I think Marcus is the type player that is better coming off the bench than being a starter. In previous years he has usually energized the team as a sub. With his lack of true post moves, his propensity for fouling, and his inability to hit foul shots I think its asking too much of him to play starters minutes. Unfair to him.
Marcus better coming off bench
- Thread starter Graves51
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He does bring a great amount of energy off the bench.
Not sure it is unfair for a 5 star to be starting by his junior year with all the competition he has faced daily since he's been here.
Maybe Lee would be more productive coming off the bench, but I don't think UK has the luxury to find out this season. Lee is the best option at Center, with Skal being worked in and out for short periods. I think Poythress and Willis together can steal some minutes as the frontcourt - and maybe even a little Humphries or Wynard now and then - but I don't think that would work well for any extended time against good opponents with any kind of interior presence.
Alex and Lee is a great bench player.......
They aren't great starter with a lot of play time because they lack so much. Coming off the bench while other team is unprepared to unleash their insane athleticism is best way to utilize.
Too bad we have no one to really replace them. I hope Humphries / Skal can develop enough by season end.
They aren't great starter with a lot of play time because they lack so much. Coming off the bench while other team is unprepared to unleash their insane athleticism is best way to utilize.
Too bad we have no one to really replace them. I hope Humphries / Skal can develop enough by season end.
I believe both would be fine if we had a solid big man as the focal point, they are very good complimentary players.
Both need a big man who demands the double to allows them to crash the boards for garbage and free them up for lobs.
Skal was supposed to be such but that ship never got in the water.
I agree.
Problem is, Poythress, Lee, Skal, Humphries, Wynyard, and Willis should all come off the bench.
Problem is, Poythress, Lee, Skal, Humphries, Wynyard, and Willis should all come off the bench.
The only fix for this team is Lee and Poythress stepping up and playing with confidence and swagger. Skal can't play more than about 15 mins. per game. he's terrible, face it. There is No fix for this team but what I stated above. Line up changes will not help.
In most years we would be better with Marcus on the bench not coming off the bench but it is what it is this year.
Actually, I agree with this too. Poythress usually plays better when he's a starter and Lee seems to play better when he's coming off the bench. I'm not sure what that's all about- it's probably some mental thing- but it's true. My 2 cents at this point would be that we need to start Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, Poythress, and Labissiere. I know Labissiere probably doesn't deserve it anymore than anyone else, but my opinion on Skal is that he needs playing time and the team needs to help build his confidence back up. Feed him the ball and try to get him going, even if he bumbles it a time or two. Bring Lee off the bench. If Poy comes out flat and disinterested, pull him and put in Willis right away.
I love 99% of what you post but I think if we start Skal we'll be down 6-12 points by the 1st TV time out every game. He cant's play D. I mean, that's why he was removed from the staring lineup in the 1st place.
The only true fix is for Poythress and Lee to man up. Look at who they've gone against in practice last year and the year before. If those two can;t find their game we're in trouble. No line up changes can fix it.
You may be right cal=8. I'm grasping at straws, most likely. My thought is that Skal is the best hope we have for a consistent post scorer. I think he's got the skill to get it done, but not the confidence. I'm thinking that moving him back to the starting line-up might be a big confidence boost. Tell him to establish position and feed him the ball. We may lose another game or two, but he's getting experience and, maybe, getting better. So, perhaps in a few weeks he's much more confident and starting to emerge as a serious threat. OR... he could regress even further and the whole thing could backfire.
You don't think Cal already knows this? If this is what is best for the team then its what he would be doing.
Who are these Humphries and Wynyard fellows you speak of?
Seriously, I'd love to see more of 'em.
Sure, I think he knows this. I'm not writing this message to Calipari, though. Just discussing it with fellow fans. What is your point cutnets?
Just seems to me that by making these suggestions you are insinuating that what Cal is currently doing with his line-up is wrong or ineffective.
It would be be nice to see what they can do in an actual game.
Nah, I'm just thinking out loud. I'm trying to fix it. It's in my nature to do this, I suppose.
Actually, I'm sure you're right. Calipari knows the team better than I do and I'm sure he knows what's best. I'm just making a suggestion based on my own observation.
@IL Wildcat
That is a bit harsh Cut, seemed like just a thought or possibility.
Besides, insinuating that what Cal is currently doing with his line-up is wrong or ineffective is your job.
Did you forget to mention Cal has won only 1 title with a bunch of talent in this post?
Just not sure how you could make a suggestion when the team is coached by a Hall of Famer. He went 38-1 last season. Why would you feel the need to make a suggestion. The team is fine. Cal knows what he is doing, he's in the hall of fame.
I definitely understand where you're coming from CUT-NETS. Just to clarify, I wouldn't have trouble with someone questioning Calipari here and there, substitution patterns, distribution of minutes, or even how to utilize a player better, such as maybe allowing Skal to face rather than playing him with his back to the basket. Heck, I don't even mind questioning in-game decisions. But man, the thing that always stands out to me about your style is that you always are posting about the same thing. It's always a criticism of Calipari. I don't remember seeing you post in any thread where your ultimate aim wasn't to criticize Calipari.
So, that leaves me concluding a few different possibilities...
1. You hate Calipari and want him gone, so your agenda here is to stir up the masses against him.
2. You always have to be right in every conversation. So you're trying to vindicate yourself, having said that you believe Calipari isn't a good coach.
3. You hate homerism and injustice, so you long to provide balance to the board in regard to ONE particular area, that is, Calipari as a coach.
4. You're not even a UK fan but you're here stir the pot.
I'm sure there could be other possibilities I haven't considered as yet. If so, please enlighten me. I'd love to have a good explanation of your ongoing agenda to criticize Calipari and have others join in and agree with you.
Mostly #3. However, I will say, I loved Cal when he first arrived and what he did in his first few seasons and was a stark defender similar to yourself. However, I do have a belief that his stubbornness has cost him, and will continue to cost him. I simply think he will get in his own way more times than not and prevent himself from winning the title unless he has an MKG and AD that void out his stubbornness. I think when you talk about the combination of what makes a great coach, Cal is the best. There is absolutely no one better when you combine recruiting, marketing, getting the most out of your players, motivating, etc etc. I think the biggest travesty in all of this and what gets lost because of his "rep" is what high character kids he has recruited since he's been here. Kids like Nerlens Noel that go out of their way towards a philanthropy or person in need are incredible stories and testament to Cal's character as an upstanding human being. I am so proud of the kids Cal has recruited.
I get infuriated with this board at times and their blind following of Cal and absolute refusal to admit the man's flaws. But I must reiterate, I have lost faith in Calipari's ability to win the big one again. He has simply proven more times than not to be too stubborn and set in his ways to win it again. Is the run he's been on incredible, absolutely. But I fear that we will look back on these times of multiple draft picks and McD's AA's and say "wow, we could have done more" and I think the opportunity is blowing by Cal and it kills me that its mostly because of his own stubbornness. I don't want to get into the in-game blunders, the difficulty that is winning the title etc etc. Cal is fantastic, but this board goes too far. I hope Cal proves me wrong over and over again, but I have simply lost faith in his ability to get it done and not get in his own way. Can he get to the Final Four? Sure, he's done it over and over again. Can he get out of his own way? I just don't believe he can.
Not sure why you discount what it takes to reach the FF?
38 straight wins.
But he forgets how to coach the very last one?
Or becomes too stubborn for the last one?
How about the teams in the FF are usually the ones playing the best Bball?
Sure Cal is not infallible, it's not like he only does what he does in the last game.
Same stuff all season -
Doesn't always call timeouts
Won't play zone
Slows it down with a lead
Etc
Has nothing to do with one game.
His other skills took us there.
His other skills won a title.
AD and MKG did not overcome his coaching.
He has too much of a record to suggest such a thing.
Well, I think some of the reactions people have to you are based on assuming one of those other three possibilities. And your beating of that same drum gets frustrating too.
I'll say this: I know Calipari isn't without his faults. Stubbornness and pride are two that go hand in hand. Part of those are also what makes him a great recruiter and motivator, though. It comes with the territory.
I'll also give you this: in this system where UK gets the best players for one year or maybe two, Calipari DOES need elite talent. Why? Because he doesn't have time to develop guys for 3 or 4 seasons. But I do believe that he would have teams that compete for titles if he had 3 and 4 year guys, just not as often.
Now if you want to talk stubbornness, like "these are my guys, I'm loyal" like he was with the Harrisons, or not playing any zone, or things like that, you could be right that it may cost him. But again, I think some of that comes with the territory of being the successful coach he is.
I'll say this: I know Calipari isn't without his faults. Stubbornness and pride are two that go hand in hand. Part of those are also what makes him a great recruiter and motivator, though. It comes with the territory.
I'll also give you this: in this system where UK gets the best players for one year or maybe two, Calipari DOES need elite talent. Why? Because he doesn't have time to develop guys for 3 or 4 seasons. But I do believe that he would have teams that compete for titles if he had 3 and 4 year guys, just not as often.
Now if you want to talk stubbornness, like "these are my guys, I'm loyal" like he was with the Harrisons, or not playing any zone, or things like that, you could be right that it may cost him. But again, I think some of that comes with the territory of being the successful coach he is.
All the credit in the world for getting us to the final four, no doubt about it, it's hard.
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