Oh not at all. We are going to have to live with Hauser’s poor defense but we can win as long as he scores that 18-25 sweet spot. However I will still be frustrated with the poor defense and vent about it LOL.
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I know your “god-awfull” description is somewhat hyperbole, but I think Hauser has become decent guarding 4s on-ball, and okay away from the ball, with the occasional mistake on help defense. He’s still too slow laterally to guard 3s effectively. I would probably give him much more credit than you seem to for his contribution on the defensive glass. 14 efficient points and 8 rebounds a game is my break even point against his defensive shortcomings.
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That’s fair. And he did have a good defensive possesion I remember where he was able to strip the ball from his man trying to post up. I think he can do what you state as long as murphy or Kihei are also having a really good game (Murphy getting hot or kihei having his 18 pt game).
I think this game shows exactly the value of Hauser. When the game is down the stretch you need guys who can go get buckets. Also his gravity just helps everyone else on the floor
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He must have the country’s MOST undervalued dunks over the past 2-3 years that get no airplay at all.
I’m not saying he’s Obi Toppin but can he get any love in that department???
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and smooth ones for a seven footer
That game yesterday was difficult for me to articulate why it was so close because Hauser and Huff were both very good offensively, we only had 1 more turnover than usual, we had 7 blocks, kept GaTech off the offensive boards, and our defense was very good over the last 9 minutes. I guess it was GaTech’s continued hot shooting from three and 9 blocks at the rim that lowered our 2 point shot percentage and kept them in front until the last couple of minutes. GaTech may have been the best team we’ve played other than Gonzaga.
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You can’t simplify it to “Hauser needs to score xx points” to be a net positive, he makes the whole offense better just by spacing the floor. And it’s not like we have some lockdown defender at the 4 on the bench who could replace him and make our defense significantly better.
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Him reaching that xx points or being on the path to reach those points is what makes him a threat that spaces the floor.
Hauser’s defense is improving but he is never going to be a great defender but we are not where we are today without him. This team without Hauser would be in trouble so I don’t understand all the criticism he gets
I think it’s less criticism and more ranting.
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Seemed like all the turnovers led to fast break points for GT which is pretty rare for us
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A bit of perspective here. I think part of this was some clean looks given up but also they were just hitting some difficult shots.
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100% agree. You could see it in his face last night that he was taking over the game, and he did exactly that to get us back in position before Kihei ended it. Go back and watch when he subbed back in for the final time first how smoothly he hit the 3 and then going back to the other end his defensive stance and calling out positions for the guys around him. He stays pretty calm and composed but you could still see he’d had “enough” of the issues and just wanted to win. Great to see IMO.
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It’s clear that the “criticism” is because of his defense.
A way that Justin McKoy can get back into the game is watching some videos of Akil, Isiah, and Braxton. All 3 of them are undersized but they draw charges. I swear if he could be a threat defensively then he could play more.
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Defense and rebounding would earn him minutes!
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McKoy has produced defensively at the 3 or 4 spot. He is not a 5 and that’s the only place he has struggled. His defensive rating has him ahead of all threes and fours on the roster.
Unfortunately, he’s not going to take many minutes from Murphy, Hauser, or a guard when we go with Morsell, Beekman, and Clark together. His opportunity this year has been at the 5. It appears that Caffaro has now taken those minutes.
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There’s no reason he can’t take at least 5-8 minutes from the 3 and the 4 combined for 15 minutes a game.
Most games guys shouldn’t play more than 30-32 minutes.
Hauser = 30, McKoy = 10
Murphy = 30, McKoy = 5, TW = 5
Huff = 30, Hopefully Shedrick and Caffaro combine for 10
Beekman = 30, Morsell = 10
Clark = 20, Morsell = 12 and TW = 8
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