Athlon 2018-2019

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cjfish

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #40 on: September 14, 2018, 12:54:54 PM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

SJUFAN

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #41 on: September 14, 2018, 01:19:49 PM »
Very interested in seeing the Ponds Simon Figueroa Heron Clark lineup.

I'd swap LJ for Dixon.

Big size difference

You need to be able to handle and distribute the ball before size even matters.

Going without conventional big men only works if you can hurt the other team off the bounce. Look at Nova, Quinerly and Gillsespie would be a huge net positive off the bounce against that lineup. Wright always has at least two dominant ball-handlers who can consistently make good decisions.

Ponds and Dixon is our only chance at matching that...then factor in Heron being defend by a three, Simon being defended by a four, and Clark being defended by a five and we can really cause some problems. 

I like the lineup with Dixon and look forward to seeing it, just pointing out there is a significant difference between having Dixon at the 2 or having one of Simon/heron/LJ at the 2.

I like Dixon coming off the bench for an offensive spark. I believe Heron and LJ's ball handling is good enough to allow that to happen. If you play Simon at the four, that would give us decent ball handlers at the wings with size and athleticism. 

I'm interested to see how Ponds plays with another Alpha. 

LJ has one year of JUCO ball. He is a shooter and he's not a great athlete from what I can tell. Dixon would dribble circles around him.

My preference is that Dixon comes off the bench, and my belief is that Ponds, LJ, Heron, and Simon’s ball handling is good enough to allow that to happen. I'm not saying LJ has a better handle than Dixon. Although I think LJ is going to surprise some. He had offers from high majors out of HS.       

SJUFAN

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #42 on: September 14, 2018, 01:34:19 PM »
herron  is no Lebron James

True however the logic remains the same and why it isn't true. One player who averages 15 points a game has more of an impact and is more valuable than 3 players combined who averages the same. Plus Heron is a good defender who can defend 3 positions. It's not even close how much better he will make us.

Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #43 on: September 14, 2018, 05:21:40 PM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Name them ;)
*wipes ketchup from his eyes* - I guess Heinz sight isn’t 20/20.

Foad

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #44 on: September 14, 2018, 05:26:51 PM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Name them ;)

Jessie Govan and four other guys
« Last Edit: September 14, 2018, 05:27:27 PM by Foad »

Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #45 on: September 14, 2018, 08:34:10 PM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one

He is right up there


Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Marillac

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #46 on: September 14, 2018, 09:25:07 PM »
Very interested in seeing the Ponds Simon Figueroa Heron Clark lineup.

I'd swap LJ for Dixon.

Big size difference

You need to be able to handle and distribute the ball before size even matters.

Going without conventional big men only works if you can hurt the other team off the bounce. Look at Nova, Quinerly and Gillsespie would be a huge net positive off the bounce against that lineup. Wright always has at least two dominant ball-handlers who can consistently make good decisions.

Ponds and Dixon is our only chance at matching that...then factor in Heron being defend by a three, Simon being defended by a four, and Clark being defended by a five and we can really cause some problems. 

I like the lineup with Dixon and look forward to seeing it, just pointing out there is a significant difference between having Dixon at the 2 or having one of Simon/heron/LJ at the 2.

I like Dixon coming off the bench for an offensive spark. I believe Heron and LJ's ball handling is good enough to allow that to happen. If you play Simon at the four, that would give us decent ball handlers at the wings with size and athleticism. 

I'm interested to see how Ponds plays with another Alpha. 

LJ has one year of JUCO ball. He is a shooter and he's not a great athlete from what I can tell. Dixon would dribble circles around him.

My preference is that Dixon comes off the bench, and my belief is that Ponds, LJ, Heron, and Simon’s ball handling is good enough to allow that to happen. I'm not saying LJ has a better handle than Dixon. Although I think LJ is going to surprise some. He had offers from high majors out of HS.       

I'm not in love with the ball-handling on this team. For that reason I don't like the look of lineups without Dixon and Ponds. I've made my opinion on last year's version of Simon painfully clear...maybe he has improved.

I am happy we added LJ but I wouldn't expect much from him year one...maybe 18-22 mpg and 7-8 points. If he can really D up and rebound that obviously changes.

Poison

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #47 on: September 15, 2018, 01:29:58 AM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Ponds is top 5. A fair point can be made that he’s the best player in the country.

Who is better than him?

QuanMan

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #48 on: September 15, 2018, 02:22:56 AM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Ponds is top 5. A fair point can be made that he’s the best player in the country.

Who is better than him?

Shamorie will go off for 50 this year mark it down.
Section 3
Section 116

Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #49 on: September 15, 2018, 07:59:47 AM »
I hope Ponds doesn't score 50 in, even in a weak OOC game.

Team will be too lopsided. 

SJUFAN

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #50 on: September 15, 2018, 11:15:53 AM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Ponds is top 5. A fair point can be made that he’s the best player in the country.

Who is better than him?

I’m struggling to see how Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. The team finished 9th in the big east last year and didn’t even make the NIT. Top five players carry teams to the dance by themselves. See Trae Young last year. If he is this will be an exciting year for Johnny fans.

Marillac

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #51 on: September 15, 2018, 11:52:40 AM »
Is Heron better than Ponds? Haven't seen too much of him

If he is this is a final four team.









Settle down.

Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. His point is a good one




Ponds is excellent but not top 5

Ponds is top 5. A fair point can be made that he’s the best player in the country.

Who is better than him?

I’m struggling to see how Ponds is a top 5 player in the country. The team finished 9th in the big east last year and didn’t even make the NIT. Top five players carry teams to the dance by themselves. See Trae Young last year. If he is this will be an exciting year for Johnny fans.

We couldn't handle, rebound, or score down low. Ponds was double and triple teamed all year. The spacing was nonexistent with Simon on the perimeter and no inside scoring threat. How can one player make up for all of that?

Markelle Fultz was the #1 overall pick after winning just 9 games, and he played with four top 100 recruits.

LSU went just 20-10 with a soph Shaq and lost by 17 pts in the first round of the tournament. Shaw was the most dominant player in the history of basketball.

It's so easy to shut down a team with one star.

Johnny23

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #52 on: September 15, 2018, 12:05:47 PM »
Ponds is a top 25 college player. No shame in that at all. A lot of great players around the country.

Marillac

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #53 on: September 15, 2018, 12:11:54 PM »
Will also add that this is the weakest senior class I've ever seen in college basketball, and it's not a particularly strong junior class either. It's also an exceptionally weak PG and combo guard environment frosh to senior.

Ponds was an All-American last year in an incredibly strong PG and combo environment and he did it shooting like crap from deep.  He is an exceptional shooter, so what will that impact be like with 38-40% from deep? And with Dixon to handle and set him up plus a hopefully much improved Simon. National Player of the Year. Get it spit-shined for him now.

Marillac

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #54 on: September 15, 2018, 12:12:20 PM »
Ponds is a top 25 college player. No shame in that at all. A lot of great players around the country.

Disgusting post.

Johnny23

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #55 on: September 15, 2018, 12:37:34 PM »
Ponds is a top 25 college player. No shame in that at all. A lot of great players around the country.

Disgusting post.

Why because it's true? Try taking the rose colored glasses off long enough to stop the homerism. Ponds needs to show his leadership skills this season and lead the team to the big dance if he wants to get that type of recognition. There's plenty of premiere talent around the country. Like I said, no shame for Ponds as top 25 is elite company. Now he needs to kick it up a notch. Bam!

Marillac

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #56 on: September 15, 2018, 12:47:11 PM »
Ponds is a top 25 college player. No shame in that at all. A lot of great players around the country.

Disgusting post.

Why because it's true? Try taking the rose colored glasses off long enough to stop the homerism. Ponds needs to show his leadership skills this season and lead the team to the big dance if he wants to get that type of recognition. There's plenty of premiere talent around the country. Like I said, no shame for Ponds as top 25 is elite company. Now he needs to kick it up a notch. Bam!


He was arguably top 25 and the end of his freshman year. He was certainly top 25 last year, and college basketball was purged of a ton of high level players. There is no question he's top 15. To extend it to 25 is just plain ridiculous.

jr49

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #57 on: September 15, 2018, 02:47:39 PM »
I still think it's a big mans game. A big who plays like one always important if guys going big places.

Marillac

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #58 on: September 15, 2018, 02:56:36 PM »
I still think it's a big mans game. A big who plays like one always important if guys going big places.

Thanks for contacting us from the 90's. Invest in Apple and when they are formed get in on Facebook and Amazon. Good news, we will make the Elite Eight in a few years and Chris Mullin will one day become coach! Be safe out there.

LoganK

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Re: Athlon 2018-2019
« Reply #59 on: September 15, 2018, 05:42:23 PM »
Ponds is a top 25 college player. No shame in that at all. A lot of great players around the country.

Disgusting post.

Why because it's true? Try taking the rose colored glasses off long enough to stop the homerism. Ponds needs to show his leadership skills this season and lead the team to the big dance if he wants to get that type of recognition. There's plenty of premiere talent around the country. Like I said, no shame for Ponds as top 25 is elite company. Now he needs to kick it up a notch. Bam!


He was arguably top 25 and the end of his freshman year. He was certainly top 25 last year, and college basketball was purged of a ton of high level players. There is no question he's top 15. To extend it to 25 is just plain ridiculous.
FWIW:
Cbssports had him at 95 heading into last year.
ESPN did not have him in their top 50.

Thebiglead (a USA Today vehicle) has him at 32 going into this year.
19th on whatever the hell Ranker.com is

I'd like to think he's higher than that, but I couldn't name 31 other players off the top of my head right now, so he'd be higher by default.