Fitzgerald as a "below the rim player"

[BigTime]

So I read Guerrin's article in today's world and wanted to get your thoughts on the concept of Drew being a below the rim player.

IMO, its fine up to the point of when he grabs a rebound with a chance for a tip dunk or is on a fastbreak or a wideopen drive in the lane. At those moments, I think he needs to flush the basketball with a dunk.

What say you?

:fitz80s:

 

[scrybe]

The impression I got from the article was that Fitz is having problems getting enough elevation to dunk the ball consistently. I don't know why that would be the case, but he sure as heck can't get off the floor high enough to control the opening tip. If I'm not mistaken, the Sooners have won the opening tip exactly once this season – against Maryland Eastern Shore.

Oh, and I'm not bashing the kid. He's worked his butt off and has become one of OU's best players.

 

[BigTime]

Of course the last below the rim player we had seemed to do just fine:

 

[luckyc1423]

Of course the last below the rim player we had seemed to do just fine:

I agree, I think fitz is fine as a below the rim player...for the most part he plays under control and usually good things happen when he gets touches....however, since he is below the rim we need another post player that plays above the rim....hopefully either goff or osby will add that...having two post players that play below the rim at all times on the court is tough to have any consistent rebounding performances.

But I think this is addressed with osby/goff

 

[bgrch1350]

In the offseason...he needs to hit the boxes and work on becoming a rebounder.

 

[Max Power]

Of course the last below the rim player we had seemed to do just fine:

He could get away with playin below the rim because like LuckyC Said we were fortunate enough to also have Taj Gray who played Well Above the Rim

 

[MercedeSooner]

I think it's fine and Drew has shown he knows how to get the score. Sure dunks look cool and get the crowd riled up but for a lot of guys it's just not part of their game.

Obviously Drew ain't even close to being the player that Zebo Randolph is but that guy is one of the most consistent 20/10 guys in the NBA and I can count on 1 hand the times I've seen him dunk the ball in whatever 8 or 9 years in the league.

 

[bocabull]

I can see Fitz turning into a monster next year. Last off season he dropped 40 lbs. Now this off season he can put all that effort into improving his vertical and fine tuning his post moves.

I can see him being really dominant. Way more dominant than bookout was. Fitz is a much more skilled player.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

He actually has had quite a few dunks this year that surprised me...

it isnt that he cant dunk, its that he isnt that wow you athletic guy...


He is great for what he is at this level, crafty with a solid mid range game...

Just imagine if you could have combined his skills and shooting with Taylors athleticism....WOW

 

[bocabull]

Great point Edmond. There aren't that many guys with his skills at his size.

Think if we get Cezar and he's the super fast penetrating PG that in 2 years we could be running a lineup with

Cezar - Soph
Clark - Junior
Osby - Senior
Fitz - Senior
Goff - Senior

Not saying that will be our starting 5. But if it was and they all progressed from where they are now and what we hear about Osby bears true that is not just a good team. That is a big, experienced, athletic, balanced final 4 potential team. With a deep experience bench behind them.

 

[seniorsooner]

Great point Edmond. There aren't that many guys with his skills at his size.

Think if we get Cezar and he's the super fast penetrating PG that in 2 years we could be running a lineup with

Cezar - Soph
Clark - Junior
Osby - Senior
Fitz - Senior
Goff - Senior

Not saying that will be our starting 5. But if it was and they all progressed from where they are now and what we hear about Osby bears true that is not just a good team. That is a big, experienced, athletic, balanced final 4 potential team. With a deep experience bench behind them.

Nah.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

i think that would be a good team but probably not final 4 potential. Not enough star power

 

[scrybe]

He actually has had quite a few dunks this year that surprised me...

it isnt that he cant dunk, its that he isnt that wow you athletic guy...


He is great for what he is at this level, crafty with a solid mid range game...

Just imagine if you could have combined his skills and shooting with Taylors athleticism....WOW

Agree with you about Fitz being skilled and crafty and having a solid midrange game, ES. But for the life of me I can't remember seeing Drew dunk, except for one time when he did what you might call a dunk-layup hybrid. But like I said in another thread, my memory ain't what it used to be –– or was that someone else that said that? :ez-laugh:

 

[DenverSooner]

So I read Guerrin's article in today's world and wanted to get your thoughts on the concept of Drew being a below the rim player.

IMO, its fine up to the point of when he grabs a rebound with a chance for a tip dunk or is on a fastbreak or a wideopen drive in the lane. At those moments, I think he needs to flush the basketball with a dunk.

What say you?

:fitz80s:

Can he really do that? (I don't mean can he dunk the basketball because I have seen him dunk) I think when he grabs a rebound or is on the break he should finish in the manner that generates the highest percentage of made attempts. If he does not have a big vertical, why try to dunk and risk clanking it off the rim.

Personally, I think Fitzgerald's offensive game is quite strong. He needs to improve his defense and defensive rebounding. If he can add a little to his vertical and get a few more dunks, great but that is the least of his worries.

 

[seniorsooner]

Did Fitzgerald have a history of knee problems prior to arriving at OU? The way the guy lumbers up and down the floor it looks like he has blown out both of his knees in the past.

 

[bocabull]

i think that would be a good team but probably not final 4 potential. Not enough star power

You never know what Clark, Osby and Cezar might blossom into. Clark shows flashes that could turn into major star power in 2 years.

Goff appears to be a role player but there is nothing wrong with a 6'10" shot blocking rebounding role player. Fitz does the pick and pop.

We could run a nasty matchup zone with a team that big and those stud 6'6" and 6'8" wings in Clark & Osby. We got a taste of Clark's defensive prowess when he flat out shut down Alec Burks.

 

[DenverSooner]

I agree, I think fitz is fine as a below the rim player...for the most part he plays under control and usually good things happen when he gets touches....however, since he is below the rim we need another post player that plays above the rim....hopefully either goff or osby will add that...having two post players that play below the rim at all times on the court is tough to have any consistent rebounding performances.

But I think this is addressed with osby/goff

A big vertical is not necessary to rebound. Ask Kevin Love.

 

[DenverSooner]

Agree with you about Fitz being skilled and crafty and having a solid midrange game, ES. But for the life of me I can't remember seeing Drew dunk, except for one time when he did what you might call a dunk-layup hybrid. But like I said in another thread, my memory ain't what it used to be –– or was that someone else that said that? :ez-laugh:

I think he had a dunk late in the CU game, around the 4 minute mark of the second half. It was an important basket and I am pretty sure if was Fitzgerald.

 

[DenverSooner]

Great point Edmond. There aren't that many guys with his skills at his size.

Think if we get Cezar and he's the super fast penetrating PG that in 2 years we could be running a lineup with

Cezar - Soph
Clark - Junior
Osby - Senior
Fitz - Senior
Goff - Senior

Not saying that will be our starting 5. But if it was and they all progressed from where they are now and what we hear about Osby bears true that is not just a good team. That is a big, experienced, athletic, balanced final 4 potential team. With a deep experience bench behind them.

If Pledger and Blair are both coming off the bench as seniors, OU should be a good team. Not many teams will have a guy that averaged 11+ as a sophomore starter coming off the bench as a senior along with a back up pg that started for a full season (possibly two - I doubt a freshman puts him on the bench from day one). Add one solid guy to your front court rotation and you have a pertty strong 8 man rotation. Give me a 6'10" guy that can simply rebound, defend and foul in case of foul trouble (5 minutes a game) and you have a really nice 9 man rotation.