DukesFan79 wrote:

"Launching 3's and dunks" is actually the most statically effective way to play basketball, as evidenced by the shifting trends at the NBA and college level.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-nbas-next-shooting-revolution-has-already-been-televised

If you are wondering about defense, that is very understandable. To pinpoint dunks and 3's as being offensive issues is just plain inaccurate. If they were launching countless shots from 10-18 feet range then I would say we have a problem.

Actually, you're right. The old 15 footer was a staple of offenses prior to the 3 point shot, but now it's a bad shot. If a team is shooting 33% from 3, that's equal to 50% from 2. Considering that most teams should be well above 50% inside of 5 feet, layups, dunks, and short shots are good basketball. Medium range shots are not, as few teams will even be able to approach 50% from that range, while good outside shooting teams will be above 35% from 3. Threes, layups, and dunks are really all you should be shooting today.
 

Colter shot 42.6% from three last season, good for 5th best in the A10 conference. In fact, this was higher than A10 MVP Tyler Kalinoski from Davidson.

Mason shot 44.7% from three on the year.

Gill needs to shoot a higher percentage more consistently, but he is not a "back to the basket" player. He is a perimeter forward. He needs to mix in some lay ups and drives along with offensive rebounds.

Colter stepped up his game last year. Offensively, this should be a pretty good team. The key, as we all know, is to improve defensively. We don't even have to be good on defense, just stop being horrible. If that happens, it might be a pretty fun season.

duq81 wrote:

Colter stepped up his game last year. Offensively, this should be a pretty good team. The key, as we all know, is to improve defensively. We don't even have to be good on defense, just stop being horrible. If that happens, it might be a pretty fun season.

He showed improvement, which should be expected from a 3-year starter. Mason took a huge step back, partly at least because of the Ferry brainfart over making him a point guard. But I didn't see either player make one of the all-conference teams, so we need to keep in perspective who they are: The best players on a struggling team.

OK, I don't see either one making the postseason teams or MVP, either. Not a knock, I just don't see them as being that calibre of player.

CLK wrote:

Perhaps one of Gill's best games last year was when he was aggresive against Dayton at home and drove the ball and attacked the rim.  The pick and roll was very effective that day. 

True, but Dayton's biggest player was 6-6 and Dayton was gassed playing the game.  Remember it was a Saturday game after a Thursday game - with a road trip in the middle - while Dayton only had six scholarship guys available due to the suspensions.  I wouldn't view Gill's game against UD as the model to use but rather a solid matchup play against a team that was weak inside.  Give credit to Gill for exploting it (and Ferry for changing the game plan a little to exploit it also).  Against taller guys inside I'm not sure the results would be the same.

I agree with DukesFan79 here that he's not a back-to-the-basket type of player.  I'd still give him the green light on some of those treys, the issue is making more of them as he matures with age.

I also disagree with Gill being your best rebounder.  To me, Powell is, followed by Robinson then Gill.

Well, I'm the one who said it, and according to the statistics, Gill's our best returning rebounder. The games in Ireland against 5-8 gingerbread children don't really count much. At 6-0, I can clean the glass against them. I don't know where the "back to the basket" stuff came from. That role is better suited for Lewis, or Robinson. I suggested Gill play in the paint more, which he can do facing the basket on offense. That would enable him to step back once in a while and shoot a short range (a higher percentage shot), and be in better position to scrap for a rebound.

Here is what we have.  Any body else?

CLK  -  17 wins 
duq81 -  18 wins 
WEB  -  18 wins 
rogabee  -  16 wins 
FAM  - 15 wins 
El Duque - 10 wins 
Applecorps - 18 wins 
Grammudder - 18 wins
scduke  -  18 wins 
Econ69  - 14 wins 
WashPaRick  - 15 wins
Simms  -  16 wins 
Dome  -  13 wins 
SteelCityVoice  - 19 wins
VBC  -  20 wins 
duqkurt  - 13 wins 
rosceaux  - 17 wins 
Tejas Duke  -  17 wins
Phildog  -  16 wins
Heels fan - 16 wins
KenOTH73 - 17 wins
Phoenix - 15 wins

Average = 16
 

There really is no need to be either contentious or provocative. Tear you apart?  Can't people simply have a different opinion? Especially since not all of us have access to Ferry.

For discussion purposes, my observation of Ferry over the past three years is that he is a creature of habit, e.g., he tends to do the same things year over year. Because of this, I think the scrimmage told you who the starting 5 will be: Colter, Mason, Jones, Powell, Lewis. Castro, at least initially, will come off the bench, as will Gill. James and Jackson will get PT early on, but that might stop when conference play starts.

I don't see us making the leap to 20 wins. Still haven't seen Castro against D1 teams or within the Ferry system yet, and I would expect only incremental improvement from any of the returning bigs, none of whom has a complete game. So I'll stick with my initial projection (10 wins), until there's any actual evidence that this team could be better.

El Duque I did not see Grammy's comments to be contentious, but maybe provocative for purposes of stimulating discussion.  I do however agree that Ferry will start his three seniors.  Dominus Vobiscum.

I guess we were both alter boys back in the old days. Just brought a grade school memory back for me.  The joke in catholic grade school when I was a kid was:  What is the Pope's phone number?  Et. Cum Spiri 220.

Last edited by CLK (11/09/2015 1:39 pm)

grammudder wrote:

After watching the Blue-Red scrimmage and knowing what they did to Towson, (I have the same contact at Towson as I did last year-they physicaly dominated Towson) put me down for 20 wins--up two from my original 18 suggestion.  Four reasons.  (1) Castro is a formidable third guard option; (2) Improvement in the inside game in the form  of Powell, Gill, Robinson, Lewis and expectations of Sanders; (3) Utilization of man-to-man and man-to-man match-up zone defenses; and (4) they are bigger, faster and stronger as a team.  My concerns--Who will step up and be the three?  I don't see any one player as being a three in the mold of my preference for a three-Billy Clark.  For whatever its worth I see three variables for a "starting" lineup with a sixth man added in.  I.  Colter, Mason, Castro, Powell and Robinson, with Gill off the bench.  II. Colter, Mason, Gill, Powell and Robinson with Castro off the bench.  III.  Castro, Mason, Powell, Gill and Sanders (later in the year  around the St. Louis game) with Colter off the bench. My reasoning is that Gill, Castro and Colter can give instant offense.    I see Lewis as the first big substitute.  The reasoning is Lewis provides a defensive presence.  Jere Jones will be the second off the bench as I see it in most cases.  There are just too many better options this year  with the players available to Ferry.  Not a bad seventh man!  Tear me apart ladies and gentlemen.  See ya Tuesday night at A.J.'s place.

any word on josh steel?
a lot of people seemed to be high on him after ireland trip, just curious as to why you didn't mention him(not a personal attack or tearing you apart)

grammudder wrote:

I didn't mean to ignore Josh.  If truth be told he is the closest of the current Dukes players who could be a three that matches my personal profile mold ala Billy Clark.  Josh is a very good defender.  He loves to jack up the three-ball.  I hope he is paying close attention to Micah Mason in both form and shot selections!!  I see him needing some development and orientation to the college game.  He definitely has D-1 level talent.  I'd like the coaches to be able to use him sporadically to develop him rather than have to rely on him as a big producer.  If he advances at the rate that LG Gill has done, I'll be happy.  Is that enough opinion?  

thank you for update!
it would be nice to have someone in the mold of bill clark