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re: Alabama Basketball 2012-13 Season Thread
Posted on 3/27/13 at 9:02 pm to bona fide
Posted on 3/27/13 at 9:02 pm to bona fide
I can't disagree with any of that, but I'll make a small list of my own...
Releford- Great finisher. Maybe the best finisher I've seen at the collegiate level given his size. Truly amazing turnaround that he made with his 3 pt shot. My guess was he'd be at best our 4th option from deep before the season started. My one and only complaint...court vision and passing. Releford would be a starting NBA quality PG if he had just an average NBA-level PG vision and passing. Outside of a lob the kid lacks the passing abilities needed for a PG his size at the next level.
Lacey- I will say the kid...he's clutch. When it comes to the last couple minutes, he's the best offensive player we have. BUT he's also been the biggest disappointment on the team for me after the first 10 or so games. His main problem? Consistency....in EVERYTHING. Effort, defense, shooting, passing, dribbling, aggressiveness, and just about any other category you could think of.
Cooper- Like you, he was my favorite player that we signed in the 2011 class. I also like to take credit for his rise in his HS Rival ranking, because I incessantly bitched to Jerry Meyer about how he was overlooking Cooper to the point where he probably just caved to my demands. He was also my preseason pick to lead the team in scoring. Yikes. I also think it is a confidence problem as well. In HS he didn't miss those floaters and hit a good percentage from 3 even with some of his ridiculously long-bomb attempts, and now he leaves every close shot short (commonly cause by a lack of confidence) and is a brick machine, even with his beautiful mechanics. Do love his effort on defense and rebounding and probably has the best court vision on the team.
Randolph- Lock-down defender with a good offensive game when he shows aggression. Of the three wings he certainly has the highest ceiling. Needs to get aggressive on offense like he did to finish the season, but also needs to get back his mid-range game that was the best part of his offensive game in HS and top 3 in the class according to Rivals.
Retin- Able. Bodied. Athleticism. Unbelievably athletic and easily has the quickest first step of any player on the team. He might develop into our best pro prospect. The Russell Westbrook comparison Steele threw out before the season were spot on. I think he will be a solid shooter next year, and he has great potential with his pull-up jumper.
Engstrom- If Engstrom can somehow get softer hands, he'd be at least a passable offensive threat IMO. The kid was shooting 69% from the field before he went down, which is great regardless of sample size. Doesn't seem to have the problems Moussa has with put-backs. He had the best post move of anyone this season right before he went down. Just out-powered his man from near the FT line to right next to the basket with shear size and good foot-work.
Gueye- Defensively he's very good, regardless of what some think. Offensively, he is a disaster. If he can work on his footwork in the post he'd have a pretty deadly hook shot, but with the 2-foot shots and putbacks, he just seems hopeless. Never seen anyone have the problems he has with those shots.
Jacobs- His hook shot is just deadly. Needs to develop a counter move and get into better shape. Like, Lacey he has major problems with consistency with his effort and defense. When his effort is there his rebounding is there.
Pollard- He's super athletic and he's getting better and more comfortable on offense. Like Cooper he has some great court vision, but for some reason, probably nerves, he's had trouble with his pass accuracy which has also been getting better. Most encouraging thing I've seen from him was his dunk against Stanford. He went up strong for the dunk which had been his problem all-year in that aspect. He should be much improved next year.
Steele- GREAT leader, and seemed to be a great influence on Retin, which is why I'm a little more comfortable with him leaving now. Retin is like a more offensively skilled and athletic Steele.
Grant- Great defensive coach, but offensively challenged is a polite way to describe him on the other end of the ball. If he just loosens the reigns a little on offense and lets them play freely more often, it will do wonders for us. I looked for it all year, but in the last press conference he finally came forward and said he needs to work on things as a coach and that he thought the season was definitely a disappointment. I loved to hear that and it gives me hope for the future. He's not far into his head coaching career (no, 6 years isn't long) so he's still got the potential to improve on the offensive end as long as he is open to change and is willing to loosen the reigns just a little.
My prediction for next year is a 5 seed and there just aren't any other excuses for us to even be a bubble team next year. We will have everything Grant needs: Depth at each position, talent and experience.
Releford- Great finisher. Maybe the best finisher I've seen at the collegiate level given his size. Truly amazing turnaround that he made with his 3 pt shot. My guess was he'd be at best our 4th option from deep before the season started. My one and only complaint...court vision and passing. Releford would be a starting NBA quality PG if he had just an average NBA-level PG vision and passing. Outside of a lob the kid lacks the passing abilities needed for a PG his size at the next level.
Lacey- I will say the kid...he's clutch. When it comes to the last couple minutes, he's the best offensive player we have. BUT he's also been the biggest disappointment on the team for me after the first 10 or so games. His main problem? Consistency....in EVERYTHING. Effort, defense, shooting, passing, dribbling, aggressiveness, and just about any other category you could think of.
Cooper- Like you, he was my favorite player that we signed in the 2011 class. I also like to take credit for his rise in his HS Rival ranking, because I incessantly bitched to Jerry Meyer about how he was overlooking Cooper to the point where he probably just caved to my demands. He was also my preseason pick to lead the team in scoring. Yikes. I also think it is a confidence problem as well. In HS he didn't miss those floaters and hit a good percentage from 3 even with some of his ridiculously long-bomb attempts, and now he leaves every close shot short (commonly cause by a lack of confidence) and is a brick machine, even with his beautiful mechanics. Do love his effort on defense and rebounding and probably has the best court vision on the team.
Randolph- Lock-down defender with a good offensive game when he shows aggression. Of the three wings he certainly has the highest ceiling. Needs to get aggressive on offense like he did to finish the season, but also needs to get back his mid-range game that was the best part of his offensive game in HS and top 3 in the class according to Rivals.
Retin- Able. Bodied. Athleticism. Unbelievably athletic and easily has the quickest first step of any player on the team. He might develop into our best pro prospect. The Russell Westbrook comparison Steele threw out before the season were spot on. I think he will be a solid shooter next year, and he has great potential with his pull-up jumper.
Engstrom- If Engstrom can somehow get softer hands, he'd be at least a passable offensive threat IMO. The kid was shooting 69% from the field before he went down, which is great regardless of sample size. Doesn't seem to have the problems Moussa has with put-backs. He had the best post move of anyone this season right before he went down. Just out-powered his man from near the FT line to right next to the basket with shear size and good foot-work.
Gueye- Defensively he's very good, regardless of what some think. Offensively, he is a disaster. If he can work on his footwork in the post he'd have a pretty deadly hook shot, but with the 2-foot shots and putbacks, he just seems hopeless. Never seen anyone have the problems he has with those shots.
Jacobs- His hook shot is just deadly. Needs to develop a counter move and get into better shape. Like, Lacey he has major problems with consistency with his effort and defense. When his effort is there his rebounding is there.
Pollard- He's super athletic and he's getting better and more comfortable on offense. Like Cooper he has some great court vision, but for some reason, probably nerves, he's had trouble with his pass accuracy which has also been getting better. Most encouraging thing I've seen from him was his dunk against Stanford. He went up strong for the dunk which had been his problem all-year in that aspect. He should be much improved next year.
Steele- GREAT leader, and seemed to be a great influence on Retin, which is why I'm a little more comfortable with him leaving now. Retin is like a more offensively skilled and athletic Steele.
Grant- Great defensive coach, but offensively challenged is a polite way to describe him on the other end of the ball. If he just loosens the reigns a little on offense and lets them play freely more often, it will do wonders for us. I looked for it all year, but in the last press conference he finally came forward and said he needs to work on things as a coach and that he thought the season was definitely a disappointment. I loved to hear that and it gives me hope for the future. He's not far into his head coaching career (no, 6 years isn't long) so he's still got the potential to improve on the offensive end as long as he is open to change and is willing to loosen the reigns just a little.
My prediction for next year is a 5 seed and there just aren't any other excuses for us to even be a bubble team next year. We will have everything Grant needs: Depth at each position, talent and experience.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 12:22 am to BigBird09
Grant to Minnesota is gaining some traction on twitter fwiw. Don't know if it's believable or not.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 12:39 am to Bryant91092
And when I say gaining steam, I mean Minnesota newspapers think it'll be him or Flip Saunders.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 7:19 am to Bryant91092
Weren't UT insiders convinced Grant was coming?
Posted on 3/28/13 at 7:30 am to Bryant91092
quote:
him or Flip Saunders.
At least the Minnesota AD knows what kind of coach he wants. I mean, could those two guys' backgrounds be any different over the last 15 years?
Grant isn't leaving though FWIW IMO TBH ETC ETC
Posted on 3/28/13 at 9:13 am to bigpapamac
Really dont understand how thats a good job for him. He cant really recruit down here and he is from the region. He would probably have more trouble up there.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 9:17 am to Tide or Die87
He's recruited pretty well down here, especially when you look at the lack of in-state talent the past couple of seasons. The class with Lacey/Randolp/Cooper and all those guys was a top 5 class according to Rivals.
This post was edited on 3/28/13 at 9:19 am
Posted on 3/28/13 at 10:48 am to Bryant91092
It apparently started from a poster on a message board saying Grant was interviewing this morning. LINK
quote:
I can tell you at this hour my lackey down in Alabama has confirmed to me that Anthony will interview first thing in the morning with his former boss Norwood Teague. Interview will occur in Minnesota and things could close up on this pretty quick.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 11:20 am to BigBird09
quote:
Interview will occur in Minnesota and things could close up on this pretty quick.
As Coleman Crumbles?
Posted on 3/28/13 at 3:31 pm to bigpapamac
With the news of the Devin Mitchell visit, I imagine it puts the "Anthony Grant morning interview at Minnesota" rumor to rest.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 4:31 pm to BigBird09
Not gonna lie, I warned up to the idea of him being gone and looking for a better coach
Posted on 3/28/13 at 4:49 pm to Bryant91092
Im not. I want to see what he does with a full roster.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 4:54 pm to Tide or Die87
There definitely won't be any excuses next year. I hate that it's taken him 5 years to finally have a full roster though.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 5:00 pm to Bryant91092
Im not even going to start a argument over this.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 5:02 pm to Bryant91092
I honestly this we have a very good year next season. Pollard will be much improved as will Cooper IMO. I also think Hale contributes a good bit.
I'm calling a sweet 16 appearance...
I'm calling a sweet 16 appearance...
Posted on 3/28/13 at 5:10 pm to RedElephants
Arkansas just took a big unexpected hit. Powell and Young declaring for the NBA.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 5:11 pm to RedElephants
Hmm Sweet 16 LMAO. Nothing about what we have or what we have coming says sweet 16. We have the talent but they have to play like they give a shite and they do not. Thats not a easy trait to break.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 5:12 pm to BigBird09
quote:
Arkansas just took a big unexpected hit. Powell and Young declaring for the NBA.
Powell will be a big loss for them. Young is terrible and probably should have declared last year. I don't even think he will be drafted.
Posted on 3/28/13 at 5:15 pm to Tide or Die87
There's really nothing to argue If you don't think it's concerning that it's taken this long to have depth then idk what to tell you.
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