Revamping starting line up

[pie n eye]

^ Obviously it's easy for me to say all this from the comfort of my phone. I don't have to go out there and actually do it so hats off to the guys that do. There is still so much potential on this team and I have no doubt the coaching staff will wring every drop of that potential by the end of the season.

Oh and starting lineup.

[wusphlash]

Could Kelly be this year's Wessel?

If the criteria is mistake free basketball as the competition gets stiffer; no.

The question is "who will be the most debated starter on this year's team?"

[ShockingButTrue]

The question is "who will be the most debated starter on this year's team?"

The one with the most errors?

[Dan]

Rashard is good against Valley competition and lower. Against big time athletes he struggles. For some reason he plays below the rim and that doesn't cut it when you have 6'10" guys coming at you from all angles. McDuffie falls victim to this occasionally as well but he's athletic enough to overcome some of his deficiencies under the basket.

[AZ Shocker]

I must say I got a kick out of Pitino pulling a zone. To me that suggested he knew it was his only chance to beat the Shockers. Sucked that he didnt want to man up...but he's obviously a great coach and made a great defensive game plan.

The Shocks ran into a roadblock on that one. Zone + giraffs that can actually ball was the dagger IMO. Good move Pitino ya bastard.

[ShockerFever]

Rashard is good against Valley competition and lower. Against big time athletes he struggles. For some reason he plays below the rim and that doesn't cut it when you have 6'10" guys coming at you from all angles. McDuffie falls victim to this occasionally as well but he's athletic enough to overcome some of his deficiencies under the basket.

I don't recall Kelly lighting up the Valley last year and in any of the home games much this year.

[pie n eye]

Rashard is good against Valley competition and lower. Against big time athletes he struggles. For some reason he plays below the rim and that doesn't cut it when you have 6'10" guys coming at you from all angles. McDuffie falls victim to this occasionally as well but he's athletic enough to overcome some of his deficiencies under the basket.

At 6'7 Rashard is athletic and thick enough that he should be able to be more effective against those type of guys. Just needs to stay calm, slow down and use his pivot foot, fakes, and passes.

Willis could have scored at will against the Giraffes of Louisville but he was content to shoot jumpers. Same could be said for GoodShaq, unfortunately he didn't show up.

[Dan]

I never said he lights up anybody. He's just better against them. He has the ability to make baskets and grab rebounds. Against better athletes he gets his stuff swatted left and right.

[Dan]

Shaq and Willis are much more explosive than Rashard. Rashard could be a player in the mold of Carl Hall - they have about he same build and skillset. CH was a master of the inside game, he knew how to use his body to get offensive boards and putbacks. I'm not sure Rashard's gonna get there though.

[molly jabali]

Interesting topic...almost worthy of a betting pool...if that type of thing was legal here...

[ArtVandalay]

There was a stretch against Louisville where Kelly played the three with Willis at the four and I believe Shaq (or Rauno) at the 5. We were positive in points for vs points against using that lineup. Not something we need to use often, but not crazy either if Kelly starts at the three.

[asiseeit]

I wouldn't take anything away from tonight's starting line up no
matter what it is. Look for Saturday's starting line up to be an
indicator though. My guess Saturday's will be CF, LS, MM, RK and
Nurger.

[_kai_]

It's always interesting when a hypothesis matches up with data.

My observation and hypothesis: Kelly is the worst post player on the roster at finishing at the rim.

Data: Hamilton is the worst. Kelly is 2nd worst. RK shoots 45% at the rim. EH shoots 25% at the rim this year. For a barometer of our best finishers at the rim: Brown shoots 71% at the rim, Reaves 67%, McDuffie 65%, Nurger 64%.

Kelly does everything well but score the ball. So Wessel comparisons seem to be spot-on. The only difference is that Kelly is expected to score, and is given the ball, with a usage % of 18 this season. Wessel's was like 10% last season. (Usage stats mean, it is an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor.)

[Ol skool]

I used to talk to Dave the Rave Stalworth and he had an interesting concept about rotations. He said the starters come in and get the lead. The subs come in and hold the lead. I. E.
come in with 10 point lead. Leave with a ten point lead. Wonder how Dave would set up this rotation.
Lol
Of course if his name is not Gregg Marshall it don't matter.

[shock]

Willis and Mulder