How much of a factor would Thornton have been this year had he not left? Would we be in better shape or worse off? Just something I was thinking about.
I absolutely hate this narrative. Jackson was in no way recruited to challenge Thornton for minutes. Thornton would have been the only PG on this team. Jackson already sees limited action this year. You really think he would be taking minutes at PG from a sophomore who averaged 26 minutes a game as a freshman?No room for Thornton. K bringing in Jackson in my opinion sealed the deal. Too many guards and he probably knew minutes would be way down.
Made me sick when he transferred. That has put a major void in Dukes team and what they do. He was quick and could stay in front of quicker guards which is our nemesis this year. We are so slow when a team decides to put the ball on the floor and penetrate and our help defense is nonexistent for the most part. Thornton was by far not the PG in the ACC but he was good enough to keep Duke legit with on ball defense and driving and dishingI absolutely hate this narrative. Jackson was in no way recruited to challenge Thornton for minutes. Thornton would have been the only PG on this team. Jackson already sees limited action this year. You really think he would be taking minutes at PG from a sophomore who averaged 26 minutes a game as a freshman?
I'd rather have Jackson over Thornton any day. He averaged 26 minutes a game out of lack of options last year. I'm not taking anything away from him but guards this year are better. No one can say he's better than jacksonI absolutely hate this narrative. Jackson was in no way recruited to challenge Thornton for minutes. Thornton would have been the only PG on this team. Jackson already sees limited action this year. You really think he would be taking minutes at PG from a sophomore who averaged 26 minutes a game as a freshman?
Yeah, we've had enough ego this year. He would've helped guard depth but probably would've stoked the "my minutes" fire.Jackson is better than Thornton. And we are WAY better off not having his "uncle" making demands to the coaching staff.
Coach K really frustrates me sometimes. I don't understand why he refuses to play different lineups and give people minutes. Bolden and Giles will never get up to speed at this pace. It scares me because big men around the country are seeing this and may stop coming to Duke. Why can't we just have a balanced team? The lack of a real point guard shows when the bigs go all game and gets only 5 touches in the post. People don't even respect the post against us. I just don't understand. If we have 70 possessions in a game the bigs should get at least 20 touches in the post. All of them are pretty good passers out of the post so it will open up the perimeter. That's why we go on those droughts and people erase our leads so fast. Definitely need a point guard though. True point guards get everyone involved
Sure. I agree mostly with that assessment. I was more responding to the notion that Jackson was the reason Thornton left. Thornton's uncle played more of a role than Jackson.I'd rather have Jackson over Thornton any day. He averaged 26 minutes a game out of lack of options last year. I'm not taking anything away from him but guards this year are better. No one can say he's better than jackson
Ahh yes, the mindless response. Look, common sense says that playing your gassed starters @ 60% vs. your 5-star bench @ 100% is a dumb move. Pretending Coach K is infallible is foolish. He has 'his way' and in certain situations, his way is sub-optimal. It doesn't really both me much anymore, but attacking another poster for stating the obvious does bother me.Have you won over a 1000 games? If not, go root for UNX.
Have you won over a 1000 games? If not, go root for UNX.
Not a loss at all. Frank Jackson is infinitely better than Thornton and he needs way more minutes than what he is getting. Thornton would get even less. In my opinion, the usage of Frank Jackson is the biggest mistake the coaching staff has made all season long. If they would roll out there Jackson, Allen, Kennard, Tatum, and Giles this team would be be so much better offensively. Jones needs to be a 6th man / defensive replacement, while Jefferson and Bolden need to spell Giles and ride the hot hand. You watch, once Jackson starts getting heavy minutes for Duke he will be an absolute star. Freakshow athlete and one hell of a competitor.
Ahh yes, the mindless response. Look, common sense says that playing your gassed starters @ 60% vs. your 5-star bench @ 100% is a dumb move. Pretending Coach K is infallible is foolish. He has 'his way' and in certain situations, his way is sub-optimal. It doesn't really both me much anymore, but attacking another poster for stating the obvious does bother me.
Coach K really frustrates me sometimes. I don't understand why he refuses to play different lineups and give people minutes. Bolden and Giles will never get up to speed at this pace. It scares me because big men around the country are seeing this and may stop coming to Duke. Why can't we just have a balanced team? The lack of a real point guard shows when the bigs go all game and gets only 5 touches in the post. People don't even respect the post against us. I just don't understand. If we have 70 possessions in a game the bigs should get at least 20 touches in the post. All of them are pretty good passers out of the post so it will open up the perimeter. That's why we go on those droughts and people erase our leads so fast. Definitely need a point guard though. True point guards get everyone involved
I trust the guy that see's how the players are performing in practice. You don't have to agree with everything, but he has a broader picture then we do.
i think they play well in practice. when the game comes he gets impatient when they mess up once and then tunnel vision after that. we won't win a championship unless bolden and giles start getting minutes. he has to let them play through mistakes. I watched Gonzaga tonight and there's no way we can beat them without giles and bolden getting minutes. we need those big bodies. 15 minutes a piece isn't too much to ask is it?
I never said he couldn't get out coached. I just don't think he should be getting out coached from a guy sitting on his couch that hasn't been to one practice and has no idea of Coach K's thought process. I've said this many times, it's pretty damn easy to sit in the stands or at home and second guess everything a coach does.Oh I see you're one of those types. Sad! Don't act like he can't get outcoached any given game because he won 1000 games
People address their concerns here, not everyone agrees. You state some good points, and some others state some good points too. Can someone not have an opinion on K? Yes he's the greatest but you won't sit there and admit that he's stubborn sometimes? To me he's the best ever, but that doesn't make him perfect. No one can sit there and say the blindly follow K, if so they know very little about the game. He plays who will give him best chance, I agree, but you know yesterday's game was way too close. Disagree with someone but leave the name calling at home, you're right this isn't middle schoolSome of you couldn't be more short sighted and shallow! This isn't fricken middle school ball where we need to play equal minutes! K plays who he thinks gives the best chance to win. Is it working??? We looked like a damn NIT team playing 10 players, and trust me, you same morons sure let us know that as well!!! We are Fing winning and will continue to win and move up the seed line, that's not enough??
As for the Gonzaga argument, how funny.... we just beat what is probably the best "big" team in the country and we're talking about no chance to beat damn gonzaga!!
Most of us find things to be happy for, and find positives, and it's pretty damn easy as a Duke fan......a few of you dream of ways to be that whiny never happy bi$?@!!!
Questioning K after that game is absolutely beyond idiotic!! He dumped his heart into that game! Early time outs, suit coat off, coaching the crazies ...... K willed this team to fight, nobody realizes how bad a loss there would have hurt! We can thank K for that!!!!!
Frank Jackson is a very very good player
Well there's not a lot we can do without a true pg right now. We will just have to go with what we have and how Coach K chooses to cover for it. Not having a true pg is why I don't care for stall ball. You need someone like Phil Ford or Bobby Hurley who can handle the ball under pressure and get the ball to someone who can score before the shot clock goes off. OFC
Criticizing Coach K is not bad to do as a Duke fan because we will all admit he's one of the best ever. Having said that though, Allen was not the same after he turned his ankle and I see the argument for playing Giles and Bolden more in 2nd half. Today the boys needed energy and maybe playing some of the bench could have helped. I don't care how spent they were after beating the Holes, this game shouldn't have been that close at home