Solo Ball is weekly Big East Player of the week | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Solo Ball is weekly Big East Player of the week

I think you missed my point. When Hawkins gets to the rim he has more explosiveness than Ball. Ball hasn't shown that explosiveness going to the rim. I think Ball isn't too quick he is just a good jumper but he has trouble exploding when going to the rim and is using more hesitation dribbles to get by his man. He certainly isn't Ben Gordon good in penetrating who also had more explosiveness. It feels odd as that was what he was know for in High School. He seems more of a shooter and crafty dribbler.
Hawkins advantage was size and lift around the rim, but like Solo, no power game.

Every scouting summary I saw on Ball was that he was a twitchy athlete, so this whole 3pt stuff feels like it blossomed while in Storrs.
 
Hawkins advantage was size and lift around the rim, but like Solo, no power game.

Every scouting summary I saw on Ball was that he was a twitchy athlete, so this whole 3pt stuff feels like it blossomed while in Storrs.
Yeah but where is that twitchy athlete? I will say at this point of his career is a lot more consistent 3 point shooter than Hawkins and a better dribbler. I like to see how his game develops. He could be an even greater player and a chance for the next level if he has an offseason to work on his deficiencies.
 
Diff between being able to dribble penetrate and be a PG.

Duke for instance isn’t running a PG out there. Proctor is anything but a PG, not saying that is the right model.

Memphis is running Haggerty and Hunter out there, neither traditional PGs. I didn’t realize Haggerty is only a sophomore, what a get.

I don't think Solo is a PG but he can play the "PG" position at UConn, I do think Hurley would go with Ross before Ball though at the "PG" position. Just to bring the ball up and get the team into sets.

Yeah but where is that twitchy athlete? I will say at this point of his career is a lot more consistent 3 point shooter than Hawkins and a better dribbler. I like to see how his game develops. He could be an even greater player and a chance for the next level if he has an offseason to work on his deficiencies.

Some of his rebounds last game showed it, as well as his blocks against DePaul. He showed it earlier in the year last year actually with a putback (if I'm remembering correctly).
 
I don't think Solo is a PG but he can play the "PG" position at UConn, I do think Hurley would go with Ross before Ball though at the "PG" position. Just to bring the ball up and get the team into sets.



Some of his rebounds last game showed it, as well as his blocks against DePaul. He showed it earlier in the year last year actually with a putback (if I'm remembering correctly).
Yeah but not a lot especially when taking someone off the dribble. It isn't really part of his game now.
 
Question is - do we need a traditional PG in this system? Or just a dude with a good handle that can start the actions and see over defenders?


No. Not in the sense people think or a guy like Shabazz or Kemba. Ideally the ball moves through the air, not the bounce. But to play without a real PG, you still need guys who see motion and look to pass. Facilitators. Solo isn't that. He's a ball stopper.

Solo averages 1.8 assists per 40 minutes. Mahaney, who we all said wasn't really a PG, averages 4.3. To show just how much of a ball stopper Ball is, Johnson averages 2.8 and Reed 1.9. Solo is the worst facilitator on the whole team (aside from Singare). Hawkins had similar assist numbers. Karaban was a ball stopper/target last year and his assists are way up this year, so maybe Ball can improve if he's back.
 
No. Not in the sense people think or a guy like Shabazz or Kemba. Ideally the ball moves through the air, not the bounce. But to play without a real PG, you still need guys who see motion and look to pass. Facilitators. Solo isn't that. He's a ball stopper.

Solo averages 1.8 assists per 40 minutes. Mahaney, who we all said wasn't really a PG, averages 4.3. To show just how much of a ball stopper Ball is, Johnson averages 2.8 and Reed 1.9. Solo is the worst facilitator on the whole team (aside from Singare). Hawkins had similar assist numbers. Karaban was a ball stopper/target last year and his assists are way up this year, so maybe Ball can improve if he's back.
You know exactly what I’m saying homeslice. Spot on. The offense itself creates assists, we don’t need one dude to do it in the traditional sense. This is not an iso or iso-dish offense. Marquette ran a lot of that, to the point Jones was flipping pass outs to 3 on a fairly predictable and sometimes errant level.

We do need guys that can put the ball on the floor and create shots if we can’t generate an open look as the clock runs. That doesn’t have to be a traditional PG. That is a kid like TNewt, big enough to take the ball to the rim and get to the line or get it over defenders. Kind of why I think this staff thought Mahaney could be a fit, as more of a hybrid combo.
 
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No. Not in the sense people think or a guy like Shabazz or Kemba. Ideally the ball moves through the air, not the bounce. But to play without a real PG, you still need guys who see motion and look to pass. Facilitators. Solo isn't that. He's a ball stopper.

Solo averages 1.8 assists per 40 minutes. Mahaney, who we all said wasn't really a PG, averages 4.3. To show just how much of a ball stopper Ball is, Johnson averages 2.8 and Reed 1.9. Solo is the worst facilitator on the whole team (aside from Singare). Hawkins had similar assist numbers. Karaban was a ball stopper/target last year and his assists are way up this year, so maybe Ball can improve if he's back.
Solo has made some really nice passes in the lane lately.
 
Solo averages 1.8 assists per 40 minutes. Mahaney, who we all said wasn't really a PG, averages 4.3. To show just how much of a ball stopper Ball is, Johnson averages 2.8 and Reed 1.9. Solo is the worst facilitator on the whole team (aside from Singare). Hawkins had similar assist numbers. Karaban was a ball stopper/target last year and his assists are way up this year, so maybe Ball can improve if he's back.
I think this is the main thing when we talk about Ball and his assist numbers. That’s just not his role. He is the come off the screen and spot up guy. That role doesn’t open up room for a lot of assists, especially since he’s not great at putting the ball on the floor and creating right now.

Cam got assists because he was great off the bounce so at times when the defense collapsed on him driving he can do dump off passes or kick outs that Solo can’t because he hardly takes that step to even drive and open that possibility up.

There have been times where Solo straight up misses guys too though so I’m not acting like he can be a 6 assist per game kind of guy. But he can develop the skills to be around 4 assists per game in the right role in this offense.
 
“A true point guard” is a mythical creature in today’s game. You just need enough facilitating and strength with the ball on the court at all times.

Has there ever been anyone who was a consensus “true point guard” according to this board?
 
“A true point guard” is a mythical creature in today’s game. You just need enough facilitating and strength with the ball on the court at all times.

Has there ever been anyone who was a consensus “true point guard” according to this board?
I always think of Taliek as a "true PG". Though that was maybe because he was NOT a good shooter. Lol But he could certainly dish it out and handle the ball.
 
“A true point guard” is a mythical creature in today’s game. You just need enough facilitating and strength with the ball on the court at all times.

Has there ever been anyone who was a consensus “true point guard” according to this board?
Probably Taliek, whenever the boneyard starts talking about true PGs their outdated description usually involves small, table setting/limited scoring guards and those have mostly gone the way of the dinosaur. They still exist but I want my lead guards to have the ability to go get a bucket.
 
Probably Taliek, whenever the boneyard starts talking about true PGs their outdated description usually involves small, table setting/limited scoring guards and those have mostly gone the way of the dinosaur. They still exist but I want my lead guards to have the ability to go get a bucket.
Was Shabazz not considered a true PG in every sense of the word?

PG shouldn’t mean table setters/limited scoring. It’s suppose to be guys who are the best decision makers on the court. Which is what made Kemba a great PG because the best decision a lot of times was usually for him to score lmao.
 
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Was Shabazz not considered a true PG in every sense of the word?

PG shouldn’t mean table setters/limited scoring. It’s suppose to be guys who are the best decision makers on the court. Which is what made Kemba a great PG because the best decision a lot of times was usually for him to score lmao.
You're arguing with me about about a definition/description that I don't adhere to
 
It seems that many of you are missing the point. He has made an objectively huge jump from freshman year to his sophomore year. Who is to say at this moment what his ceiling is? Why can't he improve on his handle/passing with more PT? The point here is that he is comparable to Hawk already, and in my humble opinion, Solo has a much higher ceiling.
 
Unless you’re just the absolute best, you are not going to survive the NBA with your best and only skill being the hardest shot in basketball.

It is just not feasible. You’ll have times when you’re on and hot. But it’s not a recipe for consistency.

Being able to attack and be a three level scorer is something you can lean on when your shot may not be falling. Solo also has a BEAUTIFUL pull up jump shot that few times he’s gone to it. Him working on his handle would allow him to incorporate that more into his game as well.

The last level of out sensei guard training we used to do here would be learning how to use your elite midrange to draw fouls. But I won’t get carried away ;)
Hawkins will be fine. Sam Hauser and Landrey Shamet play meaningful NBA minutes when all they can do is shoot. Steve Novak carved out a 10 year NBA career just shooting. Hawk will always have a place in the league. Shooters always do. The Pelicans are just a giant pile of garbage as an organization. He needs to be somewhere else.
 
Hawkins will be fine. Sam Hauser and Landrey Shamet play meaningful NBA minutes when all they can do is shoot. Steve Novak carved out a 10 year NBA career just shooting. Hawk will always have a place in the league. Shooters always do. The Pelicans are just a giant pile of garbage as an organization. He needs to be somewhere else.
I thought you said in chat that you had me on ignore?

I’m not sure what’s up with some people on this board having me on fake ignore.
 
Hawkins will be fine. Sam Hauser and Landrey Shamet play meaningful NBA minutes when all they can do is shoot. Steve Novak carved out a 10 year NBA career just shooting. Hawk will always have a place in the league. Shooters always do. The Pelicans are just a giant pile of garbage as an organization. He needs to be somewhere else.
Shooters will have a place in the league if they shoot better than 32.8%. That's on a large sample size of nearly 6 shots per game.
 
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Hawkins will be fine. Sam Hauser and Landrey Shamet play meaningful NBA minutes when all they can do is shoot. Steve Novak carved out a 10 year NBA career just shooting. Hawk will always have a place in the league. Shooters always do. The Pelicans are just a giant pile of garbage as an organization. He needs to be somewhere else.
shooters have a place in the league if they actually make shots, Hawkins isn't doing that. The organization has nothing to do with Hawkins struggling, Trey Murphy came into the league with a rep as a shooter and he's elevated his play every year he's been in the league. The Pelicans haven't impeded his ability to put the ball in the basket and get better as a player. Hawkins rookie year was on par with Murphy's but this 2nd year has been a massive disappointment so far.
 
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Hawkins used to take a lot of tougher shots, off balance 3s etc. If you want to stay in the league, take better shots and get your numbers up just a little bit.

Same with AK. Taking shots 10 feet behind the line isn't a great idea when your shot is struggling. His off balance leaning shots often miss by a lot. Take better shots, your draft status goes up.
 
18 a game in Big East play as a sophomore is crazy.

Again, when he gets handle and a better ability to attack the rim, we’re talking best guard in the country. 25 PPG player and someone who is unguardable on the levels of a Kemba and Shabazz.

If we can turn him into a lead guard next year while doing it he’s a top 10, maybe top 5 pick.
Put on the breaks a little bit there. First off, he's a long way from being transformed into a PG. He's a great shooter and is just starting to manufacture some scoring opportunities for himself. His handle is improving but I don't know how well he sees the floor yet. Maybe he'll transform into a point guard which would be his best path in the NBA. He reminds me of a Payton Pritchard type player, who is an important rotation player for the C's. It took time for him to be the player he is now, on both ends of the floor, but he showed he could be coached up.

Players his size don't usually get drated that high unless they are 3 level scorers who also can defend. If he doesn't show that he can defend his position, he'll struggle to find the floor in the NBA unless he's surrounded by an excellent cast of defenders, and even so his PT might be situational. With all that said, he's just a sophomore and if he returns he could play himself into a very good NBA player and possible first round draft pick.

Someone mentioned that he might be one of the best guards in the nation, but there are some very good ones who are bigger and have more advanced games. Don't get me wrong, I think he's an outstanding college player who is starting to come into his own with so much more to come. Let's just slow things down a bit. As good as he's been the last few games, I think a few forgot that he went 0 for the second half in our loss against Xavier, where if he hit just one or two of those threes we win that game. With that said, I think he's gaining more and more confidence and will show to be a more consistent player hopefully on both ends of the floor throughout this latter third of the season. His Improvement has been evident. He had a monster game winning performance against MU. Can't wait to see more of those this season and hopefully next as well.
 
Hawkins will be fine. Sam Hauser and Landrey Shamet play meaningful NBA minutes when all they can do is shoot. Steve Novak carved out a 10 year NBA career just shooting. Hawk will always have a place in the league. Shooters always do. The Pelicans are just a giant pile of garbage as an organization. He needs to be somewhere else.
It would be a waste of a lottery pick if he's like those guys. Hauser was undrafted, Novak second round, and Shamet end of the first round. They all shoot it better than Hawkins does. Hawk better become a really good three point shooter or he will end up an end of the bench guy struggling to stay in the league. For a "great shooter" he rarely seems to make them.
 
It would be a waste of a lottery pick if he's like those guys. Hauser was undrafted, Novak second round, and Shamet end of the first round. They all shoot it better than Hawkins does. Hawk better become a really good three point shooter or he will end up an end of the bench guy struggling to stay in the league. For a "great shooter" he rarely seems to make them.
funny for him to bring up Shamet who isn't even good, barely plays, and is hanging onto his NBA gig by a thread. if that's the comp for Hawkins then his career has gone incredibly off track.
 
funny for him to bring up Shamet who isn't even good, barely plays, and is hanging onto his NBA gig by a thread. if that's the comp for Hawkins then his career has gone incredibly off track.
I brought up Shamet as a floor to prove a point. Wing guys who can shoot always have a role in the league. Writing of a second year guy in a sophomore slump who has proved to be a sniper at every level is unwise. I don’t know how you took that to mean Shamet it his player comp. Why didn’t you think Hauser or Novak? He “plays” like none of them. The commonality between the 3 is shooting. Wayne Ellington had a 10 year career for crying out loud lmao. Shooters will always have a job. I could care less about his sophomore slump. Hawk can shoot the s*** out of the ball.
 
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funny for him to bring up Shamet who isn't even good, barely plays, and is hanging onto his NBA gig by a thread. if that's the comp for Hawkins then his career has gone incredibly off track.
Hawkins is strange to me. His whole game is shooting and he got his rep based off of being able to hit high degree of difficulty shots and what he did in the tournament. He gets a ton of lift on his shot, has a quick release and his form looks similar to Ray Allen but once you get over how pretty it looks you realize he's not all that great a shooter and shooting is basically all he does.
 
I brought up Shamet as a floor to prove a point. Wing guys who can shoot always have a role in the league. Writing of a second year guy in a sophomore slump who has proved to be a sniper at every level is unwise. I don’t know how you took that to mean Shamet it his player comp. Why didn’t you think Hauser or Novak? He “plays” like none of them. The commonality between the 3 is shooting. Wayne Ellington had a 10 year career for crying out loud lmao. Shooters will always have a job. I could care less about his sophomore slump. Hawk can shoot the s*** out of the ball.
The only problem with that is he hasn't proven to be a sniper on every level and he hasn't consistently shown he shoots the s*** out of the ball on either level.

Outside of going 50% from three in the tournament he has never consistently shot the ** out of the ball. He shot 35% fg's as a freshman at UConn and 41% as a sophomore. He shot 33% from three as a freshman and 39% from three as a sophomore. His 6 game run kind of saved his percentage and vaulted him into the lottery. In conference his fg% and three point% was worse in both his freshman and sophomore years.

As an NBA player his rookie year he shot 38% fg and 37% from three. Second year he's 36% fg and 33% from three.
 
At this point maybe we can at least say the "Solo Ball assist count" from earlier this season was a low point in recent Boneyard history
 
Hawkins is strange to me. His whole game is shooting and he got his rep based off of being able to hit high degree of difficulty shots and what he did in the tournament. He gets a ton of lift on his shot, has a quick release and his form looks similar to Ray Allen but once you get over how pretty it looks you realize he's not all that great a shooter and shooting is basically all he does.
yea at some point the production has to match up with the aesthetics on the jumper, Hawk gets Ray Allen comps because of the UConn connection and the picturesque form but college Ray is smoking him efficiency wise. Rip doesn't get billed as a long range sniper because of his midrange game in the pros and even he shot better from 3 as a sophomore on similar volume. only so long you can get by on a reputation as a shooter before the production has to meet up with perception.
 
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yea at some point the production has to match up with the aesthetics on the jumper, Hawk gets Ray Allen comps because of the UConn connection and the form but college Ray is smoking him efficiency wise. Rip doesn't get billed as a long range sniper because of his midrange game in the pros and even he shot better from 3 as a sophomore on similar volume. only so long you can get by on a reputation as a shooter before the production has to meet up with perception.
Agreed. He shot 36% last year. He’s slumping this season. Way to early to right him off. I don’t think his jump shot is a concern right now. At least not for me.
 
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