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Message: [QUOTE="ORANGEsPHK, post: 1304627, member: 1072"] I tend to shy away from responding to posts like this (the OP's post, that is) because there is no real rational reason for comparing the two players other than to get under the skin of some folks. Consider my skin gotten under. And kudos for bringing up a topic for much discussion - to that you have my respect for instigating such discussions. Deshaun was a cancer. Cooney, as much as folks want to dissect, is nothing like Deshaun ever was to a team oriented sport like basketball. Cancer. Me-first attitude. Say what you want, but the faults of this team does not fall on Cooney's shoulders alone. At least Cooney tries to make plays. Yes, I agree that he tries for contested and tough shots, and that he (remarkably) thinks he can finish on a fast break and, then, is surprised, as he flails his arms, that he didn't get fouled. But he gives effort on a team that has little other options. I will even complain that he goes under screens and doesn't challenge shooters as much as he should. He fails as much as we wish to nitpick his game. But let's not unsee what he brings to the table - the opposing D game plans against Cooney and that [I]should[/I] open up other team mates. Gbinije has take advantage of this lately. Who else has? Christmas is getting double/triple teamed and he passes it out to ... who? The forwards have not executed, as much as I wish they would, and any other guard not named Gbinije has not exactly played up to the standard that the Syracuse zone or offense needs. No. The blame falls on the how the pieces of this team has failed to execute [I]as a team.[/I] The fact that Cooney and Rak are the focal point of defenses, and why Gbinije has gotten opportunities (which he has taken full advantage of), speaks to, IMO, that the other components of this team has not lived up the the execution that is required for this year's team to execute well down the stretch. Now, having said that, I'm not so harsh on Joseph, Roberson, Patterson or BJ. Mainly because it seems clear to me that they just don't understand yet what they need to do. We've all seen the potential in each (except maybe Patterson), but they haven't realized it, but they will with experience. That's the way JB's teams work. There is little outside of experience that allows a player at SU to excel. The only exception to this I see is when a player's offensive game transcends the defensive mistakes (like Carmelo or even GMAC) that the balance of their offensive floor play outweighs any defensive liabilities. In the end, you want to have components of a team on the floor that can win games and its not just one player that defines a team, even a Carmelo lead team. Cooney's more a team oriented player, asked to what other players can't do (even if he can't do it - at least he tries) to give his team a possibility to win. I'd take Cooney over Deshaun any day ... every day. [/QUOTE]

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