Off season plan for Esa
- Thread starter wvpaper
- Start date
kay:Ok
He's not helping in the press. Not quick enough or skilled enough to put the ball on the floor on the perimeter. Not a great shooter. Not a good passer. His size advantage at the 3 does not pay off nearly enough.
But the team needs a rebounder/banger and he could do that with extra weight.
He's not helping in the press. Not quick enough or skilled enough to put the ball on the floor on the perimeter. Not a great shooter. Not a good passer. His size advantage at the 3 does not pay off nearly enough.
But the team needs a rebounder/banger and he could do that with extra weight.
A) Esa's main offensive attribute is his ability to attack the rim off the dribble for his size
B) Esa's shooting %'s: 49% FG, 37% 3pt
He shoots just fine from the perimeter. He doesn't shoot enough - 1.1 3pt attempts a game
C) averaging 2 assists a game so he is an adequate passer at the very least
D) his role in the press, be him a SF or a PF, would not change so him "not helping in the press" is a non argument
E) Esa is a finesse player and that doesn't just change over the course of a summer. We are bringing in Wesley Harris to play the 4 spot aling with Lamont West and Maciej Bender next year..... Esa will play PF some of course but he will never be a Kevin Jones or a Devin Williams
B) Esa's shooting %'s: 49% FG, 37% 3pt
He shoots just fine from the perimeter. He doesn't shoot enough - 1.1 3pt attempts a game
C) averaging 2 assists a game so he is an adequate passer at the very least
D) his role in the press, be him a SF or a PF, would not change so him "not helping in the press" is a non argument
E) Esa is a finesse player and that doesn't just change over the course of a summer. We are bringing in Wesley Harris to play the 4 spot aling with Lamont West and Maciej Bender next year..... Esa will play PF some of course but he will never be a Kevin Jones or a Devin Williams
So you admit there's no room for him at the 3. Gain the weight and sort of be a Wellington smith type.. that would be great
West, bender, and tbd(not Esa) should get most of the minutes at the 3.
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Sometimes he's a terrific player, and other times he plays with what appears to be a lack of confidence. Hopefully coach Huggins can get this kid playing to the level of his potential on a consistent basis. I'm betting he'll continue to mature as a player and be just fine over time. With 2 years in the system and plenty of game experience he has the potential to make a signicant impact, and I think he will.
There's about 25 minutes a game at small forward for Esa Ahmad for the next two years. Behind him will be D'Angelo Hunter or Teddy Allen
West and Harris will split the 4 spot, with Harris hopefully earning the starting spot so Huggs can keep bringing West off the bench for energy and scoring..... which is his desire.
Maciej Bender is the one who needs to beef up in the offseason and move to a more traditional center role behind Sagaba and Macon
Our two deep rotation will be:
PG Carter, Bolden
SG Miles, Knapper or Harler
SF Ahmad, Hunter or Allen
PF Harris, West
PF Macon, Konate
Bender is effective in the press. No, he will play some of nathans role next year. Playing west at PF and Esa at SF makes little sense. West hasn't played that role 1 minute this year.
West is going to be a bigger part of next years team than you think
What about Culver? He is a top 150 player. He should see time at PF and possibly the 5 next year. I would be surprised if he redshirts. IMO, we will be solid at PF next year and should let Esa continue to improve at his combo forward position. He reminds me a little of Joe Alexander and has shown flashes where he can take over a game. He should be better and stronger next season.
We still have a lot of bb to play this year and I'm looking forward to enjoying it. But with that said, the future of WVU bb is looking real good.
We still have a lot of bb to play this year and I'm looking forward to enjoying it. But with that said, the future of WVU bb is looking real good.
I can't wait til 'next year' to see how all this plays out. But, I can tell you this. Lamont West is a player and is likely to play a big role in the game plan. Here's my question. Will Bender be ready to play with the big boys? I sure hope so.
If that were true you would know it doesn’t matter in WVU’s offensive or defensive scheme.
Lol. You should quit thinking Keaton is right.
Watch the games, don't focus on the ball.
I believe that if he gets focused Esa could be one of the very best to have ever played for the Mountaineers. But the lack of consistency brings into question his ability to "git 'er done."
I hope the problem is with his back (and not serious) and not with his head.
Just hope he plays for the Mountaineers the next two years with intensity.
I hope the problem is with his back (and not serious) and not with his head.
Just hope he plays for the Mountaineers the next two years with intensity.
You're killing me. Try this... imagine Esa in Wellington Smiths role. A true power forward in a 5 man out motion offense. You're old enough to remember Smith. Get it?
It's about roles. Your focus on position is confusing you. Sorry for being so blunt... I do respect my elders.
I’m not confused at all. You are obviously confused since you start the conversation saying EA needs to “commit to the 4 spot.” That’s laughable on its face.
This is the kind of blantant bullshot post that confuses folks on this board and I think you enjoy doing that.
It's hard to label Nate this year because he's doing everything but playing point. But how ridiculous is it to say West spells Nate on the floor. Nate is pretty much never off the floor. We do see Bender doing it once in a while, maybe for about 60 seconds a game though.
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Macon and konante play the PF or traditional 4 role this year. We don't have a 5. Nate certainly can't be labeled as a PF. I think Esa could be like Macon with more popping out for a long jumper.
You've fallen into the old board behavior of attacking what you don't understand.
You've fallen into your usual habit of suggesting people who disagree with you don't understand. Look at how Huggins has run his offense historically. What your suggesting about EA is just characteristic of his offenses.
Esa Ahmad is never going to move to PF..... the quicker you move on to your next soapbox, the better
Bob Huggins recruited Wesley Harris to come in and start at PF next season with West backing him up and providing offense to the 2nd unit
Bob Huggins recruited Wesley Harris to come in and start at PF next season with West backing him up and providing offense to the 2nd unit
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