Memphis

[TheRealMick]

I’ll ideally take playmaker over shooter also, with mix guys we got I’ll rather get couple shooters then work on their skills over 4/5 into playmaker. I want Davenport and Eason work on their one on one and playmaking ability. You need guys 6’7 or better on wing that can create. I say get 2 HS rim protectors, 2 HS shooters, 1 more guy with Eason/Davenport size and skill set for wing, and 1 PG

 

[Queens_NYC]

Houston has proved you can have an elite team without developing your own bigs or having them be 4/5-star HS recruits.

-Justin Gorham: 6'7 SR Transfer from Towson (Unranked out of high school)
-Brison Gresham: 6'8 SR Transfer from UMass (3-star on 247; .8833 rating)
-Reggie Chaney: 6'7 JR Transfer from Arkansas (3-star on 247; .9240 rating)
-J'Wan Roberts: 6'7 RS Freshman (3-star on 247; .9267 rating)
-Fabian White: 6'8 Senior (3-star on 247; .8647 rating)

We don't need the best guys. We just need the right ones.

 

[justinhub2003]

Houston has proved you can have an elite team without developing your own bigs or having them be 4/5-star HS recruits.

-Justin Gorham: 6'7 SR Transfer from Towson (Unranked out of high school)
-Brison Gresham: 6'8 SR Transfer from UMass (3-star on 247; .8833 rating)
-Reggie Chaney: 6'7 JR Transfer from Arkansas (3-star on 247; .9240 rating)
-J'Wan Roberts: 6'7 RS Freshman (3-star on 247; .9267 rating)
-Fabian White: 6'8 Senior (3-star on 247; .8647 rating)

We don't need the best guys. We just need the right ones.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t see CJB demanding the kinda toughness out of his bigs like Sampson does.

I’ve read reports that half of Houston’s practice is with a bubble on the rim so every shot is a miss and then all out war for rebounds.

 

[waterhead]

Maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t see CJB demanding the kinda toughness out of his bigs like Sampson does.

I’ve read reports that half of Houston’s practice is with a bubble on the rim so every shot is a miss and then all out war for rebounds.

I understand your point here but I am also trying to marry that up with the idea that Brannen is a feared maniac by players and coaches alike.

That was one of the ideas put out here along with the idea that Davenport is likely gone because he was good friends with Harvey. I know it was quoted from someone else...but isn't Davenport supposed to be friends with the entire team? It's a family right?

Do we have a maniac or a nice guy? What he is maniacal about? Not being tough? it would be one thing if all of this stuff added up but I don't see the hot head coach we have seen for 30 years on the sidelines. He SEEMS very supportive and less likely to stew over a TO or missed assignment than past coaches. Just trying to navigate through the rumor mill here.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t see CJB demanding the kinda toughness out of his bigs like Sampson does.

I’ve read reports that half of Houston’s practice is with a bubble on the rim so every shot is a miss and then all out war for rebounds.

Yeah, I get that we'll likely never defend or rebound as well as Houston but that doesn't mean we can't make great improvements with some simple personnel changes.

With Dou, Rap, and Vogt we have 3 different types of bigs that most of us probably wouldn't want Brannen to recruit again.

Dou: The semi-skilled, athletic, but incredibly raw stretch 4 who will need a minimum of 2 years before he can see the court for anything beyond garbage time.

Rap: The skilled but soft/unathletic stretch 4 who can give you the odd basket but can't guard any high major players at the 4 or 5 position.

Vogt: The 100% back-to-the-basket giant 5 who is only an average finisher at the rim, can't shoot free throws, and is a liability against most high major teams on defense/the boards.

 

[waterhead]

Yeah, I get that we'll likely never defend or rebound as well as Houston but that doesn't mean we can't make great improvements with some simple personnel changes.

With Dou, Rap, and Vogt we have 3 different types of bigs that most of us probably wouldn't want Brannen to recruit again.

Dou: The semi-skilled, athletic, but incredibly raw stretch 4 who will need a minimum of 2 years before he can see the court for anything beyond garbage time.

Rap: The skilled but soft/unathletic stretch 4 who can give you the odd basket but can't guard any high major players at the 4 or 5 position.

Vogt: The 100% back-to-the-basket giant 5 who is only an average finisher at the rim, can't shoot free throws, and is a liability against most high major teams on defense/the boards.

You may have forgotten the rarely mentioned potential secret weapon in Viktor Lakhin (shhhhh). The seemingly plodding (but in a sneaky slow kind of way) likely euro pro that we must have in some form of witness protection program. If he does exist I can't even be sure he hasn't already been poisoned through his undergarments. Is the one video out there a deep fake?

I kid. I kid. But not sure this kid is the 5 we are looking for. Using a free year he could hopefully be a good 4 after Tari leaves. And maybe back up the 5 in a pinch.

 

[Queens_NYC]

You may have forgotten the rarely mentioned potential secret weapon in Viktor Lakhin (shhhhh). The seemingly plodding (but in a sneaky slow kind of way) likely euro pro that we must have in some form of witness protection program. If he does exist I can't even be sure he hasn't already been poisoned through his undergarments. Is the one video out there a deep fake?

I kid. I kid. But not sure this kid is the 5 we are looking for. Using a free year he could hopefully be a good 4 after Tari leaves. And maybe back up the 5 in a pinch.

Lol.

I guess Lakhin appears to be cut out of the Rap mold.

I would like to think because he's a few years younger that he could still become the player that Rap never was for us.

 

[TheRealMick]

Going need 4-5 guys on team with Davenport size and athleticism. We got enough small guards now we need compliment them with size on wings and rim protectors

 

[cincyguy13]

I’d love eliel back. He is exactly what this team needs. I’ve watched him guard smaller guards and not get beat.

Just find someone like him. Coach up his offense if it sucks

Are we even sure Eliel is that much better than what we have? I get it, he can move,but he also plays at Georgia st. His numbers are going to be inflated. I’m not even arguing that he could be better than Vogt, but we have to move past these kind of players.

 

[cincyguy13]

You may have forgotten the rarely mentioned potential secret weapon in Viktor Lakhin (shhhhh). The seemingly plodding (but in a sneaky slow kind of way) likely euro pro that we must have in some form of witness protection program. If he does exist I can't even be sure he hasn't already been poisoned through his undergarments. Is the one video out there a deep fake?

I kid. I kid. But not sure this kid is the 5 we are looking for. Using a free year he could hopefully be a good 4 after Tari leaves. And maybe back up the 5 in a pinch.

Victor looks agile in his YouTube videos. He’s white but I’m not sure he’s that slow. Maybe he is.

 

[justinhub2003]

Are we even sure Eliel is that much better than what we have? I get it, he can move,but he also plays at Georgia st. His numbers are going to be inflated. I’m not even arguing that he could be better than Vogt, but we have to move past these kind of players.

They say rebounding is one of the few skills thats translates to ever level.

Eliel has the 7th best offensive rebounding rate in the country. He's also making 62% of FG attempts. His defensive rebounding rate was actually higher at UC than at Georgia state.

I think if Elie returned to this level he'd be the best rebounder on this team and Im not sure it would be close. He'd excel in wars against Houston and Memphis.

Elie rarely ever turns the ball over, rebounds well, and seems to do well in the paint. To me thats exactly what this team needs. he is a low usage player that makes his mark in other ways.



Here is Elie's Synergy numbers:
Offense: 96% (Excellent)... scores 1.152 ppp
defense:61% (Good).... his opponents score .805 ppp

 

[cincyguy13]

They say rebounding is one of the few skills thats translates to ever level.

Eliel has the 7th best offensive rebounding rate in the country. He's also making 62% of FG attempts. His defensive rebounding rate was actually higher at UC than at Georgia state.

I think if Elie returned to this level he'd be the best rebounder on this team and Im not sure it would be close. He'd excel in wars against Houston and Memphis.

Elie rarely ever turns the ball over, rebounds well, and seems to do well in the paint. To me thats exactly what this team needs. he is a low usage player that makes his mark in other ways.



Here is Elie's Synergy numbers:
Offense: 96% (Excellent)... scores 1.152 ppp
defense:61% (Good).... his opponents score .805 ppp

That’s awesome. He could be better than Vogt. Probably. But he does play at Georgia st. Trevor Moore put up 29 for Morgan st a couple weeks ago. Gelawn was great at a lower level. If he is better, which isn’t saying much, he’s still wouldn’t be great at this level. He’s not a missing link.

 

[justinhub2003]

That’s awesome. He could be better than Vogt. Probably. But he does play at Georgia st. Trevor Moore put up 29 for Morgan st a couple weeks ago. Gelawn was great at a lower level. If he is better, which isn’t saying much, he’s still wouldn’t be great at this level. He’s not a missing link.

No one says he’s be great.

I’m a firm believer that guards and wings make you great.

But look at all the Houston bigs that Was mentioned a few pages back. None are “great” but they all attribute to winning basketball. They rebound, defend and use all 5 fouls every game.

Houston is really good because they have really good guards who are supported by really tough, physical bigs.

 

[cincyguy13]

No one says he’s be great.

I’m a firm believer that guards and wings make you great.

But look at all the Houston bigs that Was mentioned a few pages back. None are “great” but they all attribute to winning basketball. They rebound, defend and use all 5 fouls every game.

Houston is really good because they have really good guards who are supported by really tough, physical bigs.

I agree, he might make the team a little better but he isn’t making a big difference. Word is he was out the door before brannen showed up, so I would guess it wasn’t really an option.