My starting 5
by Penny2i on Dec 6, 2009 10:19 PM PST
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PrintPersonally I would like to see ML, MR, TH, RN, JM starting. I would like to test bobo and see what he has. I would protect him and MR some by mixing in zone. It’s a crazy trial for me, but I saw signs on offense if he can’t get experience. Initially he was an easy double, but in the 2nd half he showed more awareness actually passing out of a double to TH, who actually threw it back in on a repost and a nice bank. No offense, but ND will not do that once this season. I don’t care how many boards ND gets he lapses big time either boxing out or just not battling someone he should be at least battling for a board. Granted JM is hesitant to mix it up, but I think with time and other players banging him he will self-motivate more to not get beat. ND gets some rebounds because of his length on tip outs over the top, but other than that I am pretty sure he has never boxed out anyone.
The reality is that when Keefe and ND are in we have 2 players on the interior that can’t hold their spot. RN is by far the best player that can hold his spot and even move someone out with his lower body. He also has some surprising hops and a knack for the ball. He should be logging most of the interior minutes from here on out. At least bobo is not easy to move.. he does however need to be scolded to find a body and get it on someone when rebounding. TH actually is the only other guy who can go and get it on the glass and he should be starting soon. I can live with ND playing decent minutes, but I’d rather have him come in as a specialist to knock down some shots.
Until JA proves he can play in control and make a consistently positive impact I can’t see him getting more than 15 minutes. ML and MR should get the bulk of the minutes and JA should spell some rest for them and that is it. I would rather see Moser, TH getting minutes with both Roll and Lee on the court than have a smaller lineup with JA, MR, ML. I think we need to play with size and get anyone active in there who can get us extra chances with our inability to shoot the ball consistently.
In all I think we gave our best effort tonight. We seemed in general to have a good attitude out there. I don’t think there were nearly as many breakdowns and players were helping out more albeit sometimes late. Better than not at all. Our days of being able to contain man-to-man with little or no help off the dribble are gone right now. MR and JA can’t stay in front of any decent guards, so I can’t see how it’s possible to play 40 minutes of tough man to man defense without cheating our help to their aide and consequently leaving other big men open for passes or easy 2nd chances off misses.
I am probably the biggest cynic around, but I have not given up hope on this year yet. As far as the committee is concerned we are 0-1 without gordon and with honeycutt in a loss to the number 1 team in the country. Yes that is wishful thinking, but I do not think the cupboard is bare in this program. And I am certainly not convinced the pac 10 is littered with more than a couple programs that have more talent than us this season.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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I agree with everything you say. JK, ND, and JA haven’t done much with the time they’ve been given. Yes, I know some point out ND gets some boards, and he shows impressive hustle if he feels like it, but two airballs from 3 in the same game shouldn’t happen. I’d gladly trade some of his hit-or-miss outside shooting with the chance to get some big bodies doing something under the rim, even if they’re not quite ready.
formerly AZBruin
Reeves Nelson had a coming out party against Kansas, IMO
Until the other guys show the same desire to win he will be our centerpiece for the next couple of years.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Absolutely Agree!
The starting five should be Lee at PG, Roll at SG, Honeycutt at SF, Nelson at PF, and Bobo at C.
Lee has great ball handling skills, much much much better than Anderson. By putting Lee at PG it also opens up more minutes at the 2 or 3, which you can give to Moser. Playing time is crucial for the development of players.
In addition, Keefe and Drag should not be getting anymore minutes, but instead have the freshman play over them in order for them to develop. I believe Lane is the new Keefe, but more athletic and with a better shot.
I must say Bobo looked horrible in the first 5 minutes of the game, but throughout the game he improved. That was a good sign. Basically that was his first real game and in one game I saw improvement. With more minutes and games under his belt he will continue to improve.
With that said, I am not giving up on this year, actually I would probably never give up.
GO BRUINS!
Bobo....."ugh" at first glance, but then...
…when you think about it, it’s not such a bad idea, if you keep the zone and let him do his thing around the rim (block shots, hustle for boards, not be a complete defensive liability due to his speed, etc). If I’m not mistaken he did show occasional flashes of solid post offensive play last year too, and who knows, maybe that could build into something.
Increase Bobo's playing time based on what we have seen???
I have no idea how you think what you have seen from Bobo this season or last warrants selecting him to start ahead of anyone; particularly when we seem to think that we would need to go to a zone to prevent him from being exposed defensively, and he was personally responsible for multiple turnovers on offense.
Other than that, I think it’s clear TH is going to be starting sooner rather than later, and ML vs JA at point seems to be sometihng CBH is toying with, so I buy the rest of your starting 5. But it seemed to me we were much, much better with Bobo off the court than with him on it. He looks lost, and doesn’t have the athleticism to catch up when he is out of position.
Once TH is fully up to speed, I expect him to be able to do some of what Luuuuuuuuuuuc used to be able to do, in terms of quick double teams and weak side help within the defensive scheme, which should help alleviate the problem of being somewhat undersized inside. Putting a slow big body into the middle for the sake of it – and changing the whole defensive philosophy to compensate for his shortcomings – seems like madness.
The Bobo Conundrum
Let’s assume that Bobo is practicing well. If he were not, he’d not be getting into the games.
It is very hard to prove one’s self when one gets so little time within which to do it. It’s really hard to do anything when in your mind you are worried that make a mistake and you are out.
We have been veeery tolerant of some players and the mistakes they have been making. JA. ND.
I’d like to see Bobo get a longer shot.
I agree with many here that he started to look better as the game progressed.
One thing bothers me. Bobo has been criticized as though he is Ferdinand the bull — soft and loving. To a great extent I think that’s because of the smile on his face when he is playing. Some have actually called him out for that.
Josh Shipp was a true Ben Ball Warrior and he, too, had a smile on his face throughout most of the game. He just loved to play. And, I think Bobo does too. One can love what he is doing, smile and still be tough. You don’t have to look like a thug to be effective.
Bobo has done some nice things in games.
I’m hoping Bobo gains CBH’s trust and admiration and plays more. I really like the kid and see potential.
And, don’t forget, he too is not all that experienced.
I think ND is playing as best he can and I credit him for that. He’s not holding anything back. But, I’m not sure how much fall off there will be to giving Bobo some of his minutes.
sjh
let's assume
that he’s not practicing well enough to get more minutes, otherwise he wouldn’t be getting so few minutes.
It’s pretty easy to prove oneself when you get 20 hours of practice/game in which to do it. It’s not hard to motivate yourself when in your mind you know that if you perform well enough in practice then you are in.
etc etc.
Bluebland’s post on Bobo’s potential role for the team, and the subsequent suggestions from other BN readers, seems ‘on point’
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