RedlessWardrobe said:
Whichever stats you want to use, if you watched Cal play last year and you know anything about basketball it is obvious that JHD is NOT a point guard.
Redless,
There is no need to resort to a personal insult to win your point. I've already implied that JHD IS NOT A POINT GUARD. If you don't like statistics, that is fine with me. The point is the current Cal roster has only one scholarship point guard. I saw enough of Cal last season to know that while Darius McNeill did an admirable job playing the point guard position to form the opinion that McNeill is not a point guard, either. Or at least not a very good one. He is a shooter, a scorer. He does not have what you youngsters call a good enough "handle," as was evident with his struggles in the backcourt bringing the ball up the floor against pressure. His handle was adequate, but not good enough to play point guard for a team we all want to compete against the best teams.
My problem is Wyking's problem, and that will be how do I put together a group of ten players, two for each position, to make up two teams to have a very competitive scrimmage to push all ten players to progress and get better playing together to become a better Cal team when we take the floor for each game next season.
Helltopay1 pointed this out early on: It looks like Wyking Jones has failed to sign a backup point guard to play behind, and play for Paris Austin, when Austin must come out of the game, which he will. He averaged only 28 minutes at Boise St, and that could well be less at Cal. And I'd add that player has to be able to push Austin in practice scrimmages to play his best.
My biggest concern is to find a player on the bench who can play the toughest defense against Austin in practice scrimmages. If you don't like JHD for this job, then let's look at the choices among the other guards:
1. McNeill. Every minute he plays against Austin in a scrimmage, is a minute lost from the time he should be playing WITH Austin as the two guard. Same problem Cal had last season with McNeill and Coleman.
2. Matt Bradley. CalBears.com roster lists him as a guard, but BI's Cal roster lists him as a forward. We know nothing about whether he would be a capable point guard foil for Austin. Cal lost most of their scoring from last season to transfer and graduation. McNeill and Sueing are the only proven scorers. We don't know if Austin can score against PAC12 guards. Bradley averaged 34 points in his junior year, scored 75 in one game. I don't think Bradley was recruited to play point. He was recruited to score the ball.
3. Jacob Orender. A walk-on who played in 3 games last season. At Lafayette, he played in 12 games, had 1 assist, 1 three, and 1 rebound, total. You be the judge.
4. James Zhao. Mystery man. A walk-on, but interesting. 6-3 size, and played on China's U17 team, averaging 22 ppg. We have no idea whether he could play point.
5. David Serge. Another walk-on. Actually was the team's manager for two years and now has joined the playing roster. No other information on him. Real long shot.
6. Harris-Dyson. His handle is not good enough to play point, on that we agree. So how do you feel about his defense? I think he is a pretty good defender, with plenty of upside defensively. He would be a test for Austin. He is quick, and that is why I want to try him at point guard. Plus, he can't shoot. As a shooting guard or small forward, he will not play much this season behind McNeill, Sueing, Gordon, and Bradley. He brings nothing to the table except defense, drives to the basket, some knack for rebounds, and hustle.
Unless Zhao emerges, I'd rather play JHD on that 2nd unit opposite Austin, than play either McNeill or Bradley, because we need their scoring more than anything. JHD is not a point guard. But he is a freshman and might be able to grow into it, after a lot of time, is all. Are you saying his future is cast in stone, that he can't be taught new skills? On
So, for this coming season, who would you play against Austin in practice, and play behind him in games, and why?