And yet the team performed worse when he was off the floor, just like they have done all season when he has been off the floor.
James Robinson Stat
- Thread starter iMissTheOldDays
- Start date
And yet the team performed worse when he was off the floor, just like they have done all season when he has been off the floor.
is anyone watching Barber create and keep NCS in this game, what a player, yea we don't need him.
But does that have anything to do with Jamie and how he runs his "shifts". Wilson looked pretty good against Vtech. How often does he get extended run with the A team?
I've said from his freshman year that he needs to make (not take) 300 perimeter shots per day in the summer and develop a variety of hard, fast, angular dribbles to his repertoire to improve. It takes hours of isolated gym time. I see nothing in his game that suggests this has taken place. His shot is no better than it was 3 years ago imo. A d-1 guard has to shoot 45- 50% from the perimeter to compensate for lack of penetrating skills
Yeah that was very discouraging. James was absolutely terrible today. Yet he comes out and the team got noticeably worse.
Bashing him, versus being critical of him, isn't called for. However, if there's anyone here who can honestly say that they're not at least a bit disappointed in his career at Pitt, there's your blind faith, true believer. Even the ATOR crowd and the guys who always emphasize that he's a "pass first" PG have to admit, for a 4 year starter, he has been lackluster and disappointing. The problem with the "pass first" mantra for James is it implies that he creates a lot of offense for others with his own skillset, the way a Rajon Rando, Jason Kidd or Mateen Cleaves did in college. Hard to do much of that when he can't do anything off the dribble or to his left, and when he isn't a serious threat to score himself if the D lays off him. He is obviously limited athletically but it also seems he's limited by a lack of confidence and "onions" as Raftery would say. He has a decent looking jump shot and hell, he's a 90% FT shooter, but he doesn't shoot his jumper with any confidence. He is tentative and seems to be afraid to take risks. I honestly think he's a more talented and capable player than he shows. But that doesn't do us any good. Again, I wish him well but I'm ready for the next guy to get his shot. I suppose that will be Kithcart. Step right up kid, let's see what you got.
Last edited:
Could not agree more. I still think James has had a solid career. I'm not one to overreact over one game for the entire team, but James was so bad today it's hard for me to keep sticking up for the kid. I've been a part of that ATOR crowd, and today I can strongly say he is very disappointing to watch.
Mateen cleaves senior year around 12 points per game 7 assists and almost 4 turnovers a game.
Again robinsons stats are almost identical to levance fields.
People romanticize point guards sometimes because of a big shot here and there. James Robinson needs to play better. Even more James needs to hit open shots. But James is a Victim as much as a culprit because he has played on some average to below average talented teams.
Again robinsons stats are almost identical to levance fields.
People romanticize point guards sometimes because of a big shot here and there. James Robinson needs to play better. Even more James needs to hit open shots. But James is a Victim as much as a culprit because he has played on some average to below average talented teams.
Did you ever see Cleaves play? He was the guts and glue, the engine that drove the MSU bus, he willed them to win. Tough as nails. You can't compare Cleaves and Robinson based on stats.
Here's another stat from Cleaves' senior year: National Champion. Take him off that team, they're lucky to even make the tournament.
He's a great example of a real "pass first" PG that led his team by doing whatever needed to be done to get the win. Not a great shooter but made a lot of big shots. Big steals, big assists, big FTs, big dribble drives, etc. A balls player.
Was it not Cleaves that year that was hurt early in the season and they lost a few games? Not quite the same thing, but I'd say that pretty much proves your statement. They became night and day better once he returned.
How about El-Amin from UConn? He was heavier than Robinson but he was damn clutch. Guy had heart and you can't teach that and James doesn't have that.
I really wish someone would've punched him in the face when he jumped on the scorer's table at the Field House, but damn that kid was good.
I was so depressed when he hit that game winning shot against us. Pitt never recovered after that and they started the season beating some top 20 teams if I remember.
Please stop comparing Robinson to all-time great PGs. Shut up with your stats.
Robinson is literally, literally the 14th best PG in the ACC. So I'm pretty sure he's not as good or Mateen Cleaves despite his turnovers.
Good stuff. The lack of dribble drive especially hurts when trying to break down the opp D because they're more than likely willing to be beat by letting Jrob shoot from 15-18 than Young from 6-12. Pitt is already hurting enough in the paint; if Jrob can't hit, it makes for a very long day.
Nice Rafferty reference. Wish he was still calling some Pitt games.
Very true. But what incentive does Robinson have to improve? It certainly isn't playing time. He's been guaranteed 30 minutes per since day 1, irrespective of performance. He will surely set the record for games started & minutes played, won't he?
Robinson is literally immune from being benched for ineffective play. This is evident in his demeanor, too. Basically, 'I know I'm not losing my starting spot.' Granted, he gives full effort on D, so perhaps that can partly explain his untouchable status.
Dixon could have Jason Kidd, D. Wade, & Vince Carter in their collegiate primes and he would still start Robinson as a freshman alongside them. He'd play Vince Carter at the 4 so he could start Robinson.
Cat Barber is a scorer - he's not a PG. He plays zero defense but you need your PG to take advantage of that fact. Pitt is one of the few teams in the ACC who doesn't have a PG who can score... or play for that matter. Robinson desperately needs a 2 who can do something other than stand around.
Dixon needs to realize he's screwed w/ Robinson. Too bad he didn't realize 3 years ago.
Were you on here after Pitt beat VT? The pro Robinson crowd attacked me left and right, acted like he's had a great career here and how invaluable he is. It's a joke. The guy needs to be benched, start Wilson and give him extended playing time. We've seen enough of useless James Robinson in the big games.
The hardheads on this board will never change their story publicly on Robinson-they've invested 3 and a half years perpetuating the myth he's a tremendous player . By the middle of next week, they'll be comparing him to Jason Kidd.
Not sure about VT but I saw some of the FSU threads.
Robinson fans like to pretend they have a more nuanced understanding of the game but in truth their position is based almost entirely on a memorization of Robinson's bio & then a quick glance at the stat sheet. Watching him play is optional.
DeMatha, Team USA, top 40 recruit, starter since day 1, ATOR: these are the real factors that embolden all the Robinson supporters to say he's so invaluable.
Robinson fans like to pretend they have a more nuanced understanding of the game but in truth their position is based almost entirely on a memorization of Robinson's bio & then a quick glance at the stat sheet. Watching him play is optional.
DeMatha, Team USA, top 40 recruit, starter since day 1, ATOR: these are the real factors that embolden all the Robinson supporters to say he's so invaluable.
I really think the biggest impediments to a more reasonable view of Robinson have been the Team USA connection and Dixon's decision to start him from day 1. People saw Team USA and thought "he must be special" instead of "Team USA must have needed someone to pass the ball to the talent & then get back on D." Sometimes a low risk, complimentary type player is indeed a better fit than a playmaker. Like, I don't need Iverson if I've got LeBron & Wade or Kobe & Shaq. But this of course is never Pitt's situation. Starter from day 1 simply solidified this propensity to accept Robinson as a special player.
The incentive to get better and help your team to be more successful. It's a fundamental element of being a competitive athlete.
It really isn't his fault ...
He is what he is physically, just clearly a limited D1 player with this talent.
But, for the kind of kid he is, he does not have the heart, moxie, toughness you need to win at this level at PG.
Just plays scared ALL the time, and the team reflects that.
In a way, reflection of JD at this point.
And, in JDs way, like leaving the team with Nas Robinson as a PF for three years, letting the team wither with him at PG for four year ...
He is what he is physically, just clearly a limited D1 player with this talent.
But, for the kind of kid he is, he does not have the heart, moxie, toughness you need to win at this level at PG.
Just plays scared ALL the time, and the team reflects that.
In a way, reflection of JD at this point.
And, in JDs way, like leaving the team with Nas Robinson as a PF for three years, letting the team wither with him at PG for four year ...
His form is fine. If you left him alone in a gym he probably wouldn't miss. It's his head that's the problem. He lacks confidence and mental toughness. So he could shoot 500 shots a day, and for all we know maybe he does. It wouldn't matter.
The book on defending JROB is that he has no left hand and if you take away his right, he's completely ineffective even in his usual role as a table setter in the half court. Pitino talked about this after Louisville ran us. And with our offense, when you cut off the head, the body dies, there is no Plan B. We are rigid and inflexible, like our PG and our coach. We also lack a capable secondary lead guard, as we have for years, since Dixon favors the "combo guard" that isn't great at either backcourt job.
JR is such a one dimensional, non-dynamic player, and yet we are entirely dependent on him offensively. Not a good equation.
Last edited:
1 of the Virginia players was quoted in the PG this morning basically saying that they let Robinson try and beat them with his shot. They wanted him to shoot and shoot and shoot. Why? Because they like every other team knows that 9/10 times he won't make many and is not clutch at all. These other teams aren't dumb.
This thread is kind of redundant, and silly to be honest.
Robinson is what he is, a very very good but not great point guard. And that's not good enough against the highest level of competition.
He's not athletic enough to be an offensive force. He's limited. He works hard, he plays hard. In the end, he isn't going to overcome his physical limitations.
He plays as much as he does because he's still the best option that Pitt has to put on the floor. That blame lies solely with others but not with him.
When he's told to go on the floor, he goes on the floor, gives effort, and does the best he can just as he's always done.
That to me should be celebrated, even if its frustrating that he isn't able to do more, create more, score more.
James has been a good Panther. No, he's been a great Panther. He's never embarrassed the uniform or his University. He's stood up and taken the blame when needed even if it wasn't his fault.
I just find it a little aggravating that a bunch of people who could never do the things he does on the basketball court continue to bash him. We get it. He's not going to go down as the best point guard in Pitt history.
But the lack of a better answer isn't his fault. Let's stop for a moment, realize that he's a kid who came here to play, gave his all, and is one of us - one of our own.
If you want to blame his head coach for not recruiting him over, have at it. I'll be the first to agree.
Robinson is what he is, a very very good but not great point guard. And that's not good enough against the highest level of competition.
He's not athletic enough to be an offensive force. He's limited. He works hard, he plays hard. In the end, he isn't going to overcome his physical limitations.
He plays as much as he does because he's still the best option that Pitt has to put on the floor. That blame lies solely with others but not with him.
When he's told to go on the floor, he goes on the floor, gives effort, and does the best he can just as he's always done.
That to me should be celebrated, even if its frustrating that he isn't able to do more, create more, score more.
James has been a good Panther. No, he's been a great Panther. He's never embarrassed the uniform or his University. He's stood up and taken the blame when needed even if it wasn't his fault.
I just find it a little aggravating that a bunch of people who could never do the things he does on the basketball court continue to bash him. We get it. He's not going to go down as the best point guard in Pitt history.
But the lack of a better answer isn't his fault. Let's stop for a moment, realize that he's a kid who came here to play, gave his all, and is one of us - one of our own.
If you want to blame his head coach for not recruiting him over, have at it. I'll be the first to agree.
He's not "very good"-stop it already! He's weak link and a detriment to the team in many games. He would have been recruited over if we had a HC who was on the ball. He hasn't improved in 4 years. That's the story line-stop the BS.
I agree that he's not very good. But the kid who a lot of people said was the best PG ever out of DeMatha, one of the biggest national powers of all time, was not getting recruited over. He just turned out to be a pretty big bust considering the expectations, and yes he not only hasn't gotten better, he's gotten worse every year.
Way to criticize the thread as redundant, then rehash it all in yoir post.
James isn't a "very, very good point guard." If he was, he wouldn't get eaten alive so often when we play teams that have good guards. If he was a vey good PG, he'd be mentally tough and would lead his team. He's an OK point guard.
Of course it's not his fault that he was a 4 year starter here because we didn't have anybody better, and of course he's a decent kid and a hard worker. He also does not have a ton of help. But whatever he is or isn't, it hasn't translated to a lot of success the past 4 years for our basketball program.
Geezz Del. Did you even read his post?
Allow me to offer a key phrase: "But the lack of a better answer isn't his fault. Let's stop for a moment, realize that he's a kid who came here to play, gave his all, and is one of us - one of our own."
Bobfree, Im not really sure you know what you are watching in regards to JRobs defense. He consistently gets beat because physically hes just too slow. Cat Barber absolutely undressed JRob at the Pete unfortunately. I like JRob but hes very limited AND he HAS NOT gotten much better in 4 years here.
Yeah but most of them all do as well. They are mostly good kids. There are a lot of reasons why Pitt has struggled the past few years but James Robinson is high on the list.
Similar threads
