Mike DeCourcy at the Sporting News is a bit concerned.
Defenses have been collapsing on Gray to make it difficult for the Panthers to get him the ball, so production is not as much an issue as efficiency. During that stretch, he is only 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from the field — after he shot 64 percent over the first dozen games. Anyone who watched Gray in the Panthers’ win over Syracuse had to notice he looked more lethargic than frustrated.
Anyone expecting Coach Dixon to express any concern? Me either.
“I feel very good where he’s at,” Dixon said. “If we didn’t have the margin of the victory that we’ve had, I would be a little bit more concerned.”
The part that concerns me offensively is the misses. He doesn’t seem to be trying too hard to get at the basket. There is some passiveness from Gray right now. Maybe it’s because Pitt is winning, and he has faith in his teammates making the shots. Maybe it’s because defenses are forcing him to expend too much energy on defense by bringing him out so far from the baskets. It does make me nervous about when he will start to turn it on.
Not sure what to think about Gray. Early in the season those little 10-footers were going down, he was making quicker moves and decisions in the post, and he was part of the offense. Since that sickness, he has not been the same player. In fact, he looks like he did at the end of last year, tired and not interested in the game. It can be annoying, but I’d pay $$ to see him express a little of the type of fire that Noah does for Fla.
