We know our starting 5, but what is your “final 5”

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

pike always says he doesnt put too much weight into who starts but focuses more on who finishes. After watching us for 4 games and assuming we win tomorrow, going into Miami at 4-1, if it’s a tie game with under 4 minutes left, who are your final 5 on the court?

For me it’s

1- Geo
2- Issa
3- Harper
4- EO
5- Myles Johnson

I choose Harper over Kiss because Harper just has an extremely high basketball iq, knows where to be on the court, is smart with the ball and just seems to be a kid who has that “it” factor. Whos your final 5?

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

+1

 

[Mr Magoo]

+1

pike always says he doesnt put too much weight into who starts but focuses more on who finishes. After watching us for 4 games and assuming we win tomorrow, going into Miami at 4-1, if it’s a tie game with under 4 minutes left, who are your final 5 on the court?

For me it’s

1- Geo
2- Issa
3- Harper
4- EO
5- Myles Johnson

I choose Harper over Kiss because Harper just has an extremely high basketball iq, knows where to be on the court, is smart with the ball and just seems to be a kid who has that “it” factor. Whos your final 5?

I agree on Harper but I’m not convinced on Thiam over Kiss yet. I need a larger sample size.

 

[RUChow]

pike always says he doesnt put too much weight into who starts but focuses more on who finishes. After watching us for 4 games and assuming we win tomorrow, going into Miami at 4-1, if it’s a tie game with under 4 minutes left, who are your final 5 on the court?

For me it’s

1- Geo
2- Issa
3- Harper
4- EO
5- Myles Johnson

I choose Harper over Kiss because Harper just has an extremely high basketball iq, knows where to be on the court, is smart with the ball and just seems to be a kid who has that “it” factor. Whos your final 5?

Sounds about right. I think Kiss today and Harper three weeks from today.

 

[winfield102]

Definitely Thiam. He isn't going to get bumped from the lineup like some thought he would.
Harper has shown a great iq and court awareness.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

I agree on Harper but I’m not convinced on Thiam over Kiss yet. I need a larger sample size.

Kiss? Kiss is the one who requires a larger sample size since he's the one who is still finding his way on the team. Kiss still leaves a lot to desire with his defense. IMO Issa has out played Kiss overall in the first 4 games.

 

[bowlgoal]

I think the most athletic line up is geo, Mathis, Kiss, omuyuri and Johnson. I would have Thiam hop in for defense. I think Mathis eventually gets more playing time.

 

[bowlgoal]

When we add Mulcahy and Jacobs and maybe a Mickey Pearson, this is going to be a lot of fun.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Kiss? Kiss is the one who requires a larger sample size since he's the one who is still finding his way on the team. Kiss still leaves a lot to desire with his defense. IMO Issa has out played Kiss overall in the first 4 games.

Agreed. Issa is a plus defender and a lights out shooter when hes open. Kiss has shown me to be suspect on defense, not calm with the ball in his hands and a double comes, questionable passes and weak hands (has ball stolen from him alot)

 

[Mr Magoo]

Kiss? Kiss is the one who requires a larger sample size since he's the one who is still finding his way on the team. Kiss still leaves a lot to desire with his defense. IMO Issa has out played Kiss overall in the first 4 games.

The last two for sure. I’m not as big a fan of Thiam as most people and Kiss hasn’t play well the last two games but I like his energy and I think he’s way more aggressive than Thiam. Personally, I just need to see a little more.

 

[ScarletDave]

I agree with those 5 +1. EO has to be there in the end. Myles Johnson as well.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

There's a November end of game Final 5....and a December Final 5.....and a January and then a February Final 5...

It only takes 2 good games by a couple of players mixed with an off game by a player here or there.

The team has to be able to be somewhat consistent with 8 or 9 different combinations on the floor.

The bigger question is whether McConnell can knock down some shots when he gets on the floor when Geo is resting. If you can steal quality minutes at the 13 minute mark in each half.

One of the trends that RU and Pike have to work on is not the closing 4 minutes of the game. The trend that has not been good is RU closing the 1st half of games. Whether it's fatigue or the time of the game, in games where RU struggles, it's sloppy possessions at the end of the 1st half.

There's 2 reasons for this and why you need 9 reliable players that can get in sync.

A) Foul trouble management- Most coaches will shut down a player with 2 fouls in the 1st half, because they want to maintain their rotation with 3 available fouls in the 2nd half or a potential OT.

If Eugene gets in early foul trouble like St. John's, the staff has to find spots to take him off the court if 1 of the 2 fouls is early in the 1st half. This is where the development of Thiam and Harper are important. Either player can be interchangeable at the 4.

If Myles Johnson or Peter Kiss get 2 fouls in the 1st half, does the offense look or have the same passing and scoring??

B) I think the biggest weakness of RU historically has been the inability to have a productive Small Forward that can dribble shoot and pass....i know the dribble shoot and pass item seems very basic, but we've been missing that for years....probably back to Jonathan Mitchell as a triple threat at the SF.

NOW.....Pike has 3 weapons (or possibly 4) in Thiam, Kiss, Harper and Mathis, that can be a scoring threat from 3, from the baseline and in transition.

The closing of the 1st half is more important than worrying about the last 4 minutes of the game. Foul trouble, matchups and game flow will dictate who finishes a game.

Can the staff get Mathis on track to add a 4th reliable weapon to put on the court. Maybe Kiss is off one game, maybe Thiam has to play the 4....Maybe Harper has to then play the 3 or 4 if Eugene is in foul trouble.

Get more reliable closing out of the 1st half is important.

 

[SirScarlet]

I think the most athletic line up is geo, Mathis, Kiss, omuyuri and Johnson. I would have Thiam hop in for defense. I think Mathis eventually gets more playing time.

I dont see how you include Kiss and say it's our most athletic lineup. I get he has an insane vertical but so far he has played anything but "athletically"... I dont see it...at all. Not so far anyway.

I think kyk nailed the lineup, IMHO