DukieInBrasil
Member
if he can move his feet like lively then he'll be an elite-level defender. I'd settle for above-average.
2024-2025 Men’s Basketball Season: General Offseason Discussion
- Thread starter cato
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kAzE
Member
I think we need to stop comparing Khaman to D Live. Apart from being really tall, their games are different enough that they should be considered totally different prospects. Dereck is a top 2 or 3 athlete at the center position in the NBA. Khaman is not that. He's a fine athlete, but in the NBA, he'll probably be just average. He will most likely never be as good of a defender as Dereck, and will mostly play drop in P&R. Not trying to imply Khaman will be a bad defender, but if you recall, Dereck Lively was pretty much a game changer when he started rolling in 2022-23, almost single handedly transforming Duke into an elite defensive team. We missed that dearly last season. He's special on the defensive end. I think Khaman can be good, but I doubt he will have that level of impact.
But his offensive skill level is way ahead of where Lively was as an incoming freshman, with extremely good touch for a player of his size, and a developing post game that I believe is going to be part of Duke's offense. Probably not a big part, but I can see the big fella getting 3-5 post touches per game as part of the offensive flow. It will be advantageous to throw him the ball when he has a mismatch guarding him. Lively never had a single play drawn up for him that wasn't a lob.
I can also see some pick and pop potential with Khaman, especially with Cooper being such a good slashing threat as a primary ball handler.
But his offensive skill level is way ahead of where Lively was as an incoming freshman, with extremely good touch for a player of his size, and a developing post game that I believe is going to be part of Duke's offense. Probably not a big part, but I can see the big fella getting 3-5 post touches per game as part of the offensive flow. It will be advantageous to throw him the ball when he has a mismatch guarding him. Lively never had a single play drawn up for him that wasn't a lob.
I can also see some pick and pop potential with Khaman, especially with Cooper being such a good slashing threat as a primary ball handler.
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SkyBrickey
Member
I agree with this sentiment. He does, however, have a higher standing reach than DLive (and Big Mark) so as long as he can close down low, he should be able to offer great rim protection at the college level just with his arms straight up.
And the thing about rim protection, if you are blocking 3 shots per game, you are probably altering another 6 more. That's a huge advantage on D.
In terms of Khaman's offense, I'd be super excited with him shooting 60-65% from the floor on dunks and soft finishes inside off the glass and scoring 10-12ppg. I don't need him shooting 3s even if he can hit them at 38%, but we will see what Jon does with him.
I thought Mark had a 9'9" standing reach, measured at the NBA combine. I wouldn't bet much on that, maybe a pie.
And Khaman is 9'8", right? Though Khaman is supposedly still growing.
Phredd3
Member
I find myself trying to imagine what life would be like if I were so large that I could touch a basketball rim without leaving the floor. I would have to duck though multiple doorways in my house. On the plus side, I'm sure it would at least motivate me to get the dust off the tops of my bookshelves.
SkyBrickey
Member
Not sure where to put this, but Heels fans are suddenly excited about the potential to land a 2024 reclass Center out of New Zealand, Julius Halaifonua. Long thread about him over on IC.
He's BIG. 7 feet, 290 lbs. on3 is the only service that's rated him. 60th now in the 2024 class. There's a big debate as to whether he's their starting center and savior this season or more of a longterm project.
He's BIG. 7 feet, 290 lbs. on3 is the only service that's rated him. 60th now in the 2024 class. There's a big debate as to whether he's their starting center and savior this season or more of a longterm project.
brevity
Member
brevity
Member
T minus 100 days, according to ESPN's Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello. We can start a countdown Saturday using bottles of beer on the wall.
www.espn.com
It's 100 days to men's hoops! Top stories, players, games, more
From Cooper Flagg to Calipari at Arkansas, UConn's quest for a three-peat to top stars in new jerseys -- your 2024-25 season preview.
Re the Serbia game:
Admitting he “felt like an idiot” for not playing Tatum, Kerr said this:“It’s really hard in a 40-minute game to play more than 10 guys.…”
This should be factored into people’s opinions about our rotation for the upcoming season. Suggests a 10-man rotation is very difficult, but doable, but anything beyond that not so much. Now I’ll step aside and let the big brains figure out what that means practically and logistically
Go Duke! 9F!
Admitting he “felt like an idiot” for not playing Tatum, Kerr said this:“It’s really hard in a 40-minute game to play more than 10 guys.…”
This should be factored into people’s opinions about our rotation for the upcoming season. Suggests a 10-man rotation is very difficult, but doable, but anything beyond that not so much. Now I’ll step aside and let the big brains figure out what that means practically and logistically
Go Duke! 9F!
Before we got a new fridge I got on a wee ladder and looked on the top of the old one. Hideous sight.
Meanwhile we did some redesign in the house, wife took it upon herself to thoroughly clean the dust out of 35 year old book cases, and the inhalation of all the dusty moldy gunk in there gave her pneumonia, or so think those who treated her.
MChambers
Member
The same Goodman who said last summer that TJ Power would be Duke’s fifth starter?
SkyBrickey
Member
The same Jeff Goodman who picked the Heels #1 the year they missed the tourney?
SkyBrickey
Member
I don't know but I just listened to the last DBR podcast and JE is hearing direct from players now that K2 is the real deal.What does Goodman say about K2?
GoDuke!
I'm liking my pick more and more for K2 as our fifth starter over Gillis. I'm envisioning his game as maybe Luke Kennard with some Luka Doncic upgrades...
Azz, are you around? There's still plenty of real estate on K2 Island.
Still around and not ready to purchase any real estate. For the record, Duke's defense was ranked 82nd and 43rd in Kennard's two seasons.I don't know but I just listened to the last DBR podcast and JE is hearing direct from players now that K2 is the real deal.
I'm liking my pick more and more for K2 as our fifth starter over Gillis. I'm envisioning his game as maybe Luke Kennard with some Luka Doncic upgrades...
Azz, are you around? There's still plenty of real estate on K2 Island.
Cooper saying K2 is more athletic than he expected is the first (and only) nugget that's given me pause. Cooper saying that guys will need to accept their roles and maybe not get the minutes expected (I know I'm butchering the quote) is very interesting to me.
What happens to our bet if the 5th starter rotates based on matchups? Inquiring minds want to know.
sagegrouse
Member
I think the "book solution" is to vary minutes, not necessarily starting roles.
MChambers
Member
I'd think at least eight, maybe nine.