- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
- Messages
- 13,905
- Reaction Score
- 25,923
There is a difference between liking a player and appreciating his contributions on the one hand and his talent level on the other. Fans tend to conflate the 2. Cole was a tough undersized and a bit slow. Probably wouldn’t have gotten much playing time on the 2023 team or this year’s team either. Just not that level of player. Newton is a huge upgrade at point guard. Hawkins was a much better player too as is Castle. We don’t win the title with Cole at the point. He just wasn’t at that level. I think Diarra is better, too. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t a valuable player or that he didn’t bring it every game. He was a good player on a good but not great team. Because people recognize that doesn’t mean they are dissing him.