Pitino can dream and it would certainly help us, but if you ask me, they are generally fouls.
The Point Guard Debate
- Thread starter dk423
- Start date
The fellow somehow managed to wind up with zero assists in a game where the team scored 96 points. I'm not sure it would be possible for a point guard to do that if he TRIED. But as I pointed it, it's basically all of the guards except Sellers.
TBH I made the guards look as good as I possibly could in my original post - Not only did I give them a 4-3 advantage, it was by excluding Prey from the bigs (which would have helped them) and including Sellers with the other 3 guards (which vastly inflates their numbers as a group).
Put simply, outside of Sellers our guards as a group are atrocious thus far.
With regard to your other note quoted here, let me ask you a question:
In close games, on almost every team, what player has the ball in their hands at the end and why?
And the other question is: Do you think there is a correlation between that NOT being the case our on team and close losses?
[And to be clear, I appreciate and enjoy all of your posts and insight, this is all just healthy basketball conversation/debate and I know you know that.]
I could not agree more. And as I wrote elsewhere, if he does well against mediocre BE opponents, that won't change my opinion of him. He simply seems like he cannot compete against players on elite teams. I really hope I am proven wrong.
All that being said, who are we to question his place and role on the team as Pitino says of him:
“I think you guys really underrate Dylan [Darling],” Pitino explained. “He’s got the best credentials of anyone coming in here.”
“His credentials are much higher than just about anybody…I have absolutely no reservations at all that he could play against anybody, anytime, anywhere.”
First, likewise.
Their best player with the ball in their hands. Generally, your best player is a capable distributor, if I have my say. So last year, I would have givin it to Kadary and not looked back.
You’re gonna have to clarify the second part for me.
MugCostanza
Well-known member
Darling has acquitted himself well the past two games. There has never really been close to a time where we've had to say "We need to get him out of the game because he's hurting us" like we've done with Sanon. There's also been a couple brief moments where his absence has been felt in a negative way.
Despite what look to be relative pedestrian stats offensively, the offense feels like it's operating better when he's in the game. He knows his role, isn't actively hurting the team by turning it over excessively or taking bad shots and occasionally makes a nice play.
He's been far better than I thought he'd be defensively so far and his on/off splits are quite stark in his favor on that end over the past couple games. Yes, he's fouling a bit much but he's competing on every possession and has shown good hands and instincts.
He's not going to be our version of Peyton Siva or Russ Smith but he's been fine for what he's being asked to do, though it's still just a small sample size.
Despite what look to be relative pedestrian stats offensively, the offense feels like it's operating better when he's in the game. He knows his role, isn't actively hurting the team by turning it over excessively or taking bad shots and occasionally makes a nice play.
He's been far better than I thought he'd be defensively so far and his on/off splits are quite stark in his favor on that end over the past couple games. Yes, he's fouling a bit much but he's competing on every possession and has shown good hands and instincts.
He's not going to be our version of Peyton Siva or Russ Smith but he's been fine for what he's being asked to do, though it's still just a small sample size.
dk423
Well-known member
I'd disagree and say the end of the first half against Iowa St, he definitely needed to be taken out & he was. But the guy was gassed & rightfully so, he played a ton.
In his games against major opponents, I have seen very very little evidence of him doing that.
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We are certainly asking Darling to do a lot and yes, he was gassed at time referenced. I like Darling’s grit and pass first mentality, but would be happier if he was off the bench guy. Unfortunately SJU flunked the roster construction process and he’ll get big minutes, which in a way is unfair to him. It is what it is, so onward.
My point sort of was that almost everyone in the world, in crunch time, is giving the ball to their point guard to make a play - take the shot, get to the rim, or find someone.
I could be wrong, but I do not think our answer in the limited sample of close games we have was "give the ball to Darling." And I don't think it will be, either. I mostly agree with Mug - he gets the ball up the floor, he tries hard, he doesn't hurt you on defense comparative to Sanon and Jackson because, well, they're legendarily bad at it, and he doesn't jam up the offense because (like Mitchell) he isn't really looking to make any plays himself.
How that still ends up with such low assist numbers in such high minutes is a bit of a mystery to me.
But at the end of the day he is simply not a "plus" player. If he avoids being a "minus" player, that's nice. But I think there are spots when not having a plus player at such a critical position is really going to bite us in the rear, and those will not be spots that will make us happy.
Hope I'm wrong.
Go to the 35 second mark. First minute vs Baylor. trust me I could find you more if I had time. Is this not a great look for someone we want shooting?
Laughed out loud at “legendarily bad”
If he’s not the guy with the ball in his hands last possession, that won’t tell me he’s not a capable player at this level. However, I do want him on the floor in that scenario. Having the ball in your hands (to make the last play) and having the ball and making sure the right guy has it (to make last play) are different IMO.
We just disagree on him pretty starkly.
If refs called every contact that could be called a foul, you'd have 100 foulsvand the team managers would be on the court.
Yes, but if they didn’t, we wouldn’t be playing basketball lol
You obviously want him to distribute & not be a prime scorer, but must say to keep defenders honest it would be nice if he hits very open jumpers. Of late his jumper has failed him more often than not. Often when jump shots are flat it could mean tired legs or a result of him getting banged around a lot. Sorry for nit pick.
I agree about that play, and I should not have used an absolute by saying "zero." I will amend my opinion.
I really hope you're right and I am wrong. I'm looking forward to being proven wrong these Auburn and Ole Miss games.
I think it's been clear that in crunch time, Rick is going to give the ball to whoever has the hot hand. Last year it was Devion in Providence, RJ at Marquette, "supposed to be" Zuby at Creighton, and it was Simeon with the last shot at Villanova. The only game that Kadary had the ball to make a play was Providence at MSG and he had 24pts on 10-14 shooting that day. It's not Rick's M.O. to just give it to the point guard to make a play.
the problem seems to be he should not be asked to be a starting PG; he's a 12 min a game backup at high level competition. Maybe more against most BE teams.