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Post by sleepy on Feb 17, 2020 9:45:23 GMT -8
Some thoughts rattling around in my otherwise-empty dome:
1) Fish and Dutch always said that when J.J. O'Brien left, we would really miss his impact the following season; That he did all the little things that helped us win, but we just didn't see them. I had wondered at the time what it would be like to have an entire "team of J.J. O'Briens". I think this team is as close as we will ever get to knowing.
2) We are all rolling our eyes at this point whenever the announcers tell us how Matt Mitchell lost 25 pounds during the off-season to become the player he is. Can anybody else think of an Aztec who, while on-campus -- through either strong suggestion from the coaching staff or through self-reflection -- turned his underperforming body through force of will into an absolutely dominant weapon of the game?
Answer: Stephen Strasburg
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Post by longtimebooster on Feb 17, 2020 11:05:19 GMT -8
Some thoughts rattling around in my otherwise-empty dome: 1) Fish and Dutch always said that when J.J. O'Brien left, we would really miss his impact the following season; That he did all the little things that helped us win, but we just didn't see them. I had wondered at the time what it would be like to have an entire "team of J.J. O'Briens". I think this team is as close as we will ever get to knowing. If someone had an entire team of J.J. O'Briens, they'd score 40 points a game. I loved J.J.'s ability to pass, rebound, hustle, run the court, play tenacious D, and play in the paint. But the dude flat out couldn't shoot. He was career 60% from the FT line and 24% from beyond the arc. This team does all the little things J.J. did, plus they can shoot. |
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Post by aztecfred on Feb 17, 2020 11:09:37 GMT -8
Where is JJ
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Post by Pasadenaztec on Feb 17, 2020 11:37:52 GMT -8
Speaking of eye-rolling, another one that gets on my nerves is when the announcers start talking about Nathan Mensah being out, then the camera will pan to the bench and show someone on the team other than him.
Before, it was Aguek Arop, and now yesterday they showed Joel Mensah, instead of Nathan....ARRGGHH!!
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Post by K2Aztec73 on Feb 17, 2020 11:55:01 GMT -8
Some thoughts rattling around in my otherwise-empty dome: 1) Fish and Dutch always said that when J.J. O'Brien left, we would really miss his impact the following season; That he did all the little things that helped us win, but we just didn't see them. I had wondered at the time what it would be like to have an entire "team of J.J. O'Briens". I think this team is as close as we will ever get to knowing. If someone had an entire team of J.J. O'Briens, they'd score 40 points a game. I loved J.J.'s ability to pass, rebound, hustle, run the court, play tenacious D, and play in the paint. But the dude flat out couldn't shoot. He was career 60% from the FT line and 24% from beyond the arc. This team does all the little things J.J. did, plus they can shoot. I strongly suspect that when Fish and Dutch said that, they weren't talking about J.J.'s specific physical presence or skillset, but rather the attitude, basketball IQ, and work ethic. Take his mix of those elements and apply it to players of various sizes and skills, and you'd get one hell of an effective and dangerous team. That is very much what we have with this year's team. Everyone in the starting lineup, and most of the bench, embodies to some extent the J.J. mindset, but blending it with their own particular skillset... you have a ball handler, playmaker, outside gunner in Flynn, another ball handler, defensive pest, and shooter in Feagan, a less athletic outside sniper who's developed some "take it to the hoop" skills (Schakel), a powerful, aggressive presence who can hit from distance or take it inside and jam it down your throat (Mitchell), and an effective post player who can jam, layup, hook, and occasionally drill you from outside (Wetzell). A variety of different physical frames, and different weapons, but the one commonality is that they're "junkyard dogs"... gym rats who play with attitude, play smart, share the ball, and give you a great chance to win. They're all different, but all have a little bit of J.J. in them. I think that's what they were talking about. |
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Post by longtimesdsufan on Feb 17, 2020 12:00:26 GMT -8
JJ got a longer look from the NBA than most of our other players. As they say "Don't pay attention to anyone unless they can offer you a job".
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Post by AztecPhil on Feb 17, 2020 12:09:23 GMT -8
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Post by ignoranus on Feb 17, 2020 21:33:29 GMT -8
JJ is one of the goood guys playing the game and it is great to see that he is still getting paid to play the game that he loves.
And, there are worse places to live than Monaco!
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Post by KDub on Feb 17, 2020 21:39:34 GMT -8
Another body transformation while on the Mesa:
Nick Bawden
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Post by Old School on Feb 18, 2020 0:00:45 GMT -8
Oldie Out
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Post by sdsustoner on Feb 18, 2020 6:58:53 GMT -8
Mitchell actually does actually answer the question of what would we see if JJ O'Brien was a better shooter & athlete?
I'm most impressed power dunk vs NM & then the Euro step with the left vs BSU.
Dude can do it all. I do say JJ was a better passer and didn't get into early foul trouble as Matt does.
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