Nope, CJ Fair just doesn't have what it takes to be THE guy | Syracusefan.com

Nope, CJ Fair just doesn't have what it takes to be THE guy

pearl31

pearl31

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pearl31 said:
Dude, did you watch the last 6 minutes of that game?
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Yes, yes I did. And his game is still opened up when other players are performing as well. It's like in football - you can have Barry Sanders back there, but unless you have a passing game they'll just put nine in the box and he'll struggle to get yards.

I love CJ. But he still works better as one of several options than as THE option.
 
All I know is what I saw and what JB said after the game (not to mention what Bilas was saying as it transpired). The team rode CJ down the stretch, Baylor knew it was coming, and he was pretty much unstoppable when it absolutely mattered.

Option A, go-to guy, catalyst - choose your term.
 
I see both of your perspectives as valid. I know you guys are disagreeing. The way I see it, CJ has always been a glue guy... Better than that, but I view that term as complimentary.

There were times this year when CJ forced the issue, leading to turnovers and bad shot selection, very unlike how he usually plays. In Maui, especially the past two games, a new light bulb went on for this year's CJ and he realized that he CAN be a go-to option when his team needs him to be that. He doesn't need to do it all the time.


CJ Fair is very special. He'll go down as one of my favorite SU players ever. I'm trying to savor every game he has left in that uni.
 
CJ is very talented and will be able to pick his spots and be the man and he did so last night. I don't expect it from him every game but when he has a guys number that is covering him, watch out.

When he's doubled or 1.5 teamed this is when the open teammate has to step up and free themselves or attack the rim.
 
#Hardnosed said:
CJ did what a senior leader should do, make shots at the end of the game when the pressure is on. Really killed Baylor's momentum throughout the end of the second half.
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Very few players (at any level of the game) have that mid range game that CJ has. Give him room and he will take a 16 ft jump shot. Give him a little more room and he will be in your face for a monster jam.
 
jekelish said:
Yes, yes I did. And his game is still opened up when other players are performing as well. It's like in football - you can have Barry Sanders back there, but unless you have a passing game they'll just put nine in the box and he'll struggle to get yards. I love CJ. But he still works better as one of several options than as THE option.
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That's true for anyone who has ever played a team sport.

CJ got it going along with his teammates and then used the confidence to carry them late.
 
Still think Fair is a glue player. He's progressed to super glue now. There are still some holes in his game but with a loaded team, it's not as consequential. His ballhandling is average and he is way too predictable. When he gets the ball within the three-point line, he is going to shoot.

However, he could easily score 20 a game just by taking those open mid-range shots and backing down inferior/smaller defenders without having to do anything fancy with the ball because he is and never will be that type of player.
 
As long as he continues to hit that 18 Fter, he can be the primary scoring option. I'd be curious to see him post up on the block where Carmelo used to play.
 
jgeorge322 said:
As long as he continues to hit that 18 Fter, he can be the primary scoring option. I'd be curious to see him post up on the block where Carmelo used to play.
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No kidding...but the left side. It would almost be automatic
 
imo.
Hes not amoung the most top notch go to guys as far as abilities, yet. The ability to beat a double from 15 feet out to score, the ability to dribble from beyond the perimeter to score isn't there. He doesn't have the superior post up strength to beat the first man with a strong body, making him ready to go against the help defender one on one.

But, he can be a go to guy and put a team on his back by knocking down open shots like cooney, getting in midrange to score with a floater and attack the rim. He can take one defender off the dribble very well in the midpost, but not just inside the arc yet.

imo, Hes more of a Wes Johnson, Demetrius Nichols, Arinze Onuaku type of leader then a Dion waiters, Jonny Flynn, Carmelo Anthony type right now. Hes a sf that can score from a pf's position and step out very consistantly with nice range. Granted we might not use him like that instead we initially are starting him on the perimeter this year. That is his best game though.

I would like to see him get a screen from the top of the perimeter as time rolls on. Ennis and Grant are so good at blowing by and using their body to get by their man off the dribble, Fair not so much. He can always find them off the screen. Yesterday we saw him get those screens from the corner and shooting off them instead of putting it on the floor off them. With grant already attacking having a second guy to attack the paint off the dribble could cause foul trouble worries and loosen up Grants drive even more in second halfs. Grant is going to have to learn how to slow his dribble down right before he gets to the rim. He beat slower baylor defenders to the circle in the paint, but eventually won't always be up against slower centers and pf's as time goes on.

imo, Looks to me like CJ is still learning how to read the defense at times and how to use that to the best of his abilities. He hasn't fully blossomed this year yet.
 
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He still isn't a guy you can give the ball to and just let him make something happen IMO. The vast majority of his buckets are catch and shoot, or running off screens and taking one dribble and attacking. And that's fine. He's a great player. But that's my definition of a go-to guy, and I don't think he's that kind of player.
 
jekelish said:
Yes, yes I did. And his game is still opened up when other players are performing as well. It's like in football - you can have Barry Sanders back there, but unless you have a passing game they'll just put nine in the box and he'll struggle to get yards.

I love CJ. But he still works better as one of several options than as THE option.
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He was the option at the end of the game.
 
Now that Syracuse finally has "The Guy", one can only wonder what flawed tired aspersions the ESPN and CBS a$$hats will come up with to deride and impugn our program.
 
weedsportwarriors said:
Maybe this will be the year that we don't have to listen to the announcers at the end of the game say, "SU doesn't have a go to guy" for the first time in forever.
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Maybe the coolest thing I've ever heard anyone say about SU was a few years ago when we didn't really have a go-to guy. Bilas said Syracuse's go-to guy was whoever was open.
 
cliftonparksufan said:
Very few players (at any level of the game) have that mid range game that CJ has. Give him room and he will take a 16 ft jump shot. Give him a little more room and he will be in your face for a monster jam.
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Good comment. He's definitely got some old school in him that way. It gives him a take that others are not so used to seeing.
 
Flacusian said:
Now that Syracuse finally has "The Guy", one can only wonder what flawed tired aspersions the ESPN and CBS a$$hats will come up with to deride and impugn our program.
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I guess we left NY before December, huh? :cool:
 
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