Giles, Tatum, & Bolden

bgognat02

Freshman
Oct 30, 2016
213
59
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We'll leave Giles out.

So can you clarify whether or not you think Duke will be a better team if they add Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden to their current 6 man rotation?
I will say Tatum will help them in the long term, short term he's still got a lot of catching up to do. I don't think he would have made much of a difference against KU. You seem to forget, Aside from those late 3's (particularly the one with the foul from Jackson kicking) Duke was getting beat pretty easily and badly at times.

Bolden, besides being more fouls, isn't likely going to give them much more than Jeter currently is. The way KU drove at will on Dukes guard, with Bolden's current foot speed he would have been a foul waiting to happen Against lesser teams he will be able to use his size, but against KU he wouldn't have done anything more than Jeter did.
 

BlueBlood66_rivals34314

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I will say Tatum will help them in the long term, short term he's still got a lot of catching up to do. I don't think he would have made much of a difference against KU. You seem to forget, Aside from those late 3's (particularly the one with the foul from Jackson kicking) Duke was getting beat pretty easily and badly at times.

Bolden, besides being more fouls, isn't likely going to give them much more than Jeter currently is. The way KU drove at will on Dukes guard, with Bolden's current foot speed he would have been a foul waiting to happen Against lesser teams he will be able to use his size, but against KU he wouldn't have done anything more than Jeter did.

Ok we will see. It's a terrible example but in the exhibition game that Bolden did play (against a bad team) he had more rebounds than Jefferson in less minutes. He was also ridiculously better than Jeter.
 

TheDude1

Heisman
Apr 15, 2010
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Ok we will see. It's a terrible example but in the exhibition game that Bolden did play (against a bad team) he had more rebounds than Jefferson in less minutes. He was also ridiculously better than Jeter.

Yeah, Bolden looked great when he played, albeit against much smaller players... but the things he showed (great hands, excellent defensive positioning with hands straight in the air, great touch) are things you can see against short players. I think you guys are underestimating Bolden like you do with Kennard.

Bolden is BIG, with a great wingspan and really fantastic hands. He is anticipated by most people to be a lottery pick. A big skilled rim protector, shot blocker, and rebounder with excellent touch around the hoop is ALWAYS a good thing to have, especially on a team whose guards aren't standout defenders.
 

bgognat02

Freshman
Oct 30, 2016
213
59
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And how did Skal look in the first few games last year? How did Poythress look the first game his freshman year? How did Derek Willis look in the first game this year? Playing against far inferior talent in meaningless games will tell you nothing. Think of us against Asbury. If we based it off exhibition then we should be a guaranteed lock to win it all. It's how you play on the big stage, when the lights come and the other team is comparable to yours. He's a good talent, but he's not the current contributor he's been built up to be. It's not even his fault. He just got way over-hyped because of who was recruiting him and what it meant ranking wise for those two teams. Bolden knows better than anyone where he's currently at skill and talent wise, which is why he picked Duke. It is less of a competition for playing time there and with the Giles situation he's all but guaranteed minutes, because besides Jefferson, the rest are even worse than him. If Giles doesn't play this year or isn't able to contribute as much as expected, Duke going to have a very subpar year.
 

bgognat02

Freshman
Oct 30, 2016
213
59
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Yeah, Bolden looked great when he played, albeit against much smaller players... but the things he showed (great hands, excellent defensive positioning with hands straight in the air, great touch) are things you can see against short players. I think you guys are underestimating Bolden like you do with Kennard.

Bolden is BIG, with a great wingspan and really fantastic hands. He is anticipated by most people to be a lottery pick. A big skilled rim protector, shot blocker, and rebounder with excellent touch around the hoop is ALWAYS a good thing to have, especially on a team whose guards aren't standout defenders.
What has Kennard done again? He scored well the other night because KU focused on Allen, Jackson and Jones more and let Kennard be the beneficiary.
I've never said Bolden doesn't have potential, and his wingspan will get him drafted, but he's not currently anywhere close to the level of contribution that's going to get Duke to a final four.
 

BlueBlood66_rivals34314

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And how did Skal look in the first few games last year? How did Poythress look the first game his freshman year? How did Derek Willis look in the first game this year? Playing against far inferior talent in meaningless games will tell you nothing. Think of us against Asbury. If we based it off exhibition then we should be a guaranteed lock to win it all. It's how you play on the big stage, when the lights come and the other team is comparable to yours. He's a good talent, but he's not the current contributor he's been built up to be. It's not even his fault. He just got way over-hyped because of who was recruiting him and what it meant ranking wise for those two teams. Bolden knows better than anyone where he's currently at skill and talent wise, which is why he picked Duke. It is less of a competition for playing time there and with the Giles situation he's all but guaranteed minutes, because besides Jefferson, the rest are even worse than him. If Giles doesn't play this year or isn't able to contribute as much as expected, Duke going to have a very subpar year.

Can I ask what you're basing your analysis of Bolden off of?
 

bgognat02

Freshman
Oct 30, 2016
213
59
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Watching him several times, talking to people that watch and evaluate talent for a living who have also seen him several times in person. He's got that talent, I don't deny that, but he's been hyped as Ann immediate impact player and it just isn't so. And if he is forced to be that because of the
Giles situation it's not likely to go very well. If he were to be healthy and playing now, Jeter would still start over him and play more currently. That tells me a lot about Boldens current development.
 

BlueBlood66_rivals34314

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Watching him several times, talking to people that watch and evaluate talent for a living who have also seen him several times in person. He's got that talent, I don't deny that, but he's been hyped as Ann immediate impact player and it just isn't so. And if he is forced to be that because of the
Giles situation it's not likely to go very well. If he were to be healthy and playing now, Jeter would still start over him and play more currently. That tells me a lot about Boldens current development.

Why would Jeter start over him? Bolden started when they both played. And he played much better than Jeter.
 

LostinIndiana

Junior
Mar 23, 2003
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What is overlooked in all of the hype is that the three are still unknown quantities in college. Giles may have been a great player in high school but two knee surgeries later he may not be a great college player. Bolden has not played a single minute against bigger and stronger front courts. Look at the problems Bam is having. Bolden will be having those same adjustments, if not worse. Tatum has also not proven himself as the consistent first option that some are touting him to be. We know what we have in our guys, but Duke is still an ESPN wet dream, the operative word being dream, at this point. Until they prove what they are it is all speculation.
 

bgognat02

Freshman
Oct 30, 2016
213
59
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I'm sure Allen looked great against them too, but how did he look ag
It was a bad team. But Jeter did not take advantage of being bigger and more talented than the opponent. Bolden did.

Why do you think Jeter would start over him?
higher motor, quicker, runs the floor and actually tries even though it's not helping. I've heard from several people that have seen Duke practice before he was sidelined and heard the same thing from all. Great potential, good instincts, slow, low motor and doesn't consistently commit to playing defense or running the floor. The kid is literally sitting out because he woke up one day and his leg kinda felt weird. No injury or practice or anything like that, just woke up one morning and hit kinda hurt. Nothing has been found on any x-rays or test and there just giving him time. That's weak stuff.
 
Jan 3, 2003
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When they are all healthy, K will invent the platoon system.

Never been done before.

Seriously though, I think there is a decent chance that Bolden doesn't see the court much if Tatum and Giles return. Jeter is getting experience and an opportunity. He too was highly rated. Jefferson is going to play! And pre-season scrimmages vs D-II/III teams don't tell you much if anything.
 

BlueBlood66_rivals34314

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I guess we will see. I don't think Bolden is in any way an all American or anything. The post I initially responded to suggested that Duke may not be a better team when these guys return. Bolden will be very much a net positive for the team when in the rotation, whether starting or not. Same with Tatum.

Also its definitely possible Jeter starts over Bolden when he returns but I would bet it would be extremely temporary. Bolden played much better and bested Jeter when they went head to head in Dukes blue/white game.
 

TheDude1

Heisman
Apr 15, 2010
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I'm sure Allen looked great against them too, but how did he look ag

higher motor, quicker, runs the floor and actually tries even though it's not helping. I've heard from several people that have seen Duke practice before he was sidelined and heard the same thing from all. Great potential, good instincts, slow, low motor and doesn't consistently commit to playing defense or running the floor. The kid is literally sitting out because he woke up one day and his leg kinda felt weird. No injury or practice or anything like that, just woke up one morning and hit kinda hurt. Nothing has been found on any x-rays or test and there just giving him time. That's weak stuff.

You are literally just typing nonsense.
 

JoeBeeHall

All-American
Nov 17, 2013
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If I could be a lotto pick and never play a game of college ball I would sit out the season and wait for the contract . Why chance a knee injury for free ?