Benny suspended. Maliq still hurt.

[orangefog]

Yes. He’s been back to practice.

What was his body language like?

 

[rrlbees]

What was his body language like?

 

[IthacaMatt]

Yes. He’s been back to practice.

He raises our ceiling if he works hard and plays his best.

 

[jordoo]

This is one of the ways that I realize I am an old(er) man - back when I played sports, we didn't quit the team mid-season, we didn't mouth off to the coaches and if we lost our starting position, we worked like hell to win it back. We didn't just quit.

Right, because quitting is not one of “OUR” options. Suppose I’m old too.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Right, because quitting is not one of “OUR” options. Suppose I’m old too.

Even if it was the end of your time with a sport, you still had to play other sports with these same kids. You played until the end of the season, to the best of your ability, and if you change sports, you do it between seasons, when new tryouts occur.

You can't be a quitter, or you'll ALWAYS be "The Quitter". That's how it used to work. People had more pride, IMO.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Even if it was the end of your time with a sport, you still had to play other sports with these same kids. You played until the end of the season, to the best of your ability, and if you change sports, you do it between seasons, when new tryouts occur.

You can't be a quitter, or you'll ALWAYS be "The Quitter". That's how it used to work. People had more pride, IMO.

Yup-...

 

[TheHaze315]

Yes. He’s been back to practice.

Awesome. Hope that means he’ll be back in the lineup tonight.

 

[orangefog]

Awesome. Hope that means he’ll be back in the lineup tonight.

If Benny is back tonight and starts...who sits? Bell or Taylor? I know which one I would start.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

If Benny is back tonight and starts...who sits? Bell or Taylor? I know which one I would start.

Personally, I would start Copeland, but I am fine with Bell. Then the second unit could be Cuffe, Copeland, Taylor, Maliq with either Judah or JJ running the point. That's arguably as strong or stronger than the first unit.

If he wants to play Carey, I wouldn't be opposed to see him try Maliq and Carey in at the same time.

 

[Ozone!]

After his infraction, why should he start; ED, said he should earn his way back to starter and I agree!

 

[orangefog]

Personally, I would start Copeland, but I am fine with Bell. Then the second unit could be Cuffe, Copeland, Taylor, Maliq with either Judah or JJ running the point. That's arguably as strong or stronger than the first unit.

If he wants to play Carey, I wouldn't be opposed to see him try Maliq and Carey in at the same time.

I would have Taylor start at the 3. I think he provides the shooting while not compromising rebounding. The starting group of Judah, JJ, JT, Benny and McLeod may actually be a good rebounding team. Of course, that is contingent upon them playing an offense that allows players around the basket for offensive rebounds.

 

[Cusefan69]

Personally, I would start Copeland, but I am fine with Bell. Then the second unit could be Cuffe, Copeland, Taylor, Maliq with either Judah or JJ running the point. That's arguably as strong or stronger than the first unit.

If he wants to play Carey, I wouldn't be opposed to see him try Maliq and Carey in at the same time.

Copeland pulled 12 boards. I would consider that as starting rotation worthy or first off the bench. You have to reward that output and see if you will be getting similar(or in the range of)next game.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Of course, that is contingent upon them playing an offense that allows players around the basket for offensive rebounds.

I didn't see anyone comment on this, but our guys for the most part, were out of position on a lot of the rebounds Monday night and even the exhibitions. Many times, it was just McLeod, and he was getting pushed around and no fouls were being called.

 

[orangefog]

I didn't see anyone comment on this, but our guys for the most part, were out of position on a lot of the rebounds Monday night and even the exhibitions. Many times, it was just McLeod, and he was getting pushed around and no fouls were being called.

We consistently had 4 or 5 guys at the three point line staring at the ball. That is no offense.

 

[newmexicuse]

I believe that Cope should be a starter. However, Red made decision to go with Bell and Taylor as starters so I think he should stick with that for at least a few games. Cant pull the plug on Bell for one bad game. As for Benny, I agree with others that he should have to work his way back to being a starter.

 

[Niastri]

We consistently had 4 or 5 guys at the three point line staring at the ball. That is no offense.

I keep expecting the Andy Rautins, Trevor Cooney offense with Taylor. Just continually running circles under the basket, back and forth around screens to get open shots. We haven't given him much chance to see if he can be a reliable scorer if featured. Even one or two plays run for him could give us a look. The offense is way too freelance for my tastes. I'd say Bell as well, but it doesn't feel to me like he has the motor or the conditioning for playing that way.

Coincidentally, if McLeod, Brown and Williams are setting screens under the basket, they'll accidentally be in offensive rebounding position.

 

[TheHaze315]

If Benny is back tonight and starts...who sits? Bell or Taylor? I know which one I would start.

Me personally I’d go with JT. He brings more to the table imo.

 

[cuse62]

If everything is the same as last game. Which it won‘t be. Give me first ten minutes Bell and second half Taylor.

 

[orangefog]

I keep expecting the Andy Rautins, Trevor Cooney offense with Taylor. Just continually running circles under the basket, back and forth around screens to get open shots. We haven't given him much chance to see if he can be a reliable scorer if featured. Even one or two plays run for him could give us a look. The offense is way too freelance for my tastes. I'd say Bell as well, but it doesn't feel to me like he has the motor or the conditioning for playing that way.

Coincidentally, if McLeod, Brown and Williams are setting screens under the basket, they'll accidentally be in offensive rebounding position.

I agree, I think Taylor needs to become more of an offensive focal point. I think he has a better basketball IQ than Bell. McLeod and Brown always set high screens, it drives me nuts, we don't try to free up anyone but the ballhandler. It's 3rd grade offense.

 

[jdubs30]

JT has to start.
Copeland is best suited off the bench in that high energy role.
I really think this at this point Bell should be coming off the bench. At this point his best role is a guy who can hit 3s and play 15mpg.I know he won’t be happy about it, but at this point Taylor just the better player.

 

[Niastri]

I agree, I think Taylor needs to become more of an offensive focal point. I think he has a better basketball IQ than Bell. McLeod and Brown always set high screens, it drives me nuts, we don't try to free up anyone but the ballhandler. It's 3rd grade offense.

Between that and the consistent step back fade away 20 footers one step inside the 3 point line, I'm wondering what the hell they're coaching.

Coach Straughn was supposed to be an analytics guy, but we're running a terrible offense that relies on the other team committing turnovers to score. As soon as New Hampshire stopped turning it over, we couldn't do anything but isolation with Mintz to draw fouls.

When we do run a play, the goal seems to be to get an open shot from midrange. Which is exactly what modern defenses want you to take.

Shaking my head so far. Hopefully it comes together.

 

[sutomcat]

Nah lets keep making character judgements on someone we have never met.

Benny has been to SyraCruz tailgates. Some of us have met him. He seems like a good young man.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Taylor can make shots that nobody else on the team has a prayer of making.

I think Copeland can be a good player, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he loses minutes to Westry if/when he comes back.

I’m not really sure where Bell fits at all. His shot looks more aesthetically pleasing than Taylor’s, but the results are not there.

 

[kcsu]

I believe that Cope should be a starter. However, Red made decision to go with Bell and Taylor as starters so I think he should stick with that for at least a few games. Cant pull the plug on Bell for one bad game. As for Benny, I agree with others that he should have to work his way back to being a starter.

Its 1 full season plus one more game. Kid better start to ball or hes going to be sitting.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Taylor can make shots that nobody else on the team has a prayer of making.

I think Copeland can be a good player, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he loses minutes to Westry if/when he comes back.

I’m not really sure where Bell fits at all. His shot looks more aesthetically pleasing than Taylor’s, but the results are not there.

Think that first sentence is true if you switch it to say "Taylor and Bell" instead of just Taylor. We saw Bell make some highly contested threes from deep last season and he got better as the season went on. Think he can release it quicker than Taylor. Took almost twice as many attempts from deep as Taylor last season and the percentage was at least passable. Obviously if this cold streak continues we have to start looking elsewhere, but think people are writing him off based on an extremely small sample size this season.