Lon on with Toby Rowland

I would recommend everyone listen to it. Toby very much guided the direction of the talk with his questions, and Lon simply answered them specifically to how they were asked. He was very forth coming but it wasn't like he was trying to make sure everyguy on the roster was mentioned. I mean he didn't talk about Cousins, or Woodard, Frank or Dinjyl. Doesn't mean anything about those guys either.

I wish Toby would have asked about how Buford was doing and getting to practice, when speaking about Jumani, but I think he just forgot and moved onto the new recruits. As I mentioned, he even started asking the spangler question before Lon got to James or Odomes.
 
AdaSooner said:
opsooner, to be honest we didn't have a guard who could beat defenders off of the dribble this year. Cousins could pull up short at the elbow and elevate over smaller defenders on a fairly consistent basis, but that's about all he could do. Buddy was good at coming off of screens to get open most of the time. He struggled to get open with the ball in his hands. His handles and his inability to create his own shot are two of the main reasons I believe he would benefit from another season at OU. Some on here obviously disagree with me, but that's how I see it.

James didn't play much last season due to the injury that kept him out until the last couple of weeks. Judging by what I have seen of Odomes and Buford, I think they will bring a new dimension to the team that last year's team didn't have; the ability to beat defenders off of the dribble, whether it's taking it to the rack or pulling up for open jump shots. Time will tell if I'm right.
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I agree about this year and I hope you are right about next year. We're going to need that kind of player because I don't think we'll have a big to feed and be able to run an offense inside-out. We're going to need to spread it out and shoot 3s; drive and kick; and score with offensive rebounds.
 
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red recluse said:
lattin at the 3. can't say i saw that one coming. ever.
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i remember one of the posters here who attends practice mentioned this before the season. No one was saying next season or anytime soon, but maybe as a senior, if McNease has developed to a true C, and you bring in another top line PF, you could have 3 bigs across the front like UK is doing right now.
 
red recluse said:
lattin at the 3. can't say i saw that one coming. ever.
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I thought this as well. But then, if he can handle the ball and hit jumpers, that would be an incredibly tough match-up. Thinking something like Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs; but longer and taller. Not saying it will or should happen, but it really stuck out to me. I trust Lon in his development process.
 
I know the saying is defense wins championships, but daddy Fraschilla tweeted the other day that the top 8 teams left in the tourney were much better offensive teams than defensive, in most cases. I don't have time to look it up, but might tonight.
 
WTSooner said:
I know the saying is defense wins championships, but daddy Fraschilla tweeted the other day that the top 8 teams left in the tourney were much better offensive teams than defensive, in most cases. I don't have time to look it up, but might tonight.
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Defense wins championships is a saying you should be familiar with. We were both saying it when Kelvin was at OU. ;)

I'm still a defense first guy, mainly because you can't always rely on making shots from the perimeter or being able to score inside when the games is on the line. Defense is more about outworking your opponent to get good position as a defender, and to make sure you get your share of loose balls and rebounds. Heart, hustle and hard work aren't nearly as fickle as being able to score.
 
AdaSooner said:
Defense wins championships is a saying you should be familiar with. We were both saying it when Kelvin was at OU. ;)

I'm still a defense first guy, mainly because you can't always rely on making shots from the perimeter or being able to score inside when the games is on the line. Defense is more about outworking your opponent to get good position as a defender, and to make sure you get your share of loose balls and rebounds. Heart, hustle and hard work aren't nearly as fickle as being able to score.
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I agree with all that, but I would add that a coach who values half-court defensive execution probably equally values execution on the other side too. Teams that play strong halfcourt D typically are the same teams who move the ball around really well and find open shooters. Coaches who are sticklers for mechanics don't typically ignore one side of the court.
 
soonernutt said:
I agree with all that, but I would add that a coach who values half-court defensive execution probably equally values execution on the other side too. Teams that play strong halfcourt D typically are the same teams who move the ball around really well and find open shooters. Coaches who are sticklers for mechanics don't typically ignore one side of the court.
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No doubt about it. A good defensive team is usually equally as good on offense. Hard work and hustle go hand in hand with setting solid screens and running half court sets. If you'll recall, our best games this season were the result of playing solid basketball on both ends of the court.

My main point about defense is that it's reliable from one game to the next if you are willing to put in the work in practice as well as the games. That's not always the case with offense.
 
soonernutt said:
I agree with all that, but I would add that a coach who values half-court defensive execution probably equally values execution on the other side too. Teams that play strong halfcourt D typically are the same teams who move the ball around really well and find open shooters. Coaches who are sticklers for mechanics don't typically ignore one side of the court.
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Well OU was an elite half court d team in America.
 
When they do dribbling drills, Lattin looks pretty dang comfortable. I wanted to see us put him in space against someone like Thomas Gipson or Ridley and let him work off the dribble.
 
AdaSooner said:
Defense wins championships is a saying you should be familiar with. We were both saying it when Kelvin was at OU. ;)

I'm still a defense first guy, mainly because you can't always rely on making shots from the perimeter or being able to score inside when the games is on the line. Defense is more about outworking your opponent to get good position as a defender, and to make sure you get your share of loose balls and rebounds. Heart, hustle and hard work aren't nearly as fickle as being able to score.
Click to expand...

I love good defense, but the stats speak for themselves.

Team/O Efficiency Ranking/D Efficiency Ranking

UK/5/1
Wisky/1/55
Duke/3/17
MSU/13/47

The four teams left were MUCH better at offense than they were defense during the year. You pretty much see the same thing when you expand to the Elite 8.

Gotta be able to put the ball in the hoop.
 
WTSooner said:
I love good defense, but the stats speak for themselves.

Team/O Efficiency Ranking/D Efficiency Ranking

UK/5/1
Wisky/1/55
Duke/3/17
MSU/13/47

The four teams left were MUCH better at offense than they were defense during the year. You pretty much see the same thing when you expand to the Elite 8.

Gotta be able to put the ball in the hoop.
Click to expand...

This is especially true now because so many teams have such a difficult time scoring for so many reasons. Teams are putting a premium on defense plus the increased athleticism is really making it more difficult to score. As the best players leave early for the NBA, premium offensive players are hard to find.

The difference between teams right now is that teams who can score have an advantage over teams who can't. The gap between those who are good offensively and those who aren't seems to be larger than the gap between those who are good defensively and those who aren't.

Being able to score provides huge advantages.
 
I've told you guys since early in the season LK thinks Khadeem will play the 3 at times before his career is over. Not many agreed but I was just reporting what I was hearing. Also for everybody wondering about Akolda he clearly stated that he is expected to be a difference maker. LK knows basketball.
 
I'm willing to wager today that Lattin doesn't see any significant time at the 3.
 
red recluse said:
lattin at the 3. can't say i saw that one coming. ever.
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Me either. Even if he's capable of it, I can't see him playing anything other than the 4 or 5. Ideally, he's playing along Buford for the rest of his career, so it makes even less sense. I don't know that it would work, but I'd pay money to watch Buford and Lattin as our two wings.

Throwing out statements like that could help his draft stock, though. I've been saying he's our best NBA prospect already, but if he developed 3 point range and perimeter skills it wouldn't even be close.
 
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Lattin is 6-8. 6-9 if his do is feeling good that day. But not near 6-11.
 
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