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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 1937607, member: 40"] Good post, Matt. Several astute observations in there. I agree 100% with your last post, too, that this is not the type of game that makes it easy for guys like Coleman / Chukwu type big / non-scorers [i.e., having to chase around smaller players who can face up]. I have a couple of alternate perspectives--not attempting to start an argument, since we've locked horns about White before--just offering a different point of view on a few items: [LIST] [*]Today was a discombobulated scrimmage, with a bunch of new faces playing together in an organized game for the first time. The execution will get better once we stop making wholesale substitutions and the rotation stabilizes a bit [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Gillon looked pretty good. He also didn't look to actively score much, so it will be interesting to see what he can do when he settles down. I wonder how much we'll sacrifice defensively with him out there, because he looks like what we need at lead guard [/LIST] [LIST] [*]I think today's game provided insight into why Battle's best fit is NOT at point guard--he's too dynamic off the ball and as a scorer. Now, I don't expect him to hit threes so prolifically every game, but he clearly belongs in the starting lineup [/LIST] [LIST] [*]If Battle plays 2, then White shifts to 3. Lydon probably plays a ton of 4 / 5 [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Lydon didn't have his best game tonight, but he is smooth. Seems like more of a stretch 4 in terms of his skill set than a chandler parsons-esque 3. I think he'll get the majority of his minutes at the power positions eventually, once the lineup gets established [/LIST] [LIST] [*]To your point about White not being a Demetris Nichols type stationary jump shooter, I didn't see anything to support what you saw tonight, Matt. IMO, his ball handling limitations were obvious even against a D2 team. It will be exacerbated against top flight major conference competition [/LIST] [LIST] [*]The predicted starting 5 took the court, but that unit's ballhandling and floor spacing limitations became quickly evident. The problem with that lineup is that we have two bigs who can only score in the paint [Coleman and Roberson] and have to play within the shadow of the basket to be effective, we have two wings who offer very little in terms of putting the ball on the floor or passing, and we have three potential non-primary scorers [Howard, Roberson, Coleman]. This lineup choice is the conservative play for Boeheim, but I would expect it to change in the near future as the team gets its sea legs and guys start to prove themselves a bit more. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see not just one but two changes to the starting lineup [/LIST] [LIST] [*]For those writing Howard off, I think that is extremely premature. Love the kid's game. I'm just concerned that he won't be able to "big boy" his way to positive plays like he can against smaller teams. He needs to prove that he can, but he'll settle down once he gets some more run and this group of players settle into their roles [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Thompson has a long way to go, but he looks like he belongs. Good fundamentals. He'll benefit from playing lots of different types of bigs in practice every day, and will be a major contributor his final three years [/LIST] [LIST] [*]The coaches now have game film to work on for a week. I'd expect a crisper game in exhibition #2 [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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