Video of individual workouts (Clark, Neal, Osby, M'Baye)

[WTSooner]

how much would you like to bet .. or we could have a board ban bet ..

he will play the 3 in the first 15 min of the first game this season

Bring this up before the first game, and I'll make some kind of bet with you.

 

[WTSooner]

That's like calling the 3rd or 4th WR a TE because there are 2 or 3 other WRs on the field at the same time. To me a 4 is a power forward and when I think of a 4 it is a guy who can play with his face to the basket and knock down the open mid-range jumper. Not a guy who is handling the ball on a pick and roll or coming off screens for jump shots. Blake Griffin is/was a 4. Marcus Fizer, Byron Houston, Tiny Gallon, the Morris twins, ... those guys are 4s.

Trying to pigeon hole college guys into the NBA numbering system is a waste of time. There are very few 5s and most players fall into the 2-3 category. Very few college teams can put a 1-2-3-4-5 line-up out on the floor. Most are 1-2-2/3-3-4.

Except a true 3 can't really guard a true 4. KD could guard a lot of different types of true posts. A true 3 really can't do much damage inside. KD could score it inside.

I agree that it's hard to give guys descriptions like this, but my point was, that while KD is probably the closest guy we've seen some time in regards to being a true 3 that played the 4 in college, Osby doesn't have that same skill set. Osby can shoot it from deep, but it is going to look more like Ace, and less like KD. Osby isn't going to come dribbling off of picks, knocking down 25 footers. It ain't happening. Osby isn't as agile, or quick off his feet as KD. He doesn't have KD's length. He is stronger, which should lead to him being a better defender/rebounder inside. Comparing the two is silly IMO. Their games have very little in common.

 

[perryj74]

Except a true 3 can't really guard a true 4. KD could guard a lot of different types of true posts. A true 3 really can't do much damage inside. KD could score it inside.

Again in college there are very few true anythings. That's why you won't hear a coach say a 1-2-3-4-5. He'll say a guard, wing, or post/big. Just because a guy is 6'8" doesn't mean he is a big just the same way a 6'4" guy isn't necessarily a guard. In the college game a lot of the two are swapped, there are a lot more 6'4/5/6" "posts" than there are 6'8" wings.

The following is from Wikipedia.

"Small forward

The small forward, also known as the "3", is typically somewhat shorter, quicker and leaner than power forwards and centers. Thus, in the NBA, small forwards range from 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) to 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m). The small forward position is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the main five basketball positions, due to the nature of its role, which is sometimes similar to that of a power forward, and other times more resembles the role of a shooting guard. The small forward and shooting guard positions are often interchangeable.

Small forwards have a variety of weapons, such as quickness and strength inside. One common thread between all kinds of small forwards is an ability to "get to the line" and draw fouls by aggressively attempting post-up plays, lay-ups, or slam dunks. As such, accurate foul shooting is a common skill for small forwards, many of whom record a large portion of their points from the foul line. Small forwards should be able to do a little bit of everything on the court, typically playing roles such as swingmen but also as point forwards and defensive specialists.[3] Examples include LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Hedo Türkoğlu, and Kevin Durant. Larry Bird and Scottie Pippen are examples of earlier players in the league's history for this position.

 

[WTSooner]

Where do you think Larry Bird would play in today's college game? 100%, without a doubt, he'd have to be a PF, or the "4". But yes, in the NBA, he was about as true a 3 as you could come by. Different games. I agree, there aren't many true 3's in the college game. I actually don't call any college players true 3's. Or very few. Most teams play 3 true guards, a 4 that is either a traditional power forward or a guy like Durant/Osby/Selvy, and another true post (power forward, or traditional center). I get that. I'm fine calling Durant a small forward in either league. Osby is not Durant.

 

[thebigabd]

how much would you like to bet .. or we could have a board ban bet ..

he will play the 3 in the first 15 min of the first game this season

A board ban bet? Why would you want that?

 

[dubyac]

assigning numbers to positions is so highschool...

 

[BoulderSooner]

Where do you think Larry Bird would play in today's college game? 100%, without a doubt, he'd have to be a PF, or the "4". But yes, in the NBA, he was about as true a 3 as you could come by. Different games. I agree, there aren't many true 3's in the college game. I actually don't call any college players true 3's. Or very few. Most teams play 3 true guards, a 4 that is either a traditional power forward or a guy like Durant/Osby/Selvy, and another true post (power forward, or traditional center). I get that. I'm fine calling Durant a small forward in either league. Osby is not Durant.

if bird was on a college team with kevin mchale and robert parrish he would be a 3 just like in the NBA

 

[boksooner]

I understand why everyone is arguing, but isn't it kind of a pointless argument. Kruger has shown at every stop that "position" plays almost no part in who plays together. He doesn't care who is a shooting guard vs. small forward vs. power forward. Kruger is not looking for a PG/SG/SF/PF/C lineup. That isn't his thing. He likes to play a lot of interchangeable parts. We are more likely to see PG/WING/WING/BIG/BIG. My guess is that Kruger will have no problem shifting Clark, Osby, Neal, Fitz and Arent all around the court.

I'm not sure which will be the starting lineup (my guess is the first one), but I bet we see both during games. I definitely think there will be times that Kruger goes to the bigger line up (#2) to create mismatches, or to deal with mismatches created by the opponent.

#1
PG - Grooms/Blair
Wing - Pledger/Newel
Wing - Cam/Neal
Big - Osby/Fitz/Neal
Big - Fitz/Arent

#2
PG - Grooms/Blair
Wing - Cam/Pledger
Wing - Osby/Neal
Big - Fitz/Washington
Big - Arent/Honore