George Conditt Improvement

[Sigmapolis]

I guess it all depends on our definition of 'outside shot'. No, I don't want/expect him to be shooting 3 pointers. Something between 5-8 feet would be nice. He doesn't look like anyone has ever taught him how to shoot a basketball before. That said, I'm encouraged by his recent efforts and hope it continues.

Yes, any sort of shooting from him would be helpful, but it is not really necessary. Dennis Rodman (an extreme example, I know) was one of the most effective big men in the history of the game, and his range was essentially a dunk, layup, or put-back. He had to basically be standing under the hoop to score. You do not need to be able to shoot at all when you can do those things. And George can do those, as we've seen, even if he needs to work on consistent with finishing.

 

[clonehoodie]

Having George and X on the floor at the same time would be a good idea.
It won't happen.
We need to run an offence that has 4 NBA shooters on the floor, not 3.
Bad for recruiting.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Having George and X on the floor at the same time would be a good idea.
It won't happen.
We need to run an offence that has 4 NBA shooters on the floor, not 3.
Bad for recruiting.

It could work. In that scenario, George is really the only non-shooter depending who the other 3 guys are. Guards obviously, so ideally they would all be shooters as well. Harris would work better in a lineup that big too.

 

[CascadeClone]

His offensive game still needs a lot of work. No question about it but the past few weeks have shown me he does still have it somewhere in him to be the guy a lot of us thought he could be a year and a half to two years ago. That is a high-energy guy on the glass and protecting the rim while picking up some garbage dunks/buckets off of dump downs, pick and rolls and lobs in scramble situations.

Is he going to be Luka Garza and a double-digit monster on the block? Probably not. He just isn't a fit for any system that will include him catching it on the block all the time expected to make a move. He still inexplicably ends up in a lot of the situations now, but I think we all know the way the winds are blowing and that this system likely will not be around much longer.

I've said it in other threads, but GC4 looks like a rim-running big to me. He wants to get out ahead of the pack and get dunks and block shots. He wants pace and space. Half-court could be effective for PnR lob dunks. He is the polar opposite style of Garza.

In other words, he should be Jameel McKay.

Unfortunately, I think the staff is managing him just like they did McKay - trying to get him to be something he isn't and not leveraging his strengths. And messing up his confidence and psyche at the same time.

 

[davegilbertson]

I've said it in other threads, but GC4 looks like a rim-running big to me. He wants to get out ahead of the pack and get dunks and block shots. He wants pace and space. Half-court could be effective for PnR lob dunks. He is the polar opposite style of Garza.

In other words, he should be Jameel McKay.

Unfortunately, I think the staff is managing him just like they did McKay - trying to get him to be something he isn't and not leveraging his strengths. And messing up his confidence and psyche at the same time.

It's hard to be down on the staff when I'm not in practice, but this seems accurate.

 

[Halincandenza]

Having George and X on the floor at the same time would be a good idea.
It won't happen.
We need to run an offence that has 4 NBA shooters on the floor, not 3.
Bad for recruiting.

Yeah it would be a great idea if we wanted to get run out of the gym by every team we played.

 

[Lineup]

a little to late

 

[cyclonehomer]

I've said it in other threads, but GC4 looks like a rim-running big to me. He wants to get out ahead of the pack and get dunks and block shots. He wants pace and space. Half-court could be effective for PnR lob dunks. He is the polar opposite style of Garza.

In other words, he should be Jameel McKay.

Unfortunately, I think the staff is managing him just like they did McKay - trying to get him to be something he isn't and not leveraging his strengths. And messing up his confidence and psyche at the same time.

This is an example of exactly why I think Prohm&co. have come up short. They've tried to fit round pegs in square holes as opposed to leveraging strengths of players while trying to minimize weaknesses. Without a natural point guard this year, it seems like we've run the same offense as we did with Monte and Tyrese at point. Even if the talent level isn't as high, the players also just haven't been put in a good position to succeed.

 

[WhoISthis]

I hope we can keep him.

 

[clonefreek]

The guy finished the regular season averaging 2.3 pts, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 fouls, and 1.3 turnovers in 13 minutes a game...thats awful for a guy whose in his 3rd year.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

The guy finished the regular season averaging 2.3 pts, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 fouls, and 1.3 turnovers in 13 minutes a game...thats awful for a guy whose in his 3rd year.

Yeah his numbers won't look good. Liked his effort the last few weeks. Seems like his ceiling now is backup/situational big. Won't ever be a FT starter.

 

[isufbcurt]

I believe there is a lot of merit to the idea of him struggling mentally at times this year (as many players across the country are right now). I know he has done a lot to try and get himself back in that area, which I think has corresponded with his improved play. As I understand it he's been putting more time in the gym as well.

I don't think he was having very much fun playing basketball and he was able to find that love again. Just needed to refocus on the things it takes to be successful, as Matt Campbell would say, "in the dark."

His offensive game still needs a lot of work. No question about it but the past few weeks have shown me he does still have it somewhere in him to be the guy a lot of us thought he could be a year and a half to two years ago. That is a high-energy guy on the glass and protecting the rim while picking up some garbage dunks/buckets off of dump downs, pick and rolls and lobs in scramble situations.

Is he going to be Luka Garza and a double-digit monster on the block? Probably not. He just isn't a fit for any system that will include him catching it on the block all the time expected to make a move. He still inexplicably ends up in a lot of the situations now, but I think we all know the way the winds are blowing and that this system likely will not be around much longer.

I do think with the right coaching and voice pushing him he can be a really high-level role player. Still needs to work on positioning on rebounding and knowing when and when not to try and swat shots into the fourth row (which is a big part of the fouling issue) but that's where putting extra work in with film and on the floor comes into play.

He seems much more interested in doing those things right now than he was earlier in the year.

Proud of the kid. He's one of my favorites since I've been doing this. Knowing he's back to loving the game and feeling good on the court has been really great to see.

I'd argue the biggest part of his fouling problem is always setting illegal screens.

 

[JimDogRock]

I feel so bad for George. On offense he often gets asked to do things that are not strong spots of his game - dribble handoffs and passing while at the 3 point line as well as 1-on-1 post ups.
And then we he does not produce he gets his effort and ability to compete questioned by the coach during media interviews and comments.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I feel so bad for George. On offense he often gets asked to do things that are not strong spots of his game - dribble handoffs and passing while at the 3 point line as well as 1-on-1 post ups.
And then we he does not produce he gets his effort and ability to compete questioned by the coach during media interviews and comments.

His post up game is atrocious. I think he would be better served to work on some faceup moves, it seems like that may come more naturally for him.

 

[Cycsk]

Not particularly related to Conditt, but what players are in the gym, working with coaches, and really trying hard to improve their games? I'm not hearing those stories this year. Regardless of this season, it would seem to be in each player's best interest long-term to be working hard to improve.

 

[legi]

I'd argue the biggest part of his fouling problem is always setting illegal screens.

A lot of that is also our guards starting to move with the ball before conditt has a chance to establish his position for the screen

 

[Nococy]

A lot of that is also our guards starting to move with the ball before conditt has a chance to establish his position for the screen

that’s because our guards dribble for 20 seconds doing nothing and know that they have too hurry to beat the shot clock

 

[HFCS]

It hurt the whole team.

I'm generally not one of the "pile on a struggling coach" guys...but when you compare the apparent backslide of the team during the covid era difficulties to how our football team apparently used the same situation to curb stomp the rest of the Big 12...

These two admittedly non-traditional seasons seem to be indicators of internal discipline, focus and creativity in a staff.

 

[HFCS]

It could work. In that scenario, George is really the only non-shooter depending who the other 3 guys are. Guards obviously, so ideally they would all be shooters as well. Harris would work better in a lineup that big too.

As long as they both run the floor it would be fine. Baylor seems to always have 2-3 giant athletic guys running the floor and they've done well. Most of Baylor's giant pogo sticks haven't been decent shooters either, just rebounding machines.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

As long as they both run the floor it would be fine. Baylor seems to always have 2-3 giant athletic guys running the floor and they've done well. Most of Baylor's giant pogo sticks haven't been decent shooters either, just rebounding machines.

Freddie Gillespie comes to mind. That guy was so annoying. Now they have Vital, and while he isn't the pogo-stick type you describe, he still fills that role. Annoying effort guys that lick their chops when Iowa State comes to town.