Brandon - Smile !!!

[newmexicuse]

I know some guys have game faces, but Brandon never seems to show exiliaration for the game.

This is a kid who's talent I have long admired, but who's mindset I have always questioned.

He always plays like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I think if he would lighten up and just trust his skills that he could be twice the player he was shown to date.

 

[arbitragegls]

...of course the player he is--is pretty darn good. I agree that we want him to be more assertive, more demonstrative on the court..and maybe even off it. However, I firmly believe the BT will find his way and will become in all our minds a team leader and go to guy.
BT is one of the two best defensive guards we have...he is the more consistent guard we have...he is the best FT shooter we have...and contributes in vast majority of games...lets not let his facial expression dictate what he things but rather his on court success.

 

[br801]

I know some guys have game faces, but Brandon never seems to show exiliaration for the game.

This is a kid who's talent I have long admired, but who's mindset I have always questioned.

He always plays like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I think if he would lighten up and just trust his skills that he could be twice the player he was shown to date.

I don't get the correlation between facial expression and exhilaration for the game, facial expression and mindset, or facial expression and performance. He is who he is.

By the way, do you believe Derrick Rose's stoic demeanor on the court is holding him back any?

 

[HoustonCuse]

If you pay close attention, he does show emotion. He's never going to be Eric Devendorf if thats what you are looking for, but the kid clearly cares ALOT about what the team is doing and wants to win. 82-14 in his career is just about the same as Calipari's record in his time at UK (I think I heard it was 85-13 or something). Brandon is doing very well for himself and for us fans.

People were saying he was sulking on the bench in the second half yesterday - BS, you can clearly see him react happily a few times on the bench even during the highlight package of the game. Ease up on the guy.

 

[arbitragegls]

+1

 

[jekelish]

Seriously, not every kid is going to be a vocal cheerleader. Just because a kid is reserved doesn't mean he doesn't care or is sulking.

 

[newmexicuse]

Seriously, not every kid is going to be a vocal cheerleader. Just because a kid is reserved doesn't mean he doesn't care or is sulking.

I did not say he doesn't care and I did not say he is sulking. In fact, it is implied in my post that he cares too much by having the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I just see so much potential in Brandon, maybe I am just flat out over-estimating his talent in terms of my expectations, but I really do not think that is the case.

 

[BRNCUSEFRVCUSE]

When i met him in the shoppingtown mall elevator a few year back and i talked to him i got a half smile. Maybe because i just have the affect on ppl

 

[jekelish]

I wasn't really referring specifically to you, honestly...just speaking in general since it seems these days we get three or four threads of people trying to overanalyze a look on a kid's face or his posture on the bench or whatever.

In general, people just read way too much into that stuff.

 

[Ghost]

I wasn't really referring specifically to you, honestly...just speaking in general since it seems these days we get three or four threads of people trying to overanalyze a look on a kid's face or his posture on the bench or whatever.

In general, people just read way too much into that stuff.

People do read too much into it, but I really can't say that I have ever seen another kid play with such a somber demeanor through his first two years. I do think this year he has been a tad more normal on the court though.

I don't really have a comment either way, other than to say that I don't find it all strange that this topic would come up quite a bit. It's just odd to be that sullen all the time , and people are going to question it because it's so abnormal. I doubt that will ever change.

 

[bballbeadle]

I did not say he doesn't care and I did not say he is sulking. In fact, it is implied in my post that he cares too much by having the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Atlas wasn't forced to carry the world on his shoulders. He did it because he thought that if he didn't, the world would fall apart."

I also think Brandon may be self-conscious about his teeth.

 

[orangefan13]

He will smile twice before he turns into the next Wes, Johnny, Carmelo smiley face.

1. The first time he finally does what he knew he could .
2. When we win back to back championships this year and next.

 

[DoctorBombay]

He is who he is. Let it be.

 

[44cuse]

...of course the player he is--is pretty darn good. I agree that we want him to be more assertive, more demonstrative on the court..and maybe even off it. However, I firmly believe the BT will find his way and will become in all our minds a team leader and go to guy.
BT is one of the two best defensive guards we have...he is the more consistent guard we have...he is the best FT shooter we have...and contributes in vast majority of games...lets not let his facial expression dictate what he things but rather his on court success.

I don't think that's the point. Agree with everything you say. Believe the point; BT could be so much better. IMO, there is no doubt he plays too tight and he SEEMS limited by it.

44cuse

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

I do wonder if not being part of the Dion/Scoop/KJo/Southerland/Fair "in crowd" clique with the team off the court hurts his confidence some. He's kind of an outsider, by all accounts off the court.

As much as Dion/Scoop and Triche may have mended fences...it still feels like separate entities at times...

 

[rrlbees]

I do wonder if not being part of the Dion/Scoop/KJo/Southerland/Fair "in crowd" clique with the team off the court hurts his confidence some. He's kind of an outsider, by all accounts off the court.

As much as Dion/Scoop and Triche may have mended fences...it still feels like separate entities at times...

It's always different with local kids. Same could have been said about Andy. They still have their local friends and family. BT does a lot with his fam, does community work. etc. He gets along fine with everyone. I'd say he and Mook were close and he and KJo to an extent. But there are times when it was a good thing he didn't hang with some of that crew.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

I know some guys have game faces, but Brandon never seems to show exiliaration for the game.

This is a kid who's talent I have long admired, but who's mindset I have always questioned.

He always plays like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I think if he would lighten up and just trust his skills that he could be twice the player he was shown to date.

He Is the most stoic guy in memory. Maybe Jeremy McNeil rivals him but barely. But that's just his personality.

That I don't mind. What was noticeable yesterday is that when he was on the bench he reacted very little to great plays by guys on the court, particularly the guards. Contrast that to the rest of the bench who went bonkers and were extremely supportive of their teammates.

I think it's is fine to be stoic on the court but I think it wouldn't kill him to be at least a tiny bit of a cheerleader when he's not in the game. If Baye, James, Mookie, and Cooney can do it, Brandon can too

 

[rrlbees]

He Is the most stoic guy in memory. Maybe Jeremy McNeil rivals him but barely. But that's just his personality.

That I don't mind. What was noticeable yesterday is that when he was on the bench he reacted very little to great plays by guys on the court, particularly the guards. Contrast that to the rest of the bench who went bonkers and were extremely supportive of their teammates.

I think it's is fine to be stoic on the court but I think it wouldn't kill him to be at least a tiny bit of a cheerleader when he's not in the game. If Baye, James, Mookie, and Cooney can do it, Brandon can too

I've seen BT jump up and down plenty of times this year and sometimes being the first on the court. I wonder if sitting next to JB most of the 2nd half had anything to do with it yesterday. Maybe JB doesn't want hell raising in his ear?

 

[arbitragegls]

It's always different with local kids. Same could have been said about Andy. They still have their local friends and family. BT does a lot with his fam, does community work. etc. He gets along fine with everyone. I'd say he and Mook were close and he and KJo to an extent. But there are times when it was a good thing he didn't hang with some of that crew.

I agree with this assessment. I always get hammered with this...but I feel that Scoop and Dion sometimes freeze Triche out on court and consequently he gets the ball late in clock and forced to take a bad shot...I am not convinced this is so...and Scoop and Waiters do play well together. I think it would be worthwhile to see more time on court with MCW and Triche...even if Triche does not start...in the time those two are together, they both have played better...just a thought.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

I agree with this assessment. I always get hammered with this...but I feel that Scoop and Dion sometimes freeze Triche out on court and consequently he gets the ball late in clock and forced to take a bad shot...I am not convinced this is so...and Scoop and Waiters do play well together. I think it would be worthwhile to see more time on court with MCW and Triche...even if Triche does not start...in the time those two are together, they both have played better...just a thought.

I think that was definitely true last year but I haven't noticed it this year.