Kiyan deserves to be the starter

[MikeSU02]

Is there any update when JJ is targeting to be back?

I can't imagine JJ won't start once he's back, but what Kiyan is showing, albeit against weak competition, is a real expansive bag for a kid his age/first year in D1.

He feels in control when he is playing and how to get positioned for an efficient shot. That clip where Melo is waxing poetic about him while in studio alludes to the work put in -- this is not off the cuff luck, he's been working on advanced moves and seems to have a high awareness of his strengths vs weaknesses. Again, maybe I'm giving too much weighting to this before we hit higher level teams.

Again, I can't imagine JJ comes back to the bench and we have to see how this team looks once we start playing better teams, but if Kiyan keeps ascending, he'll be pushing to get more and more PT, which is a good thing.

 

[Orangezoo]

Is there any update when JJ is targeting to be back?

I can't imagine JJ won't start once he's back, but what Kiyan is showing, albeit against weak competition, is a real expansive bag for a kid his age/first year in D1.

He feels in control when he is playing and how to get positioned for an efficient shot. That clip where Melo is waxing poetic about him while in studio alludes to the work put in -- this is not off the cuff luck, he's been working on advanced moves and seems to have a high awareness of his strengths vs weaknesses. Again, maybe I'm giving too much weighting to this before we hit higher level teams.

Again, I can't imagine JJ comes back to the bench and we have to see how this team looks once we start playing better teams, but if Kiyan keeps ascending, he'll be pushing to get more and more PT, which is a good thing.

Yeah the work he’s put in and the competition he has had the luxury of training against is unique. It’s not just the expansive bag he has but also the comfort and ease with which he executes almost to the point the skill sets appear more instinct like they did for his old man.

 

[Nicknack]

He feels in control when he is playing and how to get positioned for an efficient shot. That clip where Melo is waxing poetic about him while in studio alludes to the work put in -- this is not off the cuff luck, he's been working on advanced moves and seems to have a high awareness of his strengths vs weaknesses. Again, maybe I'm giving too much weighting to this before we hit higher level teams.

Yeah, wasn't that cool? I really enjoyed hearing Melo talk about each one of his shots and the moves he made. It's very clear, he's a very involved pop (no surprise).

 

[Surfan06001]

Is there any update when JJ is targeting to be back?

I can't imagine JJ won't start once he's back, but what Kiyan is showing, albeit against weak competition, is a real expansive bag for a kid his age/first year in D1.

He feels in control when he is playing and how to get positioned for an efficient shot. That clip where Melo is waxing poetic about him while in studio alludes to the work put in -- this is not off the cuff luck, he's been working on advanced moves and seems to have a high awareness of his strengths vs weaknesses. Again, maybe I'm giving too much weighting to this before we hit higher level teams.

Again, I can't imagine JJ comes back to the bench and we have to see how this team looks once we start playing better teams, but if Kiyan keeps ascending, he'll be pushing to get more and more PT, which is a good thing.

His basketball IQ just seems off the charts which honestly shouldn’t be too surprising

 

[Orangezoo]

His basketball IQ just seems off the charts which honestly shouldn’t be too surprising

If he keeps on this trajectory then he will force teams to shade their defense to help on him when he is on the floor which certainly opens things up for everyone.

 

[23Zone]

Kiyan is a very special talent with an enormous ceiling. This will be perhaps Red's biggest challenge this year...figuring out how to get Kiyan the minutes he needs... fortunately he can play the 2 or 3. Maybe even a tiny bit of 1. But gotta get him close to 30 minutes. Anything less than that would be uncivilized

 

[General20]

Kiyan is a very special talent with an enormous ceiling. This will be perhaps Red's biggest challenge this year...figuring out how to get Kiyan the minutes he needs... fortunately he can play the 2 or 3. Maybe even a tiny bit of 1. But gotta get him close to 30 minutes. Anything less than that would be uncivilized

I dont think it will be much of a challenge for Red. Let's say George, Starling, and Kingz average 30 minutes per game each (it will be less) that leaves 30 minutes for Kiyan backing them up. Zepher and Fennell aren't going to play when the competition gets tough and Starling is back. This really isnt an either/or situation with anybody. Maybe a bit of competition with Betsy for those minutes at the 3, but there are plenty of minutes available for Kiyan, all he has to do is earn them.

 

[Orangezoo]

I dont think it will be much of a challenge for Red. Let's say George, Starling, and Kingz average 30 minutes per game each (it will be less) that leaves 30 minutes for Kiyan backing them up. Zepher and Fennell aren't going to play when the competition gets tough and Starling is back. This really isnt an either/or situation with anybody. Maybe a bit of competition with Betsy for those minutes at the 3, but there are plenty of minutes available for Kiyan, all he has to do is earn them.

Fennell I expect will still get minutes. Just like in the FIBA games he doesn’t force the issue but he is clearly comfortable on both ends of the floor and will find his spots as he has more time playing with this group. He shows maybe too much discipline/deference at this point I expect will change. That’s something JJ has to buy into for his own game and who if looked like he was doing so in the exhibitions.

 

[CbusCuse]

I love what Kiyan has shown so far. The future is bright with him and he is been so much better than I expected at this point. He really seems to be what we needed to compliment JJ and even compliment Kingz i think. They all bring a little different stuff to the table. We will see how he does against the big boys though. I don't expect him to keep up his current production but I think he will do pretty well.

I don't see any way that George, JJ, Kingz, Freeman and Kyle are not the starters. Kyan aint getting 30 a game but total minutes can be pretty close to others if he keeps it up though. JJ and how many minutes he gets seems like a bit of a wildcard though weather its injury, his shooting form or if he isn't focused on his defense etc. If he slumps he could lose some minutes from what I predict.

I love what the team is doing on D the past couple of games. If this team can continue to focus first on its intensity playing on the defensive end they really could be pretty good. Love the length and athleticism. We have the depth to be able to keep playing at a high intensity level and can weather some foul trouble. The more effort they exert on the defensive end, that is just going to lead to easier baskets on the offensive end and more confidence and efficiency on that end as well.

It appears we have a fair amount of positional roster freedom. I would guess at the positional avg minutes breaking down something like this:

PG - George = 32, JJ = 3, Fennell = 4, Zephir = 1
SG - JJ = 24, Kyan = 13, Kingz = 2, Fennel = 1
SF - Kingz = 24, Kyan = 9, Betsy = 7
PF - Freeman = 24, White = 11, Betsy = 5
C - Kyle = 24, Sourare = 7, Freeman = 6, White = 3

Total Minutes:

George = 32 (PG =32)
Freeman = 30 ( PF=24, C = 6)
JJ = 27 (SG = 24, PG = 3)
Kingz = 26 (SF = 24, SG = 2)
Kyle = 24 (C = 23)
Kyan = 22 (SG = 13, SF = 9)
White = 14 (PF = 11, C = 3)
Betsey = 12 (SF = 7, PF = 5)
Souare = 7 (C = 7)
Fennell = 5 (PG = 4, SG = 1)
Zephir = 1 (PG = 1)

 

[RedtheGOB]

I actually like Kiyan and Sadiq both off the bench as the 6th and 7th man.

Both are going to get the dome rocking.

 

[Nicknack]

I don't know, maybe I'm in the minority here, but I believe it does matter who you start. Just because it worked back in 2011 doesn't mean that's a recipe for success now (or since). I say start your best players. I prefer to set the tone and get a lead hopefully rather than leaving a better weapon in the chamber and playing from behind. While Red probably won't do it, and I don't fault his decision in this case, but I'd rather JJ come off the bench.

 

[baggerbob]

But does it matter if Kiyan starts? There are 30 minutes off the bench for him if he earns them. The same as he has gotten as a starter.

Billy and Josh came off the bench, and without Billy against Oklahoma St, and again the 2nd half of the Kansas game . Melo bad back and Gerry bad hand we lose.
On great teams it's who is in at crunch time that matters, and if JJ hasn't become a better team player he has to sit. JJ has talent but has to play within himself. And he has to play defense.

 

[RedtheGOB]

I love what Kiyan has shown so far. The future is bright with him and he is been so much better than I expected at this point. He really seems to be what we needed to compliment JJ and even compliment Kingz i think. They all bring a little different stuff to the table. We will see how he does against the big boys though. I don't expect him to keep up his current production but I think he will do pretty well.

I don't see any way that George, JJ, Kingz, Freeman and Kyle are not the starters. Kyan aint getting 30 a game but total minutes can be pretty close to others if he keeps it up though. JJ and how many minutes he gets seems like a bit of a wildcard though weather its injury, his shooting form or if he isn't focused on his defense etc. If he slumps he could lose some minutes from what I predict.

I love what the team is doing on D the past couple of games. If this team can continue to focus first on its intensity playing on the defensive end they really could be pretty good. Love the length and athleticism. We have the depth to be able to keep playing at a high intensity level and can weather some foul trouble. The more effort they exert on the defensive end, that is just going to lead to easier baskets on the offensive end and more confidence and efficiency on that end as well.

It appears we have a fair amount of positional roster freedom. I would guess at the positional avg minutes breaking down something like this:

PG - George = 32, JJ = 3, Fennell = 4, Zephir = 1
SG - JJ = 24, Kyan = 13, Kingz = 2, Fennel = 1
SF - Kingz = 24, Kyan = 9, Betsy = 7
PF - Freeman = 24, White = 11, Betsy = 5
C - Kyle = 24, Sourare = 7, Freeman = 6, White = 3

Total Minutes:

George = 32 (PG =32)
Freeman = 30 ( PF=24, C = 6)
JJ = 27 (SG = 24, PG = 3)
Kingz = 26 (SF = 24, SG = 2)
Kyle = 24 (C = 23)
Kyan = 22 (SG = 13, SF = 9)
White = 14 (PF = 11, C = 3)
Betsey = 12 (SF = 7, PF = 5)
Souare = 7 (C = 7)
Fennell = 5 (PG = 4, SG = 1)
Zephir = 1 (PG = 1)

Pretty close but I think we’re going to see higher quality opponents where Fennell doesn’t get run. Like playing Kansas we can’t just throw anyone out to guard Peterson at random or we’re going to be in trouble. We gotta have fresh bodies to run but at a certain point it’s gonna be our best 6-7 against their best 6-7.

 

[721Comstock]

Pretty close but I think we’re going to see higher quality opponents where Fennell doesn’t get run. Like playing Kansas we can’t just throw anyone out to guard Peterson at random or we’re going to be in trouble. We gotta have fresh bodies to run but at a certain point it’s gonna be our best 6-7 against their best 6-7.

 

[hoopsupstate]

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Pretty close but I think we’re going to see higher quality opponents where Fennell doesn’t get run. Like playing Kansas we can’t just throw anyone out to guard Peterson at random or we’re going to be in trouble. We gotta have fresh bodies to run but at a certain point it’s gonna be our best 6-7 against their best 6-7.

Who doesn’t play if we play only 6-7? White, Betsy or Kiyan? Plus Soure and Fennell!

 

[tptcuse]

What’s cool about Kiyan is he’s basically the opposite of Elijah Moore. We were all glad Kiyan committed but thought it would be a slow progression. We thought Moore was going to light things up immediately. It’s been exactly the opposite. Kiyan is calm and cool out there and killing it on both ends. Moore was a maniac when he came in and couldn’t play defense. It’s wild.