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| Davon Reed(Photo Credit: USA Today) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
Canes Rising Contributor
The 'Canes needed to steal a game in order to reestablish themselves as a bubble team. That didn't happen on Tuesday as Miami fell 63-55 to the Louisville Cardinals. The 'Cards are a very good team, and Miami fought valiantly, but close losses are still losses. It's amazing to think that two weeks ago, Miami was considered a dark horse, a team that could turn heads in March. That seems like a very long time ago, with the 'Canes in the midst of a three game losing streak.
Quick Shots
Struggle Watch 2015--No breaking news to report, Angel Rodriguez is still doing everything in his power to drive Jim Larranaga insane. A perfect illustration of what Angel is came with under two minutes remaining, with the 'Canes down four. The 'Canes had the ball early in the shot chock, and Angel decided to take a contested twenty-eight foot jumper. That shot ended all hopes of a Miami comeback. That's the problem with Angel right now, he has no concept of what a good shot is, he tries to play hero every night. Last week, an ESPN analyst tried to compare Angel to former 'Cane Shane Larkin. They aren't similar in the least, Shane understood what was expected of him, he had a high basketball IQ. Angel isn't a dumb player, he just does a lot of mind boggling things, at the worst possible time. It's getting to the point that I shudder when #13 touches the ball, because I know the odds of something positive happening aren't favorable. Most good players have one or two bad shooting nights per season, Angel is a 33% shooter on the season. When a player is shooting that poorly, and refuses to shop shooting horrible shots, a change is needed. Ja'Quan Newton and Manu Lecomte may not have the top end ability that Angel has, but they aren't walking grease fires either. We all hope that Angel can snap out of this, but Miami's season can't be allowed to go down the drain merely because Rodriguez wants to live out his Jack McClinton fantasies.
"Gunner" Reed--When did Davon Reed become a lights out shooter? It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but Davon has become one of the better shooters on the team. Tonight, he was on fire, connecting on five deep bombs, and scoring a team high nineteen points. He played within himself, taking excellent shots, shots that were in rhythm, and within the flow of the offensive set. All of his shots were perfect, with only one even coming close to touching rim. Reed wasn't only the best offensive player Miami had, he was the best defensive player as well, disrupting passing lanes, forcing players to take contested jumpers. The light has come on for Reed, a player who has struggled to find his niche. There's few players in the ACC who can do the things that Davon can, and he's quietly become a valuable player. With the struggles of Angel Rodriguez continuing, Reed should see more shots, he has the talent, and smarts to become the second scorer the 'Canes desperately need.
Where's "The General"?--Sheldon McClellan has been a non-factor the last week, only scoring a combined 25 points in the last three games. That's a far cry from his fifteen point per game average, an average that leads the team. McClellan has to get involved in the offense, he hasn't been looking for his shot, he's been far too passive. Sheldon isn't a pure shooter, he isn't a pure slasher either, he's an athletic hybrid who can create off of the dribble, but can also hit open shots when available. It may be time to work Sheldon off of screens, create some one on one situations, and allow him to overpower the competition. Miami needs scoring help, and it doesn't help anyone when McClellan is a ghost.
Who's going to Step Up?--No, that isn't a reference to the horrible dance movie, this is a legitimate question. Besides Tonye Jekiri, and Davon Reed, there isn't anyone else on the roster one can count on. Tonight, Manu Lecomte and Ja'Quan Newton were steady at the point, with Newton being a little wild at times. Omar Sherman isn't the kind of player who can play major minutes right now, and Ivan Cruz-Uceda is still rusty, and isn't the most athletic big. For this team to become consistent, there has to be more than two guys that can be counted on. Over the next week, Miami needs 5 players that can fill a role every night. Tonye provides interior defense and scoring, Davon is a demon on the defensive end, and can score when needed. Those are the only two players who have filled their roles on a consistent basis. Teams that don't have defined, consistent roles are rarely successful.
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