Jon Rothstein Reaction

[Sherman20]

“Palpable buzz.” oh boy, here we go again.

 

[SmilinBob]

I see a team that has multiple guys that can advantage of situations. High/Low with Lampkin and Freeman, drive and dish Carlos to Bell and JJ to the rim just to name a few.

 

[Bayside44]

I see a team that has multiple guys that can advantage of situations. High/Low with Lampkin and Freeman, drive and dish Carlos to Bell and JJ to the rim just to name a few.

Keep smiling Bob, agree with you!

Team has depth and options.

 

[Orangezoo]

There is no point looking at anything Rothstein says anymore. It’s a fun gimmick he does every year. It’s cool and everyone enjoys it but as for hard analysis it’s meh.

 

[721Comstock]

There is no point looking at anything Rothstein says anymore. It’s a fun gimmick he does every year. It’s cool and everyone enjoys it but as for hard analysis it’s meh.

Let’s not forget that this is the same guy who said that Kaleb Joseph was
“shooting the blood out of the ball”
(whatever the FFF that even means)

And that Jerami Grant had grown to 6’11”

Guess Jerami shrunk in his old age;
he’s only 6’8” in the NBA now.

We’ve been mocking his “palpable buzz” catchphrase for at least 15 years now.

It’s college basketball-adjacent fanfic.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Vorony]

Let’s not forget that this is the same guy who said that Kaleb Joseph was
“shooting the blood out of the ball”
(whatever the FFF that even means)

And that Jerami Grant had grown to 6’11”

Guess Jerami shrunk in his old age;
he’s only 6’8” in the NBA now.

We’ve been mocking his “palpable buzz” catchphrase for at least 15 years now.

It’s college basketball-adjacent fanfic.

Agreed. Honestly, it’s hard to take any of this stuff seriously every year - between Rothstein’s tweets and other posters on this board hyping up the team before the season starts. None of that hype has actually come true in the regular season - at least not in the last decade or so. I’m remaining cautiously optimistic for this season as I normally do, but I’m also not ready to buy into the hype that this will be the best team we’ve put on the floor since 2014. Looking forward to catching a glimpse of what we have this weekend.

 

[Niastri]

Fair assessment, but what's with his head nod and then raise the eyebrows every 2nd word?

It's like he's really concentrating on annunciating clearly, like you would after being asked to repeat yourself a few times.

The exaggerated mouth movements keep him from mumbling, or maybe stuttering?

It does look strange, though, especially with the eyebrows and head nods further complicating his body language.

I watched Rothstein's video twice, it is like watching a poorly animated Muppet.

 

[orange79]

For Rothstein, someone who has checked out just about very team already, to describe our guys as “pretty good” is rather concerning.

You are SO right.

I'd much rather have him say "mediocre" or "will struggle to compete".

 

[Niastri]

No, you can tell when somebody is that dude regardless of how the offense is being run.

Rothstein's opinion is weightless but what he is saying has been my biggest concern about the season. I think we are a high floor/low ceiling team (somewhere between 8/9 seed and NIT) unless JJ made a huge leap or Donnie is a top five pick. Either are definitely possible. Don't think anyone else has the potential to be special because I just can't include Chance in my outlook until I see him on the court.

I'm excited for the exhibition Saturday to learn something about this team. I'm ready to believe.

I disagree, Chris Bell is elite at the most important skill in the game.

If he can get comfortable creating even a tiny amount of space with the dribble, he could become extremely difficult to guard. His shot is quick, he can get pretty high when taking the jumper, and he has a high release. Bell is a serious contender for "go to guy" when we really need a basket.

Freeman is one of those guys who can score every way possible. But he might not have a go to move... yet. If he develops one (hopefully posting up), Freeman becomes a matchup nightmare, able to post up even size and smaller guys, and go around bigger guys. He also needs to be guarded at the line because he's a threat from three.

Our forwards could be unguardable by New Years Day. Add in Lampkin and Starling, and we could easily be a very efficient high scoring team, with little dropoff when the subs are in.

I really expect we will have four or even five guys averaging double digit scoring.

 

[Niastri]

We need to get Rothstein to stop cutting Red every year to double check his blood color.

We get it, it's Orange! Leave the man alone already!

 

[OrangeXtreme]

You are SO right.

I'd much rather have him say "mediocre" or "will struggle to compete".

They complain when the national media doesn't pay any attention to Syracuse,

and they complain when they do pay attention.

 

[Cusefan0307]

For Rothstein, someone who has checked out just about very team already, to describe our guys as “pretty good” is rather concerning.

I mean he specifically referenced Lampkin, Carlos, and Freeman in his video. I guess if you’re looking for pessimism you can find it anywhere.

 

[Orangezoo]

Agreed. Honestly, it’s hard to take any of this stuff seriously every year - between Rothstein’s tweets and other posters on this board hyping up the team before the season starts. None of that hype has actually come true in the regular season - at least not in the last decade or so. I’m remaining cautiously optimistic for this season as I normally do, but I’m also not ready to buy into the hype that this will be the best team we’ve put on the floor since 2014. Looking forward to catching a glimpse of what we have this weekend.

I’ll take Bulldogs evaluation 1000x more seriously than Rothsteins and not lump it in.

Drama hurt last year’s team a lot despite the bright spots at times.

 

[Sbucketball]

Rothstein's hilarious, but he's correct here. Solid balance and deep team, but missing a go-to guy. I've been pretty certain Donnie's not going to be the alpha bucket-getter. I think it HAS to be JJ. If he steps up and plays like a McD's Junior guard who won't be denied in crunch time, we're all set. Now, I'm not expecting that transformation, but I don't think there's anyone else who's even in the conversation to step up and take over, unless Donnie suddenly put it all together. And if JJ doesn't step up, our last possessions are going inside to Lampkin, which is probably a solid option. We'll win and lose as a team, although there will be a few games where Bell is en fuego and shoots the other team out of it.

 

[721Comstock]

Rothstein's hilarious, but he's correct here. Solid balance and deep team, but missing a go-to guy. I've been pretty certain Donnie's not going to be the alpha bucket-getter. I think it HAS to be JJ. If he steps up and plays like a McD's Junior guard who won't be denied in crunch time, we're all set. Now, I'm not expecting that transformation, but I don't think there's anyone else who's even in the conversation to step up and take over, unless Donnie suddenly put it all together. And if JJ doesn't step up, our last possessions are going inside to Lampkin, which is probably a solid option. We'll win and lose as a team, although there will be a few games where Bell is en fuego and shoots the other team out of it.

JJ is gonna be The Man in crunch time.
His drive and pull-up game is lethal.

But that said, tossing it inside to Dry Rub, who can then turn and score, OR pass it out to Bell or another shooter, is a very good option to have also.

 

[DoctahLexus]

For how we built this team, unless Freeman becomes a superstar in Year 1, the to-go bucket is going to have to come from Lampkin.

I GUESS if JJ suddenly can hit a 3 off the dribble or Bell can put the ball on the floor then maybe?

I give JJ crap for his defense, but he absolutely showed some ability in creating his own shot 1 on 1. It does not need to be a three ball. The UNC game in the dome was the best example of this. If all else fails I think he would be the go to guy.

 

[Sbucketball]

I give JJ crap for his defense, but he absolutely showed some ability in creating his own shot 1 on 1. It does not need to be a three ball. The UNC game in the dome was the best example of this. If all else fails I think he would be the go to guy.

JJ's definitely got it in him, he just hasn't done it consistently at this level yet. So his step-up is to make his flashes a consistent level of play, and if he doesn't, Lampkin's probably more reliable and safer when it matters most. Also matchup dependent.

 

[littlereg]

IF JJ can learn to kick out on some of his 1v1s, dribble penetrations, etc it’ll elevate that part of his game, and our offense to a whole. There was many times last year he just head down bulldogged when he could’ve dumped to a wide open bell or someone else on a cut. We have the team this year to really punish teams off the second pass, the second cut, etc.

 

[Orangezoo]

Rothstein's hilarious, but he's correct here. Solid balance and deep team, but missing a go-to guy. I've been pretty certain Donnie's not going to be the alpha bucket-getter. I think it HAS to be JJ. If he steps up and plays like a McD's Junior guard who won't be denied in crunch time, we're all set. Now, I'm not expecting that transformation, but I don't think there's anyone else who's even in the conversation to step up and take over, unless Donnie suddenly put it all together. And if JJ doesn't step up, our last possessions are going inside to Lampkin, which is probably a solid option. We'll win and lose as a team, although there will be a few games where Bell is en fuego and shoots the other team out of it.

Our go to may be matchup driven. Getting a shooter open, Bell catch, shot fake and pull up or the other options you mentioned. Donnie maybe develop into that role as the year progresses as well and he is no longer really a “freshman”.

This teams ceiling will be constrained by the development of a star or stars and how much they can improve defensively. So even with things to look forward to there are limitations on paper until proven otherwise.

 

[two3zone]

JJ is gonna be The Man in crunch time.
His drive and pull-up game is lethal.

But that said, tossing it inside to Dry Rub, who can then turn and score, OR pass it out to Bell or another shooter, is a very good option to have also.

JJ better learn how to pass it then.

 

[Orangezoo]

IF JJ can learn to kick out on some of his 1v1s, dribble penetrations, etc it’ll elevate that part of his game, and our offense to a whole. There was many times last year he just head down bulldogged when he could’ve dumped to a wide open bell or someone else on a cut. We have the team this year to really punish teams off the second pass, the second cut, etc.

Yep and a hockey assist is fine too. Find the right pass where the ball can move again to a playmaker or open man. Also when Carlos is on the court, knowing when you need to reset and not force and and let the offense settle back in.

 

[Timonen]

Rothstein's hilarious, but he's correct here. Solid balance and deep team, but missing a go-to guy. I've been pretty certain Donnie's not going to be the alpha bucket-getter. I think it HAS to be JJ. If he steps up and plays like a McD's Junior guard who won't be denied in crunch time, we're all set. Now, I'm not expecting that transformation, but I don't think there's anyone else who's even in the conversation to step up and take over, unless Donnie suddenly put it all together. And if JJ doesn't step up, our last possessions are going inside to Lampkin, which is probably a solid option. We'll win and lose as a team, although there will be a few games where Bell is en fuego and shoots the other team out of it.

These less exciting but more experienced, complete teams feel more prepared to succeed in this new era. The playing field is more level than ever. Avoid having key holes (size down low and a quarterbacking guard last season) and you’re most of the way towards being competitive.

 

[Scotch]

Reading through the tea leaves here, perhaps he couldn’t identify a go to guy because we are actually running offensive sets and not iso ball in practice.

Exactly. Our upside is going to be dependent on the whole being greater than the sum of its parts rather than one guy making some massive leap.

With more complementary skill sets and guys playing in more natural positions this year, I think there are reasons to be optimistic for improvement, but this isn't a final four roster.

 

[Orangezoo]

JJ better learn how to pass it then.

JJ needs to watch tape of guys like Triche and Dion. He’s got great speed on the ball but also has good size where he could play more physically.
Speed up and attack when you need to, be more physical using your size when it’s warranted and look to make a play for others as often as yourself deferring when needed. He doesn’t need 14 shots and high usage to lead the team in scoring or put up good numbers. He just needs to play smart and find his spots when he needs to step up. Also I hope he finds that if he commits and improves defensively he will be doing much more for the team with that and 14-15 ppg than putting up 19 and being too aggressive on just one end.