Problems Looming??
- Thread starter duhondukie
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We could've only done 1 game better. Quit whining!
Yeah, I don't think he is referring to Grayson either. Grayson said something similar to that Monday after the game saying they're not adjusting themselves to the newcomers, they're going to have to get on board.
Once chase and once Amile were barking at Luke for not passing them the ball when he drove and they were wide open. Especially chase to end the first half.
You clearly don't know what whining is. OCS is for improving, duke has gotten healthy but it hasn't translated to the court yet.
The end of the half play, Luke was shooting but made it a lob last minute. Then blamed Chase. Chase was arguing about Luke not communicating it. Those are plays that happen when guys aren't on the same page and they all clearly are not quite there yet. The lack of turnovers suggests there is hope, but Tatum isn't taking 22 shots a game after tonight unless he's just on fire and the scoring distribution has to be a little more even. This team will be at their best when you see 3-4 guys above 15-16.
Again I can't stress patience enough. This team is still trying to learn how to play together. You're bringing back slowly three top flight kids and trying to integrate their very different games into the fold with a few veterans. Luke is having a great start to his sophomore year but he is still only that.
There is so much overreacting going on and that tends to happen when emotions are high and I'd think to a man we wouldn't see nearly the emotional breakdown if Grayson hadn't tripped that player. Let's be honest there, that is what the story is. ESPN expectedly is having a field day with it- click bait for days!
Much like Grayson's reaction on the bench and in the locker room post game, he knew he screwed up and more than that he knew he will never hear the end of it during his time here at Duke.
Rather than beat the hell out of a 20 year old kid who screwed up and playing the holier than thou card we are seeing all over this board, maybe we tone it back and realize he's going to need our support now. That doesn't mean we are excusing his actions but that doesn't mean we sell him down the river either. You guys who are overreacting and getting on your soap boxes about a 20 year old are doing it in large part because you're embarrassed for us- whether you want to admit that or not, it's true.
It isn't a pleasurable experience to see our guy plastered all over espn, in a negative light. It's not easy to see the trolls all over social media and thread after thread at thr or rr, both who have their own problems. One got a new NOA and another lost. But that's the reality. It's ok to acknowledge what Grayson did was stupid and immature and selfish. No one feels worse than he does. No need to beat the kid up now. Move on, it's not the end of the world and there are much bigger things that we are going for this year.
Setbacks are a natural part of life. Resilience requires mental toughness because it is the ability to recover quickly from adversity, no matter the situation. Nip negative emotions and reactions in the bud, when they first appear. This is when they are the weakest.
There is so much overreacting going on and that tends to happen when emotions are high and I'd think to a man we wouldn't see nearly the emotional breakdown if Grayson hadn't tripped that player. Let's be honest there, that is what the story is. ESPN expectedly is having a field day with it- click bait for days!
Much like Grayson's reaction on the bench and in the locker room post game, he knew he screwed up and more than that he knew he will never hear the end of it during his time here at Duke.
Rather than beat the hell out of a 20 year old kid who screwed up and playing the holier than thou card we are seeing all over this board, maybe we tone it back and realize he's going to need our support now. That doesn't mean we are excusing his actions but that doesn't mean we sell him down the river either. You guys who are overreacting and getting on your soap boxes about a 20 year old are doing it in large part because you're embarrassed for us- whether you want to admit that or not, it's true.
It isn't a pleasurable experience to see our guy plastered all over espn, in a negative light. It's not easy to see the trolls all over social media and thread after thread at thr or rr, both who have their own problems. One got a new NOA and another lost. But that's the reality. It's ok to acknowledge what Grayson did was stupid and immature and selfish. No one feels worse than he does. No need to beat the kid up now. Move on, it's not the end of the world and there are much bigger things that we are going for this year.
Setbacks are a natural part of life. Resilience requires mental toughness because it is the ability to recover quickly from adversity, no matter the situation. Nip negative emotions and reactions in the bud, when they first appear. This is when they are the weakest.
Seems Amile has been forgotten on offense. Need to get back to what was working.
One thing I have noticed the last couple of games, is , there is almost never a put back on the offensive boards. One shot, if missed , and the other team has the ball. Also, the tripping has got to cease. No excuses. Too bad he did't get ejected after the Tech. They just have not played well, as others have pointed out, the last couple of games. Whatever the problem is, hope it is solved and soon. Too many good players for these games to be this close.
If I remember correctly the big 3 in Miami started off .500 or so through the first 15-20 games. When you take individuals who are all used to being "the man" and put them all on the court at the same time, you can't expect there not to be friction and a lack of cohesiveness at first. Each player will have an opportunity to adjust their style of play for the better of the team but it's not going to happen overnight. If this team is still without chemistry a month or 2 from now then we can start to panic.
And then we wouldnt get near the media coverage compared to a tripping incident!!
OFC
He continually pulled up and jacked em up, almost as if he were at a shootaround. Love the kid, and he did a lot of great things. However IMO, he's probably seen by the other guys in the rotation as a relative newbie, and it threw things off kilter.
OFC
Excellent post! Seems a lot of posters forgot how the 2015 team struggled in Jan & lost THREE games. That team didn't fully gel until Feb!
Some things to consider
- rotation: this could always change. 1 injury, 1 off night, 1 tactical adjustment, 1 hot hand. Rotation player roles are earned through training effort and following what the coaches are asking you to do but not only that, game performance. I think the "rotation" has been effected due to the injuries and to players not performing in games. Even if it's only a few minutes.
- chemistry doesn't just come over time. A coach or coaches have to player manage the top elite players on buying in bc in K's words they haven't necessarily unpacked their bag bc of looking ahead at the NBA. It's not an easy task to teach when a lot of players need to teaching and manage OAD's. But to say K can't do this isn't true. He's done it in 2015. Each team is different and each group of players have their own personal agendas.
- Bolden has expectations of being OAD and this is still a probable outcome. The NBA draft off of potential and Bolden has that in size and skills. His injury really set him back and mentally that has to had it toll on him. Going from the #1 center in a loaded class coming out of HS to getting starts in preseason to getting hurt and missing a lot of time to not being able to get game minutes. If it were me, I'm not sure where my head would be at either.
I do feel that this team is the most talented team in the country, but doesn't mean they are the best team in the county or will be. UCLA, UNC, VA, Lousiville, Kentucky, Villanova (Just to mention some) all look to be playing very well and any one of them could win it all.
- rotation: this could always change. 1 injury, 1 off night, 1 tactical adjustment, 1 hot hand. Rotation player roles are earned through training effort and following what the coaches are asking you to do but not only that, game performance. I think the "rotation" has been effected due to the injuries and to players not performing in games. Even if it's only a few minutes.
- chemistry doesn't just come over time. A coach or coaches have to player manage the top elite players on buying in bc in K's words they haven't necessarily unpacked their bag bc of looking ahead at the NBA. It's not an easy task to teach when a lot of players need to teaching and manage OAD's. But to say K can't do this isn't true. He's done it in 2015. Each team is different and each group of players have their own personal agendas.
- Bolden has expectations of being OAD and this is still a probable outcome. The NBA draft off of potential and Bolden has that in size and skills. His injury really set him back and mentally that has to had it toll on him. Going from the #1 center in a loaded class coming out of HS to getting starts in preseason to getting hurt and missing a lot of time to not being able to get game minutes. If it were me, I'm not sure where my head would be at either.
I do feel that this team is the most talented team in the country, but doesn't mean they are the best team in the county or will be. UCLA, UNC, VA, Lousiville, Kentucky, Villanova (Just to mention some) all look to be playing very well and any one of them could win it all.
When I watch this team play, it feels like there are too many guys auditioning for the NBA. Tatum is jacking up too many low percentage shots. As I stated before he even committed, Bolden just doesn't seem like a Duke guy to me. He is on the team and I want him to do well but my guess is that he is sulking because he is not on the 1 and done track that he thought he would be on. Every single time he gets the ball, he is trying to score.
Unfortunately this feels a lot like the 2014 team. We had too many guys who were more concerned about the NBA than actually being on a good team at Duke. I hope these guys can buy into the team. If not, we could very well have an early round exit.
Unfortunately this feels a lot like the 2014 team. We had too many guys who were more concerned about the NBA than actually being on a good team at Duke. I hope these guys can buy into the team. If not, we could very well have an early round exit.
The passing isn't Duke worthy right now. One on one drive and kick plus forcing turnovers and run outs might be our best options.
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Agree. But Tatum didn't take really any bad shots, it's just his shot hasn't been on since he came back. So with that said he needs to keep working inside out more. You can see it in warmups. Only Grayson Luke and frank look consistent with their shotz. Luke did not last year. Grayson is just so off balance shooting in games this year. But his stroke looks great in warmups. Like golf, he needs to take it from warm ups to the course.
Great post, I do believe and myself included we have been beating him up because until now there hasn't apparently been any discipline or lessons learned. I feel better about the situation and Grayson's chances to mature now with the indefinite suspension.
Well you need to get over that. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? That is nitpicking at best.
Emotions are high, I get it. But you know what, emotions were clearly high when Grayson made that selfish mistake. We need to learn from it, grow from it and use the whole thing to make us better.
Young guys don't realize how good it looks when they attract the D and pass to open shooters. Bolden needs to focus on rim protection and screen and rolls. We need him to disrupt the lane.
Agreed completely. All we've seen is him sitting in the post waiting for the dump down pass. I think it really clogs the lane and disrupts the flow to the offense which might be why Coach K hasn't been giving him consistent minutes. Maybe he doesn't have the opportunity in the pick and roll because of the sets we're running, but I think him doing it would result in him being so much more involved in the offense.
I just don't know how you only sit him for a couple minutes then 12 hours later indefinite suspension. You know he tripped kicked someone for the 3rd time. I'm over it, and don't expect k to explain. But I don't agree with it.
I posted this on the national board, but I think it pertains here, too:
A coach, if he didn't see quite what happened, isn't going to sit a captain for the rest of a game because of a technical foul.
A coach who is at half-time of a tight game isn't doing what YOU are doing, sitting on your *** listening to a half dozen talking heads discussing a trip, and watching seventy different angles of it a hundred different times. A coach at half-time of a tight game is *coaching*.
A coach is not going to suddenly decide on a suspension in the locker room after a game.
A school is not going to announce a suspension at 11:00 at night, just in time for Sportscenter and for late night internet message board posters to talk about.
K has done exactly what *everyone felt he should do*; spoke with his player, had his player apologize, both in person to the other player and in public to the media, and suspended Grayson for his dumb trip. He did it exactly when he should; at 9:00 AM, the start of the day after the incident, after everyone has spoken to everyone and everyone is ready to do it.
Obviously K doesn't give two sh*ts what any of us, the media, or opposing fans think. He's also going to be painted a villain no matter what he does. He's used to it. Case in point, two years ago when Rasheed was dismissed you saw UNC fans saying he did the young man a disservice. Make no mistake, if he had dismissed Grayson then they'd be going after him for that.
Sometimes we get a little to reactionary, and I know I was like that last night too. I didn't think Grayson should have played in the second half. But guess what? He did play. Nothing I can do about that. Seth Greenburg made a tremendous point in one of the pieces I watched....now is not the time for Duke to stand behind Grayson and let him be attacked by the mob. Now is the time for Duke to stand beside him and get him the help he needs. That's exactly what K has done.
What Grayson did last night was awful. That's been established by everyone....you, me, opposing fans, the media, Grayson himself, etc. So put that aside and accept he was wrong. Duke means more to Grayson in his pinky finger than to all of us combined....so if you think you're embarrassed being a Duke fan, or you're getting a hard time from buddies on social media this morning, multiply that by infinity and you'd maybe get a fraction of what it feels like to be Grayson today. I'm not saying forget about it, I'm not saying it all should be forgotten and I'm not saying Grayson should be given a pass. But remember, he's being piled on right now from every single angle imaginable and in some respects will be forever....I just think some here can still be frustrated and even supportive at the same time.
Sometimes we get a little to reactionary, and I know I was like that last night too. I didn't think Grayson should have played in the second half. But guess what? He did play. Nothing I can do about that. Seth Greenburg made a tremendous point in one of the pieces I watched....now is not the time for Duke to stand behind Grayson and let him be attacked by the mob. Now is the time for Duke to stand beside him and get him the help he needs. That's exactly what K has done.
What Grayson did last night was awful. That's been established by everyone....you, me, opposing fans, the media, Grayson himself, etc. So put that aside and accept he was wrong. Duke means more to Grayson in his pinky finger than to all of us combined....so if you think you're embarrassed being a Duke fan, or you're getting a hard time from buddies on social media this morning, multiply that by infinity and you'd maybe get a fraction of what it feels like to be Grayson today. I'm not saying forget about it, I'm not saying it all should be forgotten and I'm not saying Grayson should be given a pass. But remember, he's being piled on right now from every single angle imaginable and in some respects will be forever....I just think some here can still be frustrated and even supportive at the same time.
I think it's also important to remember that Grayson's tripping of players isn't the problem but the symptom of a problem. I don't know if I've ever seen someone break down on live TV like Grayson did on the bench last night. I'm not going to pretend to know what's going on behind the scenes, but I hope Grayson is able to get help with whatever is going on. If it is simply a maturity thing, then I hope this whole experience helps him to grow up.
Just out of curiosity... does everyone basically agree that Grayson's blowup on the bench was likely a mix of A) he realized how big this would be, and B) how badly he ****** up, and C) pure embarrassment?
Man, if some of my sports blowups when I was younger had been caught on camera, folks would think I was nuts. I could have taught Ronnie Hextall how to have a meltdown.
Man, if some of my sports blowups when I was younger had been caught on camera, folks would think I was nuts. I could have taught Ronnie Hextall how to have a meltdown.
I think that's probably true, to an extent. But he still looked foolish. And I've been around former teammates who I thought were nutcases and went overboard sometimes....I honestly have never saw that kind of reaction. He looked possessed.
So, yes, I think Grayson almost immediately realized he made a huge error in judgment. Then, after that realization, he went way over the edge.
McRoberts did it his final year at Duke and threw the towel then picked it up and covered his head. It was the final Carolina game of the season right after he brought the ball up court went between his legs and I think did a lay up then got called for a foul I believe.
Yeah, agreed.
Jesus, yeah... just reflecting on my own temper. I was such a damn hothead when I was younger. I smashed more goalie sticks than I can possibly count. My temper was always very inwardly-focused though; I got pissed at myself for ******* up. I never took a swing at anyone else or anything. It was a LOT of years before I calmed down.
Jesus, yeah... just reflecting on my own temper. I was such a damn hothead when I was younger. I smashed more goalie sticks than I can possibly count. My temper was always very inwardly-focused though; I got pissed at myself for ******* up. I never took a swing at anyone else or anything. It was a LOT of years before I calmed down.
The officials informed k of what happened, that alone warrants him not playing. Then scheyer was right there for the tantrum, again that alone warrants him not playing.
This can be a problem whe you have a butt load of Mickey Ds on the team. It worked in 15, but it also has the potential to be cancer and destroy a season. But as several has eluded to, it's only Dec. If or when Coach pushes the right buttons it will be hell for the rest of the country as far as hoops goes
I think after the great season Grayson had last year and the pre-season player of the year that he expected things to turn out even better than last year. At CTC I thought he was pressing too hard and just didn't look the same as last year. I remember him diving for a loose ball and almost ruining AJ's season, and thinking to myself what the hell is he thinking.
He has put so much pressure on himself to be even better than last year that when he tripped the Elon player I think he knew instantly how bad he screwed up and just lost it. His biggest problem is the demons his placed on himself. He needs to talk to someone who's been in his shoes and overcome this type of situation. He needs some tough love right now and lots of support to get through this. My prayers go out to the young man and not just because he's a Duke player.
He has put so much pressure on himself to be even better than last year that when he tripped the Elon player I think he knew instantly how bad he screwed up and just lost it. His biggest problem is the demons his placed on himself. He needs to talk to someone who's been in his shoes and overcome this type of situation. He needs some tough love right now and lots of support to get through this. My prayers go out to the young man and not just because he's a Duke player.
To go along with this, did any of you hear the comments about Luke, How he wanted his minutes and he knew the freshman class coming in was good but he wasn't gonna let that stop him from playing?
These are still young men and some adapt different to pressure then others. I think he will be fine and the team
Ya gotta wonder if that's already happened prior to last night. Not a full on fight, but arguments at least. Obviously there are chemistry issues.
To go along with this, I have a question to ask. And so I'm not to be accused of trying to sling mud or start rumors, I'm honestly just asking if anyone else has heard this as I've read it elsewhere. We know Luke mentioned people not wanting to buy in and commenting on chemistry issues. I saw someone say that Grayson and Frank have supposedly had problems with one another. Has anyone else heard this?
As far as I know Grayson essentially took Frank under his wing. They're similar players, with similar fire, who have similar roles. Not going to comment yet on the situations that have been rumored to have occurred but this ain't one of them.