This is one of those things we are quick to criticize but rarely praise. I love how the coaching staff has spread the playing time so far. I hope we stick with it into 2019. It keeps fouls low, it keeps the 3rd stringers engaged and it sets us up for next year.
Love the minutes distribution
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Absolutely......and I love having confidence in our bench to perform when called on. Jack White would be starting on a lot of teams right now. And between Bolden and Jav, which ever you consider the sub, would also start for a lot of teams, as would AOC.
I think this keeps the whole team healthier and builds better team chemistry.
I think this is the biggest change in K’s strategy this season. Love it!
I think this is the biggest change in K’s strategy this season. Love it!
I love how the playing time is being spread out among 8-9 players. Like one of the announcers mentioned during the game, there’s not much of a drop off when one or more of the starters comes out of the game and the bench players come into the game.
It also helps when you beat most teams by 30 points. You will see the bench minutes squeezed as we move into conference play. But, I do think K has been more free flowing with rotations and combinations than past seasons.
I think we all saw the bench squeezed against Gonzaga which is really the only close game we’ve played all year. But minutes are minutes and our bench has been more than serviceable. But make no mistake about it, the next close game will involve our starters playing 30+ minutes.
I’m going to give you a qualified maybe.
This season seems very different in how the minutes are getting spread.
In seasons past Coach K seemed to be looking for the set, right combo — once found, never changed. This season seems much more fluid in rotation.
Conference play is different, I know. I get it. However there seems to be a different attitude. Sort of like the shift to using OAD guys.
Whatever it is, I likey!
LT, I agree, and I believe the current rotation will play during the ACC schedule. Really proud of the Staff for adjusting and the players for responding! This season has a little different feeling to it, and I am excited for the team and what is to come!
Go Duke!
OFC
I’ll point out one particular moment that I was happily surprised with this season. In the first half of the game against Gonzaga, Coach K put in the deep bench in a close game. I love the idea of trotting out Goldwire and Robinson alongside Cam for 3-4 minutes every game. There’s no real drop off in defense there, and if Cam is hot, there’s no need to have the other starters out there either.
I really like this thread. I can'think help but think at the beginning of the Coach K referred to a different type of offense which name escapes me. I think it was for Duke to have so many guys coming in and out which would enable them to stay fresh at a high level of play both offensively and defensevly. OFC
Hey DD, has Nido got you out shoveling snow. The walk through is coming up this week and all that snow needs to be gone.. We will go one of those two nights. Gonna be around??
I think K has found his 8 come conference play. The starters plus Jack, Jav (Marques if Jav starts), and AOC will be the rotation in close games come January.
I like it. The biggest thing is Tre will need to give us 35+ minutes, and RJ will be playing around 35+ minutes in our big games too.
I like it. The biggest thing is Tre will need to give us 35+ minutes, and RJ will be playing around 35+ minutes in our big games too.
Yes, I’ll be volunteering in the science area on Thursday night. I’m sure the campus will look great.
I like this rotation too. Hopefully Goldy can grab a few minutes even in big games to harass an opposing guard. I think it’s important to give him some tense minutes in case RJ or Tre get banged up or foul out.
Agreed. Goldwire is great at coming in and annoying the opposing ball-handler for a few minutes.
What bothers me about Goldwire is the dang hitch in his shot, his form is great, and then right before he releases the ball, he cocks his left elbow to the side. It's very annoying, I don't think he did that last year, and I think it's why he has shot terrible all season.
We have been down this road many times before and the rotation always shrinks come January. However, there are 2 things different about this team:
one, the amount of full court defensive pressure and the amount of fast breaking suggests that more subbing will be necessary, and two, Duke has so many offensive weapons that one or two starters can sit without unnecessarily affecting the offense.
A fan can dream, can't he?
one, the amount of full court defensive pressure and the amount of fast breaking suggests that more subbing will be necessary, and two, Duke has so many offensive weapons that one or two starters can sit without unnecessarily affecting the offense.
A fan can dream, can't he?