Is J.P. Macura Coachable?

[Drew]

yeah ok then who do you start and who's better suited? We just don't have the talent and depth this year

Mack's teams have always been defense first. Sumner, Bernard, Bluiett, Gates, Gaston.

[mistabeecee41]

Unfortunately, ill-timed shots and awful passes are the norm for JP this year.

it's not just JP with the shots -our whole team spazzes out every time were in a close, late game frantic situation. I forgot which game it was, but we had an end of game sequence when we needed to make a shot where Ed bricked a 3, Tre got the rebound and ran to the 3 point line and missed a step back fadeaway 3, then JP got a kick out and launched a 35 footer and missed.

All in about 7 seconds with 2 minutes left in the game. The announcers remark was something along the lines of "what the hell are they doing?"

[LA Muskie]

I love JP. But I think he's really struggling with his new role. He could get away with a lot of his "negatives' playing as an offensive spark off the bench. They become much more pronounced in a starting/primary role.

[SemajParlor]

I don't think a lot of people played organized basketball on this board.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I love JP. But I think he's really struggling with his new role. He could get away with a lot of his "negatives' playing as an offensive spark off the bench. They become much more pronounced in a starting/primary role.

Agree with all of this. But man...he let a freshman guard whose weakness coming into college was lack of quickness/slow feet, dribble right by him multiple times last night. A frosh guard who averages around 6 ppg shouldn't have been able to drive and score that easily on a junior starter. Last night was a little alarming.

[casualfan]

The problem is that without Remy and now Myles there is no one you can really use to sit him down when he is struggling.

Last year you could put him in, see if he was hot, and if he was leave him in and if he wasn't pull him out.

That luxury isn't really there this year, at least not for long stretches.

[Nigel Tufnel]

The problem is that without Remy and now Myles there is no one you can really use to sit him down when he is struggling.

Last year you could put him in, see if he was hot, and if he was leave him in and if he wasn't pull him out.

That luxury isn't really there this year, at least not for long stretches.

You and LA said the exact same thing but in different ways.

[LA Muskie]

You and LA said the exact same thing but in different ways.

Correct. Bringing him off the bench wouldn't make a difference. The problem is that we have no choice but to play him 30+ minutes. And he hasn't adjusted to that new normal.

[SemajParlor]

JP is better defensively statistically and is overall a more efficient player than last year. There are some really unfair narratives out there.

[LA Muskie]

JP is better defensively statistically and is overall a more efficient player than last year. There are some really unfair narratives out there.

Don't get me wrong -- I think JP is a net positive (and that it's not a close call). I also agree that this may be an issue of perception. "Spark-plugs" tend to make their name on the good; the bad gets swept under the rug. But when you play 30+ minutes, you're generally held to a higher standard -- and the "bad" tends to get noticed more.