Time to get more from Matt...
- Thread starter Anon1728003274
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Next year's squad (like last year) should benefit Matt a whole lot.
Next year he will be able to be a "3 and D guy." Play great defense, space the floor on offense and shoot when wide open.
Agree, but i see Tatum at the 3 for 30 minutes, grayson at the 2 if he comes back, Thornton/Jackson at the 1 (jackson some 2), Giles at the 4 if healthy, Bolden at 5 if we get him, if not Amile/Jeter at the 5 with some amile at the 4 to give Giles a blow. That leaves Luke and Matt. If graysone comes back, Minutes will be hard earned!
I want to believe Luke takes a huge step forward with consistency and backs up the 2 and 3, if that happens where does that leave matt? If grayson leaves then minutes will be much more evenly distributed.
Matt is a great leader, but he lacks in skills. He has a decent 3 point shot, but is a major liability taking it inside. I prefer going bigger with Obi or Jeter on occasion and letting him sit. Rebounding is what this team lacks the most. We just don't get the second chance points on the offensive end like we should.
matt has had nice progression...looking at his season avg stats have increased...ppg has gone from 2 to 6 to 11
It seems like every year we believe that the next year Duke will be so deep and will be able to go 10+ guys deep. And it NEVER happens.
I know I am in the minority, but I believe Grayson is gone (weak draft and we won't be putting up the same numbers next year.)
Regardless of Grayson's decision, Matt will get 15+ minutes, he is a senior who K trusts.
If grayson stays and Matt gets over 20 minutes pg by ACC play with no injuries to others it'll be disappointing.
In ACC play he averaged 6.5 ppg last year and 8ppg this year. I think it shows his struggles this year in ACC play.
Can we stop the hate on Matt??? We are not National Champions last year without him!!!!!!!!
Sure, he has athletic limitations, but he's playing hurt and still playing his heart out.
Like I said, he is a PERFECT FIT for next year's squad.
Sure, he has athletic limitations, but he's playing hurt and still playing his heart out.
Like I said, he is a PERFECT FIT for next year's squad.
I'm not going to lock it up, but he has a point. It's pretty much been a hachet job on Matt. That's been the narrative for a lot of this season. Like I said, every year Duke fans seem to find one guy. My guess is next year it's Matt too.
Now I suggest you stop in this thread too. You whine when people have the audacity to speak up and challenge you, but when a Duke fan makes a request on a Duke board and that the hachet job on a certain player stops, you say "Wow"?
Wow.
I don't think anybody is "hating" on matt, merely discussing his play this season compared to previous ones and his statistics. It's a fair discussion about one of our players and frankly it would be more upbeat had his play as a whole been better this year.
Though I think the idea of it being disappointing that he may start next year is unnecessary, no reason he can't evolve his game and have a fantastic senior season next year.
Though I think the idea of it being disappointing that he may start next year is unnecessary, no reason he can't evolve his game and have a fantastic senior season next year.
I grow to dislike these threads when it causes our members to be snippy with one another. As DJ said, there is no issue with discussing disappointment, but the others who don't care for the mood of topic should have the same right to say so. Turnabout is fair play.
If your gonna hate on Matt, than you better be crushing Jeter, Vrank, and Obi.
As a scholarship player, at least Matt is giving us something.
These other guys are taking up a scholarship and giving us zippo.........................
As a scholarship player, at least Matt is giving us something.
These other guys are taking up a scholarship and giving us zippo.........................
Other Duke fans have agreed w/me here. You are wrong to lash out....Good Lord man you have some folks who go way over the line at others here...
If grayson stays, at the 1-3 position you have Thornton, Jackson, allen, Kennard, Jones, Tatum. Can Tatum play some 4? That would be tough. So lets say we have those 6 players for 3 positions, 120 minutes per game. Allen 30 minutes, Tatum 25 minutes, Thornton/Jackson = 40 minutes(possibly more between the two of them), that leaves 25 minutes between Luke and Matt. I'm just curious how people play this out where Matt gets 20-25 minutes justifiably so? Do you think Tatum isn't as good as most people think? Do you think Jackson is a bust and isn't ready at all to play? Personally I think we have a one and done lottery pick in Tatum, and a 2nd or 3rd year lottery pick in Jackson. Thornton could grow into a really good college pg and maybe get drafted late, Allen will probably be a mid late first rounder, luke has that same potential. Where does that leave matt? I get team chemistry/leadership, but you play the best players. Talent wins games. It's a great problem to have, but I'm just curious as to those that think Matt will still get significant minutes where does it come from? Banking on allen going to the league? Does luke or someone transfer?
Obi and Jeter have gotten their fair share, some are back on a Jeter kick, but no one expected Vrank to play this year. I think people had unfair expectations on matt this year but in ACC play it's been a struggle. It sounds like even more unfair expectations are put on him next year when the talent could be insane at the guard positions.
I want to clarify I was not "hating on Matt." If you recall I said in this same thread IMO we do not beat Gonzaga w/o him. I apologize for saying "wow," but merely thought we were having dialogue among avid paying subscribers for a Duke Basketball Message Board...
Havent "whined" one day in my 57 yrs and do not plan on starting now....
Havent "whined" one day in my 57 yrs and do not plan on starting now....
Bingo. I've said in this thread and others that Matt hasn't had a great season. The ankle injury has made it more hard to stomach....understandable or not.
You really have to lighten up. You're like talking to a brick wall. Just because you have a theory doesn't mean everyone else is 1) going to agree with you, and 2) not challenge your opinion. You respond "wow" to someone else's post and the same can't be done to you? Like I said, lighten up a bit and quit playing this victim role.
You're playing the 'what if' game. For one, at best it's 50/50 that Grayson returns. That's very best, and probably going down every day. Two, Tatum is certainly going to play 'some' 4 next season. Third, it's too early to tell how ready Giles will be next season. Four, we've watched past Duke seniors transform their games both on the court and as a leader to extraordinary heights before. Does Matt do that? Maybe not, but just because others aren't throwing in the towel on him like you doesn't mean their opinions don't matter, either. Hell, you had problems earlier this season with posters praising Marshall's play.
If someone says you have a nice house but takes a dump in your living room is it ok then? Also, this is the free board. Devil Insider is the paid forum.
I am not even going to give my opinion on Matt Jones and how he has played this year. However, I have seen several people comment on his leadership and say he is a great leader. Is that an assumption strictly based on him being an upperclassman and captain or do fans actually see leadership from him?
Personally I think MP3 has been our leader... Love that kid's passion and exuberance and he is going to do so well serving our country. We can truly be so proud....
A guy named Krzyzewski who is around him and the program every day has said as much. When Duke won at UNC you can see on video at how Grayson and Luke sought out Matt after the final buzzer....K also commented on that in his weekly show. It's been quite documented by players and coaches alike. It's not made up. I assumed they'd have some insight.
This is true. I have a habit of quick judgment during games and saying things that aren't well thought out. And just because a player isn't grabbing every rebound or making every shot doesn't mean they are not giving it their all. This team deserves a lot of credit for the effort they put in.
I think as horrible as that nite was for Matt per the injury, things actually worked out well in a TRUE SIGNATURE DUKE WIN....You could see Matt keeping the guys pumped up on the bench during timeouts, and Luke was on the court giving EXTENDED MINUTES, having a sensational nite!
If we are as deep as expected playing time will be according to performance. It will not matter who starts if someone comes off the bench hot. It is a good situation to have options unlike this year. Matt Jones will have his place but he will have to produce. The Carolina guards got rebounds no excuse to get none.
All talk about next year is what if. Yes i thought marshall was playing really poor on d to start ther year, but ive also stated he's improved second half of the season. I think grayson was actually more important in winning the championship last year than matt, but matt was huge vs gonzaga.
You really think tatum plays much 4 with amile back if giles is healthy? End of games i could see. If we land bolden too probably not.
I do think grayson goes pro unless a degree means that much to him.
You really think tatum plays much 4 with amile back if giles is healthy? End of games i could see. If we land bolden too probably not.
I do think grayson goes pro unless a degree means that much to him.
It seems K says that about every upperclassman. Maybe its just my imagination. Either way, I am not saying he is or isn't a good leader. I just don't know if you can always believe the stuff that players and coaches say about things like that. I mean, I don't think it is far-fetched to think someone would have said that about McRoberts if he would have stuck around.
Or yours. I doubt the team, you, or anyone else saw Josh McRoberts as a good leader. However, K said this about him.
"Josh continues to grow as a leader," Krzyzewski said. "Leadership is not an easy thing. Just because you name a kid a captain doesn't mean he's going to be a leader. Josh's game lends itself to that. He's a passer, plays good defense. As our best player, and a team guy, that helps him in leadership.
Did K see him as a great leader? Probably not but he has to say those things. Its coachspeak. All I am saying is just because K and players say someone is a leader, it does not mean they are actually a leader. They basically have to say those things.
Matt definitely seems to be loved by all of his teammates and coaches and I respect that. I definitely think he'a a leader in practices (i do not see) based on what K says. It is extremely important that young players learn how to practice right, prepare right, and handle themselves off the court. I fully expect Matt, Amile, and possibly Grayson(if he stays) to play that role next year.
I am definitely looking ahead to next year because of our tough situation this year. Haven[t give up on the team, but I definitely think we could have good match ups and make a run in the tourney easier than in the ACCT. I would just love to see Duke get back to the point where they can overwhelm good teams, and I think there's a good chance we have that talent level next year.
I am definitely looking ahead to next year because of our tough situation this year. Haven[t give up on the team, but I definitely think we could have good match ups and make a run in the tourney easier than in the ACCT. I would just love to see Duke get back to the point where they can overwhelm good teams, and I think there's a good chance we have that talent level next year.