It just seems to me that we are and can be a better team without nuri and I was wondering if there was agreement or disagreement with that. I give you the fact that he was very quick and a good ball handler but it seemed that he was always just trying to drive to the basket even into traffic just to score. It seemed during the KY game that he was just driving in and tossing the ball up toward the rim with what always seemed were 3 opposing players around him. I think the way the team is constituted now they will distribute the ball more and play better as a team.
Better without nuri?
- Thread starter dee
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I think we will eventually be a better team if as reported he was ruining chemistry. He also couldn't make a jumper outside of a layup which hurt the offense. It allows Greene and Harrison to handle the backcourt, and both guys are very capable scorers. When they get their chemistry working, we will be better for it. It hurts depth-wise without Nuri though, as I'm not sure Stith is the ultimate backup PG and Greene has a ways to go learning to be the primary PG.
“If there’s anybody that should take any blame for Nuri leaving it should be me,’’ said assistant coach Mike Dunlap, who has taken over the first chair. “Because I coach a certain way, demand a certain thing, and had I had more time to develop a relationship with Nuri, I think he wouldn’t have left.’’
I thought that was really big of Coach Dunlap to say. Without question, there was a style of play clash between Dunlap and Lindsey. But what truly amazes me is how naive Nuri truly is as a player. You know, I understand what he is saying about him controlling the ball and dictating the pace of the team. And I get that he is trying to propel himself to the next level and play pro basketball someday. But unless a player is truly special out there, there are very few players that can try to go it alone on the court. Basketball is the ultimate team game and if you're not prepared to drive and distribute and work on all aspects, do you really think you have any chance of getting to the next level?
I'm sad to see Nuri take the approach that he wants to be the only player on the court. If he wants to succeed and possibly have a career one day, he needs to accept that he's 1 of 5 and teamwork will make him look all that much better.
I thought that was really big of Coach Dunlap to say. Without question, there was a style of play clash between Dunlap and Lindsey. But what truly amazes me is how naive Nuri truly is as a player. You know, I understand what he is saying about him controlling the ball and dictating the pace of the team. And I get that he is trying to propel himself to the next level and play pro basketball someday. But unless a player is truly special out there, there are very few players that can try to go it alone on the court. Basketball is the ultimate team game and if you're not prepared to drive and distribute and work on all aspects, do you really think you have any chance of getting to the next level?
I'm sad to see Nuri take the approach that he wants to be the only player on the court. If he wants to succeed and possibly have a career one day, he needs to accept that he's 1 of 5 and teamwork will make him look all that much better.
It illustrates a bit how Lavin and Dunlap's styles differ. These kids also need Lavin there. It's the Yin and the Yang. Lavin really relates to kids. Dunlap is a guru but has a tougher time breaking the ice and controlling the roster. The dynamic is best when we have both.
For a guy with as many holes in his game as Nuri he'd better be very careful about his next choice of locations. I say locations because I think he'd be better off overseas if he can get picked up. American coaches aren't stupid and they know what to do with a guy who can't shoot. His quickness etc. is also not that special in high D1. At least in Europe he might be able to make some hay between the treetrunks. The NBA is a pipedream even with the stupid scouts they have. Nuri found out it ain't "too easy" at all and couldn't handle it.
I think of a guy like Bootsy Thornton who was ten times the ballplayer and didn't make it and compare him to Nuri and I almost lose breakfast that he had the gall to walk away from the opportunity of a lifetime.
I think of a guy like Bootsy Thornton who was ten times the ballplayer and didn't make it and compare him to Nuri and I almost lose breakfast that he had the gall to walk away from the opportunity of a lifetime.
JackofVirginia
Active member
Speaking of guys leaving teams, Virginia just lost two - Harrell, a sophomore guard, and Johnson, a redshirt freshmen forward. The Hoos are doing real good right now but it all comes down to playing time.
Long time St. John's fans will recall overhyped transfer Alpha Bangura who transferred to St. John's and was a big time disappointment. Bangura lacked the overall skills to compete against BEast talent. At a low D1 school Bangura was a very good player but at the BEast level he seldom if ever played.
Nuri Lindsey is the modern Alpha Bangura- - all sizzle but a one dimensional player without a jumper beyond 15 feet. In BEast competition Lindsey would have been at best a pretty good player. It was smart of him to quit the St.John's team before his mediocrity was exposed against BEast talent.
In my opinion the only way Lindsey gets to the NBA is by purchasing a ticket.
Nuri Lindsey is the modern Alpha Bangura- - all sizzle but a one dimensional player without a jumper beyond 15 feet. In BEast competition Lindsey would have been at best a pretty good player. It was smart of him to quit the St.John's team before his mediocrity was exposed against BEast talent.
In my opinion the only way Lindsey gets to the NBA is by purchasing a ticket.
Nuri had the potential, size and athleticism to play at this level. IMO had he been willing to work on his weaknesses, he would have been a solid contributor to this team over time. However based on his apparent reluctance to be coached, then yes we are better off without him.
Completely agree. If he was patient and was willing to learn from our coaches, I think Nuri would've contributed at this level. But the more and more you read about this situation, you get the feeling he only came to St. John's with the intention of playing one year and jumping to the NBA. And when it didn't go as planned in the beginning, he just folded. Kind of a sad situation.
Very good ponnts. Bangura had a better shot and body but also didn't fit in. You can usually see something positive somewhere in a potential NBA player's resume and I'll be darned if I saw anything about Nuri other than reputation. Even Cjac was a terrific athlete/defender who would have shut down Nuri easily. He also had decent rotation on his shot.and apparently was coachable at Cleveland St. Nuri had none of that at all. They say you never know but I'd be shocked if he made it.
We're not better without him when we're standing around the perimiter going 6 minutes-plus without a field goal. A lot of people are blaming Dunlap for that, but if you watch, you notice that that usually happens after we go empty for a couple of possesions. Then, I think we stand around because all of these young kids are afraid to miss the next shot, so they play passivly. Say anything you want about Nuri (and he had flaws), but he was always willing to step up, and try to make a play. It remains to be seen who will take charge offensivley, when things aren't going well. If someone emerges (I'm thinking Harkless, but it could be anyone), then yes, we will be better without Nuri, eventually.
Yeah Norm liked to play his PGs Geno and Boothe 35+ minutes a game with guys like Cjac and Hardy around. No way we get to the dance with Malik running the show. These, plus his absolutely horrendous roster management are the reasons why he's gone. Dumber than dirt.