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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy
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WOW. Pike wasnt kidding when he said hes having an incredible off-season
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He lost a bunch of weight ive heard, he looks like hes moving really well. This is encouragingWhile the defense is horrible, Shaq looks like he really transformed his body. He looks to be in great shape.
I think Shaq Carter can replace what EO's role should've ideally been. 15-20 minutes of solid production at the 4 with the difference being he'll play a little 5. He's moving around great but my concern is he was dreadful at defending/properly knowing how to hedge/blitz pick and rolls last year, granted I thought our entire team wasn't good at it. Hopefully that is fixed
Shaq has the athleticism for a big man to be a very good pick and roll defender at the 5 unlike Doorson who struggled in that area due to physical limitations. Hopefully he puts it all together this season bc there is a ton of potentialI think Shaq Carter can replace what EO's role should've ideally been. 15-20 minutes of solid production at the 4 with the difference being he'll play a little 5. He's moving around great but my concern is he was dreadful at defending/properly knowing how to hedge/blitz pick and rolls last year, granted I thought our entire team wasn't good at it. Hopefully that is fixed
Defense wasn't played in the Jersey Shore Summer League either.Couple observations:
1. Shaq moving really well !
2. Lots of people on the sidelines with cell phones and professional cameras filming these open runs
3. In nearly every one of these open run videos the defense looks really bad, almost non-existent. Its essentially play ground basketball. Which is okay, but not the best quality of practice or gauge of where these guys are improving for the B1G season. In the past summers I think they always had that Jersey Shore summer league which I guess doesn't exist and this is kind of taking the place of that it seems .
At the final Court Club meeting of the season, Jay Young (shortly before accepting the Fairfield position) noted that Carter would be a player to watch next season. He said JuCos more often than not take a year to adjust to D1 competition and then usually have a banner senior season.
Love to hear that. He is a great finisher around the rim and uses the rim well to protect his shots from being blocked. I'm excited to see him go to workAt the final Court Club meeting of the season, Jay Young (shortly before accepting the Fairfield position) noted that Carter would be a player to watch next season. He said JuCos more often than not take a year to adjust to D1 competition and then usually have a banner senior season.
Hahahaha. Sad... but true.The off-season is a wonderful place. A place where we can forget that kaleb Wesson scored roughly 50 points in a half and be mesmerized by an open run.
Defense is much easier to improve in a year. He should make a big jump there. As far as appropriate switching - I don't remember us ever switching last year, almost to a fault.No open run is going to show me what I need to see from Carter - defensive positioning and footwork, appropriate switching, help defense, and closeouts, handling the double team in the post and making the right pass, etc.
He looks good from a S&C perspective, which is great - but his improvement this year is going to
Defense is much easier to improve in a year. He should make a big jump there. As far as appropriate switching - I don't remember us ever switching last year, almost to a fault.
If Shaq is only playing a few minutes at the 5 then you by default must be expecting Doucoure to get those backup 5 minutes. I'm expecting much more out of Shaq than Doucoure. Carter flashed way more potentialI don’t think Shaq can play anywhere near 15-20 minutes at the 4 and even if he did it would completely contradict the narrative that Eugene didn’t fit the new style of play Pike is trying to instill (which was already false as it is) of which Carter cannot even attempt to thrive in.
Shaq can play a few minutes at the 5nand hopefully in his initial rotation he won’t pick up two quick fouls every time at his new weight.
Solid role player In limited role that every team needs.
If Shaq is only playing a few minutes at the 5 then you by default must be expecting Doucoure to get those backup 5 minutes. I'm expecting much more out of Shaq than Doucoure. Carter flashed way more potential
Agree. If this team is going to get to a tourney, it needs for Shaq to be a significant piece. Coach needs to have the option to match up with a big front court, like having Myles, Shaq, and Harper (or Yeboah). Shaq and Caleb both showed potential to be important parts of the rotation, and I hope they've progressed enough to take on those roles.If Shaq is only playing a few minutes at the 5 then you by default must be expecting Doucoure to get those backup 5 minutes. I'm expecting much more out of Shaq than Doucoure. Carter flashed way more potential
If he's second in line at the 5 then he's definitely going to play more than a few minutes a game is my point... Even if Myles is healthy and stays out of foul trouble. If those issues pop up in games Carter's going to play heavy minutesYes Carter should be second in line for minutes at the 5. I can’t imagine he get many at all at the 4.
If he's second in line at the 5 then he's definitely going to play more than a few minutes a game is my point... Even if Myles is healthy and stays out of foul trouble. If those issues pop up in games Carter's going to play heavy minutes
I don’t think Shaq can play anywhere near 15-20 minutes at the 4 and even if he did it would completely contradict the narrative that Eugene didn’t fit the new style of play Pike is trying to instill (which was already false as it is) of which Carter cannot even attempt to thrive in.
Shaq can play a few minutes at the 5 and hopefully in his initial rotation he won’t pick up two quick fouls every time at his new weight.
Solid role player In limited role that every team needs.
No one said Eugene doesn't fit, he's just not equipped to be 28-30 minutes while taking the most shots and possession of the ball. EO would have a drastically reduced role if it's based on what makes RU better IMO.
Eugene or Shaq fit, if you cap them at the 4 for a few minutes a half and backing up the 5. EO or Carter are not as versatile as Yeboah or Harper will be.
Sigh....
Whatever you win
It's tough to comprehend when fans get emotionally attached to players, but he's not an All B1G caliber player by any measure. If that's your best player, occupying the most shots and possessions and isnt even All B1G 3rd team this past season or under consideration for the next level, why are fans unable to understand this concept??
This is about what's best for the team to improve and EO had most of 2018-19 in that realm and the team didnt start to improve until others grew in stature and improved as frosh. The 1st half of the season showed that. The team will be better this coming season, but EO as your leading shooter and with the most possessions, limits the program.
You are so hung up on this usage thing with EO when the teams young players were not ready to contribute more. It's common sense that as the young guys develop and you add Jacob Young, Mulcahy that they will be used more and the shots would be spread around more.
Bottom line is that Eugene was taking shots and scoring because the others, besides Geo were not ready to carry a heavier load.
30% of the shots last year would not automatically mean 30% of the shots year as you imply......Harper, McConnell, Mathis, Johnson, Young, etc would no longer defer to EO because they are better and more confident as they develop.
Pikiell is no idiot, he would have and will demand better shot distribution with more players ready to contribute.
OK, then why did EO leave??
You can't explain why without arriving at a conclusion that he would have had a reduced role on the roster. He chose to bounce, I'm just expressing the reasons why it is not a huge issue it's overblown as being. To contribute to a program requires sacrificing your own stats and Eugene chose not to do that.
To return to the original topic of Shaq Carter and his improved conditioning and work this summer, I expect him to help out much more than last year on both ends and he's another player that will soften the loss of Eugene's minutes. It will be a collective effort.
You are so hung up on this usage thing with EO when the teams young players were not ready to contribute more. It's common sense that as the young guys develop and you add Jacob Young, Mulcahy that they will be used more and the shots would be spread around more.
Bottom line is that Eugene was taking shots and scoring because the others, besides Geo were not ready to carry a heavier load.
30% of the shots last year would not automatically mean 30% of the shots year as you imply......Harper, McConnell, Mathis, Johnson, Young, etc would no longer defer to EO because they are better and more confident as they develop.
Pikiell is no idiot, he would have and will demand better shot distribution with more players ready to contribute.