Preseason Practice...

[OttoinGrotto]

An easy answer. JB didn’t want to deal with playing more players. He liked a roster of 9-10 scholarship players. Three less guys to worry about. During the probation years, he was forced to have fewer players.

He also didn't want to deal with more players that wanted to play.

 

[OrangeDW]

He also didn't want to deal with more players that wanted to play.

Right. And good players aren’t signing up to be 8th-10th man for 2 years on a team that’s only going to play 7. Only projects are willing to sign up for that.

 

[orangefog]

 

[Irt4su]

I still am in disbelief and awe that Judah came back. So not our luck recently. This kid is going to fly. LGO

 

[sam]

I still am in disbelief and awe that Judah came back. So not our luck recently. This kid is going to fly. LGO

He's clearly betting on himself to blow up and get in the lottery. It will be a good look for Red too to show that he can develop players for the league.

 

[two3zone]

I still am in disbelief and awe that Judah came back. So not our luck recently. This kid is going to fly. LGO

With the cars he’s driving and the lifestyle he has, doubt he would’ve even gotten this in the NBA his first year. Not a hard decision.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[CuseMan4]

Yeah we haven’t had a for sure, DAWG and leader like Judah in awhile. Pair him with a healthy Starling and you have a great backcourt that is going to show out. Then you just need solid pieces and tile players around them. Westry will be a great 6th man. Best 6th man since Dion. Then you will have Brown who will be a great Utility guy that does the garbage work which he showed he is good at last year. Benny will be a consistent rebounder, defensive presence that can hit the 3. McLeod will be that big body to anchor the defense, block shots and grab boards that we haven’t had in awhile. This team will be very good and will get us back to our old ways of Autry can coach even a little. This roster is very well constructed and the most athletic and versatile team In awhile too

 

[mark79]

Yeah we haven’t had a for sure, DAWG and leader like Judah in awhile. Pair him with a healthy Starling and you have a great backcourt that is going to show out. Then you just need solid pieces and tile players around them. Westry will be a great 6th man. Best 6th man since Dion. Then you will have Brown who will be a great Utility guy that does the garbage work which he showed he is good at last year. Benny will be a consistent rebounder, defensive presence that can hit the 3. McLeod will be that big body to anchor the defense, block shots and grab boards that we haven’t had in awhile. This team will be very good and will get us back to our old ways of Autry can coach even a little. This roster is very well constructed and the most athletic and versatile team In awhile too

If we can hit the outside shot at a decent clip to keep defenses honest, we’ll be pretty dangerous, as there aren’t many other areas of weakness.

 

[Iony44ny]

If we can hit the outside shot at a decent clip to keep defenses honest, we’ll be pretty dangerous, as there aren’t many other areas of weakness.

Benny needs to stop shooting so much and attack the rim more, he’s NOT Kevin Durant lol

 

[OrangeDW]

Benny needs to stop shooting so much and attack the rim more, he’s NOT Kevin Durant lol

I gotta be honest with myself….I don’t think it’s gonna happen.

I’ll be thrilled with 10, 7, good defense, and 35+% on decent volume from 3.

Basically Ryan Blackwell with less ball handling ability but more hops?

I’d happily take it.

 

[Giants1973]

I gotta be honest with myself….I don’t think it’s gonna happen.

I’ll be thrilled with 10, 7, good defense, and 35+% on decent volume from 3.

Basically Ryan Blackwell with less ball handling ability but more hops?

I’d happily take it.

10 and 7 sounds good

 

[Ozone!]

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Having guards who can dunk is meh. Having guards who can shot is what's important. Let's see how they do. (I am bullish.) Once they prove they can shoot, then they can dunk.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Having guards who can dunk is meh. Having guards who can shot is what's important. Let's see how they do. (I am bullish.) Once they prove they can shoot, then they can dunk.

Cuffe can do both.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

I think Benny is capable of a consistent 15ppg, 6+ boards. If we get that, we can be a top 20 team. I expect we’re going to play faster than in the past, with more possessions per game, less half-courtliness and plodding. Lots of opportunities for Benny to be the beneficiary of defensive breakdowns, collapses on the guards, and a more freewheeling approach.

[crossies]

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think Benny is capable of a consistent 15ppg, 6+ boards. If we get that, we can be a top 20 team. I expect we’re going to play faster than in the past, with more possessions per game, less half-courtliness and plodding. Lots of opportunities for Benny to be the beneficiary of defensive breakdowns, collapses on the guards, and a more freewheeling approach.

[crossies]

Even if he doesn’t I think we have other options that can step up.

 

[OrangeDW]

Even if he doesn’t I think we have other options that can step up.

Taylor at the 4 is interesting.

A Judah, JJ, Westry, Taylor, Brown lineup could be tough against teams that aren’t real big or good inside.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Taylor at the 4 is interesting.

A Judah, JJ, Westry, Taylor, Brown lineup could be tough against teams that aren’t real big or good inside.

It made sense once I saw it. A 6’7” guy against other 4’s can be a matchup advantage. I really like Copeland too. He’s got game.

 

[OrangeDW]

It made sense once I saw it. A 6’7” guy against other 4’s can be a matchup advantage. I really like Copeland too. He’s got game.

Very interested to see how Copeland and Cuffe fit in the rotation.

I’m not used to having more than 1 guard off the bench that can play.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Very interested to see how Copeland and Cuffe fit in the rotation.

I’m not used to having more than 1 guard off the bench that can play.

I think our guard talent is ridiculous. Play any of them with Brown and we can be competitive. I’m less sold on the forwards and bigs.

 

[Niastri]

Taylor at the 4 is interesting.

A Judah, JJ, Westry, Taylor, Brown lineup could be tough against teams that aren’t real big or good inside.

I'm somewhat amazed that Taylor seemed to be playing out of position at small forward last season, and now some are penciling him in at power forward minutes.

Amazing what a year's difference makes.

 

[OrangeDW]

I'm somewhat amazed that Taylor seemed to be playing out of position at small forward last season, and now some are penciling him in at power forward minutes.

Amazing what a year's difference makes.

We’ll see how it goes, but not being stuck to the zone is a big difference maker in terms of being able to play smaller players at the 3 or 4.

 

[Janner]

I think our guard talent is ridiculous. Play any of them with Brown and we can be competitive. I’m less sold on the forwards and bigs.

I love the ability of our guards to attack off the bounce. JJ and Juda should be able to get there defenders on their hips and attack, which is where Brown could be huge because he has suck a good feel for the game and where to be around the basket. Bell, Taylor and hopefully Benny can be dangerous for kickout 3s as well. The big question is can JJ and Juda be a threat from 3. If so we could be a very dangerous squad.

 

[Niastri]

We’ll see how it goes, but not being stuck to the zone is a big difference maker in terms of being able to play smaller players at the 3 or 4.

Fair enough... It was very difficult to play small in the zone, but a strong enough player can box out a taller player in man to man.

I recall somebody mentioning Taylor playing Williams well in the scrimmage. I'm hopeful this means Taylor is playing big beyond expectations, and not that Williams is playing smaller.

We've had situations where guys looked really good playing against crappy teammates in these scrimmages in the past, only to reveal their actual lack of effectiveness in games.

I guess my pendulum has flipped to being a little worried about this team... I can't quite put my finger on why. I'm usually kind of an optimist.