Losing Nichols really sucks, but here's why I'm not panicking

#53
#53
bleedingTNorange said:
Yea, but barkleys not.
Click to expand...

I'm going to wait til after the season to make a judgement on whether or not he can play the position.
For now I'll trust Martin and staff that seem to think he has an innate ability to defend big boys.
 
#54
#54
Someone said on this site about 2 months ago if Austin didnt sign with us there would be all out panick or something to that effect...and I disagreed and was called a couple of unfortunate things and ask to leave....well he didnt sign with us and I see NO PANICK OR ANYTHING TO RESEMBLE PANIC...Just like I said.....some folks are extremely overactive and dramatic....and life moves on....and we will be just fine...and folks everywhere will overreact and etc etc etc.....
 
#55
#55
tennrich1 said:
Someone said on this site about 2 months ago if Austin didnt sign with us there would be all out panick or something to that effect...and I disagreed and was called a couple of unfortunate things and ask to leave....well he didnt sign with us and I see NO PANICK OR ANYTHING TO RESEMBLE PANIC...Just like I said.....some folks are extremely overactive and dramatic....and life moves on....and we will be just fine...and folks everywhere will overreact and etc etc etc.....
Click to expand...
Why would any one ask you to leave for stating an opinion?
This isn't the football board.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#56
#56
calban said:
I'm going to wait til after the season to make a judgement on whether or not he can play the position.
For now I'll trust Martin and staff that seem to think he has an innate ability to defend big boys.
Click to expand...

I'll also wait to judge...but like you mention, he goes against Jarnell, Yemi and Kenny every day...I'm guessing Martin has seen something that makes him think Q can defend the post.
 
#58
#58
volbeast33 said:
Where are the names of the guys that tried but couldn't? I hope he does a great job but you can't tell anything by a performance against victory.
Click to expand...
That's a given.
We'll play out the season and judge, but don't write him off just yet.
 
#59
#59
volbeast33 said:
Where are the names of the guys that tried but couldn't? I hope he does a great job but you can't tell anything by a performance against victory.
Click to expand...

There's a lonnnng list of guys that tried and couldn't, longer than the list of guys who tried and succeeded.

However, I'm gonna believe that CCM who sees him go against Jarnell, Kenny and Yemi everyday has seen enough to feel confident in him defensively at the 4.

Q also played center his entire high school career and was always matched up against the other teams biggest player, so guarding bigs is nothing new to him.

Also, we've seen from CCM with Mcbee, even if you get beat a few times because of physical disadvantages...if you're giving 100% and using good technique he'll likely stick with you...so why should we think it'll be any different with Q?

I'm not promising he succeeds or fail playing the 4 defensively, but I'm willing to trust what CCM sees everyday and let the season play out and then make a decision on it.
 
#60
#60
I'd feel a lot better about Q at the 4 if there was a true shot blocker behind him at the 5. A shot blocking presence can erase mistakes and compensate for how aggressively Q will have to front other teams guys in the post. As it is now, Stokes, Hall or Yemi are who will be on the floor with Q and none has shown an ability to avoid bad fouls. Stokes picking up cheap fouls trying to help Q in the post doesn't seem like a recipe for success.
 
#61
#61
zansdad said:
I'd feel a lot better about Q at the 4 if there was a true shot blocker behind him at the 5. A shot blocking presence can erase mistakes and compensate for how aggressively Q will have to front other teams guys in the post. As it is now, Stokes, Hall or Yemi are who will be on the floor with Q and none has shown an ability to avoid bad fouls. Stokes picking up cheap fouls trying to help Q in the post doesn't seem like a recipe for success.
Click to expand...

True about the bad fouls, but Stokes is a really good shot blocker IMO.
 
#62
#62
zjcvols said:
True about the bad fouls, but Stokes is a really good shot blocker IMO.
Click to expand...

I think Stokes can block shots that come from his own man or come right at him. He doesn't have the length to really go out of his area and get them though. Stokes is very physical so he's not going to let a guy shoot right at him but a true shot blocker is going to go get them all over the place. McRae is probably the best real shot blocker on the team but that doesn't help much when he's 6'5".
 
#63
#63
zansdad said:
I think Stokes can block shots that come from his own man or come right at him. He doesn't have the length to really go out of his area and get them though. Stokes is very physical so he's not going to let a guy shoot right at him but a true shot blocker is going to go get them all over the place. McRae is probably the best real shot blocker on the team but that doesn't help much when he's 6'5".
Click to expand...

Never stopped Shane Battier.
 
#66
#66
Chris4Vols22 said:
Being a good shot blocker with a non-post frame.
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure what your getting at. Battier was a good shot blocker in college but 6'8" is hardly a non-post frame in college. Plus the guy is obviously extremely athletic since he is a defensive stopper at the sf in the NBA. Stokes is nothing like Battier physically so I'm not sure why you brought him up.
 
#68
#68
zansdad said:
I'm not really sure what your getting at. Battier was a good shot blocker in college but 6'8" is hardly a non-post frame in college. Plus the guy is obviously extremely athletic since he is a defensive stopper at the sf in the NBA. Stokes is nothing like Battier physically so I'm not sure why you brought him up.
Click to expand...

It must be wishful thinking.
 
#70
#70
The more major talent you can sign the better, but you can turn lesser rated talent into top talent in the weight room, with conditioning, with defense, and with coaches that know how to develop players. We have that at UT. Not worried about losing Nichols, except for the lost time spent on him when the could have been working on others. We did not need another head case parent messing things up like Bryce Brown's dad in football.
 
#71
#71
Vols4us said:
The more major talent you can sign the better, but you can turn lesser rated talent into top talent in the weight room, with conditioning, with defense, and with coaches that know how to develop players. We have that at UT. Not worried about losing Nichols, except for the lost time spent on him when the could have been working on others. We did not need another head case parent messing things up like Bryce Brown's dad in football.
Click to expand...

I was actually gonna bring this up, but some people cant be objective and I didn't want to start something or be told it was sour grapes etc etc...

But I've been wondering, dad obviously was a big part, momma wants to see him play...what happens if he has trouble seeing the court next year?? Are mommy and daddy gonna start questioning Pastner and causing chemistry problems for the team?

There was a lot of talk by Memphis fans that josh was gonna cool on Memphis players because he's had some issues with having multiple Memphis guys on the team...well this class he brought in 3, many thought 1 or 2 max...could be interesting to see where everything stands a year from now.
 
Last edited:
#72
#72
bleedingTNorange said:
I was actually gonna bring this up, but some people cant be objective and I didn't want to start something or be told it was sour grapes etc etc...

I see Nichols as a reserve for Memphis next season and probably for 2 seasons. That's why I thought UT was a better option for playing time and development. So yes there will most definitely be issues with the family and Pastner. And remember Pastner and Memphis didn't recruit Nichols to play him. They recruited him to keep him away from UT. I forsee lots of those type issues unless Austin is content to riding the pine for 2 years and I suppose he is. Go Vols!

But I've been wondering, dad obviously was a big part, momma wants to see him play...what happens if he has trouble seeing the court next year?? Are mommy and daddy gonna start questioning Pastner and causing chemistry problems for the team?
Click to expand...
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#73
#73
bleedingTNorange said:
I was actually gonna bring this up, but some people cant be objective and I didn't want to start something or be told it was sour grapes etc etc...

But I've been wondering, dad obviously was a big part, momma wants to see him play...what happens if he has trouble seeing the court next year?? Are mommy and daddy gonna start questioning Pastner and causing chemistry problems for the team?

There was a lot of talk by Memphis fans that josh was gonna cool on Memphis players because he's had some issues with having multiple Memphis guys on the team...well this class he brought in 3, many thought 1 or 2 max...could be interesting to see where everything stands a year from now.
Click to expand...

You have parent or player issues at all levels bc of playing time.....I don't think that should be too big of a problem.
 
#74
#74
calban said:
Don't overlook Davis.
He 'll be another one of Martin's pleasant surprises.
probably start out playing the 3/4 but Martin will turn him into a 4/5 by his JR season.
Davis sr played low post at 6-9 215. Gained 25 more pounds after college.
You heard it here.
Click to expand...

I've been pretty high on Davis and agree for the most part. He will be more of a 3/4 in the beginning, but I see him ending more of a 4/3. I know it's kind of like splitting hairs, but I say that because he will end up becoming more of a primary post player and secondary perimeter. He may end up playing some of the 5, but I feel that his guard skills are going to be utilized much more than we may think (versatility). That, or he'll be a matchup nightmare at the 5 being able to take guys off the bounce or hit outside shots. I'm sure he'll be able to gain weight, but it's difficult to be a lightweight and guard a 5 in the SEC. If he'll continue to play the 3 throughout his career, he'll want to play around the 225ish range at most.
 
#75
#75
bleedingTNorange said:
I'll get bashed for this, but I don't care. Next year Nichols would definitely have been the better option over does, but by year 3, I'm not 100% that Davis won't be the better player of the 2, he has more upside IMO.
Click to expand...

I think the point is valid. It's really hard to project, but it's plausible. Nichols has a lot more skill at his craft than Davis right now and Davis has a lot to learn about his position. Nichols will get better over time and he has good potential as well. Is it NBA potential? I don't know and I was never sold on that, but he'll be a great player. Does Davis have NBA potential? I can't answer that at this time. He's a good player that shot up about 6 inches in a short time span and could continue to grow. Anthony Davis is the exception to the rule, so I believe that AJ will have a more significant learning curve to begin with. AJ will be a more exciting player to watch develop because he's learning the post game and he already has guard skills. He's already athletic and he's growing. That's his untapped potential. Its going to be fun to watch these guys progress over the next several years. In the end, I feel that AJ does have more long-term potential than Nichols, but that's only because the versatility he presents now. It's up to Cuonzo to develop him.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top