Something still bugs me about Lucca

Cyclone42 · 05-23-2010, 08:45 AM

My intention of this posting isn't to dis Lucca Staiger, as much as he most certainly still deserves it. I am just really curious about this. Now that we're in the middle of the slowness of summer, I thought I'd ask about it.

With his height (6-foot 5), why did Lucca have a total inability to score inside? He has the same height as Fred Hoiberg, and although Freddy was also known as pretty good 3-point shooter, Freddy could take the ball to the hoop as well as anyone else on the team when he was playing for ISU.

This just bugs me because I see other teams with players shorter than 6-foot 5, who can consistently score inside, yet Lucca being gifted with enough height to be an inside scorer chose to avoid going anywhere near the rim like it was the source of a contagious disease or something.

He could have been a much more valuable player if he had been willing to take the ball and score inside, at least occasionally. Opponents would leave lanes open for him to drive to the hoop, knowing full well that he would NEVER do it. Or, to turn it around, just imagine how much less of a player Fred Hoiberg would have been had he been totally unwilling to score inside like Lucca.

**isutrevman** · 05-23-2010, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclone42

My intention of this posting isn't to dis Lucca Staiger, as much as he most certainly still deserves it. I am just really curious about this. Now that we're in the middle of the slowness of summer, I thought I'd ask about it.

With his height (6-foot 5), why did Lucca have a total inability to score inside? He has the same height as Fred Hoiberg, and although Freddy was also known as pretty good 3-point shooter, Freddy could take the ball to the hoop as well as anyone else on the team when he was playing for ISU.

This just bugs me because I see other teams with players shorter than 6-foot 5, who can consistently score inside, yet Lucca being gifted with enough height to be an inside scorer chose to avoid going anywhere near the rim like it was the source of a contagious disease or something.

He could have been a much more valuable player if he had been willing to take the ball and score inside, at least occasionally. Opponents would leave lanes open for him to drive to the hoop, knowing full well that he would NEVER do it. Or, to turn it around, just imagine how much less of a player Fred Hoiberg would have been had he been totally unwilling to score inside like Lucca.

He didn't have the skills. Scoring inside is a skill just like shooting. Lucca didn't have the skill to drive, so he didn't.

**Harry** · 05-23-2010, 09:02 AM

F. H. is a far superior athlete than Lucca allowing him to go inside or out. Lucca is pretty much a stand still shooter with little quickness.

**baller21** · 05-23-2010, 09:02 AM

time to let it go man. Lucca just wasn't a banger.

**JP4CY** · 05-23-2010, 09:08 AM

Lucca looked like he might have had a few too many lbs. when he first came here also. I tend to think playing in Europe probably didn't help his inside game, quite a few of those guys his size or even taller seem to be jump shooters.

**gocubs2118** · 05-23-2010, 09:15 AM

Who??

**Bobber** · 05-23-2010, 09:20 AM

I think some of it was the set offenses we ran. His job was to hang around the outside.

When Freddy was playing, it was much more run and gun. If you saw an opening, you went for it.

**Wx4Cy** · 05-23-2010, 09:20 AM

He's European...most Euro big men are better from the outside. Dirk. Even Julius was more comfortable on the outside and he was what, 6-11?

**SpokaneCY** · 05-23-2010, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Wx4Cy

He's European...most Euro big men are better from the outside. Dirk. Even Julius was more comfortable on the outside and he was what, 6-11?

Research assignment - how many FTs did Lucca shoot during his career at ISU?

**Stormin** · 05-23-2010, 09:35 AM

Lucca didn't develop an all around game. He was satisfied just being a stand up shooter. He seemed a bit soft.

That was a common trait, I thought, of GMac players. Brackins was a bit soft. And he seemed satisfied with just focusing on being more of a shooter rather than developing additional skills of being a banger in addition.

**Wx4Cy** · 05-23-2010, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by SpokaneCY

Research assignment - how many FTs did Lucca shoot during his career at ISU?

Less than 20 I'd guess.

**marothisu** · 05-23-2010, 09:37 AM

I was always critical for this very reason. He had one skill, maybe another half of one. Anybody can shoot three pointers. Listen, even when I played basketball..I'd just shoot 3 pointers and would make them. You know what though? I sucked at basketball. It's the only thing I could do because it was a hell of a lot easier than driving inside and getting rejected everytime.

He was a role player basically, which fit perfectly into McDermott's "shoot 35 three pointers per game and hope we make at least 40% to win" scheme.