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Big boy basketball once again.

tjreese

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IMO, the athletic guard, wing or whatever is not as important as Oscar, Daniel and Trey not only able to score on the blocks, but at least out to 15 feet. The interchangeability should this happen pretty much eliminates an effective zone should Purdue be off behind the arc. The power that can be played takes a toll as it did with Zach on other team’s front lines drawing fouls and getting into the bonus quicker and removing pieces from the other team…not to mention the ability to run high low with whatever defender you want to defend the low post. This is not to say that desires for a more athletic player (as others state…get his own shot) couldn’t possibly help, but IMO secondary to the trio becoming very good inside and out to 15.

We know Braden can get his own shot…along with CJ and wouldn’t be surprised to see Giccari get there over the summer and Fletch offering some drives and mid-range pullup. Open behind the arc potential good shooting comes from Braden, Fletch, CJ, Giccari, Cam and Jack. Jack does a good job of getting open and Braden will find him. Giccari and CJ are more combo guards that could spell Braden for short stints, but are young and not the pure PG Braden is. Does Purdue if wanting another player get a PG to back up Braden or does Purdue look for the athletic 3 man which appears t take some time away from Cam/Fletch or does Purdue look at a 2 man to possibly start knowing CJ/Giccari are still young but promising? All of this could be beneficial, but what an unstoppable front line Purdue could have at the 4 and 5 if the Trio are effective in the low post and out to 15.

Oscar reminds me a “little” of Brad Miller in that he generally plays below the rim, but is effective in what appears to be his girth without the passing of Brad perhaps.

edit below
Completely forgot Burgess that I have high hopes for adding to that Trio. ;)
 
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#3 with ability to get his own shot is top priority now IMO. I'm not worried about relief for Smith. If CMP really wants to give him rest, he can. I just don't think he likes having him off the floor.
Only the opposition wants Braden off the floor. Giccari/CJ have become more stable when resting Braden. 3 man is the desire from a decent amount of posters, but if the Trio actually develop games inside and out they would own the lane and that 3 man getting his own shot won't be so important, but if the Trio (and Burgess) do not get there then a player with an ability to score when defended gains more value IMO
 
Only the opposition wants Braden off the floor. Giccari/CJ have become more stable when resting Braden. 3 man is the desire from a decent amount of posters, but if the Trio actually develop games inside and out they would own the lane and that 3 man getting his own shot won't be so important, but if the Trio (and Burgess) do not get there then a player with an ability to score when defended gains more value IMO
My point is, we have guys that can give Smith rest if CMP wants to. We don't need to add another person for that role. Hell, at most Smith would sit 5 minutes anyway. We can handle that right now. 4/5 is now set, so the only thing left is #3 that can go get it. I like Cam, but I don't see him after 3 years getting the handles to do that. Let him do what he does and get someone that has the ability to drive it already.

To the above poster, if getting a good #3 makes Cam transfer, then so be it.
 
Big men are great but it took Zach level greatness to get that system to the final 4. It would be nice to not be completely out-athleted for once.
Right, like I think we all feel that we have the nucleus to have a legit shot at a title and 3 starters that are seniors. To me, you don't leave anything to chance or just a hope that this guy improves enough and can do what we need. Obviously, long athletic guards or wings are what we lack. I do have a concern for players currently on the team and how they feel, it just can't supercede my desire and willingness to go out and get what I think we lack when comparing to what this year's final 4 teams have or teams that we didn't match up well with this yr.
 
We have a chance at a special season next year. Nothing is promised, but this has the makings of not a good team, but a great team. I'm confident CMP is going to do everything he can to make that happen. IMO, that is adding 1 more scorer (not necessarily a shooter, but a scorer). Can't wait to see what happens in the next couple of weeks.
 
My point is, we have guys that can give Smith rest if CMP wants to. We don't need to add another person for that role. Hell, at most Smith would sit 5 minutes anyway. We can handle that right now. 4/5 is now set, so the only thing left is #3 that can go get it. I like Cam, but I don't see him after 3 years getting the handles to do that. Let him do what he does and get someone that has the ability to drive it already.

To the above poster, if getting a good #3 makes Cam transfer, then so be it.
I get it. If Matt gets another and I think he will, that player will be icing on the cake for what should be a really good team. Matt may not get his pick, but will find an effective fill for a potential shortcoming in a certain area I expect. Cam may or may not be much of a driver, but Braden is, Fletch can and I expect CJ and Giccari to get better...especially if Cam and Jack add to perimeter shooting for spacing. Matt may look for more of a defender at the 2 or 3 than a driver? Interesting times we are having...where in a few minutes players you may not be aware are suddenly on your favorite team.
 
you realize the system I describe you have not seen at Purdue if you only saw big players
Yeah i think we have.
Happy to have Cluff and i think we will see some nice high-low action with him and TKR. Just don't believe that plus hoping enough 3's go down is necessarily enough.
 
Yeah i think we have.
Happy to have Cluff and i think we will see some nice high-low action with him and TKR. Just don't believe that plus hoping enough 3's go down is necessarily enough.
So I'm curious who Purdue had that allowed effective interchangeability as I stated. I admit I could be forgetting someone, but can't recall that happening, but rather only playing a couple of bigs at the same time. Who were the interchangeable parts? That really is the key. What happens with a lot of people and maybe not you is that they see teams that do well with such and such and think getting such and such is the key which may or may not be. What is being witnessed is the probability of seeing such just due to the number game of the population being more prevalent. What I'm talking about is potential interchangeability and all that it brings should it be achieved considering the advantages and disadvantages of such with the players I mentioned. Doesn't mean I'm right or certainly that it is obtained, but I sure see if accomplished a very powerful offense
 
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Back to slow white guys . Hit the lottery when Edey transformed into a great player but that happens once a blue moon. Now we lost our only 2 guys that could play above the rim. Against good athletic teams we will struggle again
 
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So I'm curious who Purdue had that allowed effective interchangeability as I stated. I admit I could be forgetting someone, but can't recall that happening, but rather only playing a couple of bigs at the same time. Who were the interchangeable parts? That really is the key. What happens with a lot of people and maybe not you is that they see teams that do well with such and such and think getting such and such is the key which may or may not be. What is being witnessed is the probability of seeing such just due to the number game of the population being more prevalent. What I'm talking about is potential interchangeability and all that it brings should it be achieved considering the advantages and disadvantages of such with the players I mentioned. Doesn't mean I'm right or certainly that it is obtained, but I sure see if accomplished a very powerful offense
These were my thoughts as well.

I know most don't want to think about Catchings, but he would make sense with Cluff. If we can have DJ, TKR, Cluff and Catchings at the 4-5 spots. We would have that interchangeability with post players. I'm not saying it will happen, but wouldn't be against it.
 
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Back to slow white guys . Hit the lottery when Edey transformed into a great player but that happens once a blue moon. Now we lost our only 2 guys that could play above the rim. Against good athletic teams we will struggle again
And now we gotta fill the spots with same or better
 
Geezus, a couple of you guys are acting just like you do in the game threads. Relax for just a bit and let this whole thing play out. If after the portal closes, we still haven't replaced the players we lost with equal, if not better talent, then you can panic and jump off the cliff.

Until then, wait and see what CMP does with the roster.
 
Geezus, a couple of you guys are acting just like you do in the game threads. Relax for just a bit and let this whole thing play out. If after the portal closes, we still haven't replaced the players we lost with equal, if not better talent, then you can panic and jump off the cliff.

Until then, wait and see what CMP does with the roster.
Yep, no way we should panic over bench players. They were huge core pieces, but CMP will adjust accordingly.
 
These were my thoughts as well.

I know most don't want to think about Catchings, but he would make sense with Cluff. If we can have DJ, TKR, Cluff and Catchings at the 4-5 spots. We would have that interchangeability with post players. I'm not saying it will happen, but wouldn't be against it.
if his head were on straight he could be a 3 or 4 easily providing size at the 3 and stretch at the four. However, there would be a lot of questions to ask and consequences stated...
 
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IMO, the athletic guard, wing or whatever is not as important as Oscar, Daniel and Trey not only able to score on the blocks, but at least out to 15 feet. The interchangeability should this happen pretty much eliminates an effective zone should Purdue be off behind the arc. The power that can be played takes a toll as it did with Zach on other team’s front lines drawing fouls and getting into the bonus quicker and removing pieces from the other team…not to mention the ability to run high low with whatever defender you want to defend the low post. This is not to say that desires for a more athletic player (as others state…get his own shot) couldn’t possibly help, but IMO secondary to the trio becoming very good inside and out to 15.

We know Braden can get his own shot…along with CJ and wouldn’t be surprised to see Giccari get there over the summer and Fletch offering some drives and mid-range pullup. Open behind the arc potential good shooting comes from Braden, Fletch, CJ, Giccari, Cam and Jack. Jack does a good job of getting open and Braden will find him. Giccari and CJ are more combo guards that could spell Braden for short stints, but are young and not the pure PG Braden is. Does Purdue if wanting another player get a PG to back up Braden or does Purdue look for the athletic 3 man which appears t take some time away from Cam/Fletch or does Purdue look at a 2 man to possibly start knowing CJ/Giccari are still young but promising? All of this could be beneficial, but what an unstoppable front line Purdue could have at the 4 and 5 if the Trio are effective in the low post and out to 15.

Oscar reminds me a “little” of Brad Miller in that he generally plays below the rim, but is effective in what appears to be his girth without the passing of Brad perhaps.

edit below
Completely forgot Burgess that I have high hopes for adding to that Trio. ;)
Any team that shoots the three .
Is capable of neutralizing bigs.
It's where all of basketball is now..
 
Any team that shoots the three .
Is capable of neutralizing bigs.
It's where all of basketball is now..
1) What is the optimal spacing behind the arc? 2) Are four behind the arc closer or farther apart than 3 behind the arc? 3) Does having two interchangeable bigs hinder the three behind the arc? Basketball like football needs balance to be solid.
 
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Yeah i think we have.
Happy to have Cluff and i think we will see some nice high-low action with him and TKR. Just don't believe that plus hoping enough 3's go down is necessarily enough.
adding a 7'4" guy with very good shot blocking instincts to a team that struggles to keep penetrators in front of them AND letting TKR post on 4's instead of guys bigger than he is going to be large all on it's own. Add a big bodied physical player (we had none) that avg over 10 boards a game and there's reason to be optimistic that have nothing to do with 3's going down.
We "should' be back to bully ball next year and that will help greatly.
 
if his head were on straight he could be a 3 or 4 easily providing size at the 3 and stretch at the four. However, there would be a lot of questions to ask and consequences stated...
Verbal commits says we offered him ... is that true?
 
adding a 7'4" guy with very good shot blocking instincts to a team that struggles to keep penetrators in front of them AND letting TKR post on 4's instead of guys bigger than he is going to be large all on it's own. Add a big bodied physical player (we had none) that avg over 10 boards a game and there's reason to be optimistic that have nothing to do with 3's going down.
We "should' be back to bully ball next year and that will help greatly.
well said
 
1) What is the optimal spacing behind the arc? 2) Are four behind the arc closer or farther apart than 3 behind the arc? 3) Does having two interchangeable bigs hinder the three behind the arc? Basketball like football needs balance to be solid.
I decided to pay attention to floor balance in the games Saturday and Sunday. 4 outside the arc seems to be the norm ... hardly anyone played big man back to the basket often. A VERY limited sample, but they were the elite 8.
 
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