Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 143864, member: 40"] KingOtis [not sure what your handle was on the other board], I've really enjoyed your commentary of late on this forum--especially on the Fine mess board. Not sure why you are being so combative on this issue. Lighten up. Secondly, it wasn't backpedaling at all--it was hyperbole, spoken in the aftermath of an exciting win. But since you seem intent on splitting hairs, I'll bite. The notion that a 6-6 forward wouldn't play on the back end of the zone and occasionally man the PF position is historically false. There have been many instances when we've had undersized guys playing the back line of the zone at either forward position. Guys like Pace and Harris played there at roughly 6-4. Far from ideal, but it happened. Dave Johnson played out of position at PF at roughly 6-5 / 6-6. We sported a "formidable" forward tandem of Shumpert and Duany there for the better portion of one season, both of whom stood around 6-6--which of them was the "PF?" And the great John Wallace--one of my all time favorites--was about 6-7--and he played alongside a guy in the pivot who wasn't much taller than 6-7 himself--not exactly the ideal height for a Syracuse center. Hell, we played two 6-7 forwards primarily on the back line in Johnson and Joseph during the terrific 09-10 season. This year, we play a lot of Joseph and Fair at the wing positions--again, both 6-7. The notion that we'd never see it is false. In fact, 6-6 players have been manning the back end of the zone ever since Boeheim began using it as a staple...and some of them even played PF. Lastly, to your point about 6-6 PF--people get too hung up on position labeling. Boeheim plays combinations of players that he trusts irrespective of what their natural position might be--which is why we see Johnson / Joseph and Joseph / Fair pairings [both natually small forwards]. Crowder might be 6-6, but he's a good defender, a tough low post scorer and a tenacious rebounder--the latter two happen to be this team's lone relative weaknesses. He also has the requisite athleticism to run the floor, cover ground defensively, as well as the offensive versatility to fit into our system. Frankly, it's hard NOT to imagine him being a solid contributor in our system. Suggesting that Crowder, an all conference candidate, wouldn't play here due to being 6-6 alone tells me that you are focusing on the wrong attribute. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?