Texas Tech basketball: What we want to see from Red Raiders vs. TAMU-CC
Texas Tech needs offensive efficiency from Pop Isaacs
Let’s focus a little more on Pop Isaacs because, after all, he is this team’s best guard. So far, he’s been a little all over the place in 2023-24 and that’s why tonight, he needs to be an efficient scorer.
Efficient scorers find ways to get their points without having to take a ton of shots. Meanwhile, inefficient scorers can kill a team’s offensive attack by keeping the ball from moving and limiting the looks that others on the floor are able to get.
To Isaacs’ credit, he is more than happy to share the ball. In fact, he dished out five assists in Tech’s last game, which is impressive given how low-scoring that win over San Jose State turned out to be.
However, he is this team’s best scorer and if this season is to be a success, he’s going to have to be a more efficient offensive weapon. Thus far, he’s shooting only 27.3% from the floor overall, and in each game he’s played, he’s taken at least seven field goals.
In fact, nearly 20% of this team’s total shot attempts have come from the Las Vegas native. I’m fine with Pop shooting the ball liberally given his talent but he does need to find a way to be more efficient than he’s been.
Against Texas A&M-Commerce, it took him 15 shot attempts to score 19 points. That’s only 1.2 points for every shot he attempted. Then, in game two, he was just 1-7 from the floor for eight points.
One thing Pop is doing well is getting to the line. He’s already taken 15 free throws (including nine in the opener) and he’s made 12 (83.3%).
Hopefully, he stays aggressive in that regard and hopefully, his outside shots start to fall. If that happens, he will be one of the best players in the Big 12 and he could open some eyes next week on the big stage at the Atlantis Resort. So tonight, pay attention to how many shots it takes this dynamic but streaky shooter to put up his points because that’s an area where he could stand to take a step forward.