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Message: [QUOTE="Coach Orange, post: 537869, member: 2260"] This is a fun conversation. :) Though I agree with the overall premise that they are both flawed options, I can't agree with the logic here (the limits of which are pointed out in the post). It assumes the other four players on the floor aren't responsible for the scoring, too, on both ends of the floor. The same is true for hockey--just because a player is on the ice for a goal doesn't mean the goal was his fault. Let's say that Brandon Triche takes a jump shot with Rak on the floor. He makes it. Christmas +2. Same exact jump shot by Triche with Keita on the floor, but Brandon misses it this time. Is that Keita's fault? Still, Christmas gets the credit for Brandon's ability to make the shot with him on the floor. The same can be said about Boatright. If he misses a shot with Keita on the floor, but he makes that shot with Christmas, but neither center could directly stop him from shooting it, how do we really blame Christmas for that? The truth (as your post states) is that neither player is very good on either end, at least not consistently. I have argued elsewhere that Rak's upside is much higher, and that I hope he continues working on his game to reach his potential. In other words, I'm a Rak supporter, but I support all of the kids and am interested in their development. If Rak can play well enough to earn 35 minutes a game-great! So far, though, he hasn't shown that, and for every stat thrown at me to suggest Rak is by far and away much better right now, I will argue about his lack of technical and tactical fundamentals being the reason he isn't providing more impact on a consistent basis. But for the stat guys, according to statsheet.com, in Big East play, Rak is averaging 12 more minutes a game than Baye, but only 2.5 more rebounds a game and .9 more blocks. Are those numbers really so much better considering his 12 extra minutes a game? Rak's plus/minus average in conference play is 5.5. Baye is 1.9. I seriously wonder who plays with Cooney on the floor more often since that might affect plus/minus. I don't discount stats, because they can provide logical support for a point. I don't think they are the only measure of what the truth is, either, especially when their use as support seems flawed based on logical examination. [/QUOTE]

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