The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

#25,326
#25,326
walkenvol said:
All 5 guys can’t be primary scorers - seems like all the worry may be misguided. If indeed we have high level scorers at 3 positions, then we’ll be fine if our 2 plays good D. JMO.
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It’s why I continue to not get the freak out/obsession about our 2 spot…we played someone at the 3 last year who wouldn’t even look at the hoop, and we managed to be just fine.
 
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#25,327
#25,327
bleedingTNorange said:
It’s why I continue to not get the freak out/obsession about our 2 spot…we played someone at the 3 last year who wouldn’t even look at the hoop, and we managed to be just fine.
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I guess that’s part of the concern. If our 2 is not a threat to score, just like last year it makes it a 4 on 5 on the court and restricts our ability to get to the basket and get paint touches. Except this time there would be a significant downgrade on defense because no option at the 2 this year will sniff Mashack’s defensive prowess.
 
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#25,328
#25,328
TheMookieMonster said:
I guess that’s part of the concern. If our 2 is not a threat to score, just like last year it makes it a 4 on 5 on the court and restricts our ability to get to the basket and get paint touches. Except this time there would be a significant downgrade on defense because no option at the 2 this year will sniff Mashack’s defensive prowess.
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I don’t think it’s possible that our 2 is less of an offensive threat than Mashack was though, that’s my point…and even if they were, which again doesn’t really seem plausible, we still fielded a team that was E8 good and had a Top 25 offense for much of the year. And that’s speaking as is, that’s not touching on the likelihood of likely being better offensively at other positions and in the post as well.
 
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#25,329
#25,329
bleedingTNorange said:
I don’t think it’s possible that our 2 is less of an offensive threat than Mashack was though, that’s my point…and even if they were, which again doesn’t really seem plausible, we still fielded a team that was E8 good and had a Top 25 offense for much of the year. And that’s speaking as is, that’s not touching on the likelihood of likely being better offensively at other positions and in the post as well.
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Fair enough. I agree it’s not a Defcon 1 concern if everything else works itself out, but I’d like to not have a black hole on offense from a spot that is typically seen as a scoring role. Hopefully someone steps up during fall camp and puts a stranglehold on that position and is a nice surprise.
 
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#25,330
#25,330
TheMookieMonster said:
Fair enough. I agree it’s not a Defcon 1 concern if everything else works itself out, but I’d like to not have a black hole on offense from a spot that is typically seen as a scoring role. Hopefully someone steps up during fall camp and puts a stranglehold on that position and is a nice surprise.
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I don’t see it being a black hole, maybe I’ll be wrong…I don’t think we’ll have a Lanier or Knecht, but I think we’ll have someone not afraid to shoot.
 
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#25,332
#25,332
I agree that people are overreacting. It's not like none of the people who would play the 2 can't shoot the ball! All they need to do is make a couple of 3s and keep defenses honest. Mashack would turn down open looks, I don't think our 2s this year will. Think people will be surprised with how smooth the team hums, I'm optimistic!
 
#25,333
#25,333
bleedingTNorange said:
It’s why I continue to not get the freak out/obsession about our 2 spot…we played someone at the 3 last year who wouldn’t even look at the hoop, and we managed to be just fine.
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To be fair, even you were calling for a potential reduction in his playing time (in favor of more Gainey) due to his lack of offensive output and reluctance to be more of a threat on that end. So, even though we were largely successful with our approach to have 1 of 5 positions be a minimal threat, many of us universally agreed that having that spot bring so little on offense was a hindrance against the better teams we played and on those nights when the other 4 aren't clicking on offense. It's further exposed by Okpara being a non-threat outside of 2 feet. Then you're relying on a freshman (hopefully a generational freshman) to be your primary scorer alongside Gillespie. Hopefully, Jaylen Carey is more consistent and aggressive than Milicic to help cover, as well.
 
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#25,334
#25,334
bleedingTNorange said:
It’s why I continue to not get the freak out/obsession about our 2 spot…we played someone at the 3 last year who wouldn’t even look at the hoop, and we managed to be just fine.
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I've always been on the side of how close this team is from being great as opposed to really good and a decent 2 guard I think gets them there. Not asking for >10 point per game guy at this stage but just someone who plays decent defense and shoots from 3 at decent percentage. Granted it's summer, a lot of new and young pieces so who knows what next few months holds.
 
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#25,335
#25,335
Chaz-Vol said:
I've always been on the side of how close this team is from being great as opposed to really good and a decent 2 guard I think gets them there. Not asking for >10 point per game guy at this stage but just someone who plays decent defense and shoots from 3 at decent percentage. Granted it's summer, a lot of new and young pieces so who knows what next few months holds.
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Sounds like Abram can shoot it well and defend, Henderson can shoot it well and facilitate/has really impressed staff, and Bishop has improved/can defend. Evans/Massamba are unknowns, but even leaving them out and assuming Berg or someone else doesn’t transfer in, I think there’s enough to aggregate a “decent 2 guard” output.

Combine that with two elite scorers and from what all reports seems like an improved (scoring wise) front court, and I think assuming people stay healthy we will be great. Throw in Berg and I feel even better, but right now I’m still confident.
 
#25,336
#25,336
JMO, a bigger concern than 2 is whether Ament is ready to give us the 18 or so a game than Chaz and DK did. Imagine it will be more of a committee/hot hand approach but would be great if Ament is that guy.
 
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#25,337
#25,337
cncchris33 said:
To be fair, even you were calling for a potential reduction in his playing time (in favor of more Gainey) due to his lack of offensive output and reluctance to be more of a threat on that end. So, even though we were largely successful with our approach to have 1 of 5 positions be a minimal threat, many of us universally agreed that having that spot bring so little on offense was a hindrance against the better teams we played and on those nights when the other 4 aren't clicking on offense. It's further exposed by Okpara being a non-threat outside of 2 feet. Then you're relying on a freshman (hopefully a generational freshman) to be your primary scorer alongside Gillespie. Hopefully, Jaylen Carey is more consistent and aggressive than Milicic to help cover, as well.
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It was definitely our weakness, and have said it could be upgraded on this roster, but I don’t think it’s some massive hindrance or black hole that others apparently thought it was last year or will be this year…again, maybe I’m wrong.
 
#25,338
#25,338
Chaz-Vol said:
I've always been on the side of how close this team is from being great as opposed to really good and a decent 2 guard I think gets them there. Not asking for >10 point per game guy at this stage but just someone who plays decent defense and shoots from 3 at decent percentage. Granted it's summer, a lot of new and young pieces so who knows what next few months holds.
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I’ve said many times I think Abram can be that
 
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#25,341
#25,341
bleedingTNorange said:
It was definitely our weakness, and have said it could be upgraded on this roster, but I don’t think it’s some massive hindrance or black hole that others apparently thought it was last year or will be this year…again, maybe I’m wrong.
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At least last year, and I guess potentially this year as well (we will see) the idea of it being a black hole was much more evident in games where we struggled offensively from our usual sources of offense. If ZZ and Lanier were both struggling, you knew you weren't getting much from Igor or Okpara, and then that other 20% of your starting lineup, which was Mashack at SF, you couldn't depend on to pick up the slack. It would just be nice to know that any of your 5 starters could be the man on any night. Going in knowing that you really only have a legit chance from 3 positions is tough if even one guy is off. Some of that could be offset from Okpara developing a little offense, or JP staying healthy, or Cade being more skilled, etc.
 
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#25,343
#25,343
cncchris33 said:
At least last year, and I guess potentially this year as well (we will see) the idea of it being a black hole was much more evident in games where we struggled offensively from our usual sources of offense. If ZZ and Lanier were both struggling, you knew you weren't getting much from Igor or Okpara, and then that other 20% of your starting lineup, which was Mashack at SF, you couldn't depend on to pick up the slack. It would just be nice to know that any of your 5 starters could be the man on any night. Going in knowing that you really only have a legit chance from 3 positions is tough if even one guy is off. Some of that could be offset from Okpara developing a little offense, or JP staying healthy, or Cade being more skilled, etc.
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I think this is why next years team has a really high ceiling if Ament ends up being freshmen of the year caliber and the 4 bigs complement each other well. The floor is seems lower though given more unknowns.
 
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#25,344
#25,344
cncchris33 said:
At least last year, and I guess potentially this year as well (we will see) the idea of it being a black hole was much more evident in games where we struggled offensively from our usual sources of offense. If ZZ and Lanier were both struggling, you knew you weren't getting much from Igor or Okpara, and then that other 20% of your starting lineup, which was Mashack at SF, you couldn't depend on to pick up the slack. It would just be nice to know that any of your 5 starters could be the man on any night. Going in knowing that you really only have a legit chance from 3 positions is tough if even one guy is off. Some of that could be offset from Okpara developing a little offense, or JP staying healthy, or Cade being more skilled, etc.
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Yes, I think you’ll see an improved front court, that’s part of my thought process on the whole deal as I’ve said multiple times. Duke had 2 starters averaging less than 9ppg, Houston had a starter averaging less than 6ppg & Auburn had a guy averaging less than 5ppg…there’s nothing saying to be good all 5 guys on the court have to be major scoring threats, Florida was very balanced.
 
#25,345
#25,345
bleedingTNorange said:
Yes, I think you’ll see an improved front court, that’s part of my thought process on the whole deal as I’ve said multiple times. Duke had 2 starters averaging less than 9ppg, Houston had a starter averaging less than 6ppg & Auburn had a guy averaging less than 5ppg…there’s nothing saying to be good all 5 guys on the court have to be major scoring threats, Florida was very balanced.
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I will say that shifting the scoring load back towards the frontcourt will require offensive tweaks that are incongruent to those we've seen over the past 2-3 years that have incorporated more pro concepts and perimeter-oriented sets.
 
#25,346
#25,346
cncchris33 said:
I will say that shifting the scoring load back towards the frontcourt will require offensive tweaks that are incongruent to those we've seen over the past 2-3 years that have incorporated more pro concepts and perimeter-oriented sets.
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I don’t think it’ll be Grant Williamsesque, but I think we’ll definitely see more post ups and scoring from our 4’s and 5’s this year
 
#25,348
#25,348
JohnnyD1024 said:
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Imagine, if like. Those two games could count. In a thing called. The regular season. And you could fill up said arena. During the regular season. And maybe like. Televise that game. And have. I don’t know. An out of conference game. A big college basketball game. At a college campus.
 
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#25,349
#25,349
zjcvols said:
Imagine, if like. Those two games could count. In a thing called. The regular season. And you could fill up said arena. During the regular season. And maybe like. Televise that game. And have. I don’t know. An out of conference game. A big college basketball game. At a college campus.
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Duke would never come here for a regular season game. We would have to schedule the game in Nashville.
 
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