If both Quinn and Tyus foul out, then what? Do you turn to Allen who has played sparingly and say "next man up"? Even though Allen would not be prepared?
Or do you give him 5-6 minutes every game to help him be prepared for the intensity level?
Or is there something in between?
Super "Why am I only asking questions?" Dave
I respectfully disagree with both of these viewpoints. I think people are overestimating the "need" for offensive punch, and I think people are overestimating Allen's readiness to provide that punch even if needed. Allen has, in ACC play, not looked ready to contribute.
I think people are really overstating his readiness and being fooled by his performances in blowouts of bad teams early in the year. For example, here are Allen's numbers against the 5 true doormats on our schedule (Presbyterian, Fairfield, Army, Furman, and Elon): 5 games, 12.4 mpg, 45.5 fg%, 30.8 3pt%, 6.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 1 to per game (2.0 a:to ratio).
Conversely, here are Allen's numbers against higher-quality opponents this year (i.e., excluding the games above): 11 of 15 games played, 3.3 mpg, 33.3 fg%, 40.0 3pt%, 1.2 ppg, 0 rpg, 0 apg, 0.1 spg, 0.5 to per game (0.0 a:to ratio).
The kid has been a complete non-factor against better competition. He just does not appear to be ready to play with the big boys yet. He certainly does not appear to be ready to provide anything like what Sulaimon could provide.
More importantly, I'm not sure we need a huge spark off the bench anyway. I think we have enough scorers in Tyus Jones, Cook, Winslow, and Okafor that we can survive with the secondary contributions of Jefferson and Matt Jones offensively. It just puts more of the pressure on Tyus Jones and Winslow to score more consistently.
I do think Allen will play a bit more. Probably in the 5-8 mpg range. But I don't think he's going to average double-digit minutes per game the rest of the way, nor do I think he's ready to give us an offensive spark off the bench this year.
Correct. I'll also add that the likelihood of both Tyus Jones and Cook fouling out is VERY small. Jones has committed 3 fouls in a game just three times this year (and never more than 3). Cook has committed 3 fouls in a game just 7 times this year (and 4 fouls just once). Neither has fouled out, and in our 20 games there has been just 1 game in which both players got 3 fouls (and both only had 3 that game).
It is extremely unlikely that we'll have a situation where both players foul out. And if we do, we were probably going to lose with or without a ready Allen.
I tend to disagree. Again, it is extremely unlikely that both Cook and Tyus Jones are in foul trouble. And if that happens, I don't think an extra few minutes per game for Allen is going to make the difference in that hypothetical game for us.
And again, I'm already saying we'll probably give him 5-8 mpg now as opposed to 2-5. I don't think going to 10+ mpg is necessary, and I think it would make us worse in all of the 10+ mpg games. Not worth it (in my opinion) for the off-chance that we need him in the tournament.
This view coincides with my thoughts. I want Allen to see increased playing time so he gains experience in case the situation arises where he has to play; however, I do not expect him to play double digit minutes.
With the rotation tightened, it is increasingly important for Justise Winslow to get healthy.
Bob Green
Offense is not what we need, if we look back at the team from 2010 that won the national title Duke only had 3 guys that scored for that team. Now I understand that those players were juniors and seniors so this isn't ideal. It's a good thing Coach K is on our side
Disagree. I think Quinn and Amile have been plenty tough and have been good leaders. I get that we shouldn't have lost to Miami, and probably not NC State, either, but to act like the season has been a disaster and trying to lay blame on "our leaders," is a bit off the mark, in my opinion.
I mostly agree with you. However, I think we showed a lack of poise in each of our three losses, two of which came in blowout fashion against inferior teams. I would say that, in those three games, we lacked leadership. And outside of the Wake game, and the St. John's game (in which Cook clearly was a leader), I'm not sure that leadership has been all that critical in our wins.
Note that I specifically excluded the Wisconsin game. I believe that leadership is exhibited when things are going tough. We ran roughshod over Wisconsin's defense, and as such leadership was not an issue. This team simply hasn't had too many games this year in which we've really struggled. If anything, we'd mostly coasted/cruised through games until the Wake game.
I don't think Cook and Jefferson are bad leaders. I just don't know that we've seen a ton of evidence of their leadership so far this year. Noteworthy examples include Jefferson's play in the Miami and Louisville games and Cook's play in the Miami and St. John's games.
I disagree with this as well. I don't see any way this team is going to be exceptionally good at defense. To succeed at a high level we are going to have score and keep scoring. The ND collapse is a good example of this. We stopped scoring and they did not. Offense is exactly what we need (well, defense is what we really need but I don't think we are going to get it so offense it is!).
I would like to see Allen's minutes increase in hopes that the game slows down for him some and he starts to contribute more effectively. Note, I suspect that IF he is going to get a significant increase in minutes (say 5 minutes or more) it will not start tomorrow against UVa.
I side with the people who don't expect Grayson's playing time to increase much, if at all. The game still seems a little too fast for him at this point and he's just not ready to contribute meaningful minutes.
There's plenty of evidence that Coach K is fine with bringing just 1 guard and 1 big off the bench. I think Marshall and Matt will see increased playing time and Justise will spend less time at the 4.
For those who think Grayson will suddenly be placed in a significant role off the bench, I'd ask the following: If Grayson weren't on the roster and all other current circumstances were the same, would you expect a walk-on to pick up Rasheed's minutes? I don't think so. It's probably safer to assume that Coach K will increase the minutes of players he thinks are ready to play than to assume that Grayson will play more just because he happens to play the same position as Rasheed.
Exactly.
I'd point back to just a few years ago when the team desperately needed a lock down defender at the wing position and a Mickey D's AA, Michael Gbinije, was available at the end of the bench. Even though his height and athleticism looked like it could provide just what the team needed, he didn't become a significant contributor because he wasn't ready to see the floor. If you're ready, you'll get in the games. If you're not, you won't.