Fab Melo finishing

[sufandu]

Let me preface by saying I liked Craig Forth and he was an integral piece of our national championship puzzle so what I'm about to say isn't intended to slam him. How many times did we wring our hands in frustration when Forth would miss a layup right at the rim? I'm sure many of us were saying, "You're 7 feet tall. DUNK THE BALL!" Now to my point. I love how often Fab finishes at the rim with dunks. I like how nothing is left to chance and if he gets fouled, there's a good chance it's going to be an "and 1". Maybe I'm making more of it than it deserves, but I feel like it's something we haven't had in a while.

 

[jekelish]

I agree Fab finishes well, but why single out Forth? We have had a lot of big men who couldn't finish, not just Craig.

 

[sufandu]

I agree Fab finishes well, but why single out Forth? We have had a lot of big men who couldn't finish, not just Craig.

You're right. I singled out Forth simply because of comparable height. He was a 7 footer too. Many of our other non-finishers were considered undersized. Like I said, I liked him. How many times did he get GMac open for a three with a screen? How many shots did he affect by standing tall with his long arms? He was a good team player that knew his role and never complained about anything.

He only came to mind because after Fab dunked one tonight, I remembered watching a game with a friend back in the Forth era. He missed a layup, and, in my frustration, I told my friend that if I were JB I'd put a tv under a basket with that play looping over and over. I'd then tell Forth to go to that basket and do nothing but dunk for the whole practice, and if he ever wondered why, just look at the tv.

 

[OttoMets]

I agree Fab finishes well, but why single out Forth? We have had a lot of big men who couldn't finish, not just Craig.

Such as Fab for every game of his career before tonight.

Love that he was finishing tonight, but that hasn't been his strong suit up until now.

 

[orangejunkie]

I like Fab and he has a ton of upside but if you'rre into comparing SU big men, I think that Arinze and Rick Jackson were better centers. They actually gave SU an inside presence on the offensive end that we don't have with Fab.

 

[sufandu]

I think Fab's done a decent job of finishing all year. His job right now on the offensive end is to be available for the guards to pass to when they drive, and when they've done that he's done well. I don't think you can compare his post skills to AO or Jackson yet. They didn't get their own shot from the post until they were Juniors.

 

[OttoMets]

I think Fab's done a decent job of finishing all year. His job right now on the offensive end is to be available for the guards to pass to when they drive, and when they've done that he's done well. I don't think you can compare his post skills to AO or Jackson yet. They didn't get their own shot from the post until they were Juniors.

Not to quibble, but AO was there as a sophomore; the 2008 Georgetown game was on the other day and he was unstoppable.

Fab's making progress. Last night was his best performance in terms of finishing strong. Not crazy about the wild up-and-under, but we sure needed those two points.

 

[sufandu]

Not to quibble, but AO was there as a sophomore; the 2008 Georgetown game was on the other day and he was unstoppable.

Fab's making progress. Last night was his best performance in terms of finishing strong. Not crazy about the wild up-and-under, but we sure needed those two points.

Good point. I forgot how productive he was as a sophomore. That was after a redshirt year though. I realize he was recovering from surgery, but I'm sure he was able to use some of that time to work on his game.

 

[ImperialOrange]

AO was the real deal and watching him progress was awesome. Hopefully Fab sticks around and become a complete player, as he is showing marked improvement.

Before him we had the enigma that was Mookie Watkins who had all the athleticism but didn't quite put it together, the human battering ram that was Jeremy McNeil who was awesome in limited time but a foul magnet, ever reliable but athletically limited Craig Forth, and the human highlight real that was Billy Celuk.

Aside from AO, Fab is the most lethal center we've have since the 90's.

 

[stuckinbig11]

Let me preface by saying I liked Craig Forth and he was an integral piece of our national championship puzzle so what I'm about to say isn't intended to slam him. How many times did we wring our hands in frustration when Forth would miss a layup right at the rim? I'm sure many of us were saying, "You're 7 feet tall. DUNK THE BALL!" Now to my point. I love how often Fab finishes at the rim with dunks. I like how nothing is left to chance and if he gets fouled, there's a good chance it's going to be an "and 1". Maybe I'm making more of it than it deserves, but I feel like it's something we haven't had in a while.

which is why i never liked bernie fine as a big man coach

 

[LennX6]

I think Fab's done a decent job of finishing all year. His job right now on the offensive end is to be available for the guards to pass to when they drive, and when they've done that he's done well. I don't think you can compare his post skills to AO or Jackson yet. They didn't get their own shot from the post until they were Juniors.

Going back farther, Seikaly's switch went on late Junior year. He was , like Melo, good, but raw. March 87 on , he became great.

 

[LennX6]

AO was the real deal and watching him progress was awesome. Hopefully Fab sticks around and become a complete player, as he is showing marked improvement.

Before him we had the enigma that was Mookie Watkins who had all the athleticism but didn't quite put it together, the human battering ram that was Jeremy McNeil who was awesome in limited time but a foul magnet, ever reliable but athletically limited Craig Forth, and the human highlight real that was Billy Celuk.

Aside from AO, Fab is the most lethal center we've have since the 90's.

All of the above were servicable. Celuck set nice picks at the top of the key. McNeil had some good moments. I'm old enough to remember the Tom Stundis', Elvir Ovcina, and Peter Wynn.

 

[LennX6]

I think Fab's done a decent job of finishing all year. His job right now on the offensive end is to be available for the guards to pass to when they drive, and when they've done that he's done well. I don't think you can compare his post skills to AO or Jackson yet. They didn't get their own shot from the post until they were Juniors.

As far as finishing, the lack of it isn't just limited to the big guys. The amount of blown layups are stunning, and it isn't a new phenomenon. I think the modern era of the blown layup was launhed by Paul Harris, where others credit its beginning to Jason Hart

 

[KevMonstah]

I would somewhat disagree with this. I believe he has a finishing move, a turnaround jumper from the right block which he has shown all of once this year: against Florida. The guard fed him down low, he just turned and buried an 8-10' jumper right over their center.

Note the key words: "the guard fed him down low". Why Syracuse does not run plays like this more often is beyond me. I especially don't get it, because it is an excellent option to finish off their "work the clock" offense, instead of a prayer from someone who can't get past their defender. He was being guarded by a 6'9" guy against UF; that shot works for big guys. I don't understand why SU doesn't use Fab in the low post more.

But honestly, SU doesn't seem to run their offense through the low post. Even Arinze, when he was shooting 65% from the field, would get, what, 5-7 FGA per game? I think SU does not take advantage of a great opportunity here.

Kev

 

[OrangeTown]

I love that, as of the time of this response, 60% of the voting respondants think you are an idiot, and the OTHER 60% think you're certainly dumber than your pet goldfish.

 

[OttoMets]

But honestly, SU doesn't seem to run their offense through the low post. Even Arinze, when he was shooting 65% from the field, would get, what, 5-7 FGA per game? I think SU does not take advantage of a great opportunity here.

Kev

Agreed. And if SU didn't run its offense through guys like Ellis and Onuaku, I don't see that changing anytime soon.

For better or worse, Boeheim's offense revolves around his guards and wings.

 

[sutomcat]

Let me preface by saying I liked Craig Forth and he was an integral piece of our national championship puzzle so what I'm about to say isn't intended to slam him. How many times did we wring our hands in frustration when Forth would miss a layup right at the rim? I'm sure many of us were saying, "You're 7 feet tall. DUNK THE BALL!" Now to my point. I love how often Fab finishes at the rim with dunks. I like how nothing is left to chance and if he gets fouled, there's a good chance it's going to be an "and 1". Maybe I'm making more of it than it deserves, but I feel like it's something we haven't had in a while.

It is good for a strong big guy to finish with dunks. Count me in the pro-dunk column.

Regarding your poll posting issue, if you have IE, while on this site, go to Tools and select Compatibility View. That should free your PC so you can make posts without polls.

 

[SUMBA]

Let me preface by saying I liked Craig Forth and he was an integral piece of our national championship puzzle so what I'm about to say isn't intended to slam him. How many times did we wring our hands in frustration when Forth would miss a layup right at the rim? I'm sure many of us were saying, "You're 7 feet tall. DUNK THE BALL!" Now to my point. I love how often Fab finishes at the rim with dunks. I like how nothing is left to chance and if he gets fouled, there's a good chance it's going to be an "and 1". Maybe I'm making more of it than it deserves, but I feel like it's something we haven't had in a while.

I agree with Fab finishing, even if he has to travel twice on the way to the hoop as he did on Wednesday. However, one thing drive me crazy during the G'town game. Fab lost the ball around the hoop twice by dribbling when he didn't have to. In junior high hoops, we ran laps every time our center unnecesarily put the ball on the floor.

You are seven feet tall, don't dribble around the bucket!

 

[sufandu]

I agree with Fab finishing, even if he has to travel twice on the way to the hoop as he did on Wednesday. However, one thing drive me crazy during the G'town game. Fab lost the ball around the hoop twice by dribbling when he didn't have to. In junior high hoops, we ran laps every time our center unnecesarily put the ball on the floor.

You are seven feet tall, don't dribble around the bucket!

Yeah, I forgot about that. I yelled at him, and I'm sure he heard me, to just go back up with it.

 

[LennX6]

Agreed. And if SU didn't run its offense through guys like Ellis and Onuaku, I don't see that changing anytime soon.

For better or worse, Boeheim's offense revolves around his guards and wings.

And almost as much as the zone, his guard oriented teams are a signature Boeheim MO. Especially Senior Guards (re: Scoop).
Can you think back to when we had poor guards? I cannot remember ever being a time ( besides DeShawn Williams) Even JB wings through the years are more guards than forwards.