Sir’Dominic Pointer Talented but Misguided, Needs to Learn Role

The St. John’s Red Storm did beat the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Friday night. That is certainly a positive, although we noticed a few negatives that were rather glaring. One of the biggest takes from the game may be about a certain player’s inabilities to learn from past mistakes and improve upon certain areas of his game or refrain from trying to do things he can’t. That player is senior forward Sir’Dominic Pointer.

There is no arguing that Pointer has talent, though. Undersized for a forward (6’6″), Sir’Dominic Pointer does a good job with his hustle, attempts to play solid defense and does have a nose for the ball. However, that is about where the positives stop.

Pointer clearly thinks he can do much more than be an athletic, hustle guy. Often forcing up bad jumpers or dribbling to the rim with his head down he has a habit of making Red Storm possessions into glorified St. John’s turnovers. While the stat might not read as an actual turnover in the box score, anytime a guy who has no business forcing a jumper with 28 seconds on the shot clock it might as well be considered one.

That is probably the biggest issue concerning Sir’Dominic Pointer. His complete lack of self-awareness as well has the coaching staff’s lack of getting him to understand what his role should be.

Now a senior, Pointer’s lack of acquiring a higher basketball IQ is troubling for numerous reasons. Not only does it highlight a thought that many have thought for a long time, that Steve Lavin doesn’t do a good job of developing players and has no concept of offensive structure, but it can spell trouble for the Johnnies as the season gets longer in the truth.

Basically, what good is all the talent St. John’s seems to have if certain players constantly attempt to play out of what their roles should be?

The answer? Worthless.

All hope is not lost, though. Whether it ends up being Lavin, one of his assistants or leadership from one of the other players, Sir’Dominic Pointer can turn this ship around. All he has to do is stop attempting to be what he is not. Or, essentially, start playing the role on this St. John’s team that should have been assigned to him when he first got to the program four years ago.

Pointer should be nothing more than the hustle and heart, glue-guy on this Red Storm team. Leave the scoring to D’Angelo Harrison, Jamal Branch, an improved offensively Chris Obekpa and (the inconsistent) Rysheed Jordan. Leave the ball handling as well as the dribble and driving to guys who have the ability to bounce the ball off the hardwood while looking up.

There is nothing wrong with being a slasher-only type of player on offense and a guy who attempts to play good defense. Sadly for the Red Storm faithful, Sir’Dominic Pointer has continued to ignore the areas he can excel and help the team the most in by doing all the things he is actually worse at.

And I don’t even know what is worse. If it is the senior who never learned who he was as a basketball player on a team with mostly guys he’s played with for years or if it is the coaching staff that let it happen.