Half-Way Point

[bullcity gamer]

Duke Nation,

We are half-way through the season. What are your 1) Positives and 2) Things The Blue Devils Need to Improve for the remainder of the season?

Positives:

1) Duke's Elite & Versatile Defense
2) The Coaching Staff's Trust in utilizing the team's depth (consistently playing 9 players). Hope the coaching staff plays 10 guys through February.
3) Play of the Veteran Transfers (Brown, James, & Gillis have each played solid this season, Duke is going to need them to continue to do so!)
4) The Emergence of Patrick Ngongba playing his way into the rotation
5) The Chemistry of the Blue Devils, they enjoy playing together and there is positive body language when the bench is showed throughout the games. Such a good combination of personalities on this team, the alpha play of Flagg, the physical play of James & Gillis, the quiet demeanor of Brown & Ngongba, the energetic demeanor of Evans, Proctor, and Kon
6) The Unselfishness of this team (sometimes they pass the ball too much!) Flagg got on Kon last night for not looking to score when Kon had a wide open layup and passed the ball out for a 3 point shot instead
7) The ability of the team to score in a magnitude of ways (transition, inside the paint, pull up 2's similar to what Scheyer, Smith, Singler, Tyus, and Quinn did on those championship teams, and from the 3 point line)
8) Coach Scheyer's Utilization of his time outs and in game adjustments. Coach has done a great job of calming down storms when the opposition goes on runs and his in-game adjustments have improved this season.
9) Being able to play different style of games and win these games (high possession games or low scoring/physical/grind out games).

Things that Duke Needs to Improve:

1) Staying Engaged for the Full Game (the games against Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and NC State) Duke had some lazy lapses. Duke cannot afford to have those lazy lapses against Stronger Competition!
2) Ball Movement!!! (The offense cannot turn into Flagg or Flagg/Kon against 5)
3) Offensive Production from the Guards (Proctor, James, Foster, and Evans) you guys have to help out the Forwards
4) Maluach and Ngongba having plays ran for them inside the interior so they feel confident getting back to the basket scores (eases the pressure off the guards & forwards)
5) Ngongba's man to man defense. His offense is definitely further along than his defense right now.
6) Once Brown returns, hope the Coaching Staff consistently plays 10 guys through February
7) Would like to see Coach Scheyer integrate Full Court Pressing once Brown returns to wear down the opponents and keep the Blue Devils all Fresh & Engaged (this way none of the guys are playing more than 30 minutes a game!)
8) Foster Improving (We are all pulling for you, keep working)
9) The rotation getting dwindled down to 9 Blue Devils once March arrives. As long as Duke remains healthy once Brown returns, Duke is going to have to go 2 a 9 man rotation so the core 9 have their chemistry down pat for the tournaments. IMO, Foster and Evans are going to be battling for that 9th man spot for the next 4 weeks and the other is going to end up being the 10th man. The Top 8 are set with James, Proctor, Kon, Flagg, Maluach, Gillis, Brown, and Ngongba. Need one of Foster or Evans to really step up so Proctor and James can get breathers and not be worn down for the tournaments
10) Run some line-ups with Flagg at the 3 (his natural position), the opponents have not faced Flagg playing the 3 this season

Remaining Big Tests:

@ Clemson (2/8)
vs Illinois (2/22, Madison Square Garden)
vs Wake Forest (3/3)
ACC Tournament (want Duke to face any combination of NC State/Wake Forest/Clemson/Louisville, because these teams will best prepare Duke for the NCAA Tournament)
NCAA Tournament

IMO if Duke loses any game which is not the game at Clemson, the game against Illinois, or an ACC Tournament Semi-Finals/ACC Finals Game, then Duke will not Earn a #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament

Let's Continue to Enjoy The Growth of the 2024-2025 Duke Blue Devils

Let's Go Duke!

 

[DukeDallas9192011015]

I think the most important thing for the rest of the season is staying healthy. Once Brown gets back, lets hope we don't have anyone else miss more than a game here or there. We have seen it with the Zion and Kyrie teams, but it's so difficult to integrate a key piece back into the rotation after missing multiple games. I don't think we will have that problem with Brown though as he doesn't touch the ball. We have no big weakness with a full roster.

The most obvious positive is the defense. We are a legendary good defense with Brown in for us. Mal/Brown are such different types of centers that it allows us to defend any sort of style. Cooper is the real deal and should be NPOY, but Sion has been such a huge addition that he belongs in the positive category too.

The biggest thing I believe we need to improve on is offensive consistency. No more 1-19 stretches, we won't beat elite teams doing that. When we have missed 6 straight 3 pointers, lets try to get something inside instead of jacking up another 3.
To go along with the offensive consistency, we need our guards to provide more consistent scoring. We need 10-15 points from Tyrese in a big game, he needs to hit 3's with confidence. Sion is Sion, a good Sion game is 7-7-7. Anything at all from Caleb would help.
I really hope Jon keeps putting Evans out there because we will need an outburst from him if we want to cut down the nets.

 

[NCirishman]

UNC x 2 are big tests regardless their record or previous level of play.

Just throw the records out when these two play.

 

[bullcity gamer]

UNC x 2 are big tests regardless their record or previous level of play.

Just throw the records out when these two play.

Great Points NCirishman. Duke needs to sweep those jerks this season.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Duke Nation,

We are half-way through the season. What are your 1) Positives and 2) Things The Blue Devils Need to Improve for the remainder of the season?

Positives:

1) Duke's Elite & Versatile Defense
2) The Coaching Staff's Trust in utilizing the team's depth (consistently playing 9 players). Hope the coaching staff plays 10 guys through February.
3) Play of the Veteran Transfers (Brown, James, & Gillis have each played solid this season, Duke is going to need them to continue to do so!)
4) The Emergence of Patrick Ngongba playing his way into the rotation
5) The Chemistry of the Blue Devils, they enjoy playing together and there is positive body language when the bench is showed throughout the games. Such a good combination of personalities on this team, the alpha play of Flagg, the physical play of James & Gillis, the quiet demeanor of Brown & Ngongba, the energetic demeanor of Evans, Proctor, and Kon
6) The Unselfishness of this team (sometimes they pass the ball too much!) Flagg got on Kon last night for not looking to score when Kon had a wide open layup and passed the ball out for a 3 point shot instead
7) The ability of the team to score in a magnitude of ways (transition, inside the paint, pull up 2's similar to what Scheyer, Smith, Singler, Tyus, and Quinn did on those championship teams, and from the 3 point line)
8) Coach Scheyer's Utilization of his time outs and in game adjustments. Coach has done a great job of calming down storms when the opposition goes on runs and his in-game adjustments have improved this season.
9) Being able to play different style of games and win these games (high possession games or low scoring/physical/grind out games).

Things that Duke Needs to Improve:

1) Staying Engaged for the Full Game (the games against Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and NC State) Duke had some lazy lapses. Duke cannot afford to have those lazy lapses against Stronger Competition!
2) Ball Movement!!! (The offense cannot turn into Flagg or Flagg/Kon against 5)
3) Offensive Production from the Guards (Proctor, James, Foster, and Evans) you guys have to help out the Forwards
4) Maluach and Ngongba having plays ran for them inside the interior so they feel confident getting back to the basket scores (eases the pressure off the guards & forwards)
5) Ngongba's man to man defense. His offense is definitely further along than his defense right now.
6) Once Brown returns, hope the Coaching Staff consistently plays 10 guys through February
7) Would like to see Coach Scheyer integrate Full Court Pressing once Brown returns to wear down the opponents and keep the Blue Devils all Fresh & Engaged (this way none of the guys are playing more than 30 minutes a game!)
8) Foster Improving (We are all pulling for you, keep working)
9) The rotation getting dwindled down to 9 Blue Devils once March arrives. As long as Duke remains healthy once Brown returns, Duke is going to have to go 2 a 9 man rotation so the core 9 have their chemistry down pat for the tournaments. IMO, Foster and Evans are going to be battling for that 9th man spot for the next 4 weeks and the other is going to end up being the 10th man. The Top 8 are set with James, Proctor, Kon, Flagg, Maluach, Gillis, Brown, and Ngongba. Need one of Foster or Evans to really step up so Proctor and James can get breathers and not be worn down for the tournaments
10) Run some line-ups with Flagg at the 3 (his natural position), the opponents have not faced Flagg playing the 3 this season

Remaining Big Tests:

@ Clemson (2/8)
vs Illinois (2/22, Madison Square Garden)
vs Wake Forest (3/3)
ACC Tournament (want Duke to face any combination of NC State/Wake Forest/Clemson/Louisville, because these teams will best prepare Duke for the NCAA Tournament)
NCAA Tournament

IMO if Duke loses any game which is not the game at Clemson, the game against Illinois, or an ACC Tournament Semi-Finals/ACC Finals Game, then Duke will not Earn a #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament

Let's Continue to Enjoy The Growth of the 2024-2025 Duke Blue Devils

Let's Go Duke!

I can't argue with this! Good stuff, Bullcity!

 

[bullcity gamer]

I can't argue with this! Good stuff, Bullcity!

Thank You Bleed!

 

[hart2chesson]

Duke Nation,

We are half-way through the season. What are your 1) Positives and 2) Things The Blue Devils Need to Improve for the remainder of the season?

Positives:

1) Duke's Elite & Versatile Defense
2) The Coaching Staff's Trust in utilizing the team's depth (consistently playing 9 players). Hope the coaching staff plays 10 guys through February.
3) Play of the Veteran Transfers (Brown, James, & Gillis have each played solid this season, Duke is going to need them to continue to do so!)
4) The Emergence of Patrick Ngongba playing his way into the rotation
5) The Chemistry of the Blue Devils, they enjoy playing together and there is positive body language when the bench is showed throughout the games. Such a good combination of personalities on this team, the alpha play of Flagg, the physical play of James & Gillis, the quiet demeanor of Brown & Ngongba, the energetic demeanor of Evans, Proctor, and Kon
6) The Unselfishness of this team (sometimes they pass the ball too much!) Flagg got on Kon last night for not looking to score when Kon had a wide open layup and passed the ball out for a 3 point shot instead
7) The ability of the team to score in a magnitude of ways (transition, inside the paint, pull up 2's similar to what Scheyer, Smith, Singler, Tyus, and Quinn did on those championship teams, and from the 3 point line)
8) Coach Scheyer's Utilization of his time outs and in game adjustments. Coach has done a great job of calming down storms when the opposition goes on runs and his in-game adjustments have improved this season.
9) Being able to play different style of games and win these games (high possession games or low scoring/physical/grind out games).

Things that Duke Needs to Improve:

1) Staying Engaged for the Full Game (the games against Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and NC State) Duke had some lazy lapses. Duke cannot afford to have those lazy lapses against Stronger Competition!
2) Ball Movement!!! (The offense cannot turn into Flagg or Flagg/Kon against 5)
3) Offensive Production from the Guards (Proctor, James, Foster, and Evans) you guys have to help out the Forwards
4) Maluach and Ngongba having plays ran for them inside the interior so they feel confident getting back to the basket scores (eases the pressure off the guards & forwards)
5) Ngongba's man to man defense. His offense is definitely further along than his defense right now.
6) Once Brown returns, hope the Coaching Staff consistently plays 10 guys through February
7) Would like to see Coach Scheyer integrate Full Court Pressing once Brown returns to wear down the opponents and keep the Blue Devils all Fresh & Engaged (this way none of the guys are playing more than 30 minutes a game!)
8) Foster Improving (We are all pulling for you, keep working)
9) The rotation getting dwindled down to 9 Blue Devils once March arrives. As long as Duke remains healthy once Brown returns, Duke is going to have to go 2 a 9 man rotation so the core 9 have their chemistry down pat for the tournaments. IMO, Foster and Evans are going to be battling for that 9th man spot for the next 4 weeks and the other is going to end up being the 10th man. The Top 8 are set with James, Proctor, Kon, Flagg, Maluach, Gillis, Brown, and Ngongba. Need one of Foster or Evans to really step up so Proctor and James can get breathers and not be worn down for the tournaments
10) Run some line-ups with Flagg at the 3 (his natural position), the opponents have not faced Flagg playing the 3 this season

Remaining Big Tests:

@ Clemson (2/8)
vs Illinois (2/22, Madison Square Garden)
vs Wake Forest (3/3)
ACC Tournament (want Duke to face any combination of NC State/Wake Forest/Clemson/Louisville, because these teams will best prepare Duke for the NCAA Tournament)
NCAA Tournament

IMO if Duke loses any game which is not the game at Clemson, the game against Illinois, or an ACC Tournament Semi-Finals/ACC Finals Game, then Duke will not Earn a #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament

Let's Continue to Enjoy The Growth of the 2024-2025 Duke Blue Devils

Let's Go Duke!

Fantastic insight BCG!! As usual you brought your "A" game and had your "Wheaties" this morning!! Wholeheartedly agree with you!!

OFC

 

[Liftee]

Good opening post.

I feel like our defense has taken a step back, both literally and figuratively lately. We need to stop giving up open 3s which allow inferior teams to gain confidence and gives them a "puncher's chance" to win. We have the interior defense to allow the perimeter to close out on 3s.

Our offense is not as "flowy" as it was 5 games ago. Too much reliance on Cooper and secondarily on Kon. Proctor, James, Maluach, Evans and Gillis all need to hesitate less, stop looking for Cooper (at least until the last 4 minutes), and put the ball up. I feel like everyone is deferring to Cooper to the detriment of the team, and it's tiring Cooper out.

These are fixable issues and can make us stronger for the stretch run.

 

[DukeDallas9192011015]

Good opening post.

I feel like our defense has taken a step back, both literally and figuratively lately. We need to stop giving up open 3s which allow inferior teams to gain confidence and gives them a "puncher's chance" to win. We have the interior defense to allow the perimeter to close out on 3s.

Our offense is not as "flowy" as it was 5 games ago. Too much reliance on Cooper and secondarily on Kon. Proctor, James, Maluach, Evans and Gillis all need to hesitate less, stop looking for Cooper (at least until the last 4 minutes), and put the ball up. I feel like everyone is deferring to Cooper to the detriment of the team, and it's tiring Cooper out.

These are fixable issues and can make us stronger for the stretch run.

I agree the defense has taken a slight step back, but I contribute that to missing Maliq Brown, who would have been ACC DPOY if not for the injury. Not only is Maliq an incredible defender, but he brings a completely different style to our defense than Mal does. Mal is massive, and can influence a lot of shots around the rim, but he isn't "elite" on his feet. Brown is elite on his feet, and can come out and give ball-handlers issues with his deflections and pressure defense.
Simply put: we can defend any sort of offensive style when we have both Mal and Brown healthy.
I appreciate everything Big Pat has given us but he just isn't ready to be a key defensive piece on a national title contender.

And I also agree that we are too Cooper-heavy right now. We need to get our guards and shooters in rhythm. We are going through a bit of a lull, but I'd much rather hit the lull now than in March, this is fixable.

 

[bullcity gamer]

Hart, Thank You for your kind words. I Appreciate You!

Liftee and DukeDallas completely agree with the sentiments of Duke’s Defense needing to improve, think this will happen once Brown returns. Also, agree with the two of you that the offense needs to get back to moving around and not just expecting Flagg and/or Kon to bail the team out on every possession in the half court.