Zavier’s Mindset

I didn’t watch the tape of the NW game. I saw it live so from memory.... The game was almost lost when Simpson went on a stretch of missed threes and two missed alley oops that almost cost his team the game. He was pulled and Eli brought us over the finish line. 

Points:

zavier can make three pointers. 

We are a better team when they guard him high so he can dribble drive and create. There is rhyme to his reason to making defenses guard him.  He shot, shot early in the clock, missed, and was held accountable.  We need to forgive and more importantly forget.

Zavier was valuable enough to the team last season and is valuable enough to the team this season to earn him a LOT of latitude. Not a little but a lot. 

He’s the fastest point guard maybe ever to wear the uniform, doesn’t turn it over very often despite an unorthodox style, and plays as good and hard nosed defense at point guard probably since Gary Grant, or maybe beyond.

 The other night’s shooting spree was a team moment(s) and a selfish moment(s). He can’t have opposing defenses sluffing off him because the team is better when he can drive and I’ll extrapolate and say he feels the need to prove himself from the outside to play pro basketball. Whether in the G or NBA or Europe. Or even for his own ego. Again he’s earned the latitude.

Whether he was selfish about his future, stubborn, or just wanted to lay the haymaker and be on sportcenter.  

Whatever the reason in Evanston, we cannot turn zavier’s threes into charles’s Free throws.

Zavier needs and deserves our SUPPORT.  When he hoists, DONT GASP.  When he makes cheer.  When he misses, encourage.  

Last year’s team began to establish itself when Zavier, not Eli or the transfer, was cemented into the starting role. Why?  Breaking down defenses. Occasional threes. Incredible athleticism and defense.  Please show him support, his psyche likely needs it.