Re: my mini-manifesto - or rant
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 8:50 am
I know nothing about Pippen's intentions - but, I also expect him to be back. That is why Disu's leaving kind of hurt all the more.
It is kind of ironic - the last few years we have lost guys to the draft because they had prototypical NBA potential and frames. Pippen, by contrast, has done more than most of those guys did for us - but is not the perfect NBA model. Pippen excels in playing smart, and knowing what he can do and doing it. Pippen is a great college basketball player - but he has a little way to go to be a draft threat first rounder. I think he will be one before he graduates. He needs to get a bit stronger and get the announcers to stop saying the other team should force him left - and work on the d a little too. He does a LOT of things well. At the end of the season he also took on being a vocal team leader - and was good at it. I have not seen him climbing up NBA mock drafts - I think next year he will.
I also think winning will only help him - and I think we have a shot at being pretty good next year if the newcomers are half as good as advertised. Unfortunately, we know that is not always a given. I think Stack is going to have the type of numbers of competent players to play a swarming, gritty d - and press a bit more. We were very good at up-tempo d. Pippen, Thomas, Lawrence, Chatman is a good start at backcourt - Chatman started for the #3 team in 2020... I am excited to have him. Robbins is a real center and that will help too. Milora-Brown may get to play some four - or back Robbins up. Wright and Stute are good players and I like to watch them both play - I am hopeful Terren Frank (who went to school with Pippen) will also be a plus.
And the new freshmen - Dorsey and Daniels - are highly regarded. We should be pretty good. With Disu, we would have been very good... But you line up with who you have - and we did play a long stretch last year without Disu - and we did ok.Again, ironically, this gave Wright and Stute more time on the court - which will end up helping next year.
It is kind of ironic - the last few years we have lost guys to the draft because they had prototypical NBA potential and frames. Pippen, by contrast, has done more than most of those guys did for us - but is not the perfect NBA model. Pippen excels in playing smart, and knowing what he can do and doing it. Pippen is a great college basketball player - but he has a little way to go to be a draft threat first rounder. I think he will be one before he graduates. He needs to get a bit stronger and get the announcers to stop saying the other team should force him left - and work on the d a little too. He does a LOT of things well. At the end of the season he also took on being a vocal team leader - and was good at it. I have not seen him climbing up NBA mock drafts - I think next year he will.
I also think winning will only help him - and I think we have a shot at being pretty good next year if the newcomers are half as good as advertised. Unfortunately, we know that is not always a given. I think Stack is going to have the type of numbers of competent players to play a swarming, gritty d - and press a bit more. We were very good at up-tempo d. Pippen, Thomas, Lawrence, Chatman is a good start at backcourt - Chatman started for the #3 team in 2020... I am excited to have him. Robbins is a real center and that will help too. Milora-Brown may get to play some four - or back Robbins up. Wright and Stute are good players and I like to watch them both play - I am hopeful Terren Frank (who went to school with Pippen) will also be a plus.
And the new freshmen - Dorsey and Daniels - are highly regarded. We should be pretty good. With Disu, we would have been very good... But you line up with who you have - and we did play a long stretch last year without Disu - and we did ok.Again, ironically, this gave Wright and Stute more time on the court - which will end up helping next year.