Freshman Focus with Coach Paulsen

[Patriotsince81]

Yeah, interested to hear if this excited anyone else? Some things got us hyped like loosening AJ’s leash but the position-less basketball stuff we could do without. We aren’t Dayton or the Golden St Warriors.

It sounds like he believes Oduro can play both back to basket and around the arc. What did people think about his answer to my question about the 4/5 being interchangeable in his ideal offense?

You mean his hand off offense at the top of the key? Simple answer? DP is in over his head. I have zero confidence he will adapt/adjust in order to win. Is he recruiting better players? Time will tell. Will he be here to see it through? I hope like hell the answer is no.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Call me

 

[Patriotsince81]

Dave, a little advice for your next interview. Quit the BS and ...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxT5CV9YIq0

 

[GMUgemini]

Yo...what was the story with Hartwell?

Is him being sick for half the season like a known thing? Did I just completely miss that?

Yes and yes.

 

[mkaufman1]

Yeah, interested to hear if this excited anyone else? Some things got us hyped like loosening AJ’s leash but the position-less basketball stuff we could do without. We aren’t Dayton or the Golden St Warriors.

It sounds like he believes Oduro can play both back to basket and around the arc. What did people think about his answer to my question about the 4/5 being interchangeable in his ideal offense?

the way I saw that was Dave trying to say he’s flexible with his players and how he lines them up. I think he tries to recruit guys who can provide value at different areas and so it becomes more position less. His point about Frazier was that during the practice he saw he was doing things a player from the 1-3 position would do. I get what he is trying to say there. Like he may want a big and yes a big is a “5” but it doesn’t mean he just plays inside, he’d take a big who can shoot threes.

I do think that Dave has improved this area by getting guys who are lengthier and more athletic. Getting a guy like a Frazier, daddy, Miller etc, all guys who give you versatility from shooting deep to playing inside or even ball handling ability.

 

[mkaufman1]

You mean his hand off offense at the top of the key? Simple answer? DP is in over his head. I have zero confidence he will adapt/adjust in order to win. Is he recruiting better players? Time will tell. Will he be here to see it through? I hope like hell the answer is no.

I think that handoff offense was designed for kier, and for whatever reason he kept it all season. But yeah it was pretty annoying haha. I hope we don’t see that ever again.

 

[Jack Strop]

the way I saw that was Dave trying to say he’s flexible with his players and how he lines them up. I think he tries to recruit guys who can provide value at different areas and so it becomes more position less. His point about Frazier was that during the practice he saw he was doing things a player from the 1-3 position would do. I get what he is trying to say there. Like he may want a big and yes a big is a “5” but it doesn’t mean he just plays inside, he’d take a big who can shoot threes.

I do think that Dave has improved this area by getting guys who are lengthier and more athletic. Getting a guy like a Frazier, daddy, Miller etc, all guys who give you versatility from shooting deep to playing inside or even ball handling ability.

I'm not a basketball coach nor an analyst, but my take on positionless basketball is not the "2 does the same stuff as the 5" or the "4 does the same stuff as the 1". Rather it's players who are versatile— a 4 who can driblle through traffic and take and make threes; a 3 who can post up or defend a 1; a 2 who can rebound; a 5 with a solid elbow jumper. Also, versatility of a 3/4/5 or 1/2/3 switching roles on the fly. Additionally, you don't absolutely label players as a 1, 2, or 5. You have guards and forwards, maybe a center. But for practical purposes, sometimes the number labels serve a purpose, some times not. I don't take positionless basketball as everybody on the court being 6'6" and only attempting lay-ups, or worse, the free-for-all chaotic, anarchistic, clogged-toilet, scrum that Paul Hewitt coveted.

 

[mkaufman1]

I'm not a basketball coach nor an analyst, but my take on positionless basketball is not the "2 does the same stuff as the 5" or the "4 does the same stuff as the 1". Rather it's players who are versatile— a 4 who can driblle through traffic and take and make threes; a 3 who can post up or defend a 1; a 2 who can rebound; a 5 with a solid elbow jumper. Additionally, you don't absolutely label players as a 1, 2, or 5. You have guards and forwards, maybe a center. But for practical purposes, Also, versatility of a 3/4/5 or 1/2/3 switching roles on the fly. I don't take positionless basketball as everybody on the court being 6'6" and only attempting lay-ups, or worse, the free-for-all chaotic, anarchistic clogged-toilet scrum that Paul Hewitt coveted.

you basically said what I attempted to say. He’s looking for players who have specialities in various areas who also provide flexibility and versatility. Like you said the “2” who can rebound or the “5” who can shoot a 3.

and no, he’s not looking for a lineup of 6’7 players lol

 

[By George.]

you basically said what I attempted to say. He’s looking for players who have specialities in various areas who also provide flexibility and versatility. Like you said the “2” who can rebound or the “5” who can shoot a 3.

and no, he’s not looking for a lineup of 6’7 players lol

Yes, versatility is really nice but sometimes I just want 5 guys who specialize on something while gelling together. For example, Jordan Miller playing the 3 didn’t work for me because his power is getting offensive rebound put backs. Take him away from the net, his value drops. I know he can hit 3’s too but I’d limit those attempts.

 

[Herndon]

you basically said what I attempted to say. He’s looking for players who have specialities in various areas who also provide flexibility and versatility. Like you said the “2” who can rebound or the “5” who can shoot a 3.

and no, he’s not looking for a lineup of 6’7 players lol

Somewhere, Rinus Michels is smiling.

 

[Herndon]

Yes, versatility is really nice but sometimes I just want 5 guys who specialize on something while gelling together. For example, Jordan Miller playing the 3 didn’t work for me because his power is getting offensive rebound put backs. Take him away from the net, his value drops. I know he can hit 3’s too but I’d limit those attempts.

Are there really even small forwards anymore? The days of Detlef Schrempf and Bernard King are over. Guys who give you some post game, some shooting, some ball handling.

3's these days are just big 2 guards. 2's and 3's are just "Wings" now.

 

[Herndon]

Yes, versatility is really nice but sometimes I just want 5 guys who specialize on something while gelling together. For example, Jordan Miller playing the 3 didn’t work for me because his power is getting offensive rebound put backs. Take him away from the net, his value drops. I know he can hit 3’s too but I’d limit those attempts.

So Miller in your eyes is just a ultra quick, ultra small 4? That's interesting. I'm not sure I disagree, but I'm not sure I agree, either.

I will say this, I'm pretty firmly of the belief that tweeners are almost ALWAYS better suited playing "up" a position than "down" one.

It's better to be a smaller and quicker and more skilled than average at your position than it is to be bigger and stronger and slower than average, the vast majority of the time.

 

[By George.]

So Miller in your eyes is just a ultra quick, ultra small 4? That's interesting. I'm not sure I disagree, but I'm not sure I agree, either.

I will say this, I'm pretty firmly of the belief that tweeners are almost ALWAYS better suited playing "up" a position than "down" one.

It's better to be a smaller and quicker and more skilled than average at your position than it is to be bigger and stronger and slower than average, the vast majority of the time.

Yup, although Jordan shined at the 3 a few times, I find him best utilized getting offensive boards hanging around the basket. Eventually after he beats ya enough on the glass, he steps back and hits a 3 on you.

 

[sleeperpick]

Yup, although Jordan shined at the 3 a few times, I find him best utilized getting offensive boards hanging around the basket. Eventually after he beats ya enough on the glass, he steps back and hits a 3 on you.

What is your alternative? AJ SHOULD NOT and cannot play the 5 and Jordan is better suited at the 4 I 100% agree with you. They are also two of our top 3 players that should be playing the same position. how would Paulsen go about using them properly? You can't take mins away from AJ who is our best player by a country mile and I find it hard to say that I would take Jordan's mins away either. It is a good problem to have since that and PG are the only position we are truly deep at, but I actually understand and agree with role Paulsen has given to Jordan when AJ is on the court. I know that is a shocker. I have 1 million bones to pick with Paulsen but I can't say the utilization of Jordan is one of them

 

[By George.]

What is your alternative? AJ SHOULD NOT and cannot play the 5 and Jordan is better suited at the 4 I 100% agree with you. They are also two of our top 3 players that should be playing the same position. how would Paulsen go about using them properly? You can't take mins away from AJ who is our best player by a country mile and I find it hard to say that I would take Jordan's mins away either. It is a good problem to have since that and PG are the only position we are truly deep at, but I actually understand and agree with role Paulsen has given to Jordan when AJ is on the court. I know that is a shocker. I have 1 million bones to pick with Paulsen but I can't say the utilization of Jordan is one of them

Agreed, I imagine we will see Josh pop out more giving way to Jordan and AJ in the paint. Josh is probably at his best at the elbow anyways right now. Just a guess.

 

[mkaufman1]

Yes, versatility is really nice but sometimes I just want 5 guys who specialize on something while gelling together. For example, Jordan Miller playing the 3 didn’t work for me because his power is getting offensive rebound put backs. Take him away from the net, his value drops. I know he can hit 3’s too but I’d limit those attempts.

I get that and understand. I think the versatility also comes with specialized skillsets too. Just because a 5 can hit a 3, doesn’t mean he will always play outside the arc (I certainly hope not). To your point I like Miller at the 4 too, but then you take away AJ at the 4, and him at the 5 is only a few minutes a game sorta thing.
Good problems to have in my opinion, and hopefully they’ll be maximized. I’m very interested in how next season goes in general with a full deep and experienced squad.

 

[tblack33]

I’ll post some more complete thoughts tomorrow, but I thought this was a great interview. I’ve said before always nice to hear some behind the scenes stuff from Paulsen, puts some of his decisions in perspective even if I don’t agree with them. Makes him a little more likable. Hope we keep getting content like this from the staff. Great job By George folks.

 

[Herndon]

I get that and understand. I think the versatility also comes with specialized skillsets too. Just because a 5 can hit a 3, doesn’t mean he will always play outside the arc (I certainly hope not). To your point I like Miller at the 4 too, but then you take away AJ at the 4, and him at the 5 is only a few minutes a game sorta thing.
Good problems to have in my opinion, and hopefully they’ll be maximized. I’m very interested in how next season goes in general with a full deep and experienced squad.

You know, I know it's not a popular opinion around here, but I'm not sold on the whole AJ can't play any 5 line of reasoning. Yes, he's got the natural skillset and size of a 4, and yes, he had a breakout season at the 4, but I think I like AJ getting 8-10 minutes a game at 5 rather than Calixte getting 15 minutes a game.

There are 40 minutes go to around at the 5. I like Oduro getting 25. MAYBE Henry is ready to come in and give us 10 minutes a game. Maybe. If he is, there's no guarantee HE's ready to play the 5 based on Paulsen's interview.

If the choice is Calixte gets the other 15 minutes, or AJ plays 10 minutes at 5 and Calixte plays 5, I'd rather see AJ slide up for 5 minutes a half.

You can get by with a lineup of AJ/Miller/Green/Johnson/Hartwell, or maybe Daddy in there somewhere, for stretches in a game.

Shoot, that may even be the lineup you close out the game with.

 

[Falco]

I listed to hear about the freshman, but it sounds like Hutchins is the biggest difference maker.

 

[Falco]

So Miller in your eyes is just a ultra quick, ultra small 4? That's interesting. I'm not sure I disagree, but I'm not sure I agree, either.

I will say this, I'm pretty firmly of the belief that tweeners are almost ALWAYS better suited playing "up" a position than "down" one.

It's better to be a smaller and quicker and more skilled than average at your position than it is to be bigger and stronger and slower than average, the vast majority of the time.

I think Mar fits this philosophy. He had a successful freshman year playing closer to the basket.