Starting 5

[Clonefan32]

I think Matt does just fine on defense. There were some fairly long stretches where he was guarding Forte last night, and he kept up with him just fine. His on ball defense has improved quite a bit as well. He isn't gifted with the foot speed or length of guys like BDJ and Naz, but he is far from a liability.

 

[Clonefan32]

I disagree completely. He got torched all night. There was a reason Fred kept switching him off Forte and others all night. Just because the guy hit some shots doesn't erase the obvious downfall to his play.

I would for you to point out some examples last night were he got "torched". I never saw anything of the such. He may have been slightly out of position a few times, but Forte is a good player and he's going to score some points. He never got "torched" or anything of the like.

 

[Rural]

I don't think you get on people too much for not recovering from Forte's pet ref-fooling move.

Catching a pass yet somehow ending up about ten feet from where he actually received it.

 

[Cycsk]

Seems like Matt Thomas gets a lot of blocks.

Didn't just about everyone on our team have trouble staying with Forte last night as he came off screens. The guy never stops, he just keeps circling around.

 

[Rural]

We had a lot more problems with Nash than we did Forte.

When Nash switched out of knucklehead mode they got back in the game.

 

[State43]

Guys, it wasn't just Forte

 

[Clonefan32]

Guys, it wasn't just Forte

I'm still waiting on an example. We gave up some open 3's, but I think that was largely schematic as we were running guys at Nash and helping off on Forte.

 

[CycloneErik]

I disagree completely. He got torched all night. There was a reason Fred kept switching him off Forte and others all night. Just because the guy hit some shots doesn't erase the obvious downfall to his play.

Torched isn't remotely accurate. Thomas did a nice job sticking to Forte outside of one screen that none of our guys would have gotten through.

Just because that screen happened doesn't erase the strong positives to his play.

 

[Wesley]

This is getting to be the most over-sold thing on this website.

No, he's not Gary Payton but his defense is OK when paired with the right line-up.

He rebounds well, but he sticks to his player the worst. Eyes do not lie. The others cover for him pretty good. Monte and naz stick to their people better. So he needs to rebound and make shots and keep the passes good. Just like our other players he has pluses and minuses.

 

[CYdTracked]

If McKay were to get moved to the starting lineup I think Naz would be the logical choice to come off the bench. Why? Because if his shot is falling he's instant offense off the bench and will finish games if he's got the hot hand. The way BDJ has played the last few games his production would say he should go to the bench over Naz but you have to look at some of the effects moving certain guys from starter to bench role would do. For 1 I think Naz is a leader on this team and would take the role without making it a problem where as I think BDJ would pout about it and not have the energy that Naz would coming off the bench.

I think it's becoming obvious that at some point McKay needs to be starting, he adds another dimension on both ends of the floor and when we start playing teams with good post players having him, Niang, and Hogue all on the floor to start the game is going to be necessary.

 

[ILiftWithRoyce]

Did anyone else notice that during the middle of the second half when Morris, Long, Thomas, Niang, and McKay were in together that the offense seemed to be running pretty smooth?

It's hard to keep Hogue out of the starting lineup, but he would be a huge energy guy off the bench like McGee was a couple years back.

I pointed the same thing out to my wife last night. I really liked that lineup, although its hard to keep Hogue out

 

[bigdaddykane]

Seems like Matt Thomas gets a lot of blocks.

Didn't just about everyone on our team have trouble staying with Forte last night as he came off screens. The guy never stops, he just keeps circling around.

He's a nightmare kind of like Heslip.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Our best lineup last night was probably Morris, Long, Thomas, Hogue, and McKay. Hopefully there are not too many nights that is the case, as we need Georges and BDJ to play at all-conference level most nights.

As bad as our offense was (hitting FT would be huge), Ok St got way too many open looks, particularly 3P. Slow rotations and missed assignment open looks.

 

[State43]

I'm still waiting on an example. We gave up some open 3's, but I think that was largely schematic as we were running guys at Nash and helping off on Forte.

I have a job so sorry I can't rewatch the game and cut clips for you as evidence of my opinion. It is just my opinion, feel free to believe what you want.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Our best lineup last night was probably Morris, Long, Thomas, Hogue, and McKay. Hopefully there are not too many nights that is the case, as we need Georges and BDJ to play at all-conference level most nights.

As bad as our offense was (hitting FT would be huge), Ok St got way too many open looks, particularly 3P. Slow rotations and missed assignment open looks.

Out of the eight men that play, I'd hope you'd always find something like this every night.

Against Iowa, you'd said the same thing of Morris, Long, Nader, Hogue, and Niang.

Shouldn't we start that now? (not really a jimlad, more of a rhetorical question)

 

[cyfan964]

The best lineup we had on the court last night was actually Morris, Long, Thomas, Hogue, and McKay. I don't know how you could argue against that. Maybe Niang and Dejean-Jones should come off the bench? Joking. Look at it this way. Fred says he puts people in based on feel. Some nights guys will be hot, other nights they won't be. THe starting 5 doesn't really matter. We don't run away from Iowa without Nader. Has he done much else? Not really, but Fred was smart to have him play as much as he did that night. I trust Fred.

 

[Incyte]

I have a job so sorry I can't rewatch the game and cut clips for you as evidence of my opinion. It is just my opinion, feel free to believe what you want.

So it's mostly unfounded I would assume.

OSU scored 61. I think we are overreacting a bit here.

 

[TheJackWePack5]

Right now, IMO, the main issue is Fred trying to figure out the right rotation. It's sort of the 2013-2014 Hawk issue (calm down) where we have 8 guys who are capable (albeit more talented than Iowa).

As long as it's an experiment, our offensive flow will struggle a bit. At least our defense has been there.

Unfortunately when it gets sorted out, a few of our talented guys will be shorted minutes. That's just how it goes, we've seen it before. Hopefully when it happens, those guys stay "all in."

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Out of the eight men that play, I'd hope you'd always find something like this every night.

Against Iowa, you'd said the same thing of Morris, Long, Nader, Hogue, and Niang.

Shouldn't we start that now? (not really a jimlad, more of a rhetorical question)

Not really the same case.
Yes, if BDJ was out for the rest of the year and McKay not available, that starting 5 would be given a strong consideration.

Last night it was due to the flow being better without the two guys thought of as our creators. Rather different than Nader playing well while BDJ was suspended.

 

[Dreamyfred]

yep Fred trying to keep them all happy, don't think there is any flow like last year

I don't think Fred thinks like that at all or sdw and Percy would be here. Last year we had no depth and had to avoid foul trouble, this year we have too much depth and there's not enough minutes or flow. Can't win on CF.