Michigan Basketball: How Tim Hardaway Jr. Can Fix His Game

Tim Hardaway Jr. is undoubtedly the go-to guy for the Michigan Wolverines, but this 6'6" sophomore has left a lot to be desired this season.

Last season, Hardaway Jr. averaged 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and one steal per game. He also shot 42 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from beyond the arc and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line.

He earned an All-Big Ten team honorable mention and was a unanimous pick for the All-Big Ten freshman squad. He also set the Michigan single-season record for three pointers made by a freshman. 

Hardaway Jr. was poised to become one of the Big Ten's most potent scorers, but his game has taken a step back in '11-'12. If the Wolverines want to make a serious run at a Big Ten title and in the NCAA tournament, they will need him to be a leader on both ends of the court. 

Here are four ways Hardaway Jr. can/must improve his game.

Take the Ball to the Basket

This is an important aspect of his game that he must implement more often and more effectively.

Hardaway Jr. is very quick and shifty, but his athleticism tends to get hidden when he forces shots. His biggest problem: he does not establish a rhythm early on in the game.

It's imperative for a player like Hardaway Jr. to get into the flow early. If you watch the deadliest scorers in the NBA (see Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, etc), their first few possessions of a game are focused on establishing a rhythm.

Hardaway Jr. tends to fire threes right out of the box. He settles for shots instead of being aggressive.  

Hardaway Jr.'s mindset at the outset of a game needs to be: attack the defenders off the dribble and take the ball to the basket. With his handle and ability to finish at the rim, chances are he will either score or get fouled.

Either of these outcomes will boost his confidence, which is exactly what Hardaway Jr. needs right now.    

Three-Point Shooting

Hardaway Jr. was a deadly outside shooter in 2010-2011, making 2.2 three-pointers per contest and shooting 36.7 percent from downtown. 

This season, his long-range shooting has regressed. Hardaway Jr. is making 1.6 threes per game and attempting 5.7 (27.5 percent). Too often he chooses to force up an unnecessary, contested three-pointer, rather than resetting the offense to find a better shot.

Hardaway Jr. has a fantastic stroke, but he needs to pick and choose when to pull the trigger. Coach Beilein's system relies on the three-point shot, but Hardaway Jr. is too skilled to become one-dimensional.    

Defense

Hardaway Jr. tends to let his poor shooting affect his overall game. Last week vs. Michigan State, he could not buy a basket in the first half. Unfortunately, his defense was affected, and he was constantly out-hustled on fast breaks.

In the second half, Hardaway Jr. really turned it around. He drew two monumental offensive fouls and came up with a big steal in crunch time. We have seen flashes of brilliance on the defensive end, but the consistency just is not there. 

If Hardaway Jr. wants to become a prime-time player, he must be a lockdown defender for the games' entirety.  

Mindset

Hardaway Jr. has the necessary skills to be a dominant college player. The talent is apparent, but his decision-making is the only thing holding him back. This is an aspect of the game that both Hardaway Jr. and Coach Beilein must work on together. 

Instead of forcing up a three-pointer with 28 seconds left on the shot clock, pull it back out and reset the offense. Early in the game, drive the ball to the basket to draw fouls and establish some sort of rhythm before firing three-pointers.

A players' mentality outweighs his skills. If Hardaway Jr. can get his mind right, the sky is the limit for this kid.  

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