Rak v Fab

[newmexicuse]

Except Rakeem has the size and athleticism of a 4 and we have no true 4 so he was recruited to be a 4. He didn't progress as we had hoped. He played very well this weekend and can hopefully continue to. I think he will.

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That may be, but right now he has the skillset of a 5...not a 4.

 

[newmexicuse]

The only thing I would give Rak over Fab is rebounding. The dunk Rak missed yesterday would have been made by Fab. Fab is a better shot blocker both on and off the ball. I do like how Rak stays on his feet more and tries to play more position defense (probably the main reason he's a better rebounder), but against a bigger 5 I'm afraid he'll get pushed around. Offensively Fab was also starting to show some occasional post moves and had been good all year at making himself available for Scoop's lobs.

I'm not a JB apologist, but I'm ok with him playing Rak at the 4 this year. That's his position of the future (especially since I'm sure he has NBA aspirations) and his struggles this year will benefit him next year. Rak played a great game yesterday and I hope he can build off it, but let's not make him out to be what he isn't... yet.

Playing at the 4 ??? Oh, yeah, I forgot about those 48 seconds per game.

What Rak's position in the future may be at the college level is up in the air. It may depend upon whwther DC can play the 4 or the 5 or both.

Yeah, he will have to adjust to being a 4 at the next level. That is three years off !!!

Right now he is a 5 or a bench warmer - end of story.

 

[sufandu]

Playing at the 4 ??? Oh, yeah, I forgot about those 48 seconds per game.

What Rak's position in the future may be at the college level is up in the air. It may depend upon whwther DC can play the 4 or the 5 or both.

Yeah, he will have to adjust to being a 4 at the next level. That is three years off !!!

Right now he is a 5 or a bench warmer - end of story.

Wow, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to have an opinion (as your sarcasm suggests). If we went into the season with him at the 5 he wouldn't have seen the floor at all. Did you predict Fab's suspensions? If you are that prophetic, thereby justifying keeping Rak at the 5 all year, do you mind telling me the next powerball numbers? Noone knew what kind of progress he was going to make (or not make) at the 4, and how many times have we complained that JB doesn't play young guys and give them a chance to improve? If he had gotten comfortable we would've been a bigger team that would've rebounded better than we have, but you don't know if that's even a possibility until you let it play out. Hindsight is 20/20 and don't pretend that yours was forsight.
If Coleman starts at the 4 next year and Rak at the 5 then that means Coleman is way more athletic than alot of people have given him credit for or Rak can't figure out how to play in the zone at the 4 (we all know, in regards to offense, position means little with JB). I would hope the taller guy with a 30-50 lb weight advantage plays the 5 and the quicker guy plays the wing. It doesn't hurt to have a guy that can play both, as Jackson did when AO was here, but that doesn't happen if you don't make a guy stretch outside of his comfort zone.

 

[BleedsOrange44]

Rak's Tournament averages: 7 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1 steal, 58% shooting

Fab's regular season averages: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 0.5 steals, 57% shooting