teams feel when they guard Plavich when he’s on.
Plavich guarded Diener most of the night. Mitch spent a good bit of time on Seals and Eddie guarded Mejia most of the night.
Curt is possible a better defender than Eddie, it’s a tough call.
However, you expect Eddie and Curt to bring it every night and have big games. Mitch and EJ are doing the extra things that are taking our team to the next level. I have been critical of EJ, but he’s rebounding well, scoring well and playing smarter with the ball.
Lefty, I agree with your assessment of him earlier in the season now. He still has a little of that Butter in him, but he’s moved far out of Curtis Nash territory, because he wants to win.
[i]Originally posted by switchfoot[/i]@Feb 17 2005, 11:30 PM [b] Mitch guarded him? <_< He ran his ass off chasing Diener but Diener was on in the 2nd half.I love Mitch but Diener was a tough matchup for him. Watching him makes me know how teams feel when they guard Plavich when he’s on. [/b]
The reason Mitch and Eddie spend so much time chasing players is that coach runs defensive sets to make up for other players. Eddie will sometimes guard 3 players on one possession. Eddie only really shines when he gets to play man to man, because he’s not stuck rotating to people left open by other guys falling off on screens or missing their assignments.
Mitch was on Diener most of the second half when he went off. Yes there was a height difference, but the point I was trying to make was Eddie did a better job on his man than Mitch.
And yes, you expect Eddie and CW to bring it every night, but I also expect Mitch to bring it every night too. Maybe we do expect CW to bring it but not 39point and 14boards against StL bring it. Plus, at the beginning of the season nobody would have said that Eddie would be Conference Player of the Year. Can’t hold Eddie’s and CW’s performance against them.
Eddie is a better defender than Mitch, but you may be right about Mitch on Diener in the second half. Wish I could go back and watch the game tape.
However, I still think Pi makes a very valid point. CW and EB are your best guys, you expect them to play outstanding, but Mitch and EJ have been playing at another level as well. I have believed for a long time that Nance should be starting, but EJ is certainly earning a starting position in my mind. Regardless, Nance and EJ should both see more minutes than Iti. We are a better team with him on the bench.
The whole team is flat out playing better. BP is hot or cold, that’s the way it goes with guys who shoot from 25’.
However, EJ does look like he’s becoming more and more acclimated to this level of play. I wish he could finish in close but hopefully that will come too.
[i]Originally posted by Normmm[/i]@Feb 17 2005, 11:27 PM [b] I agree these guys have played better. But it's hard to overlook Eddie and CW. Last 4 games:Eddie - 17 pts, 10rebs, 5 assist, 4 steals
CW - 23pts, 8rebsPlus Mitch did guard Diener most of the night, Mejia went 2 for 11. [/b]
Furthermore, it takes a novice basketball fan to not understand what was happening with Diener.
Mitch was on him a lot but it was clear that Lutz decided to not help on him. They ran Diener off double screens all night and not even Superman can stay with a guy that is being worked like that.
Lutz had clearly decided that he would not try to switch off those screens and would let Depaul and Diener try to beat them with threes instead of getting torched down low because of mismatches and blown switches.
It was a pretty good plan because if we executed better offensively, we should have beat them by double digits. It is tough for a team to go on the road and win shooting threes. It rarely happens. Remember Temple came to Halton and hit 19 of them and lost.
[i]Originally posted by Powerbait[/i]@Feb 17 2005, 11:32 PM [b] Lefty, I agree with your assessment of him earlier in the season now. He still has a little of that Butter in him, but he's moved far out of Curtis Nash territory, because he wants to win. [/b]Are you talking about Iti or EJ? I forget what I said. :o
[i]Originally posted by LeftyNiner+Feb 18 2005, 08:59 AM-->
[b]QUOTE[/b] (LeftyNiner @ Feb 18 2005, 08:59 AM)
Coach really likes EJ, you can tell by his comments.
I would have to say that the four of them, Withers, EJ, Eddie and Iti, they don’t mind giving the ball up and making that one extra pass, they really play well as a team. In fact it seems as if Coach has had to tell them to stop looking for the next pass and go to the hole.
[i]Originally posted by 49erpi+Feb 18 2005, 09:51 AM-->
[b]QUOTE[/b] (49erpi @ Feb 18 2005, 09:51 AM)
I hope EJ is back 100% on Wednesday night…since he didn’t practice Monday due to food poisoning! We definitely need 100% out of him!
[i]Originally posted by metuncc[/i]@Feb 22 2005, 11:42 AM [b] I hope EJ is back 100% on Wednesday night...since he didn't practice Monday due to food poisoning! We definitely need 100% out of him! [/b]I work with EJ's mom and she said he is fine. Don't worry.
I agree with whomever said it was Curt and Basden, that has been the real difference.
Basden is the heart and soul of the team, he goes down we go down.
Drayton is ok on affense terible on defense. Drayton does shoot ft’s well.
I also say forget ITI start Nance please.
I’m really impressed with EJ, he started off the year looking a little like butter johnson but now he has assumed his role, which he has realized on a team with eddie, curt and plav, he dosen’t have to be any more than a complimentary scorer this year. What he has done is grab rebounds, especially lately and right on time considering Iti is getting worse. Both EJ and Nance were great finds, hard workers who relish their role, I believe they will be our heart and soul next year with plav and eddie gone.