I can't watch

[akronzips71]

I disagree. What I see is a young guy who, quite rightly, sees himself as a scorer even though he's been struggling. The problem is that he's continually choosing the wrong pathway out of his funk. If and when he strives to play solid defense FIRST, his struggles on the offensive end and his frustrations over less floor time will take care of themselves, and he'll become the scorer he perceives himself to be. You gotta remember, though, that to Harney, that remedy is totally counter-intuitive. But, with input from the coaches and his teammates, I have to believe the light bulb is going to click on one of these days, and this kid is going to be something really, really special. Let's hope it happens sooner than later.

The problem is that he does not work with his teammates to get a path to the hoop. He just thinks he can do it all himself. He has great moves, but again, he is playing against DI players like Greene and Porrini and Watt. They are pretty darn good too. He just does not seem to have bought into the concept of teamwork.

[Class of 82]

The problem is that he does not work with his teammates to get a path to the hoop. He just thinks he can do it all himself. He has great moves, but again, he is playing against DI players like Greene and Porrini and Watt. They are pretty darn good too. He just does not seem to have bought into the concept of teamwork.

I get ya.

I guess I just see a guy who's trying way too hard to force his offensive game more than I see a guy being intentionally selfish. Worse, he's so focused on his last and next offensive chance that he has zero focus on the defensive end. KD rightly won't accept that, so Harney gets less and less PT, which so far has only made the fundamental problem worse instead of better. Hopefully, he figures this out.

P.S. You mention Watt and Porrini. Now there's two guys with crazy offensive skills who get the "play-good-defense-and-the-offense-will-follow" concept. Of course, they're both seniors, I think.

[Dave in Green]

The problem is that he does not work with his teammates to get a path to the hoop. He just thinks he can do it all himself. He has great moves, but again, he is playing against DI players like Greene and Porrini and Watt. They are pretty darn good too. He just does not seem to have bought into the concept of teamwork.

Great observations. Remember how easily Harney blew by defenders at the beginning of the season and was the team's leading scorer? It came too easy. Other teams didn't have a scouting report on Harney, and most of the guys he was blowing by were not prepared for his quickness and athleticism.

Then came the phase where other teams got the scouting report on Harney and knew they had to put defenders on him who were quick enough to block his path to the bucket. The result was that Harney ended up getting called for a lot of charges instead of getting easy buckets.

Then came the phase where Harney adjusted by trying to start his drives a little quicker to get around the defenders and avoid charging fouls. The result was that he started moving his feet too quickly and began getting lots of traveling calls.

And that's where Harney is right now. He's not quite good enough to get it done on his own against defenses that are prepared for his moves, and he hasn't yet figured out how to work with his teammates to offset the defenses thrown against him.

As Harney listens more to the coaches and works more with his teammates, he'll develop into a really good player.

[Class of 82]

Great observations. Remember how easily Harney blew by defenders at the beginning of the season and was the team's leading scorer? It came too easy. Other teams didn't have a scouting report on Harney, and most of the guys he was blowing by were not prepared for his quickness and athleticism.

Then came the phase where other teams got the scouting report on Harney and knew they had to put defenders on him who were quick enough to block his path to the bucket. The result was that Harney ended up getting called for a lot of charges instead of getting easy buckets.

Then came the phase where Harney adjusted by trying to start his drives a little quicker to get around the defenders and avoid charging fouls. The result was that he started moving his feet too quickly and began getting lots of traveling calls.

And that's where Harney is right now. He's not quite good enough to get it done on his own against defenses that are prepared for his moves, and he hasn't yet figured out how to work with his teammates to offset the defenses thrown against him.

As Harney listens more to the coaches and works more with his teammates, he'll develop into a really good player.

Good stuff, Dave.

As I see it, the biggest problem with Harney's drives is that defenders know they are coming. If you can't show you can consistently hit jump shots, which he hasn't shown yet, it isn't all that hard to sit and wait for the drive.

I still say Harney's true development as a Zip can only begin when he starts working really hard on the defensive end... for two reasons. One, he won't get many minutes on a KD team if he doesn't; and two, I think his biggest strength at this level is going to be as a finisher in transition. He'll probably be the best finisher Akron's ever had once he decides to stop forcing his game and just get with the darned program. Once he does that, the rest of his game can blossom as he gets better and gets more confident in himself. But that's where he needs to start, imo.

[akronzips71]

Great observations. Remember how easily Harney blew by defenders at the beginning of the season and was the team's leading scorer? It came too easy. Other teams didn't have a scouting report on Harney, and most of the guys he was blowing by were not prepared for his quickness and athleticism.

Then came the phase where other teams got the scouting report on Harney and knew they had to put defenders on him who were quick enough to block his path to the bucket. The result was that Harney ended up getting called for a lot of charges instead of getting easy buckets.

Then came the phase where Harney adjusted by trying to start his drives a little quicker to get around the defenders and avoid charging fouls. The result was that he started moving his feet too quickly and began getting lots of traveling calls.

And that's where Harney is right now. He's not quite good enough to get it done on his own against defenses that are prepared for his moves, and he hasn't yet figured out how to work with his teammates to offset the defenses thrown against him.

As Harney listens more to the coaches and works more with his teammates, he'll develop into a really good player.

We are on the same page, and compare him to what AA does. Harney probably has better moves than AA, and for sure he is close to a foot taller. But as point guard, AA moves people around, dribbles and moves, and creates space to get by people to the hoop. And most of the people defending him are a lot taller. Harney has the moves, but he also faces guys who are his size and speed. He needs to learn to create that space, and that is where the teamwork comes in.

Even Lebron has four other guys on the court with him. I doubt he could play 1 on 5 and win, even against a high school team.

AND

I think that for next season KD has to draw up plays that open up a lane for AA or Harney to make them more effective. This year has been a huge transition for Akron. We traditionally succeeded by hitting a lot of threes, this year most of our success has come in the paint - and not with the big guy either. AA is a scoring threat anytime he has the ball, which of course is most of the time. Harney, Tree and Walsh represent that same threat. Walsh is there now, Harney and Tree need more work. Tree has the size and brute strength to force inside (somewhat like the Serb), Harney is kinda skinny and needs moves rather than brute force. But when we are on, we are amazing inside and on fast breaks. More of the same please.

[akronzips71]

Good stuff, Dave.

As I see it, the biggest problem with Harney's drives is that defenders know they are coming. If you can't show you can consistently hit jump shots, which he hasn't shown yet, it isn't all that hard to sit and wait for the drive.

I still say Harney's true development as a Zip can only begin when he starts working really hard on the defensive end... for two reasons. One, he won't get many minutes on a KD team if he doesn't; and two, I think his biggest strength at this level is going to be as a finisher in transition. He'll probably be the best finisher Akron's ever had once he decides to stop forcing his game and just get with the darned program. Once he does that, the rest of his game can blossom as he gets better and gets more confident in himself. But that's where he needs to start, imo.

Yes, but on his drives of late he does not have a path to the basket and he is not possessed of the brute strength of Tree and Nik to just force his way in. He needs to use finesse (which I know he has) rather then just trying to push his way and travel or get blocked. They are just sitting there waiting for that. If he gets a step on the defender he is gold, but he is not getting that step. He is not the type of player to back in like Nik does, he is the type of player to slash and jump his way in. You need a lane or you get the charge. Teamwork and movement, he needs to learn that.