TSN: Grant Needs to Take The Point - StateFans Nation StateFans Nation

The Sporting News‘ Mike DeCourcy talks NC State basketball in his blog. You gotta love the attention!

Here’s the thing: Atsur probably is out two weeks. The Pack’s next game is an early ACC game Sunday afternoon at Virginia, which features the league’s top point guard, Sean Singletary. Grant’s job will get tougher, immediately. He better be a quick study.

I was at the game on Monday night and noticed something in person that did not seem to translate as clearly on the replay of the game that I watched (so that I could hear Jimmy Dykes’ comments).

Did anyone else notice that with about eight minutes to the go in the game the entire NC State team was exhausted? The whole team hat hit a physical wall. But, more interestingly was that the team’s exhaustion happened almost simultaneously with a NOTICEABLE change in Gavin Grant’s demeanor on the court. I don’t know what happened but Grant, who had been noticeably crisp and ‘energetic’ (even when he was running the point), suddenly just turned off. Kind of shut down.

It was really odd. Grant started walking the ball up the court in a manner that just screamed strange. It was like his feelings were hurt. All crispness from Grant – and then the rest of the team – just disappeared. It was more than just playing conservatively with a lead; and I noticed it a good 5 (game minutes) prior to Grant’s ridiculous back-court violation.

Did anyone else notice this?

30 Responses to TSN: Grant Needs to Take The Point

beowolf 11/30/2006 at 9:59 AM #

I expected the fatigue to wear on us late; that’s why I was thrilled with the 21-point lead and didn’t expect it to remain.

I am thrilled with how well the team responds to Lowe.
Clarksa 11/30/2006 at 10:48 AM #

I’ll say it…I thought we “called off the dogs” a little to early and went into our “prevent” defense…which nearly prevented us from winning. Maybe once we slowed it down, the fatigue took over from the adrenaline?
BJD95 11/30/2006 at 10:51 AM #

I think Gavin was both mentally and physically exhausted. He was playing out of position, with no breathers, surrounded by only one other guard (who doesn’t really handle the ball) and 3 forwards. That’s a VERY difficult position to be in, especially when doing it basically for the FIRST TIME. I’ll cut the kid alot of slack.

Two of his turnovers were also the direct result of pretty blatant fouls that weren’t called (including one hockey-style body check near the baseline when he forced up a long pass that was intercepted).
redfred2 11/30/2006 at 11:01 AM #

I think Sidney Lowe knows that the last thing he needs to right now is to discourage aggressiveness. He picked up a group of players who were way off balance and at the bottom of the aggressive meter.

Gavin Grant is a forward playing the point for the first time. I’ll check out his defense more closely in the UVA game against a backcourt that will give everyone fits. But right now I have no problem, nor would I like to see him purposely throttled back on his aggressive posterioring on the offensive end of the court. Some refinement, yes.

I’ll bet that in practices this week Grant has gotten an ear full about forcing the ball down LOWE, to McCauley and Costner. As far as aggressive play on the offensive end, if anything, Fells needs encouragement to come on out of his shell and go on the attack more often. He has skills and athletic abilities to be a factor night in and night out, and he needs to force the defenses to play him all over the court.
#44 17 24 11/30/2006 at 3:50 PM #

I dont really understand the entry. You mention that everyone of our players were so exhausted, yet you say it was odd when (probably the most exhausted player) Grant, started “walking the ball up court” and made some bad decisions, which players do when their tired. I just dont get it.