Grant

[gospidersgo]

Grant's accomplishments have been largley overshadowed by the fire Mooney talk and our terrible defense. I feel like it seems like he has just been doing okay and not really advanced since last year, but he's actually playing at a very high level.

Defensively, he obviously has his issues. I think as discussed here it's likely a combination of trying to stay out of foul trouble, odd/rigid defensive scheme, and just not being a good defender.

But offensively, it's so impressive what he's doing. I feel bad for him really, because he would be getting national attention if we were an NCAA tournament caliber team.

He's at 20 points, 7 rebounds per game on 53% shooting. This is with him being our only real big man, with teammates dropping like flies, and being the main focus of opposing defenses nightly.

 

[spider23]

Agree to a certain extent Go, but like sman, moon, 4700, the Richmond press corps, you don't seem to really give credence to the fact that there is offense and DEFENSE. BUT, yes Moon has completely destroyed this guy's all around game, so I feel terrible for him. Under a kick ass coach he is probably an NBA prospect, legit. Under Moon, he will be looking for a job like the rest of the student body. FIRE MOONEY.

 

[gospidersgo]

you don't seem to really give credence to the fact that there is offense and DEFENSE.

Did you even read the post?

 

[spider23]

Yes, Yes I did. Grant having a great half. BUT, got called out big time by announcers for not even attempting to help. This can't go on. We need Mooney gone. This Wake team is just terribly coached. they have a ton of young talent but will be battling for last in the ACC.

 

[whampas]

The dude never met a shot that he didn't like. His matador defense is the worst. He could be a better team player.

 

[Marley13]

Is he afraid of contact? Dude take a charge once.

 

[nathanw19]

Grant is definitely improving offensively. But he has to start passing up those 3’s, and understand that getting the ball on the block doesn’t mean he has to shoot it. Don’t get me wrong, he’s been good for us, but I think national recognition is a little premature.

 

[Eight Legger]

I screamed about 7 times tonight "Get your hands up on defense!" Never seen such a complete lack of effort defensively this side of James Harden. Sort of hard to explain. I'm sure they tell him to avoid contact, but come on. He might as well stay on the other end of the court and let the other guys play D 4 on 5.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Yeah I don't understand not even putting your hands up.

 

[SpiderK]

Is he afraid of contact? Dude take a charge once.

Mooney did the same thing to TJ Cline. Until TJ’s senior year he played Olé defense also.

 

[GKiller]

Think being a little harsh on Grant for his D. Have to think that’s on Mooney. I mean Grant could go around knocking guys to ground if he wanted to, he’s r only real bull. Also plays w some swagger as seen w his reactions to refs crowd plays etc. we don’t have much of that either. Impressed with varied ways he scores, moves near basket, ability to finish consistently. Keep it up Grant. The defensive issues are a team philosophy issue & best addressed on macro level.

 

[Eight Legger]

I would agree, GK, except Cayo was in there scrapping all night, hands up high, the whole deal. And Golden became a little more active toward the end. I'm not asking him to be uber physical right away but at least hold your hand up when a guy is shooting. He's 6-10--that can alter a ton of shots. Instead, he seems to bring his hands down when a guy is about to shoot.

 

[wr70beh]

You can be great on the offensive side of the court and still be a soft player. He's gonna be called Charmin if he doesn't step it up on D, but I don't blame him for this style of play since he's just a kid. He's only doing what he is told to do by the coaches.

 

[SpiderK]

I think Grant will get more aggressive on defense once the supporting big man cast gets a little better, can rest him 10 minutes a game and take up some of the offensive slack. If Grant gets two fouls in the first 5 minutes the game is over. Grant in doing a much better job keeping the ball high and not putting it down low so that everyone can take a swat at it.

 

[gospidersgo]

There are very few players, especially big men, that have it all together on both ends of the court. Most of them that do play for Duke, Kansas, UNC, etc.

I'm not saying Grant is perfect or some all world player. But I do think he is supremely talented at the offensive end. His touch and moves around the basket are some of the best I've seen.

I would like him to taking maybe 50% less 3 pointers. But I don't want him being less selfish in the paint. He's making 60% of his 2 pointers through 8 games. Since we have nobody shooting 3's at a 40% clip Grant piling up shots is currently our best option. If he can become even an average defender over the next 2 years he will be an unstoppable force.

I started this thread waiting for the game to start last night and maybe didn't articulate my main point very well - What we have with Grant is one of the best offensive bigs in the country. I feel like that gets overshadowed by his poor d and our general stinkiness as a team. My hope is before his time is done here Grant is able to be a part of something really special.

 

[SpiderPride]

I think Grant will get more aggressive on defense once the supporting big man cast gets a little better, can rest him 10 minutes a game and take up some of the offensive slack. If Grant gets two fouls in the first 5 minutes the game is over. Grant in doing a much better job keeping the ball high and not putting it down low so that everyone can take a swat at it.

That's exactly it. He's obviously concerned about getting in foul trouble and dials it back on D at times as a result. As you point out, until Sal and Matt can fill in more substantially, Grant will need to stay out of foul trouble. He'll continue to learn, adjust his game, and become more aggressive as the season progresses.

 

[fan2011]

He still has 2.7 more years to play, which is crazy. He is going to be one of those players our opponents hate, and ask "how long has this guy been at Richmond, It seems like forever!" I am excited to see how how good he is as a senior.

 

[SpiderPride]

He still has 2.7 more years to play, which is crazy. He is going to be one of those players our opponents hate, and ask "how long has this guy been at Richmond, It seems like forever!" I am excited to see how how good he is as a senior.

That's how I felt about Peyton Aldridge at Davidson and Tyler Cavanaugh at GW. Grant will be a 2,000 point scorer for us and wind up in our Hall of Fame.

 

[whampas]

That's exactly it. He's obviously concerned about getting in foul trouble and dials it back on D at times as a result. As you point out, until Sal and Matt can fill in more substantially, Grant will need to stay out of foul trouble. He'll continue to learn, adjust his game, and become more aggressive as the season progresses.

You still get 5, right. Play good defense and don't make the stupid foul. It's the careless, stupid fouls that get you in trouble.

 

[SpiderPride]

You still get 5, right. Play good defense and don't make the stupid foul. It's the careless, stupid fouls that get you in trouble.

Agreed. Though, some of those stupid fouls have been non-existent. He's also going to draw incidental contact as a result of his sheer size. Regardless, he's just a sophomore (towards the beginning of the season) who is still learning and developing.

 

[KE Spider]

Maybe Grant has painted himself in a box by being way too demonstrative over ever foul called on him. Now that he has that reputation among the refs, he never seems to get the benefit of the doubt and is hit with a lot of ticky tacky calls.

I'm sure given his O contribution, CM does not want him to be overly aggressive on D, even then believe he could be more active on D, if he would suck it up rather than questioning every call.

 

[Marley13]

Yes, the whining is a bad look.

 

[SpiderVol]

Grant needs to be careful. I was sure he was going to get a T after he got mad about a non-call when he drove to the basket. It was when he sat on the floor and showed up the official for 10 secs or so.

The referee came over in immediate media timeout and told Grant to stop and shut his mouth at least 1/2 dozen times and the. spoke to Mooney directly about it several times. And honestly the official was right. The missed call could have gone either way and was probably a good non-call.

 

[plydogg]

I always am amazed that refs have the balls to make a bad call and then call out a player for complaining about said bad call. Not many other jobs where you can make a mistake and then punish whoever calls you out for it.

 

[Marley13]

Except for president. Either party.

 

[SpiderPride]

I always am amazed that refs have the balls to make a bad call and then call out a player for complaining about said bad call. Not many other jobs where you can make a mistake and then punish whoever calls you out for it.

It appears like there's very little accountability. I know they get reviewed and all, though seems like several of these less than stellar refs are perennial fixtures.

 

[GKiller]

Mooney needs to protect his player & take on refs on behalf of Grant if need be. Grant not gonna be pushed around incl the refs. Haven’t had that attitude in a while.

Grant was +17 vs wake. Grace was -8. Now that’s just 1 game. I don’t know if that is typical but his D tradeoff didn’t hurt us last night. If Grant not in foul trouble in 2nd half I’d like him to be more aggressive.

 

[SpiderVol]

Killer, I think the +/- stat is more of a reflection of Grant’s offense. We have no offensive game plan when he isn’t in the game. When he is in we look for him every time and he is very efficient. Plus it give Cayo a chance to slash and our shooters open looms because he is a solid passer from the post. When he is out the defense can adjust to stop Cayo and press the outside shooters more.

IMO if Wake had attacked the paint, Grants +/- would have been lower because either he would be out of the game with fouls or allow their bigs good looks to avoid fouls. Grace likely would have been worse too bc while he was ok defensively we just have no solid offensive game plan when Grant is not in the game.