Griffin v. Kaylon

[SoonerNorm]

I have made no bones that I believe Kaylon will be the starting center at some point. After last night's game I think the gap between the two is closing. I might add, it's closing fast. I think most would agree she was the best center last night. That doesn't mean she will start immediately but she certainly made a statement that she is coming after Griffin's job. Sherri ended up playing her more minutes than Griffin. I would say she out-played Griffin in both games; although, I admit it is hard to say what that means in exhibition games. If she continues to out-perform Griffin I believe Sherri will make the change within the next 5 or 6 games.

Thoughts?

 

[rocjunkie]

We talked about that last night during the game. (my surrounding friends). I don't know if Sherri "won't" start Nicole during the season, but I do think Kaylon will get the majority of minutes in the post, however I have to agree, if Kaylon continues to play the way she has the two exhibitions, how can she not be your starting post player. Her foot work is really good and deadly off the glass down low.

 

[sybarite]

I still see Griffin as way ahead of Kaylon. When it comes to footwork, hands, decisions, and effectiveness, I don't even see a contest right now. Griffin is playing intelligently, and that is Sherri's game.

Kaylon looked good against rather suspect opposition. But, she also got tied up, lost the ball, line drived shots, and lacked the overall sense of the position. She has some learning to do. It's more than just rust. I think Kaylon was just learning the position when she was injured. Now, she has to learn the position and how it fits with the team.

She's a better rebounder than Griffin. But, I see Griffin as having the lead in every other aspect of the game. I expect Kaylon to play a lot. I don't know if she can catch Griffin this year. Griffin seems to know the position this year. It's one thing to look exciting. It is quite another to fit into a role the way you are supposed to. Right now, I think Griffin is a lot closer to what Sherri wants at center.

 

[Sooner Suzie]

Oh, I totally disagree with Nicole having the best hands. IMO, worst on the team (well I need a little more time reviewing the newbies to say absolute worst). Balls continually bounce off her hands whether a pass or rebound, and only then does she manage to grab the ball. A big diff from CP3 who was a human vacuum for both boards and a variety of passes (incluing those whacky spin passes Plumley used to feed to her). Also Nicole has real problem grabbing passes below the waist.

All that being said, I think Nicole will remain the starter, but I totally agree that Kay Kay is playing lights out (at least against weaker competition so far). I would like to see them both on the court at the same time against some taller opponents. IMO it looks like Kay Kay really took her rehab to heart and appears to be in excellent condition. Barring injury she should have an absolutely excellent season.

 

[atlantasooner]

Kaylon is much better on the fast break. If OU is really running, Kaylon is the better center overall. She's the superior athlete.

Griffin in the halfcourt has the more polished post offense.

It's a battle that is going to last all year long.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Kaylon is much better on the fast break. If OU is really running, Kaylon is the better center overall. She's the superior athlete.

Griffin in the halfcourt has the more polished post offense.

It's a battle that is going to last all year long.

And the competition will benefit both of them.

 

[jerry]

Hard to tell about both as the opposition was terrrible. We will know more after UCLA and Duke.

 

[Soonercuda]

Kaylon is much better on the fast break. If OU is really running, Kaylon is the better center overall. She's the superior athlete.

Griffin in the halfcourt has the more polished post offense.

It's a battle that is going to last all year long.

I agree with Atlanta and I would add it appears to me that Nicole is the superior defensive player at this point. As you get into playing better teams they are going to get back on defense and halfcourt offense will become more important. Also as we get into confernce there will be teams that are bigger and playing both of them together should happen some as well.

 

[sybarite]

In her preseason show, Sherri had Aaryn and Nicole Griffin as her two most-improved players. I think she looks for different things in players and positions than many fans do. She seemed to be saying that Griffin is coaching the other interior players on what she does so well. She has learned to go to the basket in one step with no dribble, the quick turnaround/steparound move. She passes with vision. She is easier to hit on a pass. I think the weak hands is perhaps a thing of the past, and it may also be associated with the bounce pass. She simply doesn't do that well. I haven't yet seen this year how she fights to hold on to the ball after rebounds, a problem. But, she does all of these things the way Sherri wants them done. I get the impression that Sherri would be ecstatic if she played solid defense, got 7-8 point per game, occasionally more, got 7 rebounds, a couple of blocked shots, a bunch of altered shots, a couple of assists, and no more than two turnovers. If she does that, I think she is doing what Sherri wants from a center on this team.

 

[SoonerNorm]

This is how I see the two.

Kaylon's advantages:

1. Better athlete
2. Better footwork
3. Better defender
4. Better scorer
5. Better hands
6. Better rebounder
7. Jumps when needed
8. Runs the court better

Nicole's advantages:

1. Taller
2. More experience

Kaylon isn't likely to grow any more but she will overcome that as she gains experience, of which she has little.

 

[35TangoTango]

I think the two are in a close competition that will result in vast improvement of both of them. Griffin needs to play tough and aggressive, or she will be watching the game from the bench. Williams needs to play with smarts and finesse, or she will be on the bench. Nice situation.

 

[Options]

anyone, almost is better then Griffin period

 

[badger]

I really don't see Griffin not starting because most teams get intimidated by having to face someone 6'6"

I could see them both start very soon. I suspect Sherri is slow-playing Kaylon just to make sure the injury is gone.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I don't look for Kaylon to move to PF. Sherri seems to want to play mostly with 4 guards and Kaylon does not fit that mold.

 

[scrybe]

I just don't understand the lack of respect, even outright hostility, that Nicole gets from some posters. It's true she doesn't have the softest hands in college basketball, but Nicole more than makes up for that deficiency, IMO, with her work around the basket – on both ends of the court.

I have to agree with sybarite that Griffin in pretty far ahead of Kaylon right now in terms of overall play. But Kaylon certainly looks like a good young player and I'm sure she'll continue to get better as the season progresses. I think Sherri will see that both girls get their share of PT.

 

[tycat947]

I just don't understand the lack of respect, even outright hostility, that Nicole gets from some posters. It's true she doesn't have the softest hands in college basketball, but Nicole more than makes up for that deficiency, IMO, with her work around the basket – on both ends of the court.

I have to agree with sybarite that Griffin in pretty far ahead of Kaylon right now in terms of overall play. But Kaylon certainly looks like a good young player and I'm sure she'll continue to get better as the season progresses. I think Sherri will see that both girls get their share of PT.

:clap:clap:clap

 

[rocjunkie]

I just don't understand the lack of respect, even outright hostility, that Nicole gets from some posters. It's true she doesn't have the softest hands in college basketball, but Nicole more than makes up for that deficiency, IMO, with her work around the basket – on both ends of the court.

I have to agree with sybarite that Griffin in pretty far ahead of Kaylon right now in terms of overall play. But Kaylon certainly looks like a good young player and I'm sure she'll continue to get better as the season progresses. I think Sherri will see that both girls get their share of PT.

+2

 

[35TangoTango]

What Coach said after the game was that tonight was all about finding out how long each of them could go at maximum effort. I think a fresh Kaylon is better than a tired Nicole; a fresh Nicole better than a tired Kaylon, and pity the team that only has one good center to defend them.

 

[BanjoCharley]

I just don't understand the lack of respect, even outright hostility, that Nicole gets from some posters.

Options has made that same post numerous times. Ignore it.

 

[OKUman]

I have made no bones that I believe Kaylon will be the starting center at some point. After last night's game I think the gap between the two is closing. I might add, it's closing fast. I think most would agree she was the best center last night. That doesn't mean she will start immediately but she certainly made a statement that she is coming after Griffin's job. Sherri ended up playing her more minutes than Griffin. I would say she out-played Griffin in both games; although, I admit it is hard to say what that means in exhibition games. If she continues to out-perform Griffin I believe Sherri will make the change within the next 5 or 6 games.

Thoughts?

No she won't, unless Griffin gets hurt. Don't measure by last nights game.