Originally Posted by
Kedsy
Apparently nobody else was able to post a Phase VII report, so here I am again. This phase includes the Arizona game and hopefully either UConn or San Diego State.
1) Are we completely healthy and can we remain so?
I agree with your well thought out comments.
2) When will the light bulb go off over Kyrie's head?
I wonder if it will be a light bulb, or just consistent improvement as he becomes more comfortable playing again and the rest of the team becomes more comfortable with what Kyrie can now do.
3) How will the Big vs. Small debate end up?
I have always been a big fan of the Big line-up as I like the line-up best when all interior shots are contested and feel that when the team is defending the best, this occurs. I do wonder about this line-up against Arizona, though. I think that the team's bigs do a reasonable job staying with quicker players on the perimeter, but wonder if they can do this well enough and dominate inside offensively and on the boards. I hope so. I expect the small line-up to get more minutes than the average for the year now that Kyrie is a factor and more of the team's best players are smaller.
4) Will we see 40 minutes of Deeeeeeefense? As the opponents get better and the games get more difficult, we're not going to be able to skate by playing D for half the game. If we bring our "A" defensive game for 80 minutes in Anaheim, I expect we can get to the Final Four. If we manage significantly fewer high-level minutes defensively, I suspect DBR won't be such a fun place to visit.
Very well put. Like the board reference.
5) Will we see Dr. Threepoint or Mr. Schneid?
I agree this certainly will be a factor. Hopefully the team will do enough other things well to give them a bit of a buffer, so three point shooting can be the difference between a blow-out win and a close one.
6) What new "strategery" will Coach K unveil?
This will be interesting to see. To let the star player go off and take away his teammates, or try to make it as hard for the star and make the role players take a bigger role.
7) Who will step up? One of the coolest things about this Duke team is every single player in the 8-man rotation has the ability to step up and take over a game, at least for a stretch. Seth and Andre by their shooting; Mason and Miles by their rebounding, alley-oops, and defensive intimidation; Ryan by his all-around play; and Kyle, Kyrie, and Nolan by simply being the best player on the floor for long stretches at a time. Against Michigan, Nolan went on a tear, scoring ten points in a row. His explanation was he wasn't ready to take off his uniform yet. Who will it be next?
Hopefully, we will have a great debate about who stepped up most.
8) Go Duke!
I agree. I hope to see another Phase post this year.
Last edited by NSDukeFan; 03-24-2011 at 04:29 PM.
Reason: realized that italicizing my points made things less clear, instead of moreso
“Those two kids, they’re champions,” Krzyzewski said of his senior leaders. “They’re trying to teach the other kids how to become that, and it’s a long road to become that.”