...and use at least 3 or 4 players that can switch, space the floor, play multiple positions and utilized the 3 point shot like the NBA and European teams are starting to do or is it still all about having the lumbering big boys down in the paint and having solid PG?

Good question. I guess a select few could recruit the best of the best and possibly do it. But overall, I think the NBA is a collection of all those highly athletic, skilled players. I don't know that there are that many versatile players within the amateur ranks.

Players that were that way(crazy athletic and large enough to play multiple roles) in college: Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis....few and far between. In the NBA they have a collection of them and they sprinkle in shooters and defensive specialists.

Love the philosophical question.

That was largely Denny Crum's philosophy at Louisville. Long athletes 6-5 to 6-8.
Worked pretty well for him whether he inserted a big man or not.

See 2007-2008 Memphis team... but we couldn't shoot the 3 so good.

(06-17-2015 08:01 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  See 2007-2008 Memphis team... but we couldn't shoot the 3 so good.

we did ok

I think that trend has already started in college basketball.

I certainly would go that route - but it is easier said than done.

"You're only as faithful as your options."

I think most teams would love to have a Marc Gasol (lumbering center) but there are only about 4 really talented guys taller that 7'0 in the league.

The same holds true for college. There just aren't a lot of kids coming from h.s. that are/want to be true centers. Okafor last year for Duke was.

The NBA is also just full of ridiculously talented players. Say what you will, but most any NBA player can hit a 15-20 footer 75% of the time if left alone. That is why they CAN space the way they do.

Most college kids (the 99% that don't go the the NBA) can't hit open mid range shots with regularity, so spacing issues don't work as well.

That midrange shot is a complete lost art in CBB. I really credit the staff or whomever for Joe Jackson having that weapon his senior year. If more guards and small forwards could knock down a 15 footer they would make that team dangerous.

With Iverson;Burrell; King;Hawkins ....that type of lineup flexibility was already in place....also add Geron ....we just never isol8ed them enough to attack from positions of power....also don't think @NBA plays the same zones ie 2-3 or 3-2 zones that could cause problems for this style of play.

DJ Steph Spoon & AT are part of this playing style & being able to play multiple positions.....I have always though that we, as Memphis BB, has always been ahead of this trend

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(06-17-2015 09:20 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  "You're only as faithful as your options."

I think most teams would love to have a Marc Gason (lumbering center) but there are only about 4 really talented guys taller that 7'0 in the league.

The same holds true for college. There just aren't a lot of kids coming from h.s. that are/want to be true centers. Okafor last year for Duke was.

The NBA is also just full of ridiculously talented players. Say what you will, but most any NBA player can hit a 15-20 footer 75% of the time if left alone. That is why they CAN space the way they do.

Most college kids (the 99% that don't go the the NBA) can't hit open mid range shots with regularity, so spacing issues don't work as well.

That midrange shot is a complete lost art in CBB. I really credit the staff or whomever for Joe Jackson having that weapon his senior year. If more guards and small forwards could knock down a 15 footer they would make that team dangerous.

It's a shame he lost his touch from outside his senior season. He shot .544 his junior season, and .496 his senior season from 2 point range.

(06-17-2015 09:20 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  "You're only as faithful as your options."

I think most teams would love to have a Marc Gason (lumbering center) but there are only about 4 really talented guys taller that 7'0 in the league.

The same holds true for college. There just aren't a lot of kids coming from h.s. that are/want to be true centers. Okafor last year for Duke was.

The NBA is also just full of ridiculously talented players. Say what you will, but most any NBA player can hit a 15-20 footer 75% of the time if left alone. That is why they CAN space the way they do.

Most college kids (the 99% that don't go the the NBA) can't hit open mid range shots with regularity, so spacing issues don't work as well.

That midrange shot is a complete lost art in CBB. I really credit the staff or whomever for Joe Jackson having that weapon his senior year. If more guards and small forwards could knock down a 15 footer they would make that team dangerous.

The first two picks will be Okafor and Towns


Drops mic

(06-17-2015 07:54 AM)holyterror Wrote:  That was largely Denny Crum's philosophy at Louisville. Long athletes 6-5 to 6-8.
Worked pretty well for him whether he inserted a big man or not.

Pervis Ellison, Clifford Rozier, Felton Spencer

(06-17-2015 11:18 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 07:54 AM)holyterror Wrote:  That was largely Denny Crum's philosophy at Louisville. Long athletes 6-5 to 6-8.
Worked pretty well for him whether he inserted a big man or not.

Pervis Ellison, Clifford Rozier, Felton Spencer

I remember the sign someone held up in the crowd: "Pervis is always nervous around Tigers"

67 regular season wins, and only 5 playoff losses is impressive, but I do want to point out that Golden State got two breaks during their playoff run - playing injured Memphis & Cleveland teams. And...despite those injuries, those were the 2 teams that used the "lumbering" inside games, and managed to win 2 games in their series despite their injuries.

Had we been at full strength, I think we may have gotten to a game 7 against them, but I believe our shooting deficiency, and lack of a superstar would have prevented us from winning a 7-game series against GS. However, if Cleveland has Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love at full strength, then I believe that they beat Golden State.

We could also just rotate an endless line of players into the game constantly over and over with seemingly no logic associated.

really? That was a top 10 NBA season by that team.

(06-17-2015 12:15 PM)fsquid Wrote:  really? That was a top 10 NBA season by that team.

According to Bluto, they were very lucky that Luke Walton didn't singlehandedly ruin them.

Gotta make shots.

(06-17-2015 12:01 PM)CKMcDan Wrote:  67 regular season wins, and only 5 playoff losses is impressive, but I do want to point out that Golden State got two breaks during their playoff run - playing injured Memphis & Cleveland teams. And...despite those injuries, those were the 2 teams that used the "lumbering" inside games, and managed to win 2 games in their series despite their injuries.

Had we been at full strength, I think we may have gotten to a game 7 against them, but I believe our shooting deficiency, and lack of a superstar would have prevented us from winning a 7-game series against GS. However, if Cleveland has Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love at full strength, then I believe that they beat Golden State.

Actually all 4 of the Warriors playoff opponents were without their starting PG.

New Orleans -Jrue Holiday was returning from injury and was not 100%
Memphis - Mike Conley returned from a broken face not 100%
Houston - Patrick Beverly never played
Cleveland - Kyrie Irving missed all but one game

They were a great team but had a very lucky playoff run.

(06-17-2015 11:18 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 07:54 AM)holyterror Wrote:  That was largely Denny Crum's philosophy at Louisville. Long athletes 6-5 to 6-8.
Worked pretty well for him whether he inserted a big man or not.

Pervis Ellison, Clifford Rozier, Felton Spencer

Rodney and Scooter McCray, Billy Thompson.