The Serb

[phil]

I thought the Serb is one of the most talented players on our team. He improved his game so much last year. I loved watching him post up players. He was very quick in the paint and had great drop step moves where he could always get to the basket or get guys off their feet and draw a foul. He is also a very good passer and could find Zeke when he beat his man and Zeke's man would come over for the double team.

This year it seems like he has abandoned a large part of that game. I do not understand why he does not want to post up more and use his inside moves to get to the basket or draw a double team so he can pass the ball. I think our team is better when he post up. We certainly have enough wing players on this team. I am hoping that the will start using this part of his game.

[Blue & Gold]

Amen.

Unimaginably, the way he's playing right now is a down-right detriment to the team.

The only way we make any noise in the NCAA is if he gets his head out of his can. Keep that big can near the paint, Nic.

[Dave in Green]

Are we to believe that the Serb regularly plays out of the position where KD directs him to play, and that KD allows him to remain on the floor and continue to ignore coach's orders?

[Dr Z]

Read through, & form your own opinion. Keep an eye on his minutes vs production.

[Dave in Green]

Here's what I'm looking at from the Serb playing a little more outside than inside on offense this season:

Effective field goal percentage

2010-11 -- 45.2%

2011-12 -- 50.0%

Offensive rebound percentage

2010-11 -- 9.2

2011-12 -- 9.0

Offensive rating

2010-11 -- 99.3

2011-12 -- 99.3

The tradeoff is that his effective field goal percentage is up about 9% and his offensive rebound percentage is down about 2%.

[Quickzips]

Here's what I'm looking at from the Serb playing a little more outside than inside on offense this season:

Effective field goal percentage

2010-11 -- 45.2%

2011-12 -- 50.0%

Offensive rebound percentage

2010-11 -- 9.2

2011-12 -- 9.0

Offensive rating

2010-11 -- 99.3

2011-12 -- 99.3

The tradeoff is that his effective field goal percentage is up about 9% and his offensive rebound percentage is down about 2%.

The thing people are forgetting about Nik is that, for all of his spin moves, up and unders, and the various array of post moves he has, the one thing he has not been throughout his career is a consistently good finisher at the rim. Almost everyone on this board has been ready to choke him at one time or another for making an amazing move to the bucket and then failing to finish when he got there. In some respects, he needed to add a jump shot to his game to become a more effective scorer, and that is reflected in the true shooting % numbers.

Nik has had to re-invent his game a lot throughout his days at Akron. As a freshman he was essentially all energy with a few nice baseline spin moves thrown in. As a sophmore he was really pretty volatile and out of control. He calmed it down a lot as a junior and added some pretty nice moves out of the high post and some better interior passing.

This year is no different. You also can't underestimate for a second the effect that losing Brett McKnight had on Nik. KD's teams have always featured a "stretch" forward who could step out and knock down the 3 (the McKnights, Romeo Travis, Rob Preston). With Brett McKnight gone Nik has had to reinvent his game again to assume some of that role on this team. I don't look at Nik's performance as a detriment to this team at all. He does what he has too to help this team win.

[Blue & Gold]

You also can't underestimate for a second the effect that losing Brett McKnight had on Nik. KD's teams have always featured a "stretch" forward who could step out and knock down the 3 (the McKnights, Romeo Travis, Rob Preston). With Brett McKnight gone Nik has had to reinvent his game again to assume some of that role on this team. I don't look at Nik's performance as a detriment to this team at all. He does what he has too to help this team win.

Hmm, very astute observation, Quick.

[CincyZip]

I may be in the minority, but I think it is good he is not playing his best basketball right now. Remember last year he just went off in late February and March, I think he can repeat it.

This idea can be instituted for the team overall. I'm getting pretty excited about what we Zip fans are about to witness.

[phil]

I think everyone has made great points why Serb is not playing more in the post and using his post up moves. If KD is telling him not to post up, it does leave the middle more open for Q Alex and the other players to drive to the basket. I also notice that on our offensive set that KD often has our post players set high screens near the top of the key and the paint area remains clear of players. This allows Alex to beat his man off the dribble and get to the basket. I agree that the Serb has a history of missing easy layups but this year that has not happened as much if at all. Comparing our post up players, Tree, Zeke Harney and the Serb, the Serb has the best footwork and the best moves to the basket. If the Serb can get a couple of easy baskets near the basket, it helps his confidence. Looking forward to tonights game. Go Zips!

[MDZip]

Comparing our post up players, Tree, Zeke Harney and the Serb, the Serb has the best footwork and the best moves to the basket.

I love Nik's intensity and passion for the game, but there is no chance he has the best footwork of our big guys. His footwork near the basket often involves a travel, missed bunny or turnover. If you want to compare footwork arouind the basket, I'd keep my eye on the other Nick.

[Quickzips]

I love Nik's intensity and passion for the game, but there is no chance he has the best footwork of our big guys. His footwork near the basket often involves a travel, missed bunny or turnover. If you want to compare footwork arouind the basket, I'd keep my eye on the other Nick.

I find it odd that you knock Nik for travelling too much and then tell us that Nick has the better post moves.

[phil]

In the first 5 minutes of the game last night the Serb had the ball in the post and had some nice moves from the basket. He was the leading scorer with 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting. I believe that all of his points were from the paint. He also went to the foul line because he was taking the ball inside. I hope this pattern continues. He took one outside shot by the 3 line and drew nothing but air. Harney and Tree also had some pretty post moves. This team plays extremely well when we can score in the paint.

[burrdie]

Good Morning, Snow in Wooster kept me from the game but watched on the computer. I agree, Nick needs to keep going to the basket, no more trying 3's. I was a bit frustrated with the way they played, but it was a win. I really like Harney and Tree. Tree is so good at the basket, soft touch. It has to be hard trying to figure out what to do and when with this team. They cannot start the game as they did last night against a really good team. They will get eaten. Got to come out hard and strong and stay strong to win big ones.

In the first 5 minutes of the game last night the Serb had the ball in the post and had some nice moves from the basket. He was the leading scorer with 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting. I believe that all of his points were from the paint. He also went to the foul line because he was taking the ball inside. I hope this pattern continues. He took one outside shot by the 3 line and drew nothing but air. Harney and Tree also had some pretty post moves. This team plays extremely well when we can score in the paint.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I find it odd that you knock Nik for travelling too much and then tell us that Nick has the better post moves.

Michael Jackson had great footwork. But he couldn't dribble worth a damn.