SB Nation User Blog: ben-p

Why John Wall Shouldn't Choose Florida

ben-p — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:27:31 -0000

Besides the fact that the "Gator Chomp" is really obnoxious and Kentucky girls are prettier.

If Wall really wants to have a chance at an Elite Eight or Final Four he needs to consider the following:

Nick Calathes is really good. He averaged a 17.2, 5.3, 6.4 last season. He also averaged almost 2 steals a game and 3.3 turnovers (good for a 1.9/1 a/t ratio). And even with a really good point guard, Florida went 9-7 in SEC play and missed out on the big dance. Is John Wall really that much better than Nick Calathes? Can he be the difference maker on a team where point guard was a strength (maybe THE strength) last year?

While the only playmaker (outside of possibly Calathes, who Wall would be replacing) that Florida is losing next year is Walter Hodge, they aren't gaining that much. Newcomers expected to contribute next year are stud SG Kenny Boynton, and Vernon Macklin who transferred from Georgetown. Boynton could be a big contributor, but as with all freshmen, who really knows until the season starts? And while Donovan has talked highly of Macklin, it would be a push to expect him to average double digit points (he averaged just over 3 @ Georgetown his freshman year). They are not a very deep team and Wall would be more of a measure to hold the team together rather than the final piece of the puzzle.

If Gerald Henderson comes back to Duke, Wall could make them a Title contender immediately. They won 28 games, have a great nucleus returning and could make a serious run. It's also close to home (and his mother). Without Henderson, Wall makes them a very good team, but I don't think they have the players to do serious damage in March.

Kentucky needs a point guard. In fact, if Jodie and Pat come back, that's pretty much ALL that Kentucky needs (besides maybe a bit more time getting used to the DDMO). Enough said.

I think that if playing in March is a consideration for Wall he should pick either UK or Duke. Florida is not very deep and didn't do that well last year with a great point guard.

Feel free to disagree and point out any mistakes I may have made.

Should Patterson Go?

ben-p — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:34:15 -0000

Playing devil's advocate here.

Will Patterson really fit in the DDMO? I keep hearing that Patterson will benefit from having a year playing in the 4 spot (rather than the 5 where he has been). But is the 4 spot in the DDMO really Patterson's true position? From what I understand (please tell me if I'm wrong on this) the DDMO is a four out system where the 1-4 need to be able to put the ball on the floor and drive in for a layup, make the dump pass to the 5, or make an outlet pass to one of the other three out. Can Patterson really initiate this offense (which all 4 out need to be able to do).

Don't get me wrong, Patterson is a hell of a player and I really hope to have him back next year, but is this system really for him? Did Calipari recruit him out of high school at all? This offense is very different from the High-Low we've been running with two in. Patterson would be a complete beast at the 4 in that offense IMO.

Personally I think that Patterson's game would greatly benefit from a year in the system just because no matter what it's going to help him prepare for the NBA game where he's going to need to be able to do the same things that the DDMO requires him to do. I'm just starting to think that his draft stock might be higher if he left now.

Discuss! Tell me how wrong I am. If I'm just not understanding the DDMO and that's the issue please let me know, I'm still trying to figure it out (maybe some of you Memphis people that have watched more of their games than I have).

Poll

Will Patterson fit in the DDMO?

Yes, you're an idiot for thinking otherwise

54 votes

No, his draft stock might be higher this year than next

15 votes

I have no idea, but I really hope so

43 votes

In Calipari We Trust

38 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed

Poll: Who's Best in One on One?

ben-p — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:35:26 -0000

An excerpt from the news conference where Coach Calipari explains (briefly) his offense and how it came about.

Q. I think the fan base has been taking a crash course on the dribble drive. What is it you like about that offense? Will you automatically implement that here or do you look at your personnel?

COACH CALIPARI: We're going to implement it and use whatever portions of it we can use. The dribble drive offense, Vance Walberg came to watch our team's practice at the University of Memphis. He wanted to take some things from our practice. He was a junior college coach. I went to dinner with him, Tell me how you play. He said, You don't want to know. Really, I want to know. We started talking. It was the craziest thing I'd ever seen. We don't set screens unless we're really running something. You know the old game of pass, pass, pass. This is dribble, dribble, dribble. This is your man. This unleashes players. This lets players get to the level they want.

I just told the team, if you cannot play, come and see me because this is not the right program. I can't hide you. You have to be able to put it on the floor and make basketball plays and do things. If you can, you're in heaven. If you can't, it's hard to play you.

Poll

With being able to "beat your man off the dribble" being so important in the DDMO, I want to know who you think is the best at this on our current 08-09 roster.

DeAndre Liggins

14 votes

Jodie Meeks

44 votes

Darius Miller

63 votes

Kevin Galloway

58 votes

Ramon Harris

0 votes

Michael Porter

4 votes

A. J. Stewart

0 votes

183 votes | Poll has closed

Never Come Between An NBA Stats Geek and the Truth

ben-p — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:13:54 -0000

Never Come Between An NBA Stats Geek and the Truth

Great article on stats keeping in the NBA with a nice Chuck Hayes reference (see below) thrown in for good measure.

After watching Anderson Varejao throttle the Clips with his low-post D recently, I e-mailed Daryl, wondering why there wasn't a stat called stops, for when a defender prevents his opponent from scoring on an isolation play, or a low-post or perimeter play. Come up with an unforced turnover in the process, and it's a "superstop." Daryl's response: "Why do you think we have Chuck Hayes?"

New Bracketology

ben-p — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:57:56 -0000

New Bracketology

Kentucky is up to a 4 seed!

In Response to Last Night's Rebounding Clinic

ben-p — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:40:50 -0000

All Patrick Patterson has to do to match his 07-08 rebounding total at Alabama on Saturday, is get half as many rebounds as he did last night. Despite averaging just over 3 minutes less per game than last year (a mere 32.6 vs his crazy 35.7 last year), Patterson is averaging almost two more boards per game (9.6 vs 7.7 last year)!

Right now Patterson's rebounding total for the season is sitting at 183 in 19 games played. His totals last year? 192 in 25 games.

Patterson has mainly picked up the effort on the defensive end this year. His defensive rebounds already eclipse what he did last year (138 so far this year vs 121 last year). His def. rebounding avg. is up to 7.26 from 4.84. Offensive boards are a little more difficult to come by, partly because he's playing on a team shooting 50.8% (second only to Utah State who's shooting 51.6%).

Although we are only three games removed from the Vandy game and Patterson's career low rebounding total (1). After a MONSTER night like Patterson had last night, you have to take a minute to appreciate the effort he's putting in this year.

(Stats courtesy of ESPN.com)