Consensus - can Malachi (successfully) play the 3 in JB's system?

[pearl31]

Or is he strictly a 2?

 

[Orange4]

I'm sure he can play the 3 but that is not where we need him. We need him at the 2 and that is where he best fits. But if push comes to shove I'm sure he is capable of playing the 3.

 

[cuseguy]

Or is he strictly a 2?

It's possible.

He's playing the wing in high school.

He doesn't handle the ball much so that would suit him there.

But he doesn't make much of an effort to rebound or play defense.

Needs to work on some things to round out his game.

 

[pearl31]

that is not where we need him. We need him at the 2

not necessarily, especially in regards to next year (depending on who stays and who goes)

 

[two3zone]

If he wants more minutes he's going to have to play the 3. Cooney is going to get 28-33 a game without a doubt.

 

[bpo57]

Have seen him play. IMO he is not suited to play the 3 for defensive reasons. I think he would struggle mightily on the boards.

 

[jekelish]

I think he's pretty clearly been recruited solely (or at least primarily) as a 2. I can't imagine him ever playing the 3 except in emergency situations like we used to see with Andy Rautins. We already have a 3 in this class, Lydon, who has stated he's basically preparing to play the 3 almost exclusively.

 

[RF2044]

I think he's pretty clearly been recruited solely (or at least primarily) as a 2. I can't imagine him ever playing the 3 except in emergency situations like we used to see with Andy Rautins. We already have a 3 in this class, Lydon, who has stated he's basically preparing to play the 3 almost exclusively.

Agreed. Could he play the 3 defensively? Probably, but it would be far from ideal given his size. I hate playing undersized threes like Pace / Rautins / etc. on the back line of the zone.

 

[pearl31]

This is what I had surmised, that Mal will almost exclusively have to be a 2. Which leads to the next question, probably deserving of its own thread...
Will he be able to get real minutes at the 2 with 5th-year senior TC entrenched there - and/or will JB be willing to grant those minutes?

 

[jekelish]

This is what I had surmised, that Mal will almost exclusively have to be a 2. Which leads to the next question, probably deserving of its own thread...
Will he be able to get real minutes at the 2 with 5th-year senior TC entrenched there - and/or will JB be willing to grant those minutes?

It'll probably be a Dion Waiters situation in terms of minutes, to be honest. Dion averaged about 16 MPG. I could see Malachi getting close to that, but probably more realistically it'll be in the 10-15 range.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We played 3 guards a couple of times with Triche, Dion, and Scoop. The following year Cooney, MCW and Triche played a decent amount together as well, I just don't think we have anybody who can board as well as Triche for a guard. Andy Rautins played a ton of 3 his Junior year on a not so good defensive team that had Paul Harris as the 4 a good amount.

 

[pearl31]

We played 3 guards a couple of times with Triche, Dion, and Scoop. The following year Cooney, MCW and Triche played a decent amount together as well, I just don't think we have anybody who can board as well as Triche for a guard. Andy Rautins played a ton of 3 his Junior year on a not so good defensive team that had Paul Harris as the 4 a good amount.

Good points.

 

[Jack Hall]

This is what I had surmised, that Mal will almost exclusively have to be a 2. Which leads to the next question, probably deserving of its own thread...
Will he be able to get real minutes at the 2 with 5th-year senior TC entrenched there - and/or will JB be willing to grant those minutes?

this is why we need G back imo. a lineup of G, TC and Malachi would really space the floor well. on D, G is the 3 and is the better rebounder. on O, G can play some point forward. Bring Kaleb off the bench, Malachi goes out and then Kaleb plays some pg and G is the 3. or vice versa, Malachi off the bench, whatever. then we get a healthy McC and Cole that is a tough lineup. a lot of ? marks, i am getting the sense from JBs comments and some of the admins on this board that G may leave

 

[OttoinGrotto]

This is what I had surmised, that Mal will almost exclusively have to be a 2. Which leads to the next question, probably deserving of its own thread...
Will he be able to get real minutes at the 2 with 5th-year senior TC entrenched there - and/or will JB be willing to grant those minutes?

Well, it depends. Is 5th year senior Cooney the shooter we think he is, or the 31% shooter he has been this season? Is Malachi the shooter we think he is, or the typical true freshman with a rep as a shooter that hits like 30% from three?

 

[Jack Hall]

This is what I had surmised, that Mal will almost exclusively have to be a 2. Which leads to the next question, probably deserving of its own thread...
Will he be able to get real minutes at the 2 with 5th-year senior TC entrenched there - and/or will JB be willing to grant those minutes?

i do not like a lineup of Kaleb, TC and Malachi or BJ at the 3, imo that lineup is too small...,unless BJ puts on 20 lbs

so then we bring on TRob at the 3 and a lineup of Kaleb, TC, TRob- not enough shooting

we need G, if we are going to get sanctions regardless i think some boosters should chip in to pay G to stay, ill contribute a grand or two

 

[dasher]

With G at the point, he can play the 3 on offense and the 2 on defense with Cooney up top. G plays the 3 on defense. tough to run with this lineup but the outside shooting would spread the defense.

 

[007]

With G at the point, he can play the 3 on offense and the 2 on defense with Cooney up top. G plays the 3 on defense. tough to run with this lineup but the outside shooting would spread the defense.

I think this is the most likely scenario, too. If MR is in fact a threat from the perimeter as a Freshman, JB will find minutes for him. But when TC moves on, I'm pretty sure the staff, Hop in particular, see MR as primarily a 2 at both ends.

 

[NineOneSeven]

It's possible.

He's playing the wing in high school.

He doesn't handle the ball much so that would suit him there.

But he doesn't make much of an effort to rebound or play defense.

Needs to work on some things to round out his game.

If he doesn't play defense, sounds like he won't play. Seems like a theme for us.

 

[Brooky03]

If G can play the 3, Malachi can, but I don't see any need to play him out of position.

 

[Brooky03]

If he doesn't play defense, sounds like he won't play. Seems like a theme for us.

In fairness, this is the theme for a lot of successful programs/coaches

 

[Brooky03]

i do not like a lineup of Kaleb, TC and Malachi or BJ at the 3, imo that lineup is too small...,unless BJ puts on 20 lbs

so then we bring on TRob at the 3 and a lineup of Kaleb, TC, TRob- not enough shooting

we need G, if we are going to get sanctions regardless i think some boosters should chip in to pay G to stay, ill contribute a grand or two

BJ at the 3 is no smaller than Southerland was. Height is more significant at SF than weight/stregth, especially when you're a shooter. We could make points about BJ's interior defense or ability to fight for rebounds, but he is a SF. If we can't play him at SF, we can't play him anywhere.

 

[jdubs30]

It's possible.

He's playing the wing in high school.

He doesn't handle the ball much so that would suit him there.

But he doesn't make much of an effort to rebound or play defense.

Needs to work on some things to round out his game.

If doesn't put in effort on defense it won't matter what position he plays, because he'll barely be playing.

 

[jordoo]

Hard to say but I see him as more of a 2 at SU than a 3. May play there out of necessity from time to time.

 

[clayman32]

Or is he strictly a 2?

He's gotta be a 2 unless he gains a ton of weight/strength. He was rail thin when i saw him in person. Similar to McCullough except 5 inches shorter. With his flat top he looks a lot taller than he is. But yeah, if he were to play the 3 I imagine he'd get killed on the boards

 

[kirbivore]

If he wants more minutes he's going to have to play the 3. Cooney is going to get 28-33 a game without a doubt.

try 38-40 minutes of forced off balance threes