Especially considering said commentator can’t even say some of our guys names correctly.
IrvinG
Doe-n-all
Geez.
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The best thing about MAAR is he is one of the few who can finish through contact on the team. That is more of a mentality than anything camp Sanderson can do for these kids.
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I think MAAR’s biggest issue before was efficiency. MAAR is shooting 51.3% from the field in conference play. That is phenomenal. He is also creating more offense for others. Efficiency has gone from a weakness to a strength and he deserves hella props for that.
To add a bit to what Hail says…its not only efficiency from a FG% standpoint, MAAR generates points from the FT line. The best example I can think of to support this notion is Lou Williams (Lakers). Williams only shoots 40% from the field, but still averages 15.6ppg on only 10.7 FG attempts per game, that is 1.46 points per shot…that is absolutely elite in terms of efficiency. But if you look at FG% in isolation, you may come to a different conclusion.
To put that in the context of MAAR, during conference play (which is most relevant IMO because he is getting consistent minutes with Caris being injured) he is averaging 10.3ppg on 7.2 FG attempts, good for 1.43 points per possession…certainly approaching elite. For context, Walton averages 1.25 points per possession, while Zak averages 1.15 points per possession.
All this screams one thing to me, JB needs to dial up the designed sets for MAAR at the expense of Walton/Irvin (especially at his expense). Not saying you make MAAR the primary option, but based on the numbers, you simply have to get him more involved in the offense. Right now MAAR simply gets residual action and transition…that has to change.
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Last game I was screaming towards the end to run something for MAAR. He simply passed and went and stood in the right corner. This kid gets to the basket and finishes. He needs more opportunities.
Offensive rating is a better measure of what you are getting at (includes turnovers, assists, etc.) than rudimentary calculation of FTs+FG per FGa.
MAAR: 118.4 (pts per 100 poss)
Irvin 99
Walton 106
Duncan 109
Donnal 122
Dawkins 128
Usage is the other value to consider here and MAAR is using around 16% of available possessions while Walton and Irvin are closer to 23%. Over the last two games, MAAR has been at 28% usage and 19%, two igher numbers.
They dialed up a bunch of offense for him down the stretch in the last game. More than I’ve ever seen really.
For example these two plays when U-M needed a hoop down in the second half, both setup situations to allow MAAR to attack.
Last two possessions should of went to MAAR and they did not. He stood in the corner
Okay… they didn’t go to him EVERY possession down the stretch. But the two times Michigan trailed late in the half, coming out of a timeout, they drew up a play to get MAAR the ball and attack down hill in a game he used over a quarter of the available possessions.
That’s my point Dylan they should of kept dialing stuff up for him. It was clear they were going to him and he was playing fantastic. I just felt they should of had him going to the rim late in the shot clock
They scored on 9 of the next 10 possessions… for 18 points. Exactly 2 points per possession to ice out the game. Hard to criticize that.
How many points from the line?
ORating makes my point painfully obvious…MAAR needs to be more involved, particularly at the expense of Irvin. Once teams adjusted to his baseline passing…he’s had a very rough go
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The possessions were:
- Dawkins three assisted by Walton
- Walton driving layup,
- MAAR shot and putback
- Irvin fouled on a FT rebound (split)
- Walton fouled driving the basket (2/2)
- Doyle fouled on rebound (2/2)
- Dawkins missed jumper
- Dawkins fastbreak layup
- Walton intentionally fouled (2/2)
- Walton intentionally fouled (2/2).
So they ran halfcourt offense through MAAR once (layup), Walton three times (assist, layup, fouled) and had the one bad possessions that I think ended up in Dawkins taking an ugly shot. I think MAAR and Walton were both great down the stretch and deserve credit.
The idea that Michigan went away from MAAR or didn’t go to him enough in that game seems crazy because it was the most I’ve ever seen them call his number.
Yeah, wasn’t trying to disagree was just using a more accurate stat. I think coaches are realizing this too and starting to dial him up more. His usage the last two games topped any of his last 5 and as I said earlier, the NW game was the first time I can remember Michigan running timeout sets for him like that.
Beilein said after the game that his improved passing ability is giving them the confidence to do that.
I think people want him involved even more. I don’t think think that’s asking a lot by people.
It’s becoming clear he just might be the best player on the floor for Michigan.
Would you happen to have any stats on MAAR in terms of points per possession generated from ISO sets, designed plays, off ball, residual, etc…would love to see the breakdown.
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Now that would be worth looking at
I think people want possessions that end in points for UM – which is, you know, what happened.
I’d have to pull updated numbers, but last time I checked Irvin was the most efficient PNR player and MAAR was the most efficient ISO player on the roster.
Irvin and MAAR both grade out well in both though, Walton a bit more average. Those are the scoring only numbers though, I’d have to pull the stats including passes separately (which probably helps Irvin a bit since he drives to pass so often).