barsad said:

---

RedlessWardrobe said:

---

bearsandgiants said:

---

Pippen's killing us to start the second game in a row. Missing shots, taking I'll advanced shots, turnovers fouls. Carr needs to come in and really should be starting.

---

I was at the game last night and as usual I don't post anything while its being played.

But it amazes me that I read these posts that are based on 5-7 minutes of basketball. How well did this declaration turn out to be?

---

That's why it's called a Game Thread, Red, you get to post as the game is running (I like posting while at the game, the TV time outs are way too long). And it's OK to say Pippen had a terrible first 5 minutes, it takes nothing away from what he did after that. In fact it makes me think better of him, he showed resilience when he started cold and made it a career night.

---

I get the game thread thing, it was more about the "Carr should be starting " statement that seemed to be a bit overreactive. And I will admit, the passion is there!

I think the broader observation is that Pippen is not a point guard so there are and will continue to be stretches where the team looks out of sync when he and Ames share the backcourt.

And yes, it's absolutely not fair to blame this solely on Pippen, who is playing really hard.

Carr was bad yesterday but he's shown legit PG instincts and when he's playing well, the team and tempo has looked great in those stretches.

northbay said:

---

I think the broader observation is that Pippen is not a point guard so there are and will continue to be stretches where the team looks out of sync when he and Ames share the backcourt.

And yes, it's absolutely not fair to blame this solely on Pippen, who is playing really hard.

Carr was bad yesterday but he's shown legit PG instincts and when he's playing well, the team and tempo has looked great in those stretches.

---

I agree that on the offensive end Carr is probably the only true "point guard" we have, but based on what we've seen this season our offense isn't really dependent on a point guard. All of our guards seem interchangeable, and while Carr looks promising he may not have the outside shooting touch that the other guys have. In addition his lack of experience is a main reason that he will be the most inconsistent of our guards. I wasn't sure about Pippen either at the beginning of the season, but he's sure making a believer out of me.

northbay said:

---

I think the broader observation is that Pippen is not a point guard so there are and will continue to be stretches where the team looks out of sync when he and Ames share the backcourt.

And yes, it's absolutely not fair to blame this solely on Pippen, who is playing really hard.

Carr was bad yesterday but he's shown legit PG instincts and when he's playing well, the team and tempo has looked great in those stretches.

---

How is Pippen not a point guard? I'm thinking he handles and distributes the ball, so...

Comcast is the worst, unhitched from them for TV years ago (still forced to use them for Internet, unfortunately.
Hulu sports package, 30 bucks, no hassles if you know how to launch apps on your TV, iPad and phone (given the average age of this group, maybe a low percentage

Big C said:

---

northbay said:

---

I think the broader observation is that Pippen is not a point guard so there are and will continue to be stretches where the team looks out of sync when he and Ames share the backcourt.

And yes, it's absolutely not fair to blame this solely on Pippen, who is playing really hard.

Carr was bad yesterday but he's shown legit PG instincts and when he's playing well, the team and tempo has looked great in those stretches.

---

How is Pippen not a point guard? I'm thinking he handles and distributes the ball, so...

---

Cause he leads the team in blocks.

Cmon, 2-1 assist to TO. I think Pippen has shown great potential as a PG, he just needs experience (only 5 double digit minute games last season, and not sure how much time as a PG). His last two games against high major comp are encouraging.

This season: first four games - 16 TOs. Next four - 7. Shooting percentages are on a positive arc as well. Great length and good defensively.

I wonder if he's still growing. His dad of course was 6'1" graduating high school.

barsad said:

---

Comcast is the worst, unhitched from them for TV years ago (still forced to use them for Internet, unfortunately.
Hulu sports package, 30 bucks, no hassles if you know how to launch apps on your TV, iPad and phone (given the average age of this group, maybe a low percentage

---

thanks but, nope, none of those work here # too old for new tricks
ps: Tivo replays rock, big time

He sure has a quick first step. On his reverse layup he made a couple of defenders look like linebackers watching the backside of Jahmyr Gibbs.

barsad said:

---

Comcast is the worst, unhitched from them for TV years ago (still forced to use them for Internet, unfortunately.
Hulu sports package, 30 bucks, no hassles if you know how to launch apps on your TV, iPad and phone (given the average age of this group, maybe a low percentage

---

Same for me. Once Pac-12 Network was no longer a concern I bolted for YouTube TV (also ditched Comcast's internet for Sonic). Much better service and easier to watch stuff on the go on your phone.

glutton said:

---

barsad said:

---

Am I crazy or did the Athletic Dept. used to give season ticket holders a T-shirt on the Gold Out game or whatever it was? How is it a Haas of Pain if only 40 students are wearing the shirt that says so? I'm like the kid on the bike in Better Off Dead, 2 T-shirts, where's my 2 T-shirts?

---

The Haas of Pain shirt promo announced for tonight was 250 shirts for 'fans' and 750 shirts for students. I arrived around 6:30 at the front entrance and received a shirt (only XL available.)
I do agree that Cal has gotten very stingy with the shirts and other giveaways the last couple seasons. I've been to most of the MBB games and a few of the WBB games this season, and they haven't even been doing any t-shirt toss to fans during the game like they used to do in the 2nd half of every game with 20 to 30 shirts being thrown to fans. Most of the giveaways this year (at football & basketball games) for anything bigger than a rally towel have just been for students.

---

I think the giveaways are powered by the sponsors which are powered by the attendance.

Student only giveaways are definitely a bummer. And I would be money that not all of the 750 student shirts were claimed, so you have ticketholders with no shirts and extra shirts rotting in a box.

Other thoughts on the game - Bell was having handle issues and an overall off night. Ilic really needs to work on basketball but he is a body when Dort needs rest.

This team has 4 who can hit 20pts with Ames, Pippen, Camden, and Bell plus the great support of Rytis, Dort, Dorsey and DJ.

We have depth this year!

RedlessWardrobe said:

---

northbay said:

---

I think the broader observation is that Pippen is not a point guard so there are and will continue to be stretches where the team looks out of sync when he and Ames share the backcourt.

And yes, it's absolutely not fair to blame this solely on Pippen, who is playing really hard.

Carr was bad yesterday but he's shown legit PG instincts and when he's playing well, the team and tempo has looked great in those stretches.

---

I agree that on the offensive end Carr is probably the only true "point guard" we have, but based on what we've seen this season our offense isn't really dependent on a point guard. All of our guards seem interchangeable, and while Carr looks promising he may not have the outside shooting touch that the other guys have. In addition his lack of experience is a main reason that he will be the most inconsistent of our guards. I wasn't sure about Pippen either at the beginning of the season, but he's sure making a believer out of me.

---

That is what I have seen. I would have to rewatch the game for our sets (Madsen seems to be trying to push to avoid that) but what I recall our guys like starting at the high elbow (seems a lot on the left) and then calling for the high ball screen. They then either take the screen and initiate action from there or sometimes (very NBA) decoy. We occasionally enter the post from the elbow but it is mostly high ball screen action and not always through a true and primary "point guard". May change as the rotation shrinks and ACC play but that has been the pattern in the first 10 games. I will watch against UoP how much pick and roll we are doing.....I think we also have the players for pick and pop action except from our centers.

I'm surprised we haven't run the pick and pop with Camden

Not sure I've seen it yet

socaltownie said:

---

RedlessWardrobe said:

---

northbay said:

---

I think the broader observation is that Pippen is not a point guard so there are and will continue to be stretches where the team looks out of sync when he and Ames share the backcourt.

And yes, it's absolutely not fair to blame this solely on Pippen, who is playing really hard.

Carr was bad yesterday but he's shown legit PG instincts and when he's playing well, the team and tempo has looked great in those stretches.

---

I agree that on the offensive end Carr is probably the only true "point guard" we have, but based on what we've seen this season our offense isn't really dependent on a point guard. All of our guards seem interchangeable, and while Carr looks promising he may not have the outside shooting touch that the other guys have. In addition his lack of experience is a main reason that he will be the most inconsistent of our guards. I wasn't sure about Pippen either at the beginning of the season, but he's sure making a believer out of me.

---

That is what I have seen. I would have to rewatch the game for our sets (Madsen seems to be trying to push to avoid that) but what I recall our guys like starting at the high elbow (seems a lot on the left) and then calling for the high ball screen. They then either take the screen and initiate action from there or sometimes (very NBA) decoy. We occasionally enter the post from the elbow but it is mostly high ball screen action and not always through a true and primary "point guard". May change as the rotation shrinks and ACC play but that has been the pattern in the first 10 games. I will watch against UoP how much pick and roll we are doing.....I think we also have the players for pick and pop action except from our centers.

---