I can see how "perceptive" may come off wrong. Not meant to be a put down nor to reference me as much as pointing out that there is a difference in identifying something you see as an issue and identifying the reason that particular thing is an issue.
As far as handle look back on this board and you will see it was a major concern here early on with almost every PG we have fielded since Jonny. (Jonny was the proverbial ball on a string guy) I recall reading things like Scoop was way too loose, Brandon is shaky against pressure, MCW's is too high and there were even questions about Tyler's handle coming in last season. It's a natural concern as a fan that we have a trustworthy ball handler at the PG spot. These guys all played at least some PG in highschool and where recruited highly so obviously they could dribble there way around without issue before coming to college. PG is a decision making position but the best PG's don't ever seem to be wasting time thinking they play more instinctively or look for certain keys and already know what they will do when they see them. It takes a majority of PG's in college even good ones quite a while to get to the point where the thought process doesn't slow them down IMO. The more they struggle with the thought process the slower they make decisions and it becomes much easier for the defense to victimize them by taking the ball are intercepting the pass. I've seen Joseph make excellent high difficult dribbling maneuvers in traffic without a worry when his mind has moved on because he's already made the decision to go. He makes spin dribbles, changes hands, goes between the legs and crosses over with ease. I do feel his left hand lags behind his right a bit more than normal and he predominantly drives right but that may also be more about his level of comfort or lack there of at this point. I think I said "court vision" the first time but "court awareness" is more accurate because Joseph at times shows very good court vision when setting up a teammate. It's the lack of awareness that often gets him into trouble with the bounce IMO. When you are thinking so hard about what you need to be doing you are spending less time observing where all the defenders are and where they are moving or will be. The other thing is the indecisiveness. The hesitation when the play is there that that puts him at a disadvantage and allows the defense to close on not just him but his intended target for a pass. In basketball driving and passing lanes don't stay open for long so hesitating often equates to having to force something that isn't there or abandon it. Even when being pressured you can almost see Joseph's thought process at this point where as Cooney just goes. Kaleb thinks too much which in turn allows the defense to close and then dictate his direction or where he has to go with the ball making him a predictable easy target. I'm not saying Kaleb has the best handles ever just that its not his major issue right now and with decisiveness and better court awareness (more experience less thinking) he will look faster and be able to keep the defenders off balance enough that it will rarely be an issue. Not to mention guys do improve there handle as they progress.
Having watched every player that has come through our program since Bing and Boeheim, I disagree. I am not saying he can not develope, just that he has further to go than you seem to think. I have seen him turn the ball over against minimal pressure, but disregarding that he often is looking at the ball while dribbling, and that is problematic. He often picks up his dribble with no place to go with the ball, this too gets him in trouble. I have nothing against him, he is just not as far along the point guard curve as I would have thought, and has further to work on than I expected from his rating, could be I misinterpreted his abilities.
It is not that he never sees the court, it is that I find he often is paying way more attention to handling the ball than a quality point would have to. You seem to be arguing about which comes first, I believe his problems ( i.e. indecisiveness) are an amalgamation cascading from poor ball handling ability, matter of opinion. Either way right now he is not able to get the job done at this level. I hope he can get it together. I just, from observation, have some doubt that will happen this year or maybe longer.
Not bashing the young man just telling it as I see it. From what I see from Boeheim he is not that pleased either, but is giving Joseph every chance prior to the start of ACC play. I guess he has little choice because this team has no other player close to being a true point guard.
In the end I agree all of our comments are observations and opinions but when posted on the board they also become fair game for comment. I think you will be pleased with Kaleb in another 10 games or so, just my opinion.
