Hoops rotation going forward

[onemizzou]

Phillips should not be starting any more.

They lack quality at the 5 spot. Phillips is no good, but better than the rest who are just awful.

Mizzou grades out better with Mitchell at the 5 and Pierce at the 4. Phillips is horrible…has a horrible net rating as well to prove it. TO had a great game in his first start. But remember….teams didn’t scout for TO at all. But now they will, he’s caught their eyes…they will scout him. And it won’t be hard to stop him. He can’t shoot..doesn’t have a jumper, so they will scout him for the PNR as well as the DD. Keep an eye out for it.

We have short memories, but Ant went through the same little funk last year about the same time, remember his slump last year….he will snap out of it.

Ant has been "in a funk" the whole season. He ain't "snapping out" of who he is.

[winonsports]

They lack quality at the 5 spot. Phillips is no good, but better than the rest who are just awful.

You're right. There aren't many in the country who really play the 5 spot very well, even as 7 footers.

[Rvrartst]

The problem with Phillips isn't all how he plays himself. It's what he does to the dynamics of the team. Both Robinson and Barrett are penetrators. They get their points, and ideally assists, in penetrating and either scoring against smaller guards or slower guys, or dishing to the open man when the defense collapses on them. Ant is better at the pull up mid-range jumper, Barrett is better at taking it to the rim with crafty moves.

But Phillips is only able to play effectively down low. And when he's on the floor, his defender is also down low, clogging the lane. It is detrimental to both Ant's and T.O.'s games. Phillips can come out and set ball screens, and then roll to the basket, and once in a while he gets an alley oop that way, but he just isn't good enough at catching the ball and going to the basket. The only way he's effective is if he gets the ball close to the rim.

So in a way it doesn't matter that he had a decent game as far as stats against Oklahoma...the TEAM was still less effective with him on the floor. Not having Porter available hurts, because he could play as a stretch five who can operate away from the basket but still go down low when the situation calls for it. Burns just isn't ready for major minutes yet, and Northweather is not going to give you much at the five spot. Their best lineups are with Mitchell at the five in a small ball lineup...except that Mitchell against truly skilled big men doesn't work nearly as well.

[California Cardinal Fan]

I believe we have our about what we can expect from Mizzou going forward. It's not a pretty picture.

[happynotlucky]

Stone's 3Pt % has been a bit off the past few games. I believe, like Caleb Grill, he is being utilized too much. Grill came back from injury and was hot for several games, then cooled down. Stone has cooled down. Stone does produce in other ways, rebounding, better defender than advertised, passing. Start Robinson and Barrett in back court, give Robinson some of Stones minutes. I know Robinson is struggling, but playing off from Barrett may help. Just an observation in comparison to last year and Grill.

[Kenny Boy]

Stone's 3Pt % has been a bit off the past few games. I believe, like Caleb Grill, he is being utilized too much. Grill came back from injury and was hot for several games, then cooled down. Stone has cooled down. Stone does produce in other ways, rebounding, better defender than advertised, passing. Start Robinson and Barrett in back court, give Robinson some of Stones minutes. I know Robinson is struggling, but playing off from Barrett may help. Just an observation in comparison to last year and Grill.

After watching Robinson play yesterday, I would only put him in in a blowout. I've seen better play from junior high kids.

[happynotlucky]

How about Mack more then? Maybe give Stone another game or two with his 30+ minutes. Wonder how Rowe would do with minutes? At least he is getting to practice against the other two PG which ought to make him better for next year.

[knttiger]

How about Mack more then? Maybe give Stone another game or two with his 30+ minutes. Wonder how Rowe would do with minutes? At least he is getting to practice against the other two PG which ought to make him better for next year.

No way to you give Mack more minutes- he's the backcourt version of Northweather Burns. He just offers no defense or rebounding, and when he gets on the floor, he can't wait to get a missed shot off.