He compared it to a puzzle with too many pieces that were identical and would only fit into the same space on the board, similar to a basketball team that had too many players that played the same position.

 

They're loaded in the 3-4 spot, but don't exactly have a true 5 other than Richards and Wynyard.

 

Knox, Vanderbilt, Gabriel, Washington, and even SKJ are suitable for the 3-4 spot but only have Alexander, Diallo, Green, and Baker that are actual guards with Green being the only "true" point guard.

They're loaded in the 3-4 spot, but don't exactly have a true 5 other than Richards and Wynyard.

 

Knox, Vanderbilt, Gabriel, Washington, and even SKJ are suitable for the 3-4 spot but only have Alexander, Diallo, Green, and Baker that are actual guards with Green being the only "true" point guard.

 

Those guys are all fours. None of them have the perimeter or ball skills to be a high end three. Now, they will likely see minutes at the three spread across a couple of them, but that doesn't make them good at the position. That's where the puzzle doesn't fit together...

Those guys are all fours. None of them have the perimeter or ball skills to be a high end three. Now, they will likely see minutes at the three spread across a couple of them, but that doesn't make them good at the position. That's where the puzzle doesn't fit together...

 

Does Knox have the "handles" to develop into a good 3 spot wing in your opinion?

Does Knox have the "handles" to develop into a good 3 spot wing in your opinion?

 

Not really. He's either a very good four or an average three. He can give you minutes there, but it isn't getting the most out of what he does well IMO...

"This will be a process, more than any other year I've coached here".

 

~Coach Cal on KSR right now.

Cal always likes to experiment and play "odd" lineups. A few years ago, they put out some incredibly big lineups. This year will likely see a lot more experimenting. The positions will work itself out and there aren't many true 5's anymore, so going smaller with the 4 and 5 being interchangeable is likely. Getting quality minutes from SKJ inside would be helpful though. Green at point is important too because Cal always puts a lot of pressure on his PG. The other three guards are interchangeable at the 2 or 3. They're either going to have the talent and learn to play together or they're not. Not too worried about positions.

Ok I'll state it a different way since that wasn't what you want to hear. Even in the era of "position less" basketball, there is still a defining line between guards, wings and bigs. A guy like Knox has a huge advantage as a skilled big that goes away when he is pushed out to a jumbo wing. The ability to be quicker than a big isn't there when facing a more mobile wing, so what he does well becomes more limited. If the roster was built with one or two more wings in place of the glut of fours, this team would be better built for success. Instead guys will have to be used in ways that don't maximize their skill sets and talent advantages...

This is me every year when I have to learn new names all over again! The bright side is if they aren't as good as in previous years, maybe some of them will stick around more than a year and I'll know their names by next year!

 

That's the only flaw in Cal's system. You can't afford to stick around more than one year because you will definitely be recruited over.

Those guys are all fours. None of them have the perimeter or ball skills to be a high end three. Now, they will likely see minutes at the three spread across a couple of them, but that doesn't make them good at the position. That's where the puzzle doesn't fit together...

 

I think Knox and Vanderbilt most certainly have the perimeter game to perform well in the 3 spot. Vanderbilt is arguably the most versatile player on the team and I'm pretty sure before his injury Calipari mentioned trying to play him at Point Guard.

 

The only thing that really scares me with this team would be foul trouble with the guards, especially with how young they are. Diallo and Green cannot afford to get into heavy foul trouble.

^82% of what Cal says is for recruiting purposes. I wouldn't put any stock in that. :lol2:

I think Knox and Vanderbilt most certainly have the perimeter game to perform well in the 3 spot. Vanderbilt is arguably the most versatile player on the team and I'm pretty sure before his injury Calipari mentioned trying to play him at Point Guard.

 

The only thing that really scares me with this team would be foul trouble with the guards, especially with how young they are. Diallo and Green cannot afford to get into heavy foul trouble.

 

I've been scouting Knox and Vanderbilt for years. I disagree on both. High level stretch bigs. Average wings at best...

Ok I'll state it a different way since that wasn't what you want to hear. Even in the era of "position less" basketball, there is still a defining line between guards, wings and bigs. A guy like Knox has a huge advantage as a skilled big that goes away when he is pushed out to a jumbo wing. The ability to be quicker than a big isn't there when facing a more mobile wing, so what he does well becomes more limited. If the roster was built with one or two more wings in place of the glut of fours, this team would be better built for success. Instead guys will have to be used in ways that don't maximize their skill sets and talent advantages...

 

That's bad coaching. My point is that you adjust your offense to your talents. What's a 4? In some offenses it's a power forward, in some offenses it's a guard. That's Cal's job to figure out.

That's bad coaching. My point is that you adjust your offense to your talents. What's a 4? In some offenses it's a power forward, in some offenses it's a guard. That's Cal's job to figure out.

 

It's about match ups. The reason a guy like Knox is so dangerous is because his skill set gives him an advantage over guys of a similar size. He doesn't have that advantage in quickness if he's pushed out further on the perimeter against guys that might be a little smaller, but move a ton better.

 

You guys are grasping at straws for some silly reason. I'm simply giving a scouting report on guys I have watched play a lot, and see issues in having too many guys with similar skill sets on the roster. Take it or leave it. My track record in evaluating players on here speaks for itself...

It's about match ups. The reason a guy like Knox is so dangerous is because his skill set gives him an advantage over guys of a similar size. He doesn't have that advantage in quickness if he's pushed out further on the perimeter against guys that might be a little smaller, but move a ton better.

 

You guys are grasping at straws for some silly reason. I'm simply giving a scouting report on guys I have watched play a lot, and see issues in having too many guys with similar skill sets on the roster. Take it or leave it. My track record in evaluating players on here speaks for itself...

 

I never said to move Knox outside. I never questioned (or know about or care about) your track record. I'm just saying that there are other players on the roster, there are many different combinations of players to play, and many different offenses that you can run to fit those things.

I never said to move Knox outside. I never questioned (or know about or care about) your track record. I'm just saying that there are other players on the roster, there are many different combinations of players to play, and many different offenses that you can run to fit those things.

 

And when many of the players on the roster have very similar skill sets, the roster becomes limited. That's been the point all along, chief...