Originally Posted by
luvdahops
The one thing to keep in mind about Kennard is that he will likely be our best 3-point threat and best option as a backup PG. Those factors alone should be worth ~15 mpg in my view. While not challenging the validity of the model per se, I am not sure how well it captures such truly differentiated skills. And 15 mpg may be more like a floor if Luke can play solid defense and contribute in other areas.
I don't agree with this. Kennard is indeed a good 3pt shooter, but Matt Jones can to Duke with the exact same expectations. It takes time to adjust to the game. Furthermore, we have very capable 3pt shooters: Grayson, Matt, Brandon, and potentially Thornton (not sure about his 3pt shooting). Secondly, I see Grayson as a more capable PG. His handle is solid, and that's all you really need. Neither Grayson nor Kennard are natural distributors, and they scored a toooon of points in high school. Also, I'm convinced that Thornton will be playing 35 min a game out of necessity. Coach K loves his PGs, and there isn't a legitimate PG outside of Thornton.
I see Kennard as getting squeezed for minutes next year (like Grayson this year). I'd be surprised if he played more than 10 mpg in ACC play. I hope he has a Grayson-type post-season, because that means a) Kennard really developed and, more importantly, b) we went far in the tourney.
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. - Winston Churchill
President of the "Nolan Smith Should Have His Jersey in The Rafters" Club