Phase IV -- 2009-10

[greybeard]

I think blame is a really strong word, and it's not appropriate in this case. As Kedsy said, the only thing people really "blame" them for has been some degree of a lack of hustle on defense. As an old-school baller, you should appreciate that quality.

Everything else is simply an issue of development. Miles doesn't have great hands (yet) and is still learning footwork in the post. He's a sophomore, and he'll get it. I have no doubt he'll improve. Mason will improve even more. He's just learning to play a vastly different game as a freshman in college than he did as a senior in high school, and is doing so after having broken his wrist to start the season. I don't blame him for not being a strong scoring option yet; his shot and other fundamentals need work, but you can see him oozing with potential not just athletically, but in certain skills that just need refining. For instance, it's clear that he sees the floor well; it's just that he hasn't played enough at this speed yet to make the right passes at the right time. That will come through experience.

These guys, as you've mention, have obviously had their roles limited in the offense. You've seemed to disagree with the way they've been utilized, but since you've said above that you don't have a problem with the way K is running the offense this year, I'll believe you. Believe me when I say that he'd love for everyone on the team to be a scoring option, but he has the benefit of seeing everyone every day in practice, and recognizing what they can do well and what might not come for another year or two. I'm sure you also understand the importance of non-scoring roles on a team, and that guys can make a major impact without putting the ball in the basket. K has designed a system this year that tries to let everyone do what they do best. That's all you can ask for.

I am rooting for Duke to succeed and think that it is unrealistic to think that K would change the focus of his offense just because the substitutes for Z and L cannot execute nearly as well in it as the starters.

I think what you see as lack of hustle is understandable in other terms. I suggested a while back that MPs might be saying "screw it" because they did not like how they were being used pn offense and you almost bite my head off. I no longer think that a possibility. I think that the other possibilities that I noted above are more likely than that they are not "hustling."

I think that Z is playing masterfully in a Dennis Rodman like role morphed into a giant of a body and that that gives this offense a dimension that is at once exciting, novel, and extremely lethal. It plays to the strengths of other equally intelligent and dedicated players, three of whom are great offensive weapons. That's where I am now, which is pretty darn close to where you have been for a while, no? Some guys learn slower.

[NSDukeFan]

Jon made one shot in the last 4 minutes and missed four. He made a 2pt jumper with 2:09 to go.

The play before Vasquez hit that prayer of a shot, Jon took what I felt was an ill advised contested fading three pointer with duke down 2. Nolan missed a three directly after when LT got the offensive rebound, but at least Nolan created space for himself with a nice move and a stepback to open himself up. Jon also made a terrible play on the baseline when he got caught underneath the basket on the drive and, instead of calling a timeout, threw the ball up at the underside of the rim. This play all but sealed the loss. Those two shots/decisions by Jon came on successive possessions I believe. Duke went from down 2 to Down 6. Both were pretty bad shots.

If I could draw up a play for any player on the team to have an open shot with the game on the line, it would be Jon (and K agrees obviously since he has run the same play just before halftime for Jon at least 15 times this season). However, I have seen a number of times this season, in wins and losses, when Duke has needed a basket and settled for a fading three from Jon because the ball is in his hands. Sometimes it works (and I cheer), sometimes it doesn't. I think we can do better. I just feel that it is similar to when you see a player take a low percentage shot and say "stupid" under your breath, and then smile sheepishly on those occasions when it goes in.

My recollection (which may or may not be accurate) is that I don't recall many instances where I have felt either that Jon has been fading on his shot or that he has taken a bad shot. I recognize that at the end of the game it can be difficult to judge whether it is better to get a higher percentage 2 pointer (unfortunately, this is not one of this team's best traits) perhaps from Nolan creating something off the dribble, or an open 3 with a 40%ish chance of getting 3 points. Tough call, but I have had very few times where I have felt Jon has taken a poor shot.