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How soon before Thorton begins producing?

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ScottB59

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Derryck Thorton so far in the regular season has looked more like a HS senior shooting a dismal 3 for 17 from the field than a highly touted PG playing for one of the best teams in America. His decision making hasn't been great and he seems to have more a shoot first mentality than the pass first that I believe K was looking for.

I know he is young as well is the season, but for Duke to be successful a dependable PG is vital. I'm hoping that he will play well against UK as his defense (which is pretty good) against Ullis will be needed. Thorton may be the only player who is quick enough to stay in front of Ullis. I watched several UK games last year while living in Kentucky and Ullis is one of the quickest players in the country.
 
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mo.st.dukie

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He had 4 assists and only 1 TO against Bryant. The only negative I've seen from him so far is scoring and shot selection. I've thought his decision making outside of shot selection has been good. He's probably a year away from being a big time player and producing at a high level.
 
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K-oach Q

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I think he looks a little ways away at this point. His quickness on defense is pretty good but a lot of the threes hit against us last game seemed to be on breakdowns defensively from Thornton if you watch closely. He struggles with his shot and shot selection. I'm guessing by the end of the year you will start seeing a more refined game but he seems a ways off.

I'm more impressed with Kennard and think we will see Kennard running the point soon. It seemed to me K was subtly moving that direction last game....it's really early so I could be reading to much into that.

One thing for sure because it's early we will see Jones, Allen, Ingram, Plumlee and Jefferson a lot tomorrow night. K will rely heavily on them to try and win tomorrow nights game. I expect the bench to be real short tomorrow with Kennard playing some to provide some offensive continunity.
 
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Willcampbell

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K-oach Q said:
I think he looks a little ways away at this point. His quickness on defense is pretty good but a lot of the threes hit against us last game seemed to be on breakdowns defensively from Thornton if you watch closely. He struggles with his shot and shot selection. I'm guessing by the end of the year you will start seeing a more refined game but he seems a ways off.

I'm more impressed with Kennard and think we will see Kennard running the point soon. It seemed to me K was subtly moving that direction last game....it's really early so I could be reading to much into that.

One thing for sure because it's early we will see Jones, Allen, Ingram, Plumlee and Thomas a lot tomorrow night. K will rely heavily on them to try and win tomorrow nights game. I expect the bench to be real short tomorrow with Kennard playing some to provide some offensive continunity.
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Who is "Thomas"?
OFC
 
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pisgah101

pisgah101

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I think he'll come along just fine and no need to rush. I think Grayson/Matt/Luke are doing pretty dang good running a game
 
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barkingpumpkin

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pisgah101 said:
I think he'll come along just fine and no need to rush. I think Grayson/Matt/Luke are doing pretty dang good running a game
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This. For a team without a true point guard (beyond Thornton), we've got a pretty nice situation at point guard.

Maybe we'll find out against Kentucky that we need a true point against the upper echelon, but I imagine we can win most of our games this year without one.
 
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Duke=Boom!

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pisgah101

pisgah101

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Duke=Boom! said:
Man, Thorton and Frank Jackson will kill it next year. Wow, this won't seem fair.
Thorton G
Jackson G
Tatum SF
Giles PF
Bolden C

Its about to get real !
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I kinda doubt that's our lineup but I catch your drift
 
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Willcampbell

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K-oach Q said:
Sorry don't know if I got auto corrected or typing obviously while talking with my daughter. I fixed it.
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No need to be sorry...just joshing you. But it got me thinking:
"Thomas" (Amile) Jefferson
"Ethan" (Grayson) Allen
"James Earl" (Matt) Jones
"Billy Bob" (Derryck) Thornton
"Derek" (Chase) Jeter
"Jackie" (Justin) Robinson
Anybody know any famous Ingrams, Plumlees, Obis, or Kennards?
OFC
 
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ChapelTower

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ScottB59 said:
Derryck Thorton so far in the regular season has looked more like a HS senior shooting a dismal 3 for 17 from the field than a highly touted PG playing for one of the best teams in America. His decision making hasn't been great and he seems to have more a shoot first mentality than the pass first that I believe K was looking for.

I know he is young as well is the season, but for Duke to be successful a dependable PG is vital. I'm hoping that he will play well against UK as his defense (which is pretty good) against Ullis will be needed. Thorton may be the only player who is quick enough to stay in front of Ullis. I watched several UK games last year while living in Kentucky and Ullis is one of the quickest players in the country.
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Does he have a mid-range game? In the last two games, I only saw him attempting driving and outside shots. The drive was mostly unsuccessful, probably b/c he is still not used to the college defender's size, speed and strength. The outside shots did not look very confident either. He is certainly no Tyus Stones at this point. Need to be patient let him figure things out. But PG could be our weakest link this year.

The other thing that concerns me is his quite/subdued demeanor. I guess he is the youngest guy on the team. Hope he does not let that hinder him from becoming a vocal/emotional leader for the team. Reminds me of Avery.
 
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dukehokie

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I doubt Kentucky is his coming out party. However, his defense is fine (those threes were not some defensive lapse, just good tough shots) and his last 5-6 mins were exactly what K brought him in for.

He pushed the ball well, found teammates, penetrated and kicked to shooters and drivers and produced a masterful pass to Antonio on the break. His will be a season long adjustment full of ups and downs. Nonetheless he will be ready to lead a team next year who is presumably an NCAA title favorite.
 
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Duke=Boom!

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denniden said:
Be patient with Thornton. The kid is going to be real good.
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Yea, I can just tell how Thornton moves with the ball that he will be special. You can see the "it" factor to his game. It just has to develop. Something about his movement with the ball reminds me of Irving. I know that sounds far reaching but when his game
manifest it will be worth the wait.
 
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Duke=Boom!

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I just cant stop thinking about Thornton and Frank Jackson playing together. That's a marriage made in heaven that will produce much fruit on the court! They will be fruitful and multiply!
 
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twdukefan

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A Duke backcourt with Allen returning next year is a scary thought; I'd give Thornton some time given that he's younger than most everyone around him and it's 2 games into the season. He'll have his ups this year.
 
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denniden

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pisgah101 said:
He's playing great and will all season IMO but no he won't leave
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I get your opinion, and hope you are right but this years draft could be a great time for a guy like Allen to go. It is not very deep. Allen could capitalize on that. Again, I hope you are right because next year would be even more nasty.
 
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pisgah101

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denniden said:
I get your opinion, and hope you are right but this years draft could be a great time for a guy like Allen to go. It is not very deep. Allen could capitalize on that. Again, I hope you are right because next year would be even more nasty.
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Right and he may do that but I think Allen is different I think he's goal has always been to not only go to Duke but go to Duke and leave a mark and that's why I think he stays. Could he suprise me? Of course and if they are selling him on a top 10 pick he may leave.. He's also (currently) listed on 0 mock drafts which I'm sure will change if he continues what he's doing
 
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twdukefan

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pisgah101 said:
Right and he may do that but I think Allen is different I think he's goal has always been to not only go to Duke but go to Duke and leave a mark and that's why I think he stays. Could he suprise me? Of course and if they are selling him on a top 10 pick he may leave
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I think knowing what Duke is bringing in next year coupled with a result this year that results in anything but another final four would bring him back
 
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Tim1515

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I know this isn't a good thing to say...but it is hard for me to imagine Allen can stay healthy all season with how aggressive he plays around the rim. He is great to watch but at his size it isn't great for long term health.

Also...good teams will make him a focal point defensively and try to take away his strengths. The scouting at this level is amazing and he will hit an adjustment period
 
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pisgah101

pisgah101

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Also fwiw he isn't listed on 2017 draft board me until pick 33.. Again it's early but he's got a LONG way to go to be talking about him leaving
 
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ChapelTower

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pisgah101 said:
He's playing great and will all season IMO but no he won't leave
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Tim1515 said:
I know this isn't a good thing to say...but it is hard for me to imagine Allen can stay healthy all season with how aggressive he plays around the rim. He is great to watch but at his size it isn't great for long term health.

Also...good teams will make him a focal point defensively and try to take away his strengths. The scouting at this level is amazing and he will hit an adjustment period
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I constantly worry that some thug throw a cheap shot at him when he is high in the air and leaning for his dunk. I am so glad that he bulked up over the summer. That would offer some protection.

Hope he plays great like this all year. I love watching him play for Duke. But the protective side of me actually hopes he goes to NBA after this year to make a good living, and comes back to finish his degree.
 
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JCColsCane

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I kind of wondered when we might get to Thornton's performance. Actually, he really should be a Senior in HS this year, so that might explain his performance to date, not to account for the fact that he arrived late due to finishing up his courses to graduate early.
The hype put on him upon his arrival is really unfair, although he is and will be an exceptional player for Duke. We have to give him time to mature and learn to let the game come to him.
Imagine yourself skipping your Senior year in HS and coming to play major college basketball, and to Duke on top of that! This is big time BB, and unless you're exceptionally mature, you are going to struggle.
He is not ready for the big time match-ups we all anticipated, but he will be later on in the year! He is not a one and done, so we just need to support him and watch him grow. "K" will nurture him along and make him one of the best PG's in college basketball before he leaves! To me, he is doing just fine for early in the season. Hang in there guys, this is going to be a fun season!
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC
 
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dukehokie

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JCColsCane said:
...Actually, he really should be a Senior in HS this year, so that might explain his performance to date, not to account for the fact that he arrived late due to finishing up his courses to graduate early.
...
Imagine yourself skipping your Senior year in HS and coming to play major college basketball, and to Duke on top of that! This is big time BB, and unless you're exceptionally mature, you are going to struggle.
...
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC
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All of this and he is still getting quality minutes at the hardest position to learn basketball at any level. It's the same story every year from a fan perspective. You have some too high, some too low and some in the middle. No one is right or wrong, because it's only two games in, but opinions are everywhere and they are biased.

He won't be Kyrie, he won't be Tyus, hell he won't even be Quinn. He will be Derryck Thornton whatever that turns out to be. It's basic conjecture and fun to discuss on a message board, it's just important to remember, regardless of what people say on here, we all ultimately want to kid to succeed.
 
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dukiejay

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JCColsCane said:
I kind of wondered when we might get to Thornton's performance. Actually, he really should be a Senior in HS this year....
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He was actually always supposed to be a class of 2015 graduate...he first re-classified to 2016. In fact, he's older than fellow freshman Chase Jeter by almost four months.
 
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dopeshop23

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Please give Thornton some time...relatively speaking polished point guards like Jones do not come around all that often...so please don't hold him to the same standard. I agree with other posters he will be very good but I see some typical growing pains with him that we did not feel with Jones because he was a special player.
 
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