What's the chance.....

...That Carlino was struggling overall this year and not just with his shot, because he knew KC was being prepped to take the PG job and then did. Kind of like a QB who was looking over his shoulder at the backup?

Consider--

Matt said in an interview last week that he was uncomfortable in the SG spot.



KC was a PG (at least by default) in HS and wasn't his freshman year bc Jimmer was the man.



So, all told, that leaves MC in a big lurch and he was forcing his game. He then tried to be a distributer but caused almost as many turnovers as assists and then the ever present jack-a-shot.

Then Rose put him at the 2 and he still struggled.

Opened the door for Halford, now the deal is done.

He played ok vs USD but more importantly he wasn't turning it over and causing empty possessions.

Just wondering.

Carlino's never been a good/great shooter

2011-12: 40.3% FG, 33.3% 3P, Points Available .420, True Shooting% 51.1%, effective FG% 47.8%

2012-13: 40.8% FG, 33.5% 3P, Points Available .418, True Shooting% 50.8%, effective FG% 48.3%

2013-14: 36.7% FG, 29.4% 3P, Points Available .395, True Shooting% 45.3%, effective FG% 41.0%



He has taken a dip this year, but he's just not a good shooter. Even KC is a better shooter than MC this year and KC is hardly a good shooter (although maybe he's learning what shots he can and can't make and stays away from the ones he can't.



KC 2013-14: 48.1% FG, 55.0% 3P, Points Available .505, True Shooting% 54.4%, effective FG% 51.6%

Possibly...



MC started the season on fire and practically carried the team early on especially when Haws was hurt. So, I am sure the sudden turn on him stings. That probably has more to do with it than KC'd arrival. If MC had just played a bit smarter down the stretch of a few games then we'd have a couple more wins and he'd likely be starting still.



Perhaps his early success got to his head a bit and perhaps he was looking over his shoulder (never a good spot to be in). Either way, MC strikes me as the type that's a bit sensitive to change. It's about winning ball games and not hurting feelings, though.



I hope he turns it around. See no reason why he could not be a starter again.



I still don't like KC at point. And, if I am KC and have any hope of playing at the next level, I would not want to be playing point.



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Gunk wrote:
Possibly...



MC started the season on fire and practically carried the team early on especially when Haws was hurt. So, I am sure the sudden turn on him stings. That probably has more to do with it than KC'd arrival. If MC had just played a bit smarter down the stretch of a few games then we'd have a couple more wins and he'd likely be starting still.



Perhaps his early success got to his head a bit and perhaps he was looking over his shoulder (never a good spot to be in). Either way, MC strikes me as the type that's a bit sensitive to change. It's about winning ball games and not hurting feelings, though.



I hope he turns it around. See no reason why he could not be a starter again.



I still don't like KC at point. And, if I am KC and have any hope of playing at the next level, I would not want to be playing point.



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Interesting points. I think that Carlino is done for the year as a starter. There will be times when he is part of the smaller lineups with KC at the four on D.

As for Kyle and any NBA dreams, I really wonder if his chances are better to continue to evolve as a point guard than to be a very small four or a three that can't shoot very well. If I were him, I would want to stick with developing as a point guard. His size at the point will give him a differentiator from a boatload of other 6'6" small forwards.

The key for whoever plays PG is that the turnovers are limited, that the ball is distributed (team involvement) and points score when opportunities present themselves. Based upon SD game, KC had a better all around outing than whatever Carlino put together. IMO Matt played bi-polar (he was either on fire or stone-cold) and sometimes in the same game (different halfs). If Carlino can evolve in to both a scorer/play-maker/assist-man, and limit stupid shots and careless passes, and play tough defense, he will be start. Until then, he will likely be first man off the bench to provide a spark and keep the petal to the metal with focused intensity (he needs to be a clone of Halford).

byucougar1 wrote:
The key for whoever plays PG is that the turnovers are limited, that the ball is distributed (team involvement) and points score when opportunities present themselves. Based upon SD game, KC had a better all around outing than whatever Carlino put together. IMO Matt played bi-polar (he was either on fire or stone-cold) and sometimes in the same game (different halfs). If Carlino can evolve in to both a scorer/play-maker/assist-man, and limit stupid shots and careless passes, and play tough defense, he will be start. Until then, he will likely be first man off the bench to provide a spark and keep the petal to the metal with focused intensity (he needs to be a clone of Halford).

Couple problems with this.



First and foremost he needs to be an assist/play maker then all the other stuff. If he's scoring any, that is a bonus.

Second, having a pedal to the metal mentality is, as we have seen, counterproductive to Carlino, if not the whole team.

Clone of Halfords energy is fine. But it stops there. Clone of Halfords scoring/shooting ability is where we will get schizo-Matt back. Except prior to USD it was all lopsided bad, with a few good games early in the season.

Compare what KC said after the game. "I like to get the ball to other players to make points." Or words to that effect. Have to have someone on the team who loves the assist more than the point--that ain't MC.

If Carlino wasn't performing well because he couldn't handle the pressure of knowing his job was on the line.....he's probably better suited for the bench any way.

Well Halford was taking shots in rhythm and forcing things. If he was not open he passed it on. Good shots that went down.

scott715 wrote:
Well Halford was taking shots in rhythm and forcing things. If he was not open he passed it on. Good shots that went down.

Yes, but prior to Halford's 28 pt drop he too was guilty of forcing things and driving into traffic. Only difference is Halford, judging by the one game, seems to have picked up on the mistake quicker than MC and Bartley.

I have not been able to watch the Oregon and Utah games due to the WACK-12 tv contract and then the next two games we were on vacation. I saw the SD game and it looked like the Cougars of old. I missed the 4 game losing streak. Maybe I am a lucky charm.