Food for Thought: Last Play of the Game

First off, let us welcome in our new recruits for the class of 2011. Today UW signed Andrew Andrews (weird name, I know. He also may join the 2012 class depending on our 2011 roster), Jernard Jarreau, Hikeem Stewart, and Tony Wroten Jr. We are told Kevin Davis plans on joining the UW after his year at Tacoma Community College. We are also in pursuit of Norvel Pelle and Angelo Chol. Pelle is visiting UW this weekend for the season opener against McNeese State, so Dawg Pack: get loud, make him feel at home, make him want to be apart of this, and make him forget silly St. John's. Help the team play a fantastic game and show Pelle why he should be here.


It may be early in the season, but it is never to early to think about who is going to nut up and play clutch at the end of a close game. Last year the clear and definitive answer was Quincy Pondexter. If we were tied up or needed a shot to keep the lead, Pondexter was our go-to guy. He won the Marquette game for us, after what was 40 minutes of stress and an amazing come back. Without Pondexter, Romar and the Huskies need to think about who their go-to guy will be this year. Who is going to take that last second shot? Who is going to get the ball and be entrusted with the outcome of the game? Who has the ability to perform under pressure and excel? Who does Romar want to handle that responsibility?

There are a few stand out players in my mind, who can make a case for this responsibility. Each has their own set abilities and shots they can utilize in those last few ticks of the clock.

Now, remember, its hard to judge this at such an early part of the year. We have played only one game and an exhibition game at that. St. Martin's put up a fight, but in the end, the talent level just can't compare. I'm basing my arguments off of previous years performances, upside, and what I saw at the St. Martin's game.

My third choice would have to be Justin Holiday. He had an amazing performance against St. Martin's by going 4 for 4 on the long ball and 6 for 11 overall. The 6-11 is what slightly concerns me. While his 3 game was perfect, he missed an easy lay in on a fast break that he probably should have just dunked and a few other shorter shots you would hope he could make. 6-11 isn't bad at all, over all its a good game. What it does means is he went 2 for 7 on other shots, not something to expect from the senior. If I'm going to let someone take the last shot and make the last play of the game, I'd like to see a little more consistency. Holiday may very well step up and show his shot is improving, but if he can't get above 50% on the short game shots I'm going to hesitate on calling him the clutch player the Huskies should turn to. However, if he shows his 3 ball is spot on almost every time, I'd be more than happy to let him lob the half court shot, or even spot up near the arc and drop a game winning bomb. It all depends on how his performances continue.

My number two choice has to be Isaiah Thomas. Plain and simple, this kid is a winner. He knows how to score, he knows how he scores, and he drives with a lot of strength and skill. He has no problem banging against the big boys down low when he needs to, even shooting over 7-3 Max Zhang in the 2010 Pac-10 Tournament championship game. He even has a ranged shot that demands respect. In the 2009-2010 home game against WSU, Isaiah dropped three straight 3's including the last one in the face of his defender. Ice cold veins and a smooth shot. A dangerous combination. My only hold back has been his tendency, over his first two years at UW, to force shots that weren't there. I don't know how that'll play out this year. He seemed to play a bigger team game towards the end of last season and against St. Martin's he was all about the team. Dishing out 11 assists and only two shots is a point guard, team orientated game. This looks very promising for the Huskies, especially along side what appears to be the development and unleashing of Abdul Gaddy's potential. I like Isaiah taking the last shot, I wouldn't be stressing out if he did, but there is someone I have seen perform clutch plays in the waning seconds and desperate situations. That would be.....

Venoy Overton. If not for sloppy defense on the UCLA inbound play, Venoy Overton would have made a beautiful, cross court, game winning lay-in. He has shown to possess the speed and skill needed to get an open shot from anywhere on the court. He has also proven time and time again, it is a mistake to foul him, especially when the clock is winding down. Overton went a very impressive and extremely vital, 25 for 29 on free throws when the clock was under 2 minutes. I'm going to recite my mantra, which I believe Venoy is a firm believer in as well. Free throws win ball games. Did you get that? Free throws win ball games. Not the long ball, not the lay-in. Free throws. Here are two examples of Venoy and his awesome free throw shooting. Against Arizona at home, we won by 6 points. You know how many free throws Venoy attempted? 6. How many did he make? 6. How about his performance against WSU? While WSU tried to fight back and foul our players to stop the clock and minimize points, Venoy was given the ball and fouled multiple times. He nailed every single free throw he took during those last few minutes. If Venoy, not Elston Turner, had been fouled on that last possession at Texas Tech, we would have won. Turner missed both free throws and an overtime was forced (after a late 3 ball went in, seemingly winning the game for Texas Tech, only to be ruled after time had expired). We ended up losing in overtime. If Turner had made 1 free throw... Game. Set. Match. Perhaps our road woes would have never been a problem. Perhaps we would have won the Pac-10 title back to back. Perhaps we would have been seeded higher in the NCAA Tournament, Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. I digress...
Venoy has show he is the goto guy, with the skills and mentality of a winner in every sense of the word. If I trust any player on the Husky team to make a critical shot, I am handing the ball to Overton. Like Romar said with Pondexter last year, you have to trust your seniors.

On a last second play, I want to see Overton up top with the ball. I want Isaiah on the strong side, outside the arc, keeping the lane clear. I want Holiday floating on the weak side. I want MBA coming out to screen and open our wings up. I want our 5th man to keep things open. I believe our 5th guy will be Ross, he plays like a winner. If we keep that lane open, Overton will have the freedom to drive the lane and shoot or dish it out to Isaiah/Holiday for what should be an open shot. He also has a decent long ball, that if developed could be deadly as well.


Other potential last shot players: Terrence Ross, Abdul Gaddy, Matthew Bryan-Amaning.


So what do you think? Is this a fair assessment? Who do you think should get the last shot? Drop a comment, let us know what you think. Tell us who and why.


Post by: John