Rak wore down

[STEVEHOLT]

As the only consistently competent player we had out there, he basically was carrying a brick house on his back the entire year. His play down the stretch was sub bar, but really how much of that is his fault? There was no consistent help for the guy. Gbinije, Roberson, and even Cooney had some good games here and there, but then each of them would have a series of stinkers.

I just think the kid got worn down, especially considering the pounding he would be taking down low. I know some are going to be down on him due to how he closed the season, however I dont feel his play down the stretch is his true talent level.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I tend to think this too. No backup, all the minutes, getting mugged every game, etc. Quite possibly the mental fatigue also knowing he has to produce for them to even have a chance in any given game. Sure must've been frustrating for him playing with some of these guys. Still, he never complained and brought A effort every game. Special player and person it seems. Man he will be missed!

 

[OttoMets]

It looked that way, especially yesterday. Christmas seemed less quick, missed a lot of makeable shots.

Maybe he hit a wall around the first Duke game and never got it back.

He provided some excellent individual moments this year, so his fade down the stretch was a little disappointing and surprising. Too bad he had the misfortune of playing on one of our less successful teams. In the end, he fell a little short of my prediction of "Wallace numbers" for him, and he won't be remembered the same way since his season's over four weeks too early.

Glad we got to see some of those dominant performances, though. It'll be a while before we see center play like that again.

 

[MELOKEITH]

Once he became our focus offensively, he became the focus for every other team on defense - he got good at kicking it out/passing out of the double team, but there was rarely someone who could knock down the shots. Double and triple teams made it hard for him to keep his energy level up - especially with getting pounded/hacked on every possession. It will be interesting to see what he does at the next level.

 

[urban96]

It couldnt have anything to do with being guarded by a kid with a 7'9" wing span

 

[OrangeAl]

NC State sure had a lot of beef to throw at him. Too bad they didn't respect Roberson more. But then, that was a winning strategy for them.

 

[SoBeCuse]

NC State sure had a lot of beef to throw at him. Too bad they didn't respect Roberson more. But then, that was a winning strategy for them.

Good points. I was impressed with that freshman Kyle Washington last year. He gave us the most trouble next to Warren. He was excellent with the help D on Rak yesterday rejecting him a few times. Athletic and strong kid.

 

[Col. Bleep]

As the only consistently competent player we had out there, he basically was carrying a brick house on his back the entire year. His play down the stretch was sub bar, but really how much of that is his fault? There was no consistent help for the guy. Gbinije, Roberson, and even Cooney had some good games here and there, but then each of them would have a series of stinkers.

I just think the kid got worn down, especially considering the pounding he would be taking down low. I know some are going to be down on him due to how he closed the season, however I dont feel his play down the stretch is his true talent level.

Playing Duke, Virginia and NC State in a week is enough to wear down a lot of guys.
At the end of season playing almost all the way every game...Rak gets a lot of credit.
He really only had two badly off nights...the first Duke game and NC State.
Both times battling against big strong centers.
And he still managed a double double against State.

 

[corpjet]

As the only consistently competent player we had out there, he basically was carrying a brick house on his back the entire year. His play down the stretch was sub bar, but really how much of that is his fault? There was no consistent help for the guy. Gbinije, Roberson, and even Cooney had some good games here and there, but then each of them would have a series of stinkers.

I just think the kid got worn down, especially considering the pounding he would be taking down low. I know some are going to be down on him due to how he closed the season, however I dont feel his play down the stretch is his true talent level.

Unfortunately I think this is a yearly occurrence, we ride the same five horses hard all year and come this time there's not much left in the tank.

Who am I to second guess Jimmy B but darn we have to be one of the few teams in the country that annually rotate no more than 7 guys!

 

[BlackKnight76]

Our schedule was also backloaded. Two games vs Okafor who gave him problems with his size, UVA, and NC State with Anya who is a big strong dude with freakish measurables.

 

[RF2044]

I think there's a lot of validity to this. He shouldered a tough load all year, and had a great year. But having to play close to 4o minutes, as a big, every game. Having guys pound on him every game, and not get many calls. Having teams double and triple team him while he fought for position all game long. All of those things just wore him done a bit down the stretch.

Last 7 games weren't as good as the first 20+, but he still had a helluva year.

 

[MadNY3]

As the only consistently competent player we had out there, he basically was carrying a brick house on his back the entire year. His play down the stretch was sub bar, but really how much of that is his fault? There was no consistent help for the guy. Gbinije, Roberson, and even Cooney had some good games here and there, but then each of them would have a series of stinkers.

I just think the kid got worn down, especially considering the pounding he would be taking down low. I know some are going to be down on him due to how he closed the season, however I dont feel his play down the stretch is his true talent level.

I would wear down too playing Duke twice - and the possible #1 pick in the draft who plays the 5 - and getting double teamed galore.

Kid had a helluva year. Agree with you how he played down the stretch was his true talent level, but don't think he got "worn down" by playing too many minutes.

 

[RandygoCuse]

It looked that way, especially yesterday. Christmas seemed less quick, missed a lot of makeable shots.

Maybe he hit a wall around the first Duke game and never got it back.

He provided some excellent individual moments this year, so his fade down the stretch was a little disappointing and surprising. Too bad he had the misfortune of playing on one of our less successful teams. In the end, he fell a little short of my prediction of "Wallace numbers" for him, and he won't be remembered the same way since his season's over four weeks too early.

Glad we got to see some of those dominant performances, though. It'll be a while before we see center play like that again.

NO, he's not John Wallace. But he's Orange all the way. I'll remember him as a guy that improved immensely when others (myself included) didn't think he could. He's a guy that did everything right and was penalized for others mistakes. But he did not complain or make excuses and played with his head high - and played well. I think this past season he learned lot about how life works and it will serve him well whether in the NBA, overseas, or in his career outside basketball.

 

[cto]

Oops... When I read your subject line, I thought you were referring to what he wore last night at the Hardwood Club dinner... a bright orange jacket that appeared to be a down jacket. (I am not making this up).

 

[MSOrange]

Oops... When I read your subject line, I thought you were referring to what he wore last night at the Hardwood Club dinner... a bright orange jacket that appeared to be a down jacket. (I am not making this up).

Did Rak give a good speech last night?