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Post by ignoranus on Feb 12, 2020 7:07:05 GMT -8
Had a double double with 4 assists last night.
His best game ever, I think.
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Post by couldashoulda on Feb 12, 2020 7:08:57 GMT -8
Besides the obvious physical improvement, he's just playing so much smarter. In every game, there seem to be situations where he has the ball and starts steaming down the court. In the past, he kept up that rush no matter how many of their guys were back guarding the basket. Or he would make one of his patented cross-court passes that would often result in a TO. But this year, if he doesn't have numbers or someone he can successfully take to the rim, he backs off and waits for the rest of the team. But his shooting has incredibly improved. 2018-19 FG% 40.5% 3-Pt% 32.8% FT% 75.5% (TOs 1.97/game) 2019-20 FG% 48.6% 3-Pt% 40.5% FT% 86.0% (TOs 1.52/game) If Matt shows the same dedication this coming summer that he did last summer to diet and fitness, I believe he can be one of the best players in college BB next year. THAT could catapult him into NBA draft talk. As of now, he's not on any draft boards (I haven't looked this morning). I think GM's around the league are thinking the same way... "Man, he's getting close...just a bit more lean muscle, and yeah, we'll take a chance on him".
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Post by gigglyforshrigley on Feb 12, 2020 7:12:19 GMT -8
Matt has become one of my favorite all-time Aztecs. Dude plays with a high degree of intensity commensurate with his skill set. He's an on-court leader, and when interviewed on camera speaks with a degree of maturity, humility, and character that speaks to the type of person I wish there were more of in this world. He represents all of us as well as any Aztec possibly could every single time he is given the opportunity to do so. Completely agree with all of this
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Post by sdsu2000 on Feb 12, 2020 7:17:56 GMT -8
Matt has really improved his complete game. Still think there are areas of his game he could improve. Should be 1st Team MW this season.
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Post by longtimebooster on Feb 12, 2020 7:22:50 GMT -8
Nuff said.
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Post by aztec86 on Feb 12, 2020 7:27:21 GMT -8
Nuff said. Ha Ha. Just noticed KJ’s expression in the background. EPIC
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Post by gigglyforshrigley on Feb 12, 2020 7:29:43 GMT -8
It's remarkable how much more athletic he is this year, plus his BB IQ improvements.
I still have no idea how he dunked that. Didn't even take a dribble and cocked it back so far it almost looked awkward. It took me a couple seconds to even realize that the dunk went in and he actually just did that. Best dunk I've ever seen in that arena (been going to the games since it opened)
I think he could be even more dominant if he decided to go one on one with his defender more often too. Every time he gets in a position where he's backing down his opponent in a 1-on-1 situation he ends up getting a great shot in the key on a fade away or his patented spin move for a layup... or his very good midrange.
He's been playing smart and staying within the offense, but I think we should iso him even a little more often, especially when we're struggling on offense
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Post by jdaztec on Feb 12, 2020 7:38:29 GMT -8
He said he didn't even see the defender. He knew what he wanted to do and he dd it. Pity the fool he dunked on.
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Post by csfoster on Feb 12, 2020 7:52:40 GMT -8
He is having a fantastic year!
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Post by DeeMoney on Feb 12, 2020 8:19:56 GMT -8
It's remarkable how much more athletic he is this year, plus his BB IQ improvements.
I still have no idea how he dunked that. Didn't even take a dribble and cocked it back so far it almost looked awkward. It took me a couple seconds to even realize that the dunk went in and he actually just did that. Best dunk I've ever seen in that arena (been going to the games since it opened)
I think he could be even more dominant if he decided to go one on one with his defender more often too. Every time he gets in a position where he's backing down his opponent in a 1-on-1 situation he ends up getting a great shot in the key on a fade away or his patented spin move for a layup... or his very good midrange.
He's been playing smart and staying within the offense, but I think we should iso him even a little more often, especially when we're struggling on offense My thoughts exactly. Watching it live on tv last night my first thought was, 'wait, what? Did that go in?' It was so fast and so awkward that I thought it had to have been a failed attempt. He, like Yanni, is a matchup nightmare.
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Post by montymontezuma on Feb 12, 2020 8:20:55 GMT -8
He is our version of Zion Williamson. He is a matchup nightmare. Fun to watch.
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Post by missiontrails on Feb 12, 2020 8:26:19 GMT -8
Nuff said. Ha Ha. Just noticed KJ’s expression in the background. EPIC Someone with Photoshop skills (that rules me out) needs to insert a little matador cape in the hands of the New Mexico defender (McGee).
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Post by Sdsu4life on Feb 12, 2020 8:30:39 GMT -8
that dunk was insane!! Perhaps the best I've ever seen an Aztec do in a game.... The actual dunk? Yes, maybe. But the Billy White dunk experience was bigger...much much bigger. That arena went insane for that. Also, another one people have forgotten about was when Kawhi ran in front of the scorers table to save a ball, flipped it around his back, one of our guys got it and then tossed it up to Kawhi for a slam - trying to find vid of that right now.
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Post by missiontrails on Feb 12, 2020 8:39:38 GMT -8
that dunk was insane!! Perhaps the best I've ever seen an Aztec do in a game.... The actual dunk? Yes, maybe. But the Billy White dunk experience was bigger...much much bigger. That arena went insane for that. Also, another one people have forgotten about was when Kawhi ran in front of the scorers table to save a ball, flipped it around his back, one of our guys got it and then tossed it up to Kawhi for a slam - trying to find vid of that right now. It was against TCU (the Kawhi play), I tried to find it the other day but couldn't. I know it's out there though, as I saw it a couple years ago.
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Post by aztecfred on Feb 12, 2020 8:46:21 GMT -8
that dunk was insane!! Perhaps the best I've ever seen an Aztec do in a game.... The actual dunk? Yes, maybe. But the Billy White dunk experience was bigger...much much bigger. That arena went insane for that. Also, another one people have forgotten about was when Kawhi ran in front of the scorers table to save a ball, flipped it around his back, one of our guys got it and then tossed it up to Kawhi for a slam - trying to find vid of that right now. The Play by KL was/is my favorite Aztec play EVER! Was shocked they didn't show it at his jersey night?
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Post by TheSanDiegan on Feb 12, 2020 8:51:14 GMT -8
OK, not to gloat, but I do recall getting blasted on this board for suggesting that Matt Mitchell isn't nor should be a sixth man, but rather should be and eventually would be a permanent starter on this team over Schakel. Mensah's injury made the argument moot. However, it was only a matter of time that Mitchell would have cemented himself as a starter anyway. Dude is a stat sheet-filling machine and a match-up nightmare. Never blasted (just disagreed), and yes, his production and his intangibles merit a starting role, no doubt about it. But I still think we're a better team when we have the luxury of bringing that kind of stud - who could be starting for just about any team in the country IMO - off the bench with two legit bigs in the low post, tho I can't help but agree now that if Nathan is able to return to the starting lineup, Matt deserves to get the nod over Shack. Good call.
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Post by twobits on Feb 12, 2020 9:01:26 GMT -8
It seems to me that he is just in the last couple of weeks starting to understand what his new and improved body can do. He's dominant now.
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Post by zollner on Feb 12, 2020 9:02:32 GMT -8
OK, not to gloat, but I do recall getting blasted on this board for suggesting that Matt Mitchell isn't nor should be a sixth man, but rather should be and eventually would be a permanent starter on this team over Schakel. Mensah's injury made the argument moot. However, it was only a matter of time that Mitchell would have cemented himself as a starter anyway. Dude is a stat sheet-filling machine and a match-up nightmare. There are many many coaches that don't start their best 5 players. The coaches prefer to have a spark and match up problem coming off the bench. Why do coaches do this? Lots do it to change the pace of the game, to shift momentum and cause problems for their opponent. Most games the Aztecs are outscored by their opponent's bench, just like last night. You seem to think that a 6th man would not get enough minutes like a starter, not true. A good 6th man is invaluable to a team and a coach. I hope you don't have a sore back from patting yourself so much!
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Post by 12414 on Feb 12, 2020 9:14:33 GMT -8
Nuff said. In the words of Bill Walton: Throw it down, young man!
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Post by longtimebooster on Feb 12, 2020 10:12:31 GMT -8
OK, not to gloat, but I do recall getting blasted on this board for suggesting that Matt Mitchell isn't nor should be a sixth man, but rather should be and eventually would be a permanent starter on this team over Schakel. Mensah's injury made the argument moot. However, it was only a matter of time that Mitchell would have cemented himself as a starter anyway. Dude is a stat sheet-filling machine and a match-up nightmare. There are many many coaches that don't start their best 5 players. The coaches prefer to have a spark and match up problem coming off the bench. Why do coaches do this? Lots do it to change the pace of the game, to shift momentum and cause problems for their opponent. Most games the Aztecs are outscored by their opponent's bench, just like last night. You seem to think that a 6th man would not get enough minutes like a starter, not true. A good 6th man is invaluable to a team and a coach. I hope you don't have a sore back from patting yourself so much! Got it. I know how the sixth man concept works. My point then and my point now is that Mitchell simply isn't a sixth man. He's a starter. And nearly every coach likes to put their best five on the floor first. Mitchell is clearly among the best five. He was likely relegated to sixth-man status the first dozen games of the season because he was coming off having his knee scoped and Schakel was playing slightly better in fall practice. But that's just not the case now. As the ESPN announcer said, "If Flynn isn't the conference POY, then maybe Mitchell is." Sorry if that disturbs you. And don't worry about my back. It's fine.
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