Lance is committed to Duke

[watzone]

Hadn't seen you around much. Hope you're well.
And Mr Bob Green, I thoroughly expect Nolan Smith to play at least 20 minutes/game next year. Not sure if you've seen him play, I have twice, dude is good. I think he may replace one of the current starters, FWIW.

Que and brew baby, que and brew

Nolan plays for the mythical national HS champ ... that says a lot about his skills and prepardeness for the next level. I am scheduled to talk with him about his season in the coming week.

Here is a tip for you Devils ... Nolan will be on campus in July as will Singler, King and hopefuly Patterson. They will get an early start with summer school and yes I am looking forward to seeing them hoop it up with the returning players.

[Troublemaker]

BTW, projecting a roster one way or another doesn't mean I consider anything to be a "lost cause." That's like saying my prediction of Kansas in the Final Four means I consider Duke's chances a lost cause.

[watzone]

Thanks, feldspar.

watzone, I understand now that you weren't trying to patronize me. That's what I thought at first and I apologize if I was in any way rude to you. However, my one throwaway sentence about "people in the know" to Ozzie should not be in any way interpreted as me trying to be "authoritative" on the matter, nor should any events that transpire be interpreted as things "going the way I say" or not "going the way I say." I say nothing on the matter, and I don't claim to be an authority. I was just explaining to Ozzie that I'm not the only person predicting that roster for next season and joking with him that everyone is a pessimist compared to him. I'm not trying to be an authority at all. Like you and every other Duke fan, I do hope 1 or 2 more players are present on the real '08 roster than on my projected '08 roster.

No problems! Perhaps I overracted in my wording. In fact, I will admit that feldspar is right in that I am concerned with rumors, for there are many. I am in no way trying to be a rumor policeman tho - We all have to be held accounctable in some way tho, imo. Anyhow, the old DBR was not about rumors for there is too much opportunity for a poster to create one. I in no way thought you intended to do anything other than converse.

[CMS2478]

I should be a counselor........I asked "can't we all get along" and now everyone is calm and compromising.


Group Hug People, Group Hug

[Bob Green]

Hadn't seen you around much. Hope you're well.
And Mr Bob Green, I thoroughly expect Nolan Smith to play at least 20 minutes/game next year. Not sure if you've seen him play, I have twice, dude is good. I think he may replace one of the current starters, FWIW.

DukeTaylor - I have only seen Nolan Smith play via film clips. He looked very good in the Les Scwab film clip featuring Oak Hill & South Medford. I based my opinion (limited PT freshman year) on our current depth in the backcourt. I have read that Smith can beat defenders off the dribble so that would address a weakness of our current rotation. If he his good enough to earn 20 minutes of PT, our backcourt will be very strong next year. I hope you are correct.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

[watzone]

Don't think Duke will not run a three guard offense at times. Nolan will definately help from day one. I can see him getting 20 mpg.

[RelativeWays]

I would think Lance would stay, even though he hasn't contributed to much offensively (the Duke inside game has largely been MIA this year) he's played some big minutes in just about every game. Its not like the Jamal Boykin scenario where he gets no PT at all 'cept when its scrub time. I hated to see Jamal go, I think he could have helped this year.

[Cameron]

By no means am I trying to call you out, troublemaker, but it is laughable that you think Taylor King will average 10 minutes a game as a junior. He will be starting. And, IMO, will be playing five more minutes than that a game next season. I've said it over and over again. Coach K absolutely loves forwards who can stretch the D with long range shooting. Taylor will find plenty of playing time, no matter whether his defense is a little suspect at first or not. It didn't stop him from playing JJ did it? And not to mention, you don't even have Josh or Patterson on your projected squad for next season. Since Kyle would be pretty much forced into playing center all year, who would be giving David and Lance, both of whom have not yet shown to be consistent, a steady rest if Taylor is averaging 0 or 1 minute per game?

Could you please explain how that would work out? Also, why would we be keeping a 6-7 three-point specialist on the bench all season, when a 6-7 three-point specialist is perhaps the most perfect player for Coach K's offense? I just don't see the logic in this.

[Troublemaker]

By no means am I trying to call you out, troublemaker, but it is laughable that you think Taylor King will average 10 minutes a game as a junior. He will be starting. And, IMO, will be playing five more minutes than that a game next season. I've said it over and over again. Coach K absolutely loves forwards who can stretch the D with long range shooting. Taylor will find plenty of playing time, no matter whether his defense is a little suspect at first or not. It didn't stop him from playing JJ did it? And not to mention, you don't even have Josh or Patterson on your projected squad for next season. Since Kyle would be pretty much forced into playing center all year, who would be giving David and Lance, both of whom have not yet shown to be consistent, if Taylor is averaging 0 or 1 minute per game?

Could you please explain how that would work out? Also, why would we be keeping a 6-7 three-point specialist on the bench all season, when a 6-7 three-point specialist is perhaps the most perfect player for Coach K's offense? I just don't see the logic in this.

King has way more folks to compete with for PT than Redick did. If you can find a way for King to get 15 minutes next season and be starting his junior season, I'd love to see it. Do a minutes breakdown like I did (although, of course, at this point, you just might want to postpone this conversation altogether with the NCAAs opening play tomorrow). Even if you succeed, I doubt my version is any more "laughable" than your version. We just don't know at this point. Zoubek was supposed to be the next Gminski and get lots of immediate playing time, remember? It could still happen, but G-Man and Z didn't have similar freshmen seasons for sure. I think it'll be difficult for King to get immediate playing time when Singler more or less possesses all the same skills and more.

[Indoor66]

I should be a counselor........I asked "can't we all get along" and now everyone is calm and compromising.


Group Hug People, Group Hug

...and 4 choruses of Kum Bayah