Solo Ball is weekly Big East Player of the week

[RuffRuff]

Hawkins might struggle handling but when he can he attacks the rim with authority by some of his huge dunks even in NBA. We still haven't really seen that with Ball. I agree Ball has a better handle but he just doesn't seem to be a blow by your guy driver yet for some reason. He uses hesitation dribbles to get to his spots.

Hawkins getting to the rim was not a strength. Kid was drafted for one thing, to be a sniper. Was a pretty one dimensional player that fit perfectly into that teams roster. Unfortunately don’t know if he’s long for the NBA as it doesn’t appear to be translating, threw up another stinker tonight and down below 37% on the year. When you’re drafted to shoot, that ain’t gonna cut it.

Solo has a stronger frame than Hawk and room to put on more muscle.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Hawkins getting to the rim was not a strength. Kid was drafted for one thing, to be a sniper. Was a pretty one dimensional player that fit perfectly into that teams roster. Unfortunately don’t know if he’s long for the NBA as it doesn’t appear to be translating, threw up another stinker tonight and down below 37% on the year. When you’re drafted to shoot, that ain’t gonna cut it.

Solo has a stronger frame than Hawk and room to put on more muscle.

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

 

[RuffRuff]

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

Yup / so much more confident that a kid like Castle with such a good all around game can develop a shot than I am a great shooter like Hawkins developing an all around game.

Give me Solo with an offseason of 10lbs of muscle into next season and using his shoulder to draw contact in the lane and we may be talking lottery.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Yup / so much more confident that a kid like Castle with such a good all around game can develop a shot than I am a great shooter like Hawkins developing an all around game.

Give me Solo with an offseason of 10lbs of muscle into next season and using his shoulder to draw contact in the lane and we may be talking lottery.

Get him to 4 assists a game and I’m predicting top 10. Possibly 5

 

[3rdbass]

Hawkins getting to the rim was not a strength. Kid was drafted for one thing, to be a sniper. Was a pretty one dimensional player that fit perfectly into that teams roster. Unfortunately don’t know if he’s long for the NBA as it doesn’t appear to be translating, threw up another stinker tonight and down below 37% on the year. When you’re drafted to shoot, that ain’t gonna cut it.

Solo has a stronger frame than Hawk and room to put on more muscle.

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 known for in High School. He seems more of a shooter and crafty dribbler.

 

[RuffRuff]

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.

 

[3rdbass]

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.

 

[caw]

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).

 

[3rdbass]

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.

 

[HuskyHawk]

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.

 

[RuffRuff]

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.

 

[superjohn]

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.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

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.

 

[BGesus4]

“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?

 

[ctbro1999]

“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.

 

[aceboon]

“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.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

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.

 

[aceboon]

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

 

[Iluvsuebird]

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.