Props to AJ Abrams

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Wulaw Horn

1,000+ Posts
I was a bit down on him early in the year about his shot selection.

I think in the last 3 games I've counted 2 bad shots from him.

I have no problem with him pulling the trigger any and all times he can get his feet square to the basket and set. He is really feeling it and he is combining that with good selectivity in his shot selection. This is the guy I've been looking forward to seeing for years.

Way to go AJ, I think this is the best 3 or 4 game stretch of bball I've ever seen you play on the 40.
 
Thanks, WULaw, although I can guarantee this thread won't reach 3 pages like the ones ripping AJ earlier in the season did.

Andy Katz wrote a very complimentary article on AJ recently comparing AJ and Stephen Curry. I wonder if the Davidson boards have had threads ripping Curry after games in which he's taken 27+ shots this year (which there have been 3 already).
 
He's been fantastic since the Notre Dame game. I thought the hate he got for that game was justified, but I think I overrated our offense. I was really upset at him taking 27 shots considering the other scoring options we had, but reality is we don't really have a lot of them. Connor is a shell of himself from last year, James is on and off with his outside shooting, Johnson still has a lot to work on, Balbay is a project, etc. We really didn't have a lot of options, and that's why Barnes was OK with him jacking up so many shots. Regardless, I don't want to see that EVER again.

Abrams shot selection has been much better of late. We're undefeated when he's not trying to impersonate Stephen Curry.
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For me it has nothing to do with the quantity of shots, its the quality. I'd welcome AJ shooting 30 times a game if it's the right 30 shots. He's a higher percentage then most of the other guys. I just hate him shooting those running floaters without his feet set and I hate when he shoots fallaway threes with guys hanging on him.

If his feet get set, like the jump stops in the lane he's been shooting or the curls instead of the running floaters then that's a fine shot, and I won't ever say anything bad regardless of if it falls or not.

JMO, just like my last post was my opinion.

I'm almost wondering now if AJ might not have a future in the NBA in the right situation (like DGib found himself in).

He's going to have to play with a big shooting guard/point forward that handles the ball a lot imo, like LBJ or Kobe or TMAC or someone like that. I don't think he's going to do well with a Ray Allen as a shooting guard for example.
 
AJ is AJ for better or worse, Kids plays his heart out for UT and follows Barnes directions.
He is a winner when he hits 30 and we win but if he takes 27 shot as directed to do so by Barnes he is the shits.

How many of you FANS want to get on Barnes *** ???

If no one is hitting let AJ fire away as he is our only consistant offensive threat so far as I can see.
Lets get off his case. WE have a lot of players that we can trash until they start producing as you would like.....
 
I appreciate what WuLaw is saying about AJ's shot selection - getting your feet and shoulders square as well as not drifting on your shots can definitely improve your percentage.

But, what I don't get is how people can rip on AJ as selfish, ball-hogging, .... The kid does everything he can to help his team win - and that includes firing it up on designed rotation play as well as creating a shot on his own when everyone else is standing around.

He also makes plays on the defensive end -steals, guarding larger players, even stepping into the lane to take a charge or disrupt someone taking it to the hole.

I just don't get how people can question his heart or integrity. He may have an off-night, but he always gives it his best. This team probably isn't even in the Top 25 without him.
 
Good thread!! AJ deserves serious props. He is a huge part of our offense. He is the MAN this year!!
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Shooters Shoot! I challenge anyone on here to name five guys in NCAA basketball that can shoot the rock better than AJ. This guy does what he was brought in to do, and thats shoot the rock. Curry shoots it as well, I dont know if he does it better, but if you're the shooter, you better shoot.
 
Like I said (reference to the above poster) I'd be fine with AJ shooting the rock 30 times a game. It ain't quantity, it's quality.

He probably is one of the best 5 shooters in college hoops with his feet under him pointed at the basket. But on the other hand he's probably made about 20% of his floaters in the lane, in his career, at texas, and he also ain't gonna be the guy I want taking fall away looks with a guy in his face.

But if he's open (and he needs waaaaaay less room to be open then most guys due to his lightning quick release) I want him shooting it every single time.

But, he's not a break you down, make something happen and hit a shot in your face type guy- he just isn't. When he tries to do that (throwing up that floater) he's a horrible percentage player. He hasn't been doing that the past week or 2, and thus my starting this thread giving him props.

When he plays within himself and the team confines he's practically all american good. When he doesn't the team goes nowhere imo.
 
I find it comical that people have continuously argued that AJ shouldn't start, and even more comical that someone would actually attempt to argue that we're gonna be better when he leaves.
 
Next year's team is going to run circles around this year's team. It won't be as much about AJ Abrams running out of eligibility as it will be the infusion of talent from Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton, plus the continued maturation of the players currently on the roster, but nonetheless, the team is going to be a lot better.
 
How do you see the PG situation shaping up next year SLX? A month ago I would have said it would be Balbay by default, but that's looking less likely.
 
Hopefully Brown will get in school by the summer because it would be nice to have him playing some point next year.
 
That is an interesting take SLX. Wasn't it you a while back that said

"I can't remember a player I was more excited about watching leave the program. It will be addition by subtraction."

You must have played cornerback in high school, or you should have, because you have one hell of a back peddle.

I would be interested to see our coaches response to your first quote. I can't imagine it would go well for you.

There is no way that A.J. is taking the shots he takes without the permission, and probably encouragement, of our leader. He is by far our most consistent scoring option this year and I would suggest we would not be near where we are without him.

I can't comment on if we will be better next year with incoming players or not but I can assure you we would not be close to as good without A.J. this year. I will admit that I don't agree with every shot A.J. takes but it is never because I believe that he is selfish. He is a great player on a team that is great, in part, becasue of him.

Long Live The Chupacabra
 
I respect your opinion, Bob, and I agree with your statement about continued improvement. However, as somebody pointed out above, that's not what SLX said. He stated that we would be better off without AJ, that it would be "addition by subtraction." I think anyone who knows anything about basketball would agree that is a ridiculous statement.
 
As great as he's played recently, he didn't play well today. Michigan State played great D on him, but he also put up questionable shots and turned the ball over especially at the end.

Johnson and James were killing it today, but they should've gotten more shots.
 
My grandmother could guard James. Repeat after me: James is not a shooting forward. James is not a shooting forward. James is not a shooting forward.
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