Cline's Development

[depthcharge623]

With all this talk of needing a better ball handler/penetrator, I was surprised while reading this article by Hammer and Rails that Cline was a real driving threat in High School. I don't really recall him trying to drive at all this season at Purdue, and I guess if he did it was bad enough that I blocked it out of my memory.

Anyone from Indiana get a chance to see him play much in HS? Is this true? And if so, what do you guys think it would take for Cline to get to the point where he can be a legitimate driving threat in the B1G?

 

[Mandeville LA]

I saw him play in high school and he did drive the ball at times. There were many times this year that he did take a shot and looked like he was going to drive but stopped and passed the ball back out. As he gets stronger and gains confidence I am sure he will become more versatile.

 

[DG10]

With all this talk of needing a better ball handler/penetrator, I was surprised while reading this article by Hammer and Rails that Cline was a real driving threat in High School. I don't really recall him trying to drive at all this season at Purdue, and I guess if he did it was bad enough that I blocked it out of my memory.

Anyone from Indiana get a chance to see him play much in HS? Is this true? And if so, what do you guys think it would take for Cline to get to the point where he can be a legitimate driving threat in the B1G?

I saw Cline multiple times in HS...while he did drive the ball on occasion, it is certainly not something to be considered a strength of his game. In HS, he was able to drive the ball against overmatched opponents from small rural schools...he is never going to be a guy that drives hard to the basket...he is a shooter, and primarily a spot-up one at that.

Cline is a guy that needs talent around him to be successful, which is why he was in a position to get minutes and succeed this year.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

With all this talk of needing a better ball handler/penetrator, I was surprised while reading this article by Hammer and Rails that Cline was a real driving threat in High School. I don't really recall him trying to drive at all this season at Purdue, and I guess if he did it was bad enough that I blocked it out of my memory.

Anyone from Indiana get a chance to see him play much in HS? Is this true? And if so, what do you guys think it would take for Cline to get to the point where he can be a legitimate driving threat in the B1G?

I saw him in high school multiple times as well. The level of talent and defensive sophistication that he faced in high school can't really be compared to college. He was a competent, opportunistic driver in high school, but it was mostly setup by his shooting ability and I saw nothing to suggest that it would translate to Division 1 basketball, especially early in his career.

 

[tjreese]

I saw him in high school multiple times as well. The level of talent and defensive sophistication that he faced in high school can't really be compared to college. He was a competent, opportunistic driver in high school, but it was mostly setup by his shooting ability and I saw nothing to suggest that it would translate to Division 1 basketball, especially early in his career.

I agree with you and DG, but the rules were rewarding players that drove the ball and there were a few times he should have driven the ball and see if things opened up...he might have got a foul and could have driven out. He is not athletic and strong enough to be where he needs to be a great finisher. Next year he should be better

 

[BoilerDeac]

With all this talk of needing a better ball handler/penetrator, I was surprised while reading this article by Hammer and Rails that Cline was a real driving threat in High School. I don't really recall him trying to drive at all this season at Purdue, and I guess if he did it was bad enough that I blocked it out of my memory.

Anyone from Indiana get a chance to see him play much in HS? Is this true? And if so, what do you guys think it would take for Cline to get to the point where he can be a legitimate driving threat in the B1G?

I mean, are you surprised? College basketball has far superior athletes, making it much, much more difficult for less athletic players to drive.

I'm sure players like Cline, Mathias, etc drove much more frequently in HS against lesser competition.

Rapheal Davis attacked the rim in the same straight-line fashion as he did in high school; unfortunately, he didn't improve much in that regard when he got to college. Not a knock on RD, just a fact that he probably relied heavily on his athleticism in high school, whereas you just can't get away with only relying on that as you face higher levels of competition.

 

[*4purdue*]

With all this talk of needing a better ball handler/penetrator, I was surprised while reading this article by Hammer and Rails that Cline was a real driving threat in High School. I don't really recall him trying to drive at all this season at Purdue, and I guess if he did it was bad enough that I blocked it out of my memory.

Anyone from Indiana get a chance to see him play much in HS? Is this true? And if so, what do you guys think it would take for Cline to get to the point where he can be a legitimate driving threat in the B1G?

That's a huge jump between HS basketball & the B1G. Cline played at a premier HS & can't at this point do alot of things he did in HS. Which is why I question when alot of people on this board think players like Bane are going to be able to come to Purdue & do the things they do at a HS that is much smaller & not nearly as competitive as the one the Mr Basketball runner up went to.

 

[johnboiler]

it's hard to drive with the lane clogged with big bodies, purdue's and the guys guarding them plus guys dropping off the non shooters. lebron would have a hard time if he was a boiler

guys have to shoot it, not necessarily a 3 but a shot it bogs things down if they don't

 

[Dakota Girl]

With all this talk of needing a better ball handler/penetrator, I was surprised while reading this article by Hammer and Rails that Cline was a real driving threat in High School. I don't really recall him trying to drive at all this season at Purdue, and I guess if he did it was bad enough that I blocked it out of my memory.

Anyone from Indiana get a chance to see him play much in HS? Is this true? And if so, what do you guys think it would take for Cline to get to the point where he can be a legitimate driving threat in the B1G?

He had good handle at Carmel. Played quite a bit at the point. Will not be a take it to the rim guy in college but could develop a hell of a pull it game.

 

[takedownboiler]

He needs to spend a lot of time working on his FT shooting.

 

[Schnelk]

It's possible we see Cline make a Nick Stauskas type evolution in the future. He may not be as athletic now but let him gain strength and confidence and see where it takes him. He might end up shooting more free throws as a result. And watch his percentage go up with more attempts. He's got a high ceiling imo.

 

[DG10]

It's possible we see Cline make a Nick Stauskas type evolution in the future. He may not be as athletic now but let him gain strength and confidence and see where it takes him. He might end up shooting more free throws as a result. And watch his percentage go up with more attempts. He's got a high ceiling imo.

Or maybe he will

It's possible we see Cline make a Nick Stauskas type evolution in the future. He may not be as athletic now but let him gain strength and confidence and see where it takes him. He might end up shooting more free throws as a result. And watch his percentage go up with more attempts. He's got a high ceiling imo.

As the saying goes, anything is possible, but in this case...tremendously unlikely.

Cline is not close to the athlete that Stauskas was (or is)...he is not even the shooter that Stauskas was...Stauskas was dominant, and in addition to being an outstanding shooter, he was incredibly athletic.

I would be thrilled if Cline approached being the shooter that he was...but I am confident that he will never be the athlete or player that Stauskas was.

 

[takedownboiler]

I really do like Cline but his focus at the FT line is ridiculous. I can't understand not taking very many of them for the poor percentage. But he started the year something like 0-4 or 1-5. He should have been 95-100% after that with the type of shooter he is. For Dakota to be in bounding instead of recieveing the pass for FTs late the game is something I DO blame MP for. Dakota shoots at 88%. Why the hell would he not be getting the ball?

 

[DG10]

I really do like Cline but his focus at the FT line is ridiculous. I can't understand not taking very many of them for the poor percentage. But he started the year something like 0-4 or 1-5. He should have been 95-100% after that with the type of shooter he is. For Dakota to be in bounding instead of recieveing the pass for FTs late the game is something I DO blame MP for. Dakota shoots at 88%. Why the hell would he not be getting the ball?

Agree on both points...with respect to the latter, while Mathias should be on the floor and receiving the inbounds pass seemingly, he is inbounding it because Purdue does not have anyone else capable of doing that to the degree that Mathias can unfortunately.

 

[Heller]

Agree on both points...with respect to the latter, while Mathias should be on the floor and receiving the inbounds pass seemingly, he is inbounding it because Purdue does not have anyone else capable of doing that to the degree that Mathias can unfortunately.

This. But why isn't there effort to get the ball to Vince who also shoots very well at the free throw line.

 

[tjreese]

Agree on both points...with respect to the latter, while Mathias should be on the floor and receiving the inbounds pass seemingly, he is inbounding it because Purdue does not have anyone else capable of doing that to the degree that Mathias can unfortunately.

"The Rule of Thumb" is that unless specific reasons dictate otherwise...like a last second play and something needs altered is for a sure handed, good passer if not the best passer "To take the ball out of bounds".. THAT pass is VERY critical. Now that is weighted in comparison to who is on the receiving end. However, it is very common for a 3 at the time to take it out with a 1 and 2 to be recipients. Player personnel can alter all of this (on both offense and defense), but a cursory review of other teams at many levels will support what I am saying. This was not directed at you DG, but as an additional understanding.