SF LaQuinton Ross (Memphis Hustle - NBA G-League)

[DZ83CK]

Played extremely soft last night. I would have thought that he would have learned from last year that when you play the big boys you have to match their intensity. He really needs to pick his entire game up in conference play or his minutes will diminish quickly.

There were plays where he wasn't manning up in the paint to get position for rebounds, but truth be told Ross was being fouled on some of the drives and the refs were letting it go so his driving game wasn't allowed to get off the ground. When the refs are calling a game that doesn't allow you to drive to the basket without defenders committing blocking fouls and hacking fouls, then Ross won't be his best in those games. He needs the refs to call fouls when they see them and not ignore them. The game yesterday was not clean whatsoever as it pertains to OSU's ability to drive the ball, and presumably the officials will be more inclined to call fouls in other games so I'm not really worried about Ross' lack of production offensively from this one game. Defensively, yeah he could do a little better.

 

[LitlBuck]

The LaQuinton Ross conundrum: Junior scores 22, but late mistakes cost Ohio State in loss to Iowa

COLUMBUS, Ohio – There was the version of LaQuinton Ross that Ohio State wants, the one who fills up the box score while serving as the consistent offensive threat for a team that doesn’t have one elsewhere.

But there was also the version Thad Matta thought would be extinct by now, gone with some of the not-so-fun memories from Ross’ first two seasons with the Buckeyes. That Ross is slow to react on defense, commits bad fouls and has turnovers during the game’s most crucial moments.

When the two versions of Ross come together, he is the best and worst player on the floor at the same time. And when those instances arise, like it did in No. 3 Ohio State’s 84-74 loss to No. 20 Iowa in Value City Arena on Saturday, the bad version prevails.

“Obviously we need LaQuinton to play well,” said Matta, who has repeatedly pointed to Ross’ lack of consistency as his biggest issue. “We have to get him back to playing.”

MORE

 

[MaxBuck]

The LaQuinton Ross conundrum: Junior scores 22, but late mistakes cost Ohio State in loss to Iowa

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Terrific article, and "conundrum" is absolutely the right word for it.

 

[DZ83CK]

Did Matta seriously say that about Ross after the Iowa game, that "we have to get him back to playing"? Are you sure that quote wasn't from earlier in the year? I mean seriously the guy had 22 points and two bad minutes. I'm not concerned about Ross whatsoever after Iowa. He would've had fewer turnovers if the refs actually called Iowa for fouling him when they did.

I don't see a conundrum at all. Ross is the best scorer on the team, he has to play unless he's getting taken out of the game like he was at MSU when the refs weren't calling anything. Much of his game revolves around being able to drive, and the refs have to call fouls on his drives when they're committed or else he's not going to be very effective. He's got to avoid having a rash of mistakes like he did vs Iowa, but I don't think that is something you could say is a trend, because he typically doesn't play like that anymore. He's become more and more consistent as this year has gone on.

 

[LitlBuck]

Did Matta seriously say that about Ross after the Iowa game, that "we have to get him back to playing"? Are you sure that quote wasn't from earlier in the year? I mean seriously the guy had 22 points and two bad minutes. I'm not concerned about Ross whatsoever after Iowa. He would've had fewer turnovers if the refs actually called Iowa for fouling him when they did.

I don't see a conundrum at all. Ross is the best scorer on the team, he has to play unless he's getting taken out of the game like he was at MSU when the refs weren't calling anything. Much of his game revolves around being able to drive, and the refs have to call fouls on his drives when they're committed or else he's not going to be very effective. He's got to avoid having a rash of mistakes like he did vs Iowa, but I don't think that is something you could say is a trend, because he typically doesn't play like that anymore. He's become more and more consistent as this year has gone on.

Personally, I do not think that Ross is a "scorer". He is a very good shooter but not a scorer. I also do not think that he plays tough enough and lets minor contact bother him too much and it throws off his entire game. He has got to do more than just shoot. He has to step up as a better defender and rebounder especially for his size.

The quote that you mentioned is an exact quote from Matta. It was not from earlier in the year. It was right after the Iowa game.

 

[Tlangs]

The main issue with this team is that you have to have Ross play big minutes becuase no one else can shoot. We have no choice but to put up with his average defense and streaky play. If it continues I could see Loving steal another 5 mins a game.

 

[buckeyeintn]

The main issue with this team is that you have to have Ross play big minutes becuase no one else can shoot. We have no choice but to put up with his average defense and streaky play. If it continues I could see Loving steal another 5 mins a game.

At this point, I do not disagree that you have to play Ross big minutes, unless Loving continues to improve. But if Ross played average defense, this team would be better than it is. He has streaks of playing reasonable defense, and streaks of not showing up. His defense needs to improve to reach average.

 

[MaxBuck]

Ross plays much better D generally against bigs than he does quick smaller players, so far as I can see.

 

[LitlBuck]

I really do not know what to say about Q. He is one of the most frustrating players I have ever seen at Ohio State. He has so much talent but he just seems lazy or does not give 100% the majority of the time. In addition, I do not know how a guy with his outside shot does not shoot 85-90% from the free-throw line. I do not think he will ever play in the NBA and he will be fortunate to play in Europe.

 

[DZ83CK]

I really do not know what to say about Q. He is one of the most frustrating players I have ever seen at Ohio State. He has so much talent but he just seems lazy or does not give 100% the majority of the time. In addition, I do not know how a guy with his outside shot does not shoot 85-90% from the free-throw line. I do not think he will ever play in the NBA and he will be fortunate to play in Europe.

I don't think he's frustrating at all. He is the best player on a team that doesn't have another consistent scorer. It's not like he's shooting 60% from the foul line on the season, 67% is below par but not awful. I don't like his chances of being drafted in the first round this year at this point, but that's kind of a good thing for OSU as if he comes back then he would be a big part in turning the team back around. It would be hard to get back to a #2 seed level without him in 2015 for sure.

 

[LitlBuck]

I don't think he's frustrating at all. He is the best player on a team that doesn't have another consistent scorer. It's not like he's shooting 60% from the foul line on the season, 67% is below par but not awful. I don't like his chances of being drafted in the first round this year at this point, but that's kind of a good thing for OSU as if he comes back then he would be a big part in turning the team back around. It would be hard to get back to a #2 seed level without him in 2015 for sure.

Sorry for the late response but you really do not think that 67% is just below par but not awful. 11 out of the 12 teams In the Big Ten shoot better than 67% from the free-throw line.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/confldrs.html#conf.wkt

 

[buckeyesin07]

Sorry for the late response but you really do not think that 67% is just below par but not awful. 11 out of the 12 teams In the Big Ten shoot better than 67% from the free-throw line.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/confldrs.html#conf.wkt

I agree with this. It's gotten to the point where, when Q steps to the free throw line, I know he's going to make one of them, but I'm fairly certain he's going to miss one too. And after his 4-7 from the FT line on Thursday, he's down to 65.9% from the free throw line on the season. That's way too low for the leading scorer on a team who is going to see the foul line a lot. And FWIW, he shot 77.6% from FT last year, so that's quite a bit of a dropoff.

 

[DZ83CK]

Sorry for the late response but you really do not think that 67% is just below par but not awful. 11 out of the 12 teams In the Big Ten shoot better than 67% from the free-throw line.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/confldrs.html#conf.wkt

Yes, 67% is just below par and NOT awful. A few good games and Q is right at 70%. I think there is a lot of overreacting going on based on some struggles. This team isn't one of Matta's best, and Q is not one of Matta's best stars, but altogether it's not like Q and the team are actually doing poorly, just a little lower than expectations.

 

[Tlangs]

I wish he would shoot more 3's. He likes to ball fake and drive but it seems more often that not he doesn't get the foul call and can't finish with contact. Take the open 3 if it is there.

 

[Bulls-Eye]

I wish he would shoot more 3's. He likes to ball fake and drive but it seems more often that not he doesn't get the foul call and can't finish with contact. Take the open 3 if it is there.

This has been my pet peeve with Ross the past 5-6 games in conference play. He has probably one of, if not the best, pump fakes in all of CBB. However, he never fully uses it to his advantage. When he uses it, he doesn't just get his man to bite, he gets his man both feet off the ground and headed right at Ross. I cannot for the life of me understand why he won't just take the shot/contact, take the 3 free throws and a chance at an and-1. Instead, he drives slowly around his man and rarely gains much of an advantage.

As a whole, I think Ross is so close to breaking out into a consistent 20 ppg scorer. Right now I think he's having trouble differentiating between the right time to take the game into his own hands, and the right time to let the game come to him. He's the best outside threat, and needs to shoot when open to make the Buckeyes' penetration game more dangerous. He shouldn't, however, needlessly drive the ball into congestion in the paint. Play to your strengths and watch your game catch fire..