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Message: [QUOTE="Waltdods, post: 2340093, member: 2932"] Sure, I agree with all of that, and definitely agree that good Syracuse teams (good anyone teams) need players who can break down the defense. Even the '96 team had Z, who while not particularly a threat to score did a great job of disrupting the defense, and Wallace who could initiate from almost anywhere on the court. What I was taking issue with was a narrow point (we need a 2G who can do all of these things) that I think was meant to serve a broader point (next year's team won't be very good). I think both points are wrong. The first isn't particularly important, but is a kind of interesting historical digression. (And, finally, note that the original poster said not only that the 2 had to create but that he had to be a disruptive defender, something that certainly excludes Edelin and probably 2010 Scoop.) In the JB era, the 2 has probably been the historically weakest position. The only really transcendent player who played primarily the 2 was Waiters, and he of course didn't even start. (Unless you view Moten as a 2, although he didn't make his name by his ballhandling.) Even when the 2 was the glamour position in basketball during the MJ/Kobe era, Syracuse ran a lot more offense through their forwards and point guard, with the 2 in a support role. Stevie Thompson was a bit of an exception, although he wasn't a traditional 2 guard. Deshaun Williams had a major role on the '02 team but I'm confident no one looks back with nostalgia at that team. Obviously GMac did a little of everything, but the overwhelming majority of his minutes were at the point. I'm a big Triche fan, but he too played at least as much 1 as 2. I think people normally think the center has been the weakest position, but Cuse has had some good ones, and had some years when the center was the primary option (definitely '97, arguably Etan's senior year, even 2010 we ran a lot through Arinze and Rick). I think the pieces next year are going to be very good, and the absence of a superlative 2 doesn't change that. (Though in fact I think there's a good chance Carey ends up playing a lot of minutes at the 2.) Both Carey and Bazely will be able to drive and, as you point out, what position that comes from doesn't particularly matter. I feel confident at least one of the three '17 freshman forwards will also develop enough that they can contribute, and that we'll get something from one of the Howards. That's a very good team, and a good reason to be excited. [/QUOTE]

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