Dom Nelson - The Defibrillator

[HoraceGrant]

Saying somebody is a bench spark vs somebody should be playing more minutes are very different things. The fact that he has better on/off spits but worse individual efficiency metrics than the other bench guys points to him being a spark off the bench type that helps get the team going.

Right and he's fine in his role I think. I was more trying to figure out if there was anything beyond an intangible spark. Using on/off he looks better than some of the other bench guys, but plenty of stats say he is not better than those guys. Both Torvik and EvanMiya have him as the worst player on the team who gets minutes. Eye test wise I think he's fine in his role

 

[HoraceGrant]

Coach getting T’d up on purpose, team that never presses throwing on a press, throwing in Dom Nelson…sometimes things just wake up a sleepwalking team.

That is one explanation. And those things sometimes do happen and its hard to explain why

The OP also said "he has single handedly taking this teams offensive efficiency through the roof" which seems like an insane stretch from his chaotic style of play wakes the team up if they have been struggling. The first seems absurd and the second is reasonable for sure

 

[NorthCyd]

I appreciate the OPs enthusiasm for this, but a lot if this can be explained by the fact that the team has tended to be slow out of the gate and then turns it on later, particularly at the start of the second half. The fact that the team performs better after Dom gets his typical rotation minutes about halfway through the first half is just a reflection of that, not that he has some kind of lasting impact throughout the rest of the game just by setting foot on the court.

 

[BACyclone]

A blind squirrel can find a nut once in awhile, even a few times, but I'm not enlisting an army of blind squirrels to find nuts on a regular basis if I actually want the nuts.

 

[bosco]

You want to know why I shoot it?
Why I take the shot?
You want the truth?
The truth is, deep down you want someone to take the shot, someone to rescue your team.
someone willing to take the heat.
You cheer when it goes in,
But you complain about the risk.
You need players like me.
Because when the play breaks down,
When the clock’s bleeding,
When everyone’s looking around—
I’m the one who wants the ball.
So don’t ask me to be safe.
Because comfort is for the stands.

 

[GoodOleDays]

I agree with you as a whole. They are definitely more important off the bench. Pleta might be debateable but only because you could play small ball while Buchanon rests. But none of the them have shown the ability to turn around a struggling offense every single time like Nelson has.

This is all a non-sequitur because the Nelson impact is inexplicable.

That said, Pleta is more important than he seems. He absorbs fouls and wear and tear for one, which keeps Buchanan through the stretch.

But most importantly, he keeps Jefferson at the 4 where JJ has the biggest advantage. When Jefferson has to play the 5 for long stretches he gets gassed and we end up in worse position for rebounding and late game scoring.

Pleta/Buchanan is an underrated factor in the leap Jefferson has made this year vs last (similar to Toure taking on-ball defense duty supporting Tamin's offensive leap)

Pleta's been a solid back-up against some solid front lines and without him we lose against St Johns and Baylor

 

[clone52]

Why do you think that would be the case? I'm genuinely curious because I have never once heard of a basketball player whose value is derived from coming into a game and then the team being better again after they leave

Most likely it's purely coincidence just because it is so bizarre. It's way fun to think there is something real about it though.

If not, here is my latest theory. It's kinda like a baseball pitcher who throws a fastball way high, to change the eye level of the hitter. Then the hitter lets a low strike go right past them.

Maybe Dom's style is just so different that it throws off the defense and the struggle to get back to their game plan.

 

[clone52]

The "Defibrillator" works in mysterious ways. Don't question it. Embrace it!

F it. Here's a theory as to why he boosts the team: Defibrillator checks in. He bounce, he score, he turnover, he miss FT, he blow box out. He leaves the game and everyone wonders if Dom was something that they imagined. In the back of their minds, Dom's teammates think, "Was Dom in the game? Did you see WTF Dom just did? Was Dom really out here?" They get a little chuckle. They are freer now to destroy.

Maybe it's the rest of the Cyclone team subconsciously thinking "get it together so he doesn't have to come in again."

 

[GoodOleDays]

Right and he's fine in his role I think. I was more trying to figure out if there was anything beyond an intangible spark. Using on/off he looks better than some of the other bench guys, but plenty of stats say he is not better than those guys. Both Torvik and EvanMiya have him as the worst player on the team who gets minutes. Eye test wise I think he's fine in his role

View attachment 165682

View attachment 165681

You're taking this too seriously. He's not saying the Nelson's playing is having any impact. He's not even saying it's always good but that's like a defibrillator that you wouldn't use on a healthy heart. It's just a weird inexplicable trend

 

[clone52]

That is one explanation. And those things sometimes do happen and its hard to explain why

The OP also said "he has single handedly taking this teams offensive efficiency through the roof" which seems like an insane stretch from his chaotic style of play wakes the team up if they have been struggling. The first seems absurd and the second is reasonable for sure

It absolutely an insane stretch. It was when I was only looking at the times he improved things. I wish someone could run the numbers.

It really is just like a defibrillator. Use it when needed and it can save a life. Use it on a healthy person and it could kill them.

 

[WIB]

Epic post.

 

[clone52]

Another theory is that the rest of their team is overthinking things and that overthinking causes the offense to sputter. Watching Dom's devil may care attitude gets them out of their own heads so they can just play ball.

Alternatively, if they are on a roll, Dom's devil may care attitude is disruptive.

I almost think the coaching staff actually knows this. If this is truly a thing, there is a clearly defined formula for when Dom should be on the court and when he shouldn't. Early in the season, there are more instances of Dom coming into the game when the offense was going well. Lately his usage actually fits the profile better.

 

[EnhancedFujita]

Man, I've been busy today, so just catching this...but this post made my day.

Its the kind of unhinged hilarity that keeps me reading the CF boards.

Who knows if there is something to it or not, but as long as we keep getting W's I'm fine with what we're doing.

 

[AllInForISU]

This may have already been mentioned, but the last 2 games prior to last night, when he didn’t play, ISU was up only 5 to a bad Houston Christian team with 5 min left in the half and was tied with WV with 7 left in the half. They somehow managed to turn those games around and win by 20+ without the “Defibrillator”.

 

[clone52]

This may have already been mentioned, but the last 2 games prior to last night, when he didn’t play, ISU was up only 5 to a bad Houston Christian team with 5 min left in the half and was tied with WV with 7 left in the half. They somehow managed to turn those games around and win by 20+ without the “Defibrillator”.

Interesting. I didn't look closely at the games he didn't play, but that might indicate certain times the Defibrillator was needed.

Note that this is purely an offensive thing and scoring rate specifically. So the opponents score doesn't matter.

In the WVU game, the first 5 minutes were fine. But then came a 7 minute stretch with 5 points. Good thing WVU is not very good. If we have stretches like that in the tournament, we could easily loose.

If he was available, he should have been inserted into the lineup at the 11 or 12 minute mark.

Houston Christian was almost a carbon copy first half.

Dom getting 3-5 minutes of PT in each of those games probably adds 15-20 extra points in those games for the team.

 

[AllInForISU]

Interesting. I didn't look closely at the games he didn't play, but that might indicate certain times the Defibrillator was needed.

Note that this is purely an offensive thing and scoring rate specifically. So the opponents score doesn't matter.

In the WVU game, the first 5 minutes were fine. But then came a 7 minute stretch with 5 points. Good thing WVU is not very good. If we have stretches like that in the tournament, we could easily loose.

If he was available, he should have been inserted into the lineup at the 11 or 12 minute mark.

Houston Christian was almost a carbon copy first half.

Dom getting 3-5 minutes of PT in each of those games probably adds 15-20 extra points in those games for the team.

Ha. Ok. There is no way this is serious. I’m out on this.

 

[cyclonefan0705]

He does bring the fact, whether good or bad, he always tries to score and when it works it jumpstarts the offense and makes opponents put more thought into him, allowing other people to score

 

[twincyties]

Early nomination for Craziest Thread of 2026 here.

 

[clone52]

He does bring the fact, whether good or bad, he always tries to score and when it works it jumpstarts the offense and makes opponents put more thought into him, allowing other people to score

He jumpstarts the offense whether it works or not.

 

[iseedit]

Maybe Dom's style is just so different that it throws off the defense and the struggle to get back to their game plan.

Starting him or inserting him real early might not be a bad idea then if that's the case with messing up the other team's game plan.

Team's try to either double JJeff or suffocate Milan. If they're not prepared to deal with the bull, that makes his drives easier and gets JJeff opened up for a couple series afterwards too.