Amida Brimah G League

[Stainmaster]

He dropped lobs as much as he made the plays.

This is pure fiction.

 

[mauconnfan]

C'mon, mau. We're UCONN fans. We aren't happy unless we have something to bitch about!

It’s unbelievable Nick. Just another way to finalize the agenda.

 

[mauconnfan]

This is pure fiction.

Like hell it is.

 

[Tuna]

What Dan Hurley could have done with Amida. Dude is a physical specimen wasted by Ollie.

If only we hired Hurley 5 years ago. Amida could've won a ring.

 

[MadDogRevival]

[Rodney] did get better at UConn sorry it is true. He just wasn’t what we thought.

1st, I didn't say he did not get better. I said it wasn't attributable to Ollie. 2nd, because you raised the issue, I'd say the numbers don't support your assertion. His last year at UConn he finished with a .372 field goal %. His worst of his 3 years on the court by a lot. He did improve on Frees, a bit on boards, and a bit on assists. To my eye test, he was fundamentally the same player when he left than when he arrived. Not a knock on him, at all. Guy was all effort.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Could not agree more! Same with with Purvis right? Struggled at UConn but was also the definitive late bloomer. If Ollie had any fault at all it was his tendency to recruit definitive late bloomers. Really just bad luck.

Late bloomer? McDs all-American—>mediocre college player—> dominate GLeague—> doing well in NBA

one of those is not like the other

 

[mauconnfan]

1st, I didn't say he did not get better. I said it wasn't attributable to Ollie. 2nd, because you raised the issue, I'd say the numbers don't support your assertion. His last year at UConn he finished with a .372 field goal %. His worst of his 3 years on the court by a lot. He did improve on Frees, a bit on boards, and a bit on assists. To my eye test, he was fundamentally the same player when he left than when he arrived. Not a knock on him, at all. Guy was all effort.

Ok so he did get better because no coach can shoot for their players. His defense was a ton better than when he arrived so you can elect to say that wasn’t KO but I will disagree.

 

[Whtdmd]

Late bloomer? McDs all-American—>mediocre college player—> dominate GLeague—> doing well in NBA

one of those is not like the other

he transferred from ncst because he was not playing well. he was then cut from the u20'team because he was regressing. The same yr rodney transferred. Kuran Iverson also transferred to Rhody, he was listed as a top 20 transfer that yr and preseason all conference team in the a10. He was considered to have more NBA potential then Rodney. How did Kuran do under Hurley's development. 2 yrs of average less then 10 ppg, no nba draft and now barely making it in the G league. Iverson is 6'9 n can shoot n dribble. There is no comparison between the development rodney got compare with Iverson. If Ollie is such a bad dude. why r the mature players like Shonn Miller n Gibbs praising him. BTW, Hurley's Rhody team was not the definition of discipline. One of his star seniors was arrested for assault last yr. His assistant Ty Boswell was arrested for disturbing the peace in the beginning of last yr. They were not punished. Boswell might be an assistant this year at UC. Ollie would never tolerate that crap. Just saying for all u who continue to bash Ollie

 

[RayRay19]

No big can survive in the NBA if they can't consistently rebound. For an athletic 7 footer he was never taught how to fundamentally rebound. Always just relied on his length and that never changed during his career at UConn. That's my biggest issue with his development.

 

[Giddyup5]

This is funny. How dare you expect your big man to post up, or even be able to get a jump hook off never mind to the rim? What's a coach thinking trying to get his 5 man a look at the basket early? LOL

That highlight reel shows little to differ from the guy who played here by the way. He was real good against Coppin State too but at least Coppin State tried to play defense. He's a decent rim protector and we saw a few wide open dunks but you guys are priceless thinking that product on this video proved anything at all. Did we see him make a jump hook? Did we see if Diamond Stone shouldered himself in for easy buckets? No it was a highlight reel people relax - I love the KO haters jumping on stupid crap like this. Leave it alone you got your wish he's gone. Root for Hurley not against the past.

Mau

I am not a KO hater. In fact, I am incredibly disappointed because I actually think KO had the highest upside of any coach we could ever have gotten. Past alumni, career NBA veteran, highly respected, African American, god loving....he actually had all the tools to go into a room and compete with the K, Cals, Selfs of the world for recruits. He had the keys to the kingdom and it just didn't work.

But dude you gotta have some perspective. Not all 5 man are post players. Not in todays NBA or college game. Deandre Jordan, Andre Drummond, Whiteside, Noah, Magee, Tristen Thompson are just a few examples of big man in the NBA who rarely work traditionally in the post.

There is incredible value in being a rim runner then just scoring off lobs. It sucks the weak side defense in providing valuable spacing on the weak side for shooters.

This is a fact: KO did not put many of his players in the best positions for them to succeed. Brimah is great example. Gibbs and Miller are others.

I love KO and wish him nothing but the best. But I hope he reflects on his coaching and realizes he kept on forcing a round peg through a square hole and that was his biggest shortcoming on the court.

 

[Giddyup5]

Yeah ok. You can’t have a 5th guy out there without trying to throw it to him once in a while - 4 on 5, which is exactly what it was anyway minus Coppin, doesn’t bode well . So he has to play because he’s such a great defender according to you guys but how dare you ask him to play O? What is wrong with you people?

Again, I think you are underestimating the power of a rim runner. Watching Deandre or Drummond crash towards the hoop pay attention to what happen to the other 3 defenders during the sequence. Its like a black hole that sucks in defenders and frees up spacing for the wing players.

Thats part of the reason why players like Purvis do better in the NBA/D league. The spacing is better partially due to having a lot of defensive attention paid towards a rim runner whose FG% is like 99% on lobs and dunks.

 

[Matrim55]

Again, I think you are underestimating the power of a rim runner. Watching Deandre or Drummond crash towards the hoop pay attention to what happen to the other 3 defenders during the sequence. Its like a black hole that sucks in defenders and frees up spacing for the wing players.

To put it a different way: Vertical spacing provides horizontal spacing. Teams have to help against Capela because of the threat he presents on the lob, which means Houston's shooters end up with more time to do work.

I'd be shocked if Capela has more than 5 old fashioned post touches this entire season. But his offensive rating (126) is off the charts, and he has 5.5 offensive win shares because he's in a system that recognizes and maximizes his strengths.

 

[Huskymagic]

Amida as I said years ago was the biggest talent gone to waste during the Ollie era. Not playing to Amida's offensive strengths and playing zone defense neutralized a huge weapon like Brimah.

The dude was a beast and should have been a first round pick for us. There are not many big guys in the last 10 years that have had his size, length, athleticism, motor, and defensive presence as a package.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

There are not many big guys in the last 10 years that have had his size, length, athleticism, motor, and defensive presence as a package.

Um . . .

 

[intlzncster]

1st, I didn't say he did not get better. I said it wasn't attributable to Ollie. 2nd, because you raised the issue, I'd say the numbers don't support your assertion. His last year at UConn he finished with a .372 field goal %. His worst of his 3 years on the court by a lot. He did improve on Frees, a bit on boards, and a bit on assists. To my eye test, he was fundamentally the same player when he left than when he arrived. Not a knock on him, at all. Guy was all effort.

Part of the issue was he was a senior on one of the worst teams in UCONN history. It's hard to shine when it's a complete sh itshow out there.

 

[intlzncster]

Amida as I said years ago was the biggest talent gone to waste during the Ollie era. Not playing to Amida's offensive strengths and playing zone defense neutralized a huge weapon like Brimah.

The dude was a beast and should have been a first round pick for us. There are not many big guys in the last 10 years that have had his size, length, athleticism, motor, and defensive presence as a package.

That would be Jalen imo.

Amida was a worse version of Ater Majok. jmo though.

 

[Palatine]

Brimah has the 5th highest scoring game by a Husky since 1986 (14th all time).

Watch it here. MBB: 12/14/2014 – UConn vs. Coppin State (W, 106-85)

 

[mauconnfan]

Amida as I said years ago was the biggest talent gone to waste during the Ollie era. Not playing to Amida's offensive strengths and playing zone defense neutralized a huge weapon like Brimah.

The dude was a beast and should have been a first round pick for us. There are not many big guys in the last 10 years that have had his size, length, athleticism, motor, and defensive presence as a package.

You are very entertaining at least magic man. I think I need to smoke some of that gud stuff.

 

[mauconnfan]

Mau

I am not a KO hater. In fact, I am incredibly disappointed because I actually think KO had the highest upside of any coach we could ever have gotten. Past alumni, career NBA veteran, highly respected, African American, god loving....he actually had all the tools to go into a room and compete with the K, Cals, Selfs of the world for recruits. He had the keys to the kingdom and it just didn't work.

But dude you gotta have some perspective. Not all 5 man are post players. Not in todays NBA or college game. Deandre Jordan, Andre Drummond, Whiteside, Noah, Magee, Tristen Thompson are just a few examples of big man in the NBA who rarely work traditionally in the post.

There is incredible value in being a rim runner then just scoring off lobs. It sucks the weak side defense in providing valuable spacing on the weak side for shooters.

This is a fact: KO did not put many of his players in the best positions for them to succeed. Brimah is great example. Gibbs and Miller are others.

I love KO and wish him nothing but the best. But I hope he reflects on his coaching and realizes he kept on forcing a round peg through a square hole and that was his biggest shortcoming on the court.

Hey I have perspective many of you don’t. KO is at fault here because he recruited less than stellar talent. Many of them with low b-ball IQs to top it off.

Brimah would have been a nice big man coming off the bench for a typical UConn team nothing more. He averaged 6/5/2.5 as a Sr even without anyone coaching him he should have been a 12/7/3 guy if he improved at all.

This putting him into position to succeed crap is just whacked. He didn’t understand the game and was rarely where he was supposed to be for 4 years.

Anyway I’m done if KO coached him at all he would’ve been an AA. Lol

 

[Spokesbender]

Amida as I said years ago was the biggest talent gone to waste during the Ollie era. Not playing to Amida's offensive strengths and playing zone defense neutralized a huge weapon like Brimah.

The dude was a beast and should have been a first round pick for us. There are not many big guys in the last 10 years that have had his size, length, athleticism, motor, and defensive presence as a package.

Facey was a bigger loss in terms of potential.

 

[Bryan Lord]

I'm in, I'll blame Ollie for this.

 

[awfuldan]

I saw on Twitter that Brimah's team, the Austin Spurs, are G League Western Conference champions. Best of 3 championship series tips off this weekend. I might try to tune in.

Unrelated to the G League play-offs, check out this video of Amida Brimah blocking Daniel Hamilton a couple weeks ago. Those dudes had great on-court chemistry at UConn, pretty funny to see.



0:23 in the video, if you don't feel like watching full highlights of Brimah's double-double.

 

[TopDogs]

 

[intlzncster]

Looks like he's put on a little beef.

 

[Danzz]

He looks much stronger and his hands are much, much better. I'm happy for him.

He just looks a lot older. And agree his hands look a lot better.
At UConn Brimah left his man too much to help and got burned.

 

[nomar]

Le

Let the Hurley bashing begin. Ridiculous.

I think that poster has admitted being an "Ollie" fan and not a "UConn" fan -- or at least being more of the former than the latter.

 

[Scrutineer]

Here's Bossi's review of Brimah on Yahoo Sports right after he committed to the Huskies in January of 2013. You may recall we were his only offer at the time and the list of schools that were shown to have interest was underwhelming.

"Looking at the class of 2013, there isn't a lot left to choose from for high major programs in search of post players.
At Connecticut, Kevin Ollie and the Huskies have decided to take their chances with Amida Brimah.
A raw 6-foot-10 center out of Miami (Fla.) Archbishop Carroll, Brimah was in Storrs over the weekend and saw enough from the Huskies program to announce his commitment via twitter.
Relatively unknown on the national level, Brimah is a slender big man who runs pretty well. He has a body that should easily carry more weight and although he is a bit of a project on the offensive end, he does do two things pretty well.
First, Brimah blocks shots. He uses either hand to swat shots, is pretty patient through pump fakes and also does a pretty good job of controlling shots he blocks. Second, he plays with a very good motor and is always chasing down rebounds. Sometimes that leads to fouls, but fouls out of aggression in going for rebounds aren't always bad things.
Brimah is UConn's third pledge in the class of 2013 and he joins a class that already includes four-star shot blocker Kentan Faceyand three-star guard Terrence Samuel."

Who knows for sure if Ollie blew it with his and Facey's development, but some responsibility has to fall on the players. We heard every summer he was lifting and would look much stronger that fall and that he was working on his shot, but if he did it didn't look it that fall. Is that on him or on Ollie for possibly not telling him what he expected from Brimah and not keeping a close watch on what Brimah was doing or failing to do in the off season?

Look at his arms now though. Maybe it's because he's not out partying and spends his former study time lifting weights.....

 

[Onions]

He couldn’t screen and roll he left early all the time and didn’t roll the right way half the time. He dropped lobs as much as he made the plays. He wasn’t a smart player at all but you guys are “obsessed “ with blaming everything on KO it’s pitiful. Its a damn highlight reel and everyone has an opinion still. Didn’t see the bad plays and decisions he made like he did at UConn.

That was a highlight reel but these are his G league stats (per 36 minutes) : 10.5/11.8/4.1. He was 1st in the league in blocks, he was 7th in defensive rating. His strengths, which pains you to ever acknowledge, will get him a backup roll in the NBA where his deficiencies, which are all you ever talk about, will be minimized by his role plus time. I do not blame his development on KO, he was/is very raw and still needs time to improve. However limited he was his pure athletic ability made him a valuable member of the team while he was here, which is something else you seem unable to admit, although this past year was proof enough for most.

 

[mauconnfan]

That was a highlight reel but these are his G league stats (per 36 minutes) : 10.5/11.8/4.1. He was 1st in the league in blocks, he was 7th in defensive rating. His strengths, which pains you to ever acknowledge, will get him a backup roll in the NBA where his deficiencies, which are all you ever talk about, will be minimized by his role plus time. I do not blame his development on KO, he was/is very raw and still needs time to improve. However limited he was his pure athletic ability made him a valuable member of the team while he was here, which is something else you seem unable to admit, although this past year was proof enough for most.

Thanks for the insight. What pains me is why you would bother to quote how much things pain me. I wish him the best he just didn’t get much better here and honestly his deficiencies far outweigh his strengths, does that pain you? I will wait for that NBA back up role and then congratulate him and EBM you at that point.

 

[Onions]

Thanks for the insight. What pains me is why you would bother to quote how much things pain me. I wish him the best he just didn’t get much better here and honestly his deficiencies far outweigh his strengths, does that pain you? I will wait for that NBA back up role and then congratulate him and EBM you at that point.

That's the point, his deficiencies didn't outweigh his strengths, except in your perception. He was a net positive player in his time here, although not as positive as I would have hoped for. There is a big difference between "not as good as hoped for" and "not good at all." I will await your congratulations.