Duke game thread 8/15/18
- Thread starter fannin522
- Start date
Really pretty putback from Zion. He’s doing a lot right now which is impressive. However, the team they’re playing is not good. Theyre playing a loose, sloppy zone, and jacking up 30 footers. They’re also all toothpicks. No strength whatsoever.
Duke conditioning is baffling. It’s like hey haven’t done any conditioning. Probably has to do with the drop off from the type guys and he back ups. Top guys don’t have to work as hard on offense or defense in practice compared to UK where your back up can take your minutes if you slack
I also am curious how he will respond to being forced into a 5 role quite a bit. As you've admitted, Bolden still sucks balls and delaurier is a good energy guy, but lacks real skills to be too reliable, plus fouls a lot.
If Tre Jones is out until January, which I've heard could be the case, who played guard and who runs the offense?
Well , so far hes making it from all over the court..maybe just a fluke though. End of first half duke 40 to 28...Zion and Barret have 37 combined points..only 3 points from the rest of the team..and Barrett and Zion are not being ball hogs either. The rest of the team cant hit anything..
Poorly. This is the 2nd best team in Canada, and they had 3 players that were even good enough to play in some capacity for the Team Toronto group that UK played.
They say Barrett, but if Barrett runs the PG against UK, then UK will win by 30+. Dude is a turnover machine and a half, and he hasn't made a ton of smart plays.
Zion looks genuinely good. I think it'll be very fun to watch him play against Washington and Travis. Barrett hasn't been overly selfish, but he's been very erratic. Not impressing me in the slightest. The rest of the Duke team that has played has looked absolutely putrid, to put it plainly.
Will be tough for other teams because there isn’t a five man who will be able to stay in front of him
He'll go top 10 if he shoots decent from deep? Don't believe in straying from the trunk of the tree, do you Mrs. Ulis? That kid's going top 10 if he doesn't develop another iota between now and season's end...
Simply stating my opinion that if he can continue with a decent jumper, he’ll have open driving lanes to do what he does best. He may go top 10 regardless because of his name, but I wouldn’t take an undersized power forward who can’t shoot a lick. I guess that just me, Nicksucksazz.
Zion has looked better than expected.
If he can shoot like this all year than he will be an easy top 5 pick. However, this is the first time in his career he has shown the ability to shoot beyond 10-15 feet. So we will have to wait to see if it was a hot night or is going to be consistent.
I stil think playing against legitimate size and athleticism will affect him in the paint. How good he will be this year depends on how good he can be outside of 10 feet which will help open up the best part of his game. Which is how I've felt. I just had my doubts he would be able to consistently shoot beyond 10-15 ft (based on his HS stats). If he has truly improved this much from barely 25% against the worst HS competition imaginable, then he will have a better season than I've expected this far.
Surprised by Dukes lack of conditioning though as other have alluded to.
Why would you put a 5 on him? Put your quickest/strongest defender on him. Let your 5 guard someone else.
I'm not knocking your opinion, Mrs. Ulis, I just think your nba projection for fat hami is an ultra-conservative estimate. He's a young Charles Barkley. If he becomes Charles Barkley w/ a deep jumper, you're talking about a hall of famer, not just a top 10 draftee. Of course, this is just my opinion and is to be taken w/ a grain of salt...
Azabuki, the kid from KU, however you spell it, easily can. UNC has a couple guys that can cause him issues size wise. Richards is very solid size wise and his length will bother Zion. Not to mention Reid and PJ. Auburn, UT will also have some similar sized or bigger players. I'm sure there are a few others with guys who can match up size wise.
Pull your pants up from around your ankles and go back to your own board.
Based off of half a game? Come on man, the kid is supremely talented.
I appreciate a good debate. I know realistically he will not go out of the top 10. But if I were the GM, I’d want to see some things from him first. If he can be Charles Barkley, then watch out.
I think he’s going to be fun to watch. Hate Duke, hope they have a terrible year full of chemistry issues, but there’s no doubting that he’ll have some incredible highlight reels this year.
90 is more likely. Hell, it won’t surprise me if we beat them by triple digits.
RYERSON
Good to know you'd base your number one pick in the NBA draft on one half of basketball by an 18 year old against RYERSON. If I ever have an NBA team I'll make sure not to hire you.
You guys need to chill. Zion hasn't really faced great competition in organized basketball in his life. I'll bet you right now when he goes up against UK for his first organized basketball game against real talent he won't look half as impressive.
Also Zion has been getting winded but it's easy to hit when there is zero defense. And as far as his defense it hasn't stood out at all so.
Barrett looks way under advertised if we're using this game to crown Zion. Duke needs 2 guys at least the level or more of Davis and MKG to win this title. They don't have that.
Dukes bench is showing why they rarely played too.
His jumper looks awful, looks the way I thought Zion's would look. Maybe it is just an off game but he is missing bad.
Good lord what has Kev done to you? You’re going at him hard in two different threads.
Anyone who followed this years recrutiing class should understand RJ is an elite talent.
Zion is obviously elite
Reddish is elite.
They will all go I’m sure top 10.
Vegas has them best odds with us for a reason. Can those 3 carry duke, probably not. None of them are an Anthony Davis type talent.
But not using this game as a barometer of how their season will play out. Elite talent, young, except coach rat face is no Calipari when surrounded with young talent. IMO it’s rat face that will or will not get them to a final 4
Zion is obviously elite
Reddish is elite.
They will all go I’m sure top 10.
Vegas has them best odds with us for a reason. Can those 3 carry duke, probably not. None of them are an Anthony Davis type talent.
But not using this game as a barometer of how their season will play out. Elite talent, young, except coach rat face is no Calipari when surrounded with young talent. IMO it’s rat face that will or will not get them to a final 4
Yeah, but this isn't 1985, the game has changed.
Of course, if he can legitimately shoot he will easily fit into today's game. Shooting is the key.
UK will shut him down as a team, just like they always do. It's never just in 1 guy's shoulders.
It’s not the first time. He shot ok in camps but in HS games he was such a brute force and could overwhelm near the rim that that’s all he would do since no one could stop it
you haven’t been around long enough to know kev69 then.