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McDonalds Game

How about Jalen Rose's dumbass making jokes about Grayson? I'd love to see him say that to Grayson's face.
 
I've saying it for awhile Frank is a big time player, but I want to see him really defend. That being said Marques Boldin seems to be better than advertised, and if he chooses Duke "Cancel Christmas", "Katy Bar the Door", or "Insert whatever cliche you want come up with". Duke would almost be unbeatable with a front court of Jefferson, Giles, Tatum, and Bolden. Coach K would probably have to red shirt Jeter. Bolden is a monster. Not as skilled as Okafor but way more athletic. He seems to be a real rim protector.

Why would he red shirt Jeter? Use all 4 of them like he did in 2010 with Mason and Miles Plumlee, Zoub and Lance Thomas. I hope Bolden comes to Duke and coach K uses all 4 in a variety of ways.
 
I know Jay Williams is a "hype" guy, but boy I hope he is right when he says Jackson is trending way up and could be Duke's best recruit. If Frank is Duke's best recruit and it is not because Tatum and Giles slipped, oh my!
 
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I know Jay Williams is a "hype" guy, but boy I hope he is right when he says Jackson is trending way up and could be Duke's best recruit. If Frank is Duke's best recruit and it is not because Tatum and Giles slipped, oh my!

If that scenario plays out, I'd buy my tickets to the title game tonight. Undefeated season, no joke.
 
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I know Jay Williams is a "hype" guy, but boy I hope he is right when he says Jackson is trending way up and could be Duke's best recruit. If Frank is Duke's best recruit and it is not because Tatum and Giles slipped, oh my!
Frank might be best of the 3 next year, then things likely change in the NBA. Same played out for Luke this past year, ranked behind Jeter and DT.
 
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My impressions of the game:

JT: didn't have his best tonight but I agree with someone who said earlier he thrives in a more structured game with proper spacing. Gets by his man with ease will have to adjust to finishing through contact at the next level.

FJ: kid reminds me of Kyrie. Not his game per se but the fact that he is trending way up his senior year and is blowing up before our eyes. The kid is explosive, shot look sound and is an all around scorer. Can he keep guys in front of him on defense, I hope so.

MB: reminds me a lot of the Bryant kid from Indiana. Great foot work great skills strong as an ox just needs to get quicker in his decisions and execution. The high school level is much slower but he'll see next year everything needs to happen much quicker. But after seeing his talent last night I really want him to be part of this class. By next March he should be a big time player at the college level.

Overall it's the same song and dance every year with these games it is tough to take a lot away. I will still have my defensive concerns until I see who is on our roster next and see how they play with one another. I don't have the slightest concern with us scoring the ball next year it will be a lot of fun.
 
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My impressions of the game:

JT: didn't have his best tonight but I agree with someone who said earlier he thrives in a more structured game with proper spacing. Gets by his man with ease will have to adjust to finishing through contact at the next level.

FJ: kid reminds me of Kyrie. Not his game per se but the fact that he is trending way up his senior year and is blowing up before our eyes. The kid is explosive, shot look sound and is an all around scorer. Can he keep guys in front of him on defense, I hope so.

MB: reminds me a lot of the Bryant kid from Indiana. Great foot work great skills strong as an ox just needs to get quicker in his decisions and execution. The high school level is much slower but he'll see next year everything needs to happen much quicker. But after seeing his talent last night I really want him to be part of this class. By next March he should be a big time player at the college level.

Overall it's the same song and dance every year with these games it is tough to take a lot away. I will still have my defensive concerns until I see who is on our roster next and see how they play with one another. I don't have the slightest concern with us scoring the ball next year it will be a lot of fun.
Gotta love the fact that even without his best game, JT still gets 18 points. How did Tony Bradley do? Heard he's player of the year this year in the ACC
 
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I have a few tid-bits...

1. Bolden is a monster, he is more athletic than I thought. He doesn't have the post moves that Okafor had, but I believe he is quicker on his feet and can jump higher. Which should make him a much better defender.
2. Tatum could play in the NBA next year, he is just that solid, seems to be good to great at EVERYTHING. I am sure the same could be said for Giles.
3. Frank obviously wow'd people showing off his athleticism and showed off his jumper. There is no doubt he will be a major contributor next year.

My only complaint about Frank is last night showed he is definitely not a pass-first point PG. He ran the floor looking to dunk instead of pass. He seems GREAT at getting buckets, but does next years team need him to score 12-15 ppg?? I would say no. His game appears to be more "Austin Rivers-ish" while our starting PG needs to be "Chris Duhon-ish." Again, Frank looked amazing, but I would love to have the luxury of bringing him off the bench as a weapon.

I really hope DT stays, I just think his game is more suited to start the PG for us next year. Frank may be the better player, but DT appears to be the better passer/defender...at this moment.
 
Yea, and I'm not going to complain about a PG who scores a lot. When he's covered, he'll pass, but if he's not covered and scores, who's gonna fuss about that? Drain it son !
 
Yea, and I'm not going to complain about a PG who scores a lot. When he's covered, he'll pass, but if he's not covered and scores, who's gonna fuss about that? Drain it son !

Depends. You want your best players taking the most shots. If Grayson returns, Frank will be the 4th best player (at best) on the team. Obviously, we're going to want him to take wide open rhythm 3s -- as he was taking during the all-star game. The more difficult question is how much do we actually want him trying to create offense. We'll see how this plays out -- but, our definition of "covered" -- and his definition may not be the same. And I feel like it's not. IMO, to the extent this ever becomes an issue, it will be in late game situations / moments of adversity -- where you worry a shoot-first PG will break from the team concept and try to take over himself, rather than focus on how he can get our better players the ball in a position where they can succeed. Again, on the list of things that concerns me, this is not very high. But, as others said, this is team that probably needs more of a Bobby Hurley / Chris Duhon type PG -- rather than a Jay-Williams or William Avery type PG.
 
It was a high school all-star game. I think he gets a pass.
Fair enough. However, he played last night exactly how he was been described to play. Maybe he was the co-MVP because his game translates perfectly for an all star game?????

Hate to go nuts about a guy going to another school, but that Lonzo Ball (UCLA) would be PERFECT for next years team. He threw a few lobs to Frank himself last night. He is a 10 ppg 8 assist type of guy.
 
Knowing that K has the talent on this team, it will be up to him and the staff to make this a cohesive unit. They'll have to learn how to play As a fist rather than five separate fingers, and I think they will be by the time it matters most
 
Would love to see Jackson play off the ball, with DT as the PG. Could you imagine Jackson and Allen on the wings with DT setting them up. Hope DT realizes what Duke will have next year, and has not lost all his confidence. Unless he has lost all of his confidence (he always seemed to be happy at Duke), I cannot in my wildest dreams see him leaving. He must realize that the experience he got this year will show up next season. Hope his father has a change of heart and is not making the decision for DT.
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC
 
IMO, to the extent this ever becomes an issue, it will be in late game situations / moments of adversity -- where you worry a shoot-first PG will break from the team concept and try to take over himself, rather than focus on how he can get our better players the ball in a position where they can succeed.

I think a major problem with this year's team was in late game situations determining who was going to get the ball and whether that person could create and make their own shot. Every team dreams about a Kemba Walker or a Shabazz. The guy who can step up find his own shot when the moment is the brightest and carry an offense down the stretch. I don't think we had that guy on our team this year. Grayson had an amazing shot against Virginia, but as a whole we weren't all that successful in those types of games. Frank looks to be able to create his own shot. Can he make those shots in big moments, TBD.
 
I think a major problem with this year's team was in late game situations determining who was going to get the ball and whether that person could create and make their own shot. Every team dreams about a Kemba Walker or a Shabazz. The guy who can step up find his own shot when the moment is the brightest and carry an offense down the stretch. I don't think we had that guy on our team this year. Grayson had an amazing shot against Virginia, but as a whole we weren't all that successful in those types of games. Frank looks to be able to create his own shot. Can he make those shots in big moments, TBD.
This years team had MUCH bigger issues than scoring in late game situations. Scoring was never my worry, everything else was. I think Frank, Grayson, and Jayson will be able to be very effective 1 on 1 in late game situations. Also Giles, if he isn't being doubled on the catch.
My biggest worry is who will be throwing all the lobs to our stud athletes next year?????
 
Fair enough. However, he played last night exactly how he was been described to play. Maybe he was the co-MVP because his game translates perfectly for an all star game?????

Hate to go nuts about a guy going to another school, but that Lonzo Ball (UCLA) would be PERFECT for next years team. He threw a few lobs to Frank himself last night. He is a 10 ppg 8 assist type of guy.
5-7 from 3 in an all star game is insane because he was taking tough 3's, that translates to any game.

Lonzo ball will be good but not great, terrible shot.
 
This years team had MUCH bigger issues than scoring in late game situations. Scoring was never my worry, everything else was. I think Frank, Grayson, and Jayson will be able to be very effective 1 on 1 in late game situations. Also Giles, if he isn't being doubled on the catch.
My biggest worry is who will be throwing all the lobs to our stud athletes next year?????


Fair enough but I said "a" major problem, not "the" major problem. This board has discussed defense and rebounding ad nauseum. But we also lacked a go to scorer late in games for most of the year. BI was becoming that guy later in the year, but he was no tyus.
 
I think a major problem with this year's team was in late game situations determining who was going to get the ball and whether that person could create and make their own shot. Every team dreams about a Kemba Walker or a Shabazz. The guy who can step up find his own shot when the moment is the brightest and carry an offense down the stretch. I don't think we had that guy on our team this year. Grayson had an amazing shot against Virginia, but as a whole we weren't all that successful in those types of games. Frank looks to be able to create his own shot. Can he make those shots in big moments, TBD.

(1) Sure we did. Grayson / Ingram both had their moments. If anything, the problem was that it was too easy to key in on those guys because we regularly had 2-3 players on the court who couldn't do a lot offensively -- particularly nobody played Marshall to do anything other than dunk, and teams generally were willing to live with kick outs to 3s by Thornton, Jones, or Kennard. If you go back and look at our close losses, most of those occurred b/c (i) we failed to defend / defensive rebound, and (ii) the ball regularly ended up in the hands of an open shooter who couldn't make the shot. They may not have been Tyus Jones; but frankly I've never really seen anything like Tyus Jones at Duke since Laettner. Excluding them, Grayson and BI were about as good a duo of playmakers as we've had here.

(2) Further, last year is pretty irrelevant. The real question is do we want the ball in his hands over Tatum, Giles, and a Jr. Grayson. I think not. Frank's a good prospect. But, comparing him to a Sr. Kemba Walker is a bit silly. Even Kemba was not a national champion-level PG who could carry a team until his sr. year.
 
(1) Sure we did. Grayson / Ingram both had their moments. If anything, the problem was that it was too easy to key in on those guys because we regularly had 2-3 players on the court who couldn't do a lot offensively -- particularly nobody played Marshall to do anything other than dunk, and teams generally were willing to live with kick outs to 3s by Thornton, Jones, or Kennard. If you go back and look at our close losses, most of those occurred b/c (i) we failed to defend / defensive rebound, and (ii) the ball regularly ended up in the hands of an open shooter who couldn't make the shot. They may not have been Tyus Jones; but frankly I've never really seen anything like Tyus Jones at Duke since Laettner. Excluding them, Grayson and BI were about as good a duo of playmakers as we've had here.

(2) Further, last year is pretty irrelevant. The real question is do we want the ball in his hands over Tatum, Giles, and a Jr. Grayson. I think not. Frank's a good prospect. But, comparing him to a Sr. Kemba Walker is a bit silly. Even Kemba was not a national champion-level PG who could carry a team until his sr. year.
The real question next year is who do you want to try and double? With Grayson, Tatum, and Giles on the court, and possibly Bolden and certainly Jackson, Duke's going to have an advantage at 3/5 positions on the court at least. It'll be a true pick-your-poison type quandary: prevent Giles from going for 20, Tatum, Allen, Frank, etc.
 
Further, last year is pretty irrelevant. The real question is do we want the ball in his hands over Tatum, Giles, and a Jr. Grayson. I think not.

I certainly won't say anything definitive, but I think you may be selling Frank Jackson short. If you remember Kyrie was not a top prospect until his senior year when he began trending upwards and found the top 10 by year's end. I give credence to agencies like Rivals because it is what they do for a living and they are far more capable of ranking prospects than I am. But when I watch Frank I see something special. Will he be our go to number 1 option late in games next year, maybe not. But I won't be the least bit shocked if he continues trending upward and becomes a lottery pick, I see that much talent in his game. Similarly I won't be the least bit shocked if he does become a go to option late in games even with our roster containing the names you mentioned.
 
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I have a few tid-bits...

1. Bolden is a monster, he is more athletic than I thought. He doesn't have the post moves that Okafor had, but I believe he is quicker on his feet and can jump higher. Which should make him a much better defender.
2. Tatum could play in the NBA next year, he is just that solid, seems to be good to great at EVERYTHING. I am sure the same could be said for Giles.
3. Frank obviously wow'd people showing off his athleticism and showed off his jumper. There is no doubt he will be a major contributor next year.

My only complaint about Frank is last night showed he is definitely not a pass-first point PG. He ran the floor looking to dunk instead of pass. He seems GREAT at getting buckets, but does next years team need him to score 12-15 ppg?? I would say no. His game appears to be more "Austin Rivers-ish" while our starting PG needs to be "Chris Duhon-ish." Again, Frank looked amazing, but I would love to have the luxury of bringing him off the bench as a weapon.

I really hope DT stays, I just think his game is more suited to start the PG for us next year. Frank may be the better player, but DT appears to be the better passer/defender...at this moment.
I agree. Frank is listed more of a Combo guard than a point guard. There we are seeing alot more combo guards in the Nba westbrook, Curry and etc..... I prefer a PG who is a scoring threat. There was alot of times this year where Allen and Ingram were our only scoring options. Most teams normally have 1-2 of their best defenders on our top scoring threats. If its Jackson, Allen, Tatum, Giles and Jefferson next year thats 4 out of 5 elite scorers. You cant lock down all 4. Then you have Kennard who can also score. Unlike last year teams knew the team had to go through BI and Allen to score. Next year will be alot different.
 
(1) Sure we did. Grayson / Ingram both had their moments. If anything, the problem was that it was too easy to key in on those guys because we regularly had 2-3 players on the court who couldn't do a lot offensively -- particularly nobody played Marshall to do anything other than dunk, and teams generally were willing to live with kick outs to 3s by Thornton, Jones, or Kennard. If you go back and look at our close losses, most of those occurred b/c (i) we failed to defend / defensive rebound, and (ii) the ball regularly ended up in the hands of an open shooter who couldn't make the shot. They may not have been Tyus Jones; but frankly I've never really seen anything like Tyus Jones at Duke since Laettner. Excluding them, Grayson and BI were about as good a duo of playmakers as we've had here.

(2) Further, last year is pretty irrelevant. The real question is do we want the ball in his hands over Tatum, Giles, and a Jr. Grayson. I think not. Frank's a good prospect. But, comparing him to a Sr. Kemba Walker is a bit silly. Even Kemba was not a national champion-level PG who could carry a team until his sr. year.
I agree. I think it's time for everyone to stop comparing next year's squad to the current squad that just lost. Because this year's squad was outmatched from the get go. Next years, will not be, regardless of Graysons, DT's, Boldens decision.
There will never be another freshman PG come to Duke and have the season that Tyus had. I am confident in saying that. We will never have a freshman PG win National Championship player of the game, will never have another freshman PG make literally EVERY BIG SHOT HE TAKES.
Sure, there will probably be freshman 1-and-done PG's who are more talented and more NBA ready than Tyus. A strong argument can be made that an 18 year old Kyrie was better than an 18 year old Tyus. But again, not near the season that Tyus had.

Frank will be great, and he will dunk a whole lot more than Tyus ever did, but to expect him to have even close to the season Tyus had is a losing proposition.
 
Obviously there has to be a degree of "wait and see what they can do at the college level" but like others are saying, it looks like we are going to have multiple scoring options who should also be fresh at the end of games to go to. Lets say Giles and Tatum are "as good as" Ingram. I don't think that is a stretch. And lets say that Jackson is at least as ready as Kennard. If Allen stays, that would be like adding a second Ingram to last year's team, replacing Matt so to speak. With Luke being in his second year, and another guy in Jackson to go to when Luke has one of his funky games, That is a ton of options to go to at the end. Me, I'm thinking go with the hot hand or best mismatch. This team should be sick on the offensive end.
 
Just watched the game. Williams mentioned Duke's backcourt twice. First time, no mention of DT, but did say if Grayson comes back. The if wasn't very audible. 2nd time, he still said if Grayson comes back and did mention DT in the group.
 
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(1) Sure we did. Grayson / Ingram both had their moments. If anything, the problem was that it was too easy to key in on those guys because we regularly had 2-3 players on the court who couldn't do a lot offensively -- particularly nobody played Marshall to do anything other than dunk, and teams generally were willing to live with kick outs to 3s by Thornton, Jones, or Kennard. If you go back and look at our close losses, most of those occurred b/c (i) we failed to defend / defensive rebound, and (ii) the ball regularly ended up in the hands of an open shooter who couldn't make the shot. They may not have been Tyus Jones; but frankly I've never really seen anything like Tyus Jones at Duke since Laettner. Excluding them, Grayson and BI were about as good a duo of playmakers as we've had here.

(2) Further, last year is pretty irrelevant. The real question is do we want the ball in his hands over Tatum, Giles, and a Jr. Grayson. I think not. Frank's a good prospect. But, comparing him to a Sr. Kemba Walker is a bit silly. Even Kemba was not a national champion-level PG who could carry a team until his sr. year.


I think that Chov has a point. The problem was there were two players who were trusted but neither one was great at creating "for others" and so it was get the ball to one or the other and let them go one-on-one. The better teams knew that (and those are the ones that a title-contender really has to be able to beat) and were able to defend us pretty well.

The key to late game scoring is having multiple trusted players and then learning to pass the ball well. I don't think Ingram was developed enough in that area (though I do think he can become that - not sure he will).

I actually think Tatum and Jackson can do that pretty well and if Grayson is back and improves in that area, then I see that being a positive.

I also think Luke can be both a solid facilitator as well as a great post up 3 shooter. With more options inside with Giles and especially if Bolden comes here this will make it very tough for teams to defend us.

Becoming a true team in terms of passing and playing D is, as always, the key to success.
 
A couple of things....1) What stood out to me about Bolden was his hands. He seemed to really catch the ball clean and smooth, much like Okafor did. He did look more athletic than I had thought and would be a big addition to this Duke team. I really don't see how he doesn't start but that means either Jefferson or Giles starts out the game on the bench and I don't see that happening either, so who knows? Great problem to have!

2) I think some of you guys are selling Jackson a little bit short. I have watched some of his games for a while and I thought he was underrated even at #10 even before this game. I don't think you could rate him above Giles, Tatum, or Josh Jackson but I could see him anywhere after that.

My lineup if Bolden comes...Jackson, Allen, Tatum, Giles, Bolden.....then 2nd wave comes in with DT, Kennard, Jones, Jefferson and Jeter
 
Yea, and I'm not going to complain about a PG who scores a lot. When he's covered, he'll pass, but if he's not covered and scores, who's gonna fuss about that? Drain it son !
No ish, I thought that's what all 5 players on the floor is suppose to do.

I guess we're just a couple of old farts.
 
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