How Much Time Does Is Reasonable To Evaluate CDS?

[Northeast Stinger]

Thanks, Tommy. That’s what I thought might be going on. It’s a different way to play, and might be successful, but it requires players being able to improvise in the moment and they also have to have the athletic skills to pull it off. I have no doubt that good teams, in the heat of the moment, when everyone is already in the zone, pull off their best plays and most impressive runs this way.

The fly in the ointment to me is that it takes players awhile to get into the flow of the game and a little while after that before they get in that unconscious zone where they are just seeing and reacting. It seems CDS still might need to set a play or two to get players up to tempo and in the zone. But, I guess from what you’ve shared, CDS doesn’t want any “bad” habits developing and that includes thinking too much about play calling.

Interesting experiment to see where this ends up.

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

All I can say, being somewhat of a basketball guy for about 70 years, is be patient and don't hurt your head trying to analyze what we are seeing. Damon will make a good professional head coach. Just like Paul Hewitt does. For college, it depends on the players he gets each year, not so much the coach as described as a verb.

I agree with the Arizona Daily Star sports writer in 2021 abot Damon being a pro coach. The below article was written when never-a-head-coach Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd got the Arizona head job after Seam MIller was fired. Highly considered Damon did not, even though he was an AU alum and former assistant to Miller.. Damon voluntarily left Pacific two months later for Celtics assistant, with 5 years left on his 6 year initial Pacific contract plus a 4 year extension for a winning season and WCC COY. Pacific has a record of 35-80 after he left in 2021 and was 71-77 in his 5 years there.

During his five years there, each team had 1 or two seven+ footers and they averaged less than 5 points and 3 rebounds per game. No, not big-man centric, and no one averaged over 7 rebounds per game. He had between 6 and 9 guards per team and his top three leading scorers per year were guards. Statistically, his last year at at Pacific, his team shot 30% 3-pointsrs in 18 attempts per game, 320th of 343 D1 teams. They shot 68% from the line. His opponents outscored his team an average of 70-69. No top 100 players on any of the 5 teams. In 2016,He did recruit NBA/commentator Kenny Smith's son KJ from IMG academy, who stayed only his freshman year with an average of 3 points per game, then transferred to UNC and played for three years and graduated. KJ grew up in Dallas, where Damon recruited several players a year. Damon's college experience at Pacific sounds familiar to us.

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

Thanks, Tommy. That’s what I thought might be going on. It’s a different way to play, and might be successful, but it requires players being able to improvise in the moment and they also have to have the athletic skills to pull it off. I have no doubt that good teams, in the heat of the moment, when everyone is already in the zone, pull off their best plays and most impressive runs this way.

The fly in the ointment to me is that it takes players awhile to get into the flow of the game and a little while after that before they get in that unconscious zone where they are just seeing and reacting. It seems CDS still might need to set a play or two to get players up to tempo and in the zone. But, I guess from what you’ve shared, CDS doesn’t want any “bad” habits developing and that includes thinking too much about play calling.

Interesting experiment to see where this ends up.

Yep, interesting is a good word., though not surprising We have seen it all over the years,

 

[Peacone36]

F***ing guy can recruit, that’s for damn sure.

 

[7979]

F***ing guy can recruit, that’s for damn sure.

Can't wait to see these recruiting skills manifest themselves into GTBB wins.......
Down 31 at halftime vs SMU? That is simply unbelievable level of bad BB....
I loved Damon hire...thought it was "punching-above-GT-weight" type get......I am disappointed

 

[awbuzz]

Need next year's freshman class to come in strong and get us to a postseason tournament outside of the ACC tournament.

 

[candrewk]

 

[Northeast Stinger]

View attachment 17647

I appreciate the humor but there’s a slight difference between these two office suitors. One is a complete con artist who clearly wasn’t bothered too much by losing. The other guy will not be interested in sticking around if he can’t start winning.

 

[Richland County]

Yep, interesting is a good word., though not surprising We have seen it all over the years,

Recruit yes, but run a competent offense is still a big question. Trying to pound a hole in the court with the ball isn't getting it done. Lack of bodies doesn't excuse poor offensive strategy we have witnessed this year. Development of players is also in question.

 

[Peacone36]

Need next year's freshman class to come in strong and get us to a postseason tournament outside of the ACC tournament.

MAYBE another special 17 win season

 

[stinger78]

I don’t think TFG was OK with losing, his deflection mechanism was particularly pernicious - to blame the prior staff, regardless of the fact that he was a future CF HoF level coach. This when it was pretty clear that a phased approach to implementing his O would very likely have netted quite a few more wins. That shouted to me a lack of maturity.
I don’t see that in CDS, though he does employ some deflection. Not a fan of that.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

I don’t think TFG was OK with losing, his deflection mechanism was particularly pernicious - to blame the prior staff, regardless of the fact that he was a future CF HoF level coach. This when it was pretty clear that a phased approach to implementing his O would very likely have netted quite a few more wins. That shouted to me a lack of maturity.
I don’t see that in CDS, though he does employ some deflection. Not a fan of that.

More than once I’ve heard CDS say, “That’s on me as a coach.” Don’t think I ever heard TFG say that, though I could be wrong.

 

[57jacket]

You know, maybe I over estimated the talent on our current team, especially with all the injuries. I always thought we were really deficient at the 5. But the problems we have at the 2 surprised me. Maybe the 5 problem let our opponents press the 3 pt line. I do blame the coaching for the offensive scheme given the pressure on the guards. It seems to me that multiple screens for our best shooters could be more productve, but what the hell do I know. LOL. But our solving the 5 problem next year and the other incoming talent will tell us how well CDS can coach, since we know he can recuit.

 

[stinger78]

You know, maybe I over estimated the talent on our current team, especially with all the injuries. I always thought we were really deficient at the 5. But the problems we have at the 2 surprised me. Maybe the 5 problem let our opponents press the 3 pt line. I do blame the coaching for the offensive scheme given the pressure on the guards. It seems to me that multiple screens for our best shooters could be more productve, but what the hell do I know. LOL. But our solving the 5 problem next year and the other incoming talent will tell us how well CDS can coach, since we know he can recuit.

It takes 3 years no matter how you shake it. Next year will be the year that solid improvement must be seen.

 

[57jacket]

Georgia Tech looking for more consistency out of center Baye Ndongo

Ndongo, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound center for the Yellow Jackets, burst onto the scene in 2023-24 as one of the ACC’s top freshmen.

www.ajc.com

 

[57jacket]

Georgia Tech looking for more consistency out of center Baye Ndongo

Ndongo, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound center for the Yellow Jackets, burst onto the scene in 2023-24 as one of the ACC’s top freshmen.

www.ajc.com

I think coach is too critical of Baye. He is playing out of position, forced to compete with taller bigger 5s. That's why he gets in foul trouble. If he had a partner 5 he would excell at the 4. IMHO

 

[YJMD]

As long as the recruiting keeps up, we give him at least a couple of years to see if the team can organize into something good.

 

[forensicbuzz]

It takes 3 years no matter how you shake it. Next year will be the year that solid improvement must be seen.

We have 2 players from last year's team (on the court players). 1 will amost 100% be gone next year (for 1 reason or another). So, we'll only have 1 player (George) with 3 years in the program (+ Souare) next year. How many players from this year's team do you think will be back next year? Is that really 3 years?

 

[stinger78]

We have 2 players from last year's team (on the court players). 1 will amost 100% be gone next year (for 1 reason or another). So, we'll only have 1 player (George) with 3 years in the program (+ Souare) next year. How many players from this year's team do you think will be back next year? Is that really 3 years?

At some point you have to make it happen. I’m talking progress, not perfection. Yes, I think next year is it.

But… what would you say? It’s easy to toss stones, what would be your estimate?

 

[Root4GT]

I think coach is too critical of Baye. He is playing out of position, forced to compete with taller bigger 5s. That's why he gets in foul trouble. If he had a partner 5 he would excell at the 4. IMHO

He has not played as consistently this season. Many of his fouls have been setting screens. That is 100% on him. He also has not shot as well this season. He range is still limited and his foul shooting is still below average FT shooter. Still he is probably our most valuable player.