AJ Abrams SECOND column over at 247Horns

[BudreauReye]

AJ Abraams has recently been added as a basketball columnist over at 247 Horns.  Here is his first  blurb.

Abrams' Analysis: Looking Ahead

Lifetime Longhorn A.J. Abrams knows a thing or two about Texas basketball.

"Barnes should feel good about where his team sits going into the new season.
The former All Big-12 selection played for the Longhorns from 2006-2009 under Rick Barnes and has followed the team closely ever since. In today’s edition of Abrams’ Analysis the former hardwood star breaks down the 2014-2015 team for Horns247.

Last season Barnes and his players surprised nearly everyone with a 24-11 record and quality wins over teams Kansas, at North Carolina, Iowa State, a regular season sweep of Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State. The Longhorns fell in the third round of the NCAA Tournament by way of losing to No. 2 seeded Michigan after beating Arizona State at the buzzer.

It was a run that no one saw coming, not even Abrams. The former Longhorn had big hopes for the team, but wasn’t sure just how much of their potential they would reach so early.

However, he knew the potential was there, so he wasn’t exactly surprised either.

'To be honest I didn't know what to expect,' said Abrams. 'With the coaches and staff that we have, I always have a lot of confidence in whoever the team brings in. The coaches do a great job of selecting players for what we need and also taking the time to develop them every day in practice.'

Abrams feels like it’s only the beginning for the Texas basketball program. The Longhorns haven’t finished a season being ranked in the top-25 in either the AP or Coaches Poll since the 2010-2011 season. For a team who had a Final Four appearance, two Elite Eight showings and two Sweet Sixteen trips in a seven-year span not too long ago, it’s safe to say the basketball being played in Austin as of late hasn’t been up to par.

With that said, now Abrams believes last year is only a taste of the positive things to come for Texas. The overachieving will be a trend, rather than just temporary.

'On the outside looking in it was good to see the team get back up to the level we need to be at every year,' Abrams said. 'Last season was a testament to the coaches instilling a hard work ethic in the players, as well as the players trusting and believing in each other and everyone doing their job night in and night out.'

The presence of Turner will give Barnes and staff a ton of versatility they didn't have before.
He – along with nearly every Texas fan out there – has very high expectations for the Longhorns, who have been ranked as high as No. 9 in some early pre-season polls.

'The team has as good as shot as any to go all the way,' said Abrams. 'As always, the schedule is going to be tough this season, but I don't see them losing many games this year. Even the close games this year I still feel confident that the team will pull it out because experience goes a long way. With any season there will be ups and downs of course, but they are better equipped to handle it this year. So realistically they have a great shot to get it done this year.'

That experience he refers to is no doubt going to be huge for the Longhorns. While many teams in the Big 12 lost key players, Texas lost no one, not even to graduation.

'Experience is their strength,' Abrams said. 'Yes they're talented, but the fact that everyone is coming back, and the team cohesiveness, plays a big role for an entire season.'

'Another way that the team will improve is the cerebral part of the game,' he added. 'It's not enough to be talented. Once you begin to out think your opponent is when the real success comes. Since everyone is returning it gives the team a great advantage because nothing is better than experience. The returners will be able to help the young guys get to where they need to be, so they can make a deep run.'

And those young guys Abrams refers to aren’t just any regular players, but quite the opposite. Barnes and his staff signed two key prospects for the 2014 recruiting class in five-star center Myles Turner, the nation’s No. 6 prospect overall, and four-star small forward Jordan Barnett, the nation’s No. 110 prospect overall.

Both of those newcomers are expected to see significant playing time this upcoming season, but Turner could be the missing piece to the puzzle to get Texas to the top.

'From what I saw he looks like Turner should come in and be an immediate impact, as well Jordan Barnett,' said Abrams. 'I think we have to let Myles be Myles and not worry about comparing him to the MVP of the NBA (Kevin Durant) like some have done before. The coaches will do a great job of getting the freshman in game shape and ready to make an impact this season. With Myles being the type of player that he is, he will be able to create matchup problems for opponents, which will not only help him, but everyone else on the court as well.'

Returning a guy like Jonathan Holmes up front adds to what the staff can do with a lineup at a given time.
Abrams feels the addition of those two will give the Longhorns many looks that may have not been available in the past few years due to the personnel on the court.

'There are just so many options,' Abrams said. 'Texas will have a lot of good shooters, a very talented point guard who will run the ship and a front line that can compete with anyone in the country. So whenever you have that combination sets are unlimited. The team will be able to play through the big men at times, as well as the guards at times.'

'Defensively we can expect to see what we see every year, a very tough minded mentality. Coach Barnes will have them ready defensively to give hard ball pressure and playing passing lanes, which will create offense.'

Of course, all the talent, depth and experience also gives Texas another thing to constantly work with and that’s the starting lineup and just having the option of different personnel on the floor at different times.

According to Abrams, this too will be a pivotal part of their success.

There are so many different lineups that coach has to utilize this year,' Abrams said. 'Coach Barnes has never entitled a player to anything, so the work the players put in this summer as well as the pre-season will determine lineups. It is definitely not a bad thing that Texas will have so many talented players. It’s going to be about who works hard on and off the court, which will make great competitive practice sessions and pay off in games.

'Personally I don’t really care who starts because all the players have the capability to do so, so players coming off the bench should have that starter mentality anyway.'

There’s no doubt that this season’s squad is going to be one of the most-watched Texas basketball teams in recent memory. That means that other teams will be watching them closely, too, and have them marked on their schedules as a big game. Regardless, Abrams believes they’re prepared and the sky is the limit this year.

'Honestly, the team is ready,' said Abrams. 'The addition of Turner and Barnett will help tremendously, but as I have been saying experience goes a long way. There's nothing like going into a game and having an idea of what is about to happen because you have already gone through it. Everyone will have to continue to get better throughout the season and stay healthy, but the pieces are there.'

A.J. Abrams was one of the state's top basketball recruits coming out of Round Rock McNeil High School before committing to the Longhorns and starting his career in Austin in 2005. During his time with Texas he was named to the Big 12 All-Freshmen team, started every game beginning his sophomore year until his collegiate career was over, and drew all-conference honors three times. He also broke the Big 12 career record for 3-pointers and was only the 28th player in Texas men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points. Now, besides contributing to Horns247 as a basketball analyst, Abrams is a well-respected licensed realtor in the Austin area, specializing in selling, buying and leasing residential properties and runs ‘AJ Abrams Realty’, a member of JB Goodwin Realtors. If you’re in the need of his services, we recommend you check him out at: http://www.ajabramsrealty.com."

Good readl ... looking forward to the next one ... if they don't lock it so I can't read it ... well quoted 247Horns staff! 

 

[BudreauReye]

Brian Pedersen over at BleacherReport considers Isaiah Taylor and Myles Turner the twelvth best duo in college basketball for this upcoming season.  Heck!  I am thinking that we could just have one of the pretty good fivesomes, in Taylor, Turner, Ridley, Holmes, and don't forget the X-Man Jordan Barnett - of course!  see the wistfull thinking caveat in the post below! 

Predicting the Best Duos in College Basketball for the 2014-15 Season

By Brian Pedersen , Featured Columnist

June 19, 2014

12. Isaiah Taylor and Myles Turner, Texas  
"Combine one of the most promising, young point guards in Division I with a highly coveted big-man recruit, and you've got a recipe for a great combination.

Texas has this dish cooking in the crock pot right now, ready to serve it up on the Big 12—and the nation—this fall.

The 6'1", 170-pound Isaiah Taylor was a pleasant surprise for the Longhorns at the point during his freshman year, chipping in 12.7 points and 4.0 assists per game. His 39 percent shooting was a concern, but at times Taylor looked too much to shoot instead of dishing it out to the main, talented pieces around him.

The addition of 6'10", 223-pound Myles Turner, considered the No. 6 overall prospect in the class of 2014, should help diversify Texas' lineup and enable Taylor to become much more of a facilitator.

Turner had seven points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes in the 2014 McDonald's All-American game, and is part of the United States' Under-18 national team that's set to compete June 20-24 in the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in Colorado.

We've had a chance to see what Taylor can do with some talented big men, as some of his favorite targets last season were Texas' Jonathan Holmes and Cameron Ridley. Add in one more big body for him to work with, and we could see some major give-and-go."

 

[BudreauReye]

Kerry Miller, over at BleacherReport considers Myles Turner the ninth best incoming college freshman with regards to how their game is best suited for the NBA.  We shall see ... we shall see.  I do not think that some of these folks realize the folowing -  how young Turner really is as a basketball player, how good his handle is considering he was a guard before he grusome up some ,  and that his game is still very much a work in progress.  Heck!  That is why I am hereby projecting that he will be here at Texas for two years ... and of course, that startling prediction is based on nothing more than moonbeams mixed with Happy Juice and wistfull, magical thinking! 

Incoming College Basketball Freshmen with Games Ideally Suited for the NBA

By Kerry Miller , College Basketball National Columnist

Jun 19, 2014

9. Myles Turner, Texas

Player: Myles Turner

School: Texas

Position: Power Forward / Center

247Sports Rank: 6

ESPN 100 Rank: 2

"The biggest concern with Turner's game is that he does a little bit of everything without particularly excelling at one thing.

The comparisons to Baylor's Perry Jones III and Isaiah Austin are easy to make and not particularly flattering.

There's very little doubt that Turner will excel in college, but does he have the strength to guard opposing big men in the NBA? Does he have a consistent enough long-range shot to live on the perimeter?

How he does in the NBA may depend heavily upon his supporting cast. Dirk Nowitzki has had a long and fruitful career, but the 7'-0" jump-shooter pretty much always had another big man on the court to handle the load in the paint, be it Erick Dampier, DeSagana Diop, Brendan Haywood or Tyson Chandler.

If we were talking about Euroleague, the 'new age' big man would be just about the hottest commodity available. But until he figures out his bread and butter, it's tough to rank Turner any higher than this."

 

[BudreauReye]

... and furthermore ... upon rumination, comparing Myles to Dirk Nowitski is not a reasonable comparison.  Dirk is a hell of a player, but he is a power forward that has a European power forwards game, range and shot, but he still is essentially a power forward, who like is stated, needs somebody big inside to complement him.  Unless he puts on a hell of a lot of weight, Turner, I am of the opinion , will project as a three that can play all over the court, and who is still big enough to post up down low for quickness mismatches - Think Kevin Durant with more LaMarcus Aldridge ... think LaMarcus Aldredige with more Kevin Durant ... somewhere in there is where I thank Myles Turner will make his living in the pros.  As somebody said on another thread in a different context, you probably should throw traditional 3, 4, and 5 roles out the window with regards to Myles Turner.  I think that will be the case for him at Texas, as well as in the NBA ... but, heck!  what do I know?  I can tell you this, though!  It sure is fun specumalatin'! 

 

[BudreauReye]

Here is the second installment of Abrams Analysis.  This one is much better than the first one.  That portends well for the future, unless they make it a subscriber only feature.  The only thing I take issue with is the answer to the first question - first paragraph.  With regards to whether they can feed from the energy of last years team, I respectfully disagree with AJ.  You gotta remember that the year AJ finished up at Texas was the year that Texas cratered after being ranked number one.  That experience would tint anyone's memory.  I think that this team is different.  Until they prove otherwise, I think that they will build on the energy from last year.  They were very cohesive last year, and they do not seem to have added anybody that indicated that they will do nothing else other than maintain that cohesiveness this year ... but, then again, what do I know? 

Abrams Analysis: Answering Your Questions - 2nd edition

• Blake Munro
  

http://texas.247sports.com/Article/Former-Texas-Longhorn-AJ-Abrams-answers-questions-for-Horns27-29349114

"In this week’s edition of Abram’s Analysis, former Longhorn point guard AJ Abrams answers your questions about the Longhorn basketball team, including what to expect this upcoming season, the future lineup, head coach Rick Barnes, talking about his time at Texas and much more.

 
Question (asked by user btown1110): What are this team's greatest weaknesses? It is obvious that last year’s was shooting, but do you see that being remedied?

Abrams: One of the biggest adversities the team will have to get over is being complacent because of the success the team had with so many young players. The team cannot feed into last year and absolutely has to keep building. As a former player for UT, I know firsthand about the saying “what have you done for me lately?†The team will need continue the momentum they have into this season.

I feel shooting in general is a weakness for every team. It is like no one wants to master shooting. Everything is always driving to the basketball. That is fine if you have a jump shot, but when teams begin to back off of you and begin to play you for the drive only, it is essential to have a consistent jump shot to eliminate that tactic. If the players were smart (which they are as well as the coaching staff), a huge portion of the summer should be spent on mid-range jump shots.

Question (asked by user bierce): Will Texas play predominantly a three guard lineup or primarily use Holmes and Barnett at the three?

Abrams: The lineups are endless. That is the great advantage about having so many good players. Matchups affect the game a lot. Right now, whatever line up Texas puts on the floor is a matchup nightmare for the opposition because so many players can play different positions. So I feel it will be a mix of both depending on the scouting report.

Question (asked by user bierce): If Texas plays the bigger lineup, should we expect a LOT of zone defense (and are the guys working on zone rotations in the summer)?

Abrams: The zone defense has been good for quite a while, but I do not look for Coach Barnes to utilize the zone as a primary defense. Texas’ guards are quick enough and know the game well enough to defend hard pressure man to man. They will use zones to change it up at times, but man to man should be the main defense. Rotations are always worked for the specific defense; the key is translating it into the game.

Question (asked by user bierce): Does Rick Barnes micromanage individual players to the point where they become afraid to step on the court or is that just a bunch of bull made up by disgruntled Texas fans over the years?

Abrams: I don’t think he micromanages at all. He is the coach. He is supposed to knit pick everything, because the ultimate goal is to get better in order to win. Some players cannot handle that and let WORDS effect how they perform, which at times results in transfers.

Question (asked by user diablo11): Of all the guards on the roster who loses PT? Also have you ever considered coaching a possibility?

Abrams: Playing time is up for grabs right now. With so many possible lineups everyone should have already checked their ego at the door and have the mindset that every day is a new day. They need to come in with the mentality of ‘I need to prove myself daily’. Players lose playing time or gain playing time by what they do.

I have never considered coaching, I do a little bit of training but other than that I am just focused on my real estate business (which you can find out more about below).

Question (asked by user Silky Johnson): Which principles is Barnes best at teaching and getting through to his players?

Abrams: HARD WORK! I have no doubt that the team goes out there and plays just as hard as anybody, but playing hard and playing smart are two totally different things. With the experience coming back, the combination of playing hard and smart should now click for the players.

Question (asked by user Silky Johnson): What are your thoughts on Barnes' tendencies to not call timeouts through stretches where the Horns struggle in games (i.e. he lets the team play through it)? To me, it's always frustrating. You, as a former player, might have a different perspective.

Abrams: I personally liked that he let the teams I was on play through it. Basketball is a game of runs. Players have to know that and still execute the game plan without panicking. I think that, as the coach, he knows his team better than anyone. So allowing them the chance to play through rough patches could be used as a learning tool and a chance for the players to come together and communicate to right the ship, especially when it gets to be so late in the season. Players have to know how to react in pressure times.

Question (asked by user earbucket): You were such a fantastic shooter at Texas. What are the keys in becoming a good shooter? What tips would you offer the Texas guards? What about the Texas big men in shooting free throws? If you could break down the strengths of the players and the areas that they need to improve that would be great.

Abrams: Confidence and consistency. Repetition is the key in learning anything. Once you do something over and over again the correct way, that brings consistency which brings confidence. There is no secret to being a good shooter, players just have to want to put the time and effort in. They do that and the results will come.

With that said, I will say just because you shoot a thousand shots a day at half speed, while another player shoots 200 shots a day at game speed, without question the player going game speed will have better results.

My Advice? “Practice pays off. Hard work still works.†I wish there was some trick I could offer them to help, but there isn’t.

Question (asked by user earbucket): What are the three most important things you learned in your basketball career after Texas? Where was your favorite place to play after leaving Texas?

Abrams: Playing collegiate basketball at that level teaches you about life. Time management, prioritizing and knowing that whatever field you go into you will constantly have to prove yourself because somebody else with the same goals you have are following you and trying to catch up to your level.

I am very competitive and being at Texas kind of kicked that into overdrive and pretty much being a competitor runs my life now!

My favorite place to play was the Czech Republic. Believe it not it was most like the US and there were a lot more Americans on my teams which was awesome because I had people to talk to. The basketball was very competitive as well. We had a pretty good team and actually won the championship.

A.J. Abrams was one of the state's top basketball recruits coming out of Round Rock McNeil High School before committing to the Longhorns and starting his career in Austin in 2005. During his time with Texas he was named to the Big 12 All-Freshmen team, started every game beginning his sophomore year until his collegiate career was over, and drew all-conference honors three times. He also broke the Big 12 career record for 3-pointers and was only the 28th player in Texas men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points. Now, besides contributing to Horns247 as a basketball analyst, Abrams is a well-respected licensed realtor in the Austin area, specializing in selling, buying and leasing residential properties and runs ‘AJ Abrams Realty’, a member of JB Goodwin Realtors. If you’re in the need of his services, we recommend you check him out at: http://www.ajabramsrealty.com"

 

[utisdabomb12]

AJ Abrams use to play in Gregory all the time during the summer. He would shoot jumpshots from half court like they were layups. Insane the type of range Abrams has. Surprised Abrams never got a shot in the NBA. He's not a great defender and is undersized, but he has ice veins from the 3. 

 

[BudreauReye]

AJ Abrams use to play in Gregory all the time during the summer. He would shoot jumpshots from half court like they were layups. Insane the type of range Abrams has. Surprised Abrams never got a shot in the NBA. He's not a great defender and is undersized, but he has ice veins from the 3. 

You gave two of the reasons, the third was that in addition to being undersized, he did not have a handle good enough to play the one in the NBA, at least according to some.  Also, if he was stronger and could drive to the basket like Isaiah Taylor ... well, then maybe somebody would have taken a roll of the dice on him betting that they could help him develop his handle.