Maybe Rak Christmas will shock the world

[rocklloyd]

I'm more worried about rak getting in foul trouble early. It will seriously hamper any chance to fill Fab void. Have to avoid picking up 2 quick ones. If I was opposing team, I'd try to get him in foul trouble quicker to neutralize any momentum he might have.

 

[Ghost]

I'm more worried about rak getting in foul trouble early. It will seriously hamper any chance to fill Fab void. Have to avoid picking up 2 quick ones. If I was opposing team, I'd try to get him in foul trouble quicker to neutralize any momentum he might have.

If that happens you bring in Baye and press, press, press! Or not. Baye looked pretty good last game, first time I've thought that since we played West Virginia.

 

[cap2nine]

I was chastised by a few other posters for suggesting that Christmas warranted and even needed more playing time after Melo's return from his 3-game absence. Sure would have come in handy right about now. He could have been so much better prepared for this opportunity if he had been given a little more run and shown a little more faith by JB.

 

[jordoo]

I almost hope we start Baye and let Rak watch and get a feel the first 4min or so. Keep him out of foul trouble and let him see whats going on. Have him sit next to hop for those 4 minutes. Rak is the best pure rebounder on the team IMO. He can dunk strong when we drop it off to him. Has everyone forgotten his two great assists late in the game @ Cinci from the top of the key. He is a good shot blocker. He is slower rotating than Fab, not as good with position D and struggles when guys post him up. But even with his short comings compared to Fab we have rebounded our best with Rak at the 5 IMO so he helps erase our biggest weakness.

And we get the 4 points a game back that Fab goal tends.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

I believe in Rak--wish the coach did all year. JB stunted Rak's development this year. You disagree? And I'm not a negative poster. I'm justifiably pissed off today and have a right to be.

JB had been trying to make Rak a PF. He had been grooming him for the long term, not this season. In future years I think JB envisioned Rak and DC2 making a formidable front line. If JB had played Rak more earlier, it would have been at PF.

It wasn't until recently that JB was starting to use him over BMK as the backup center.

 

[iommi]

JB had been trying to make Rak a PF. He had been grooming him for the long term, not this season. In future years I think JB envisioned Rak and DC2 making a formidable front line. If JB had played Rak more earlier, it would have been at PF.

It wasn't until recently that JB was starting to use him over BMK as the backup center.

Oh, I agree with this...but regardless of position...Rak needed more floor time and he needed to be allowed to work through his mistakes. Last year our much-touted center couldn't even get down the court twice without being winded, so I understood JB's quick hook in that case.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

There is no center on our side of the bracket that this team be should be scared of. none. They have depth, talent, length, leadership. Fab being gone changes none of that. It will just be tougher.

Our center does not play the other teams center - he plays in the middle and his job is to clog the paint, block shots and rebound - Fab's absence changes everything - u r going to see guards get by our guards and instead of meeting Fab they will smile at Rak and lay it in

 

[cusetown1]

N

Our center does not play the other teams center - he plays in the middle and his job is to clog the paint, block shots and rebound - Fab's absence changes everything - u r going to see guards get by our guards and instead of meeting Fab they will smile at Rak and lay it in

They won't be laying in anything. The zone will collapse and it will be up the the guard or forward to make the shot. We need to shoot better is all. Rak actually helps on the boards.