RJ Cole looks much more settled and confident

[Chin Diesel]

By the way, thanks for ripping off another band aid of my youth by implying Hulk Hogan's schtick wasn't new and he was stealing other wrestlers stuff.

 

[Umami Zen]

Yes, Cole's defense is much underrated. He has shut down a lot of much larger players by stripping them early and has doubled down low at times for even more strips. He has grown and been accepted in his leadership role. Cole is the glue down the stretch, making key shots and great passes to shut down rallies. Were seeing smiles on the guards faces a lot these days.

Cole has no choice ,because of his lack of height and lack of wingspan, to play defense the old-fashioned way .With his feet. He always gives up 3-5 inches to taller guards and holds his own. He can't stop taller guys from shooting over him but he clearly is frustrating them with smart D.

Would be cool if RJ sat AJ down and discussed with him a better way to play D (with your feet) and stay on the floor for longer periods of time.

RJ is trusting AJ and starting to look for him more on offense ---a good thing heading into Tournament time.

 

[tentoes4rings]

Cole has no choice because of his lack of height and lack of wingspan to play defense the old-fashioned way .With his feet. He always gives up 3-5 inches to taller guards and holds his own. He can't stop taller guys from shooting over him but he clearly is frustrating them with smart D.

Would be cool if RJ sat AJ down and discussed with him a better way to play D (with your feet) and stay on the floor for longer periods of time. Starting to see RJ looking for AJ when he has the ball in his hands-a good thing for Tournament time.

In AJ’s defense though, history is filled with young players who struggled defensively and picked up a lot of bad fouls. While he does need to improve his foul frequency, he gets whistled for 1-2 per game that are complete nonsense. The one where Garcia kept ramming into him for example. I noticed a few plays yesterday he didn’t get whistled for that only a game or two ago he would have. I’m optimistic that he’s slowly starting to get respect from the refs. With his size and length and ability to defend 1-4, he could develop into the best overall defender we’ve ever had.

 

[Umami Zen]

In AJ’s defense though, history is filled with young players who struggled defensively and picked up a lot of bad fouls. While he does need to improve his foul frequency, he gets whistled for 1-2 per game that are complete nonsense. The one where Garcia kept ramming into him for example. I noticed a few plays yesterday he didn’t get whistled for that only a game or two ago he would have. I’m optimistic that he’s slowly starting to get respect from the refs. With his size and length and ability to defend 1-4, he could develop into the best overall defender we’ve ever had.

Agree with you on all points. I've mentioned before that refs are seeing him do things athletically on D that they don't see often from freshman. They're way too fast on the whistle with phantom calls. He is so disruptive and can create his own offense off of his defense .

Can definitely be the X factor in the BET and Tournament if he can stay on the floor. Looked like he was really having fun yesterday.

 

[HooperScooper]

Yep, it’s a total joke. A million fouls for ticky tack stuff, and somehow you can blatantly lower your shoulder and forearm into a defender repeatedly to knock him back a foot at a time, eventually resulting in a foul on the DEFENSE. There’s nothing Jackson can do there. The funny thing was he realized it the 2nd time he was in that situation, flopped and fell to the ground, and of course they called an offensive foul on Marquette.

My favorite play of the game. That was awesome. As I said in another thread, I wish they had done that against Gillespie.

 

[tentoes4rings]

When I watch Cole, he reminds me so much of another lefty point guard, I just can’t remember who it is. It might be Derek Fisher, but I think his game might resemble someone else’s even more. Can you guys think of a lefty former NBA point guard he reminds you of?

 

[SportsFan88]

When I watch Cole, he reminds me so much of another lefty point guard, I just can’t remember who it is. It might Derek Fisher, but I think his game might resemble someone else’s even more. Can you guys think of a lefty former NBA point guard he reminds you of?

Maybe dragic with how well they both play off PnR even though dragic is much bigger and obviously a pro

 

[Spaceman213J]

That midrange jumper is there for the taking for so many players if they would put the work in and practice that shot. RIP was great at curling around a screen and hitting that shot from the elbows. He made millions off of it. He was great from 3 point land and could get to the hoop, but what gave defenses fits was his ability to be smothered outside, drive by and pull up before he got to a shot blocker. With his size he could shoot over almost anyone who was assigned to guard him outside.

 

[olehead]

Yep, it’s a total joke. A million fouls for ticky tack stuff, and somehow you can blatantly lower your shoulder and forearm into a defender repeatedly to knock him back a foot at a time, eventually resulting in a foul on the DEFENSE. There’s nothing Jackson can do there. The funny thing was he realized it the 2nd time he was in that situation, flopped and fell to the ground, and of course they called an offensive foul on Marquette.

So good job refs, you complain about flopping and then officiate in a way where the defense can only get a fair shake by flopping.

Spot on brother.

 

[Husky25]

Apropos of nothing...

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but my favorite thing about Cole's game is when penetrants and either lays it in or takes an off balance shot, the announcers get beside themselves with a, "WITH HIS LEFT!"

Cole is left handed.

(It's the little things...)

 

[tentoes4rings]

That midrange jumper is there for the taking for so many players if they would put the work in and practice that shot. RIP was great at curling around a screen and hitting that shot from the elbows. He made millions off of it. He was great from 3 point land and could get to the hoop, but what gave defenses fits was his ability to be smothered outside, drive by and pull up before he got to a shot blocker. With his size he could shoot over almost anyone who was assigned to guard him outside.

The problem though for kids with legitimate NBA aspirations is the 3 is such a huge part of the game and what they need to showcase. I’ve always loved the college game more than the NBA game and with NBA teams hoisting up over 50 per game now, college is even that much more enjoyable.

 

[Waquoit]

The way things are going, if you're under 6' 5" and not a freaky athlete; you might be better off staying in school as long as you can, taking a language course along the way.

 

[August_West]

By the way, thanks for ripping off another band aid of my youth by implying Hulk Hogan's schtick wasn't new and he was stealing other wrestlers stuff.

Hogan was a jabroni fraud rip off artist

 

[Waquoit]

Hogan was a jabroni fraud rip off artist

And those were his less odious traits