Jelavic, BG, Moreno redux

[theBlues]

A few days ago I started a thread about projected playing time and I had Moreno and BG getting the majority of the 4/5 backup minutes when JQ starts playing and Jelavic getting less than 10 mpg. My reasoning was that Moreno was clearly better at center than BG so he would wind up with the majority of the center minutes when JQ wasn't in and Pope would play BG at the 4 backing up MoD because Jelavic wouldn't be able to guard big time fours off the dribble. I got that idea from watching MoD abuse him off the dribble and thinking he ran too upright.

But one play from the Purdue exhibition stuck in my mind and has changed my opinion. It was that play where he got the rebound and dribbled up court and made an assist to Williams. Lots of big guys can dribble and lots of big guys can run fast but not that many can do them together while seeing the court well. That play convinced me that Jelavic does have the quickness and agility to guard guys off the dribble; he just needs to focus and get in his defensive stance. And since he can do everything else on offense better than BG and can guard in the post and rebound just as well as BG...I now think it is BG that could wind up getting less than 10 mpg since he is probably only our 3rd best center and 3rd best four.
That's if Pope decides to go mainly with the 2 best backups but he could also schedule them each for 12 mpg and go with the hot hands. It's crazy depth but we now pretty much know this team can be without multiple players and still beat people. I love it!

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

A few days ago I started a thread about projected playing time and I had Moreno and BG getting the majority of the 4/5 backup minutes when JQ starts playing and Jelavic getting less than 10 mpg. My reasoning was that Moreno was clearly better at center than BG so he would wind up with the majority of the center minutes when JQ wasn't in and Pope would play BG at the 4 backing up MoD because Jelavic wouldn't be able to guard big time fours off the dribble. I got that idea from watching MoD abuse him off the dribble and thinking he ran too upright.

But one play from the Purdue exhibition stuck in my mind and has changed my opinion. It was that play where he got the rebound and dribbled up court and made an assist to Williams. Lots of big guys can dribble and lots of big guys can run fast but not that many can do them together while seeing the court well. That play convinced me that Jelavic does have the quickness and agility to guard guys off the dribble; he just needs to focus and get in his defensive stance. And since he can do everything else on offense better than BG and can guard in the post and rebound just as well as BG...I now think it is BG that could wind up getting less than 10 mpg since he is probably only our 3rd best center and 3rd best four.
That's if Pope decides to go mainly with the 2 best backups but he could also schedule them each for 12 mpg and go with the hot hands. It's crazy depth but we now pretty much know this team can be without multiple players and still beat people. I love it!

I think it may be a game by game basis on who plays well. Remember last year there were a few big games BG came up huge when AW was struggling early first half.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Jelly looked like he could play the three

 

[CELTICAT]

Jelly looked like he could play the three

That's where Joe B. Hall would play him.

Garrison will end up with the short end of the playing time stick once JQ makes his way into the lineup. Moreno runs the floor and rebounds a lot better than Garrison, who hasn't figured out the motor/effort/IQ thing that Pope needs. Brandon had a nice little stretch at about the five minute mark in the second half, but just looked lost/passive any other time he was in the game. Really thought he'd make a leap, but the summer reporting on him appears accurate.

As for Jelavic, dude is a revelation. Will be hard to keep him off the court.

 

[Buckwheat Otay Is Dead]

A few days ago I started a thread about projected playing time and I had Moreno and BG getting the majority of the 4/5 backup minutes when JQ starts playing and Jelavic getting less than 10 mpg. My reasoning was that Moreno was clearly better at center than BG so he would wind up with the majority of the center minutes when JQ wasn't in and Pope would play BG at the 4 backing up MoD because Jelavic wouldn't be able to guard big time fours off the dribble. I got that idea from watching MoD abuse him off the dribble and thinking he ran too upright.

But one play from the Purdue exhibition stuck in my mind and has changed my opinion. It was that play where he got the rebound and dribbled up court and made an assist to Williams. Lots of big guys can dribble and lots of big guys can run fast but not that many can do them together while seeing the court well. That play convinced me that Jelavic does have the quickness and agility to guard guys off the dribble; he just needs to focus and get in his defensive stance. And since he can do everything else on offense better than BG and can guard in the post and rebound just as well as BG...I now think it is BG that could wind up getting less than 10 mpg since he is probably only our 3rd best center and 3rd best four.
That's if Pope decides to go mainly with the 2 best backups but he could also schedule them each for 12 mpg and go with the hot hands. It's crazy depth but we now pretty much know this team can be without multiple players and still beat people. I love it!

SEC officials are the worst and cost UK last year because of our lack of depth. You can never have no depth at guard or center if you play in the corrupt SEC

 

[gonefishin]

A few days ago I started a thread about projected playing time and I had Moreno and BG getting the majority of the 4/5 backup minutes when JQ starts playing and Jelavic getting less than 10 mpg. My reasoning was that Moreno was clearly better at center than BG so he would wind up with the majority of the center minutes when JQ wasn't in and Pope would play BG at the 4 backing up MoD because Jelavic wouldn't be able to guard big time fours off the dribble. I got that idea from watching MoD abuse him off the dribble and thinking he ran too upright.

But one play from the Purdue exhibition stuck in my mind and has changed my opinion. It was that play where he got the rebound and dribbled up court and made an assist to Williams. Lots of big guys can dribble and lots of big guys can run fast but not that many can do them together while seeing the court well. That play convinced me that Jelavic does have the quickness and agility to guard guys off the dribble; he just needs to focus and get in his defensive stance. And since he can do everything else on offense better than BG and can guard in the post and rebound just as well as BG...I now think it is BG that could wind up getting less than 10 mpg since he is probably only our 3rd best center and 3rd best four.
That's if Pope decides to go mainly with the 2 best backups but he could also schedule them each for 12 mpg and go with the hot hands. It's crazy depth but we now pretty much know this team can be without multiple players and still beat people. I love it!

Totally agree, and let’s remember he is weeks
Behind the other bigs. In another month he will damn hard to keep off the floor. He can play the 4 or the 5, is an active good defender (even on switches to guards) and has a very good overall skill set. And he plays really damn hard. His conditioning and comfort in Pope’s system will only get better each day.
I love his upside!!

 

[yoshukai]

I think it may be a game by game basis on who plays well. Remember last year there were a few big games BG came up huge when AW was struggling early first half.

Agree. It will be situational.

 

[K_TIME]

1. I don't see a scenario where Jelavic grab minutes at the SF spot. We've got guys like Oweh, Kam Williams, Chandler, Noah's shooting....all needing minutes and they can rotate at the SF. You have defense, shooting, length, ball handling, physicality, etc... I can't see Jelavic improving any aspect of SF we need over those guys.

2. I see Mo as the main PF. He's an incredible valueable and unique player...I think he's one of our best players and will get 25-28 minutes

3. So it boils down to how the 40 minutes at Center and 12ish backup PF minutes to be hashed out.

4. I see JQ getting 25 mpg as he is fully healthy....then Garrison/Moreno are competing for backup minutes. If Moreno can handle the physicality...then he may get those minutes. Otherwise, it will be Garrison. The one thing I hope to see improve is shot blocking/anticipation. Garrison, to me, has not shown to be a great anticipator/shot blocker....I'd like to see Moreno get to be that rim protector of the 2.

 

[Runt#1969]

I find it interesting to see Yoshukai and Fox2Monk are thinking like I am. We have such a solid top to bottom backcourt and frontcourt, that I think on a game by game basis, it is easier to envisage CMP's gameplanning taking advantage of individual matchups and switches due to who he has on the floor at any given time. It may even come down to a situational play by play basis, as I think about it.

They're going to have mismatches and they should look to take advantage of what the gameplan has them on the lookout for. MoD and that wing action, with others coming off a high screen or curl action, the zoom action between bvarious combinations of players, the big man to big man high low looks, it's all going to be there. They just gotta identify it within each game.

on a game by game basis !

The Purdue exhibition allowed JJ and Moreno to shine (as true freshmen no less!) they played loose and were connected, they took advantage of the opportunity. That may be how it goes, anyone on this team is capable of putting up points, so I expect several players to average double figures much like last year. The minutes are going to be well distributed and they will have their opportunities.

really exciting stuff happening in lexington !

Go Big Blue !

ps - Sorry for speaking about gameplanning for the CCC hangers on out there. Sometimes Cal had the gameplan, sometimes the gameplan had Cal. At the end, it was a crapshoot. I'll stick with coach Pope.

 

[chroix]

18 different lineups in the exhibition game make me think we're going to see a lot of iterations.

 

[PDX_Blue]

Moreno will have plenty of freshman downs. Understandably fans only have one “game” to judge on. He won’t be starting over Garrison anytime soon.

you’re always more excited about the new vs the known. BG knows the system and he’s better than most think. He can rim protect. He just has to cut down on the knucklehead moments.

Moreno could quite likely be scoreless tomorrow. It’s just the way freshmen big men are. Not wishing for it, just saying.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

18 different lineups in the exhibition game make me think we're going to see a lot of iterations.

There were a few I wasn’t a big fan of. Like Garrison, Jelly, Aberdeen, Kam, and Chandler I think. The offense didn’t flow and I didn’t think the skill sets matched up nearly as well as most lineups. I can’t wait to see us with Lowe and JQ because we will have some monster defensive lineups. I imagine Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Mo D, and JQ/ Lowe, Chandler, Oweh, Mo D, JQ are going to be an absolutely filthy defensive lineups. Lots of size and defense in that combination. I think there is enough shooting to run it like 20% of the game or if we need stops. Obviously I know he wants as much spacing as possible most times.

 

[chroix]

There were a few I wasn’t a big fan of. Like Garrison, Jelly, Aberdeen, Kam, and Chandler I think. The offense didn’t flow and I didn’t think the skill sets matched up nearly as well as most lineups. I can’t wait to see us with Lowe and JQ because we will have some monster defensive lineups. I imagine Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Mo D, and JQ/ Lowe, Chandler, Oweh, Mo D, JQ are going to be an absolutely filthy defensive lineups. Lots of size and defense in that combination. I think there is enough shooting to run it like 20% of the game or if we need stops. Obviously I know he wants as much spacing as possible most times.

That lineup is a damn wall. Love how Coach saw how physical the conference is and made moves to make sure we are never out muscled ever again.

 

[philstat]

This is all “good problems“ to have, regardless, provides plenty of options and given how are our luck typically is, we’ll have some players on IR at some point. Having depth and the high level offense Pope runs should keep everything aligned.

 

[Farsight Clone]

I think Moreno and Garrison will trade minutes until JQ comes back at the 5.

Jelly will be a 3 or stretch 4 I think.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Garrison will end up with the short end of the playing time stick once JQ makes his way into the lineup.

If the data says this, and I think it will, this will tell me a lot about Pope. He has gloated on and touted BG for a while now. I think anyone with a clue knows it has been an attempt to build him up. I also think anyone with half a clue can tell BG is behind Moreno (granted VERY small sample size, but it was very clear) and also doesn't possess the skillset to play the 4. Will Pope try to fit a square peg into a round hole? Will he play the vet over the frosh? Will Jelavich be good enough to make an argument? Will JQ get healthy enough for any of this to matter?

I honestly think there are two possible scenarios, and neither of them involve BG getting minutes at the 4. #1...Jelavich is good enough to backup MO. In a perfect world, this is the answer. #2...Gets a little more murky here, but this is the small ball lineup time. Noah and Williams would get the lions share of the backup 4 minutes along with whatever wing minutes either would carve out.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

18 different lineups in the exhibition game make me think we're going to see a lot of iterations.

I mean, that's kind of what exhibitions are for. If you're playing 18 different lineups in the regular season in games that truly matter (like games UK actually has to play well to win), you've got issues. That's too many combinations.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Moreno will have plenty of freshman downs. Understandably fans only have one “game” to judge on. He won’t be starting over Garrison anytime soon.

you’re always more excited about the new vs the known. BG knows the system and he’s better than most think. He can rim protect. He just has to cut down on the knucklehead moments.

Moreno could quite likely be scoreless tomorrow. It’s just the way freshmen big men are. Not wishing for it, just saying.

I have a hunch you're probably correct about BG starting over Moreno for a while. BG and CC seem to be Pope's agenda players. Nothing wrong with it, as it's a way to try to build confidence and get the most out of a player. There comes a time when it becomes counterproductive. BG should've never averaged nearly the same mins as AW last season. It was PAINFUL watching CC play for 85% of the season. There were points were that became counterproductive. And I know everyone is going to try point to CC's last 6 games or so, but all he was at that point was serviceable. And 3-4 of those games were against some pretty low competition.

I'm not sure why you say BG is a rim protector. His defensive metrics were not good at all. The knucklehead moments do have to decrease. I think he could be a really nice piece, but if he's your main cog at the 5, your team has issues.

Agreed, the ups and downs of a frosh are a roller coaster. It will be interesting to see if MM can play consistently solid on both ends of the floor.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

That lineup is a damn wall. Love how Coach saw how physical the conference is and made moves to make sure we are never out muscled ever again.

Yeah we can definitely trade offense for defense this year.

 

[chroix]

Yeah we can definitely trade offense for defense this year.

Can’t wait to see JQ with MoD. We got some grown *** dudes on the inside.

 

[theBlues]

I do think BG could play the four but it would leave us without shooting at the four and five positions. Now that I think of it, and the responses helped me see it more clearly, I don't think Pope would want BG playing much at the four with Moreno or JQ. Pope would probably be more inclined to use Williams or Noah there than BG.

 

[megablue]

Jelly can stroke the three … like “The Chief” used to … he can play the three, too.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Can’t wait to see JQ with MoD. We got some grown *** dudes on the inside.

Yes we do. Reminds me of Houston the last couple years.