Whaley vs Akok in the starting line-up.

[Twoohthree]

Does anyone else agree that Akok replacing Whaley as a starter would be the most optimal/best line-up for the team? Personally I could def see it happening by the end of the season. Akok honestly just offers more offensively and doesn’t seem like an extreme drop off from Whaley on the defensive end.

 

[KembaMan15]

I like Akok coming off the bench and Whaley starting.

I think you are underestimating how good Whaley is on defense and I think locking the other team down out of the gate is really the way to go.

I do see your perspective, though.

 

[Jumpman62114]

If Akok can continue to shoot well from 3, I start him and live with the dropoff in D. Whaley is more comfortable at the 5, maybe come in for either Sanogo or Akok, whoever gets in foul trouble first. Keeping the floor properly spaced will be a premium versus higher level competition and will only help Sanogo even more.

 

[aburks41]

Whaley needs to start taking those wide open 3s defenses are giving him, or else Akok will win his job. The biggest advantage of teams constantly doubling Sanogo is it leaves our 4 spot unguarded at the perimeter. You need to make defenses pay for that to free up Sanogo

I think in February our starting lineup will look like Cole/Hawkins/Martin/Akok/Sanogo

 

[willie99]

I have no problem with the rotation after two games, not changing a thing

 

[mauconnfan]

I have to say with the way Whaley has been used it’s a good question. To have a guy who is literally one of your best offensive rebounders continuously hanging around the 3 point line is mindless. He doesn’t want to dribble it, he’s not a great passer and for now he’s not shooting it. Having him and Andre in the game to start with neither wanting to shoot it will kill Sanogo, Cole, Martins spacing when we play skilled defensive teams.

Hey I love Whaley and think his defense will be of the utmost importance but if he’s not being used to his strengths then I see the debate here. And while Akok has shown he can make shots and offensively he can help, he has been beaten off the dribble in the first 2 games a few times.

Tough call here but I get it!!

 

[Kitaman]

Can we wait a month? Our last 2 opponents are not ideal for determining future lineups. Everyone should look like starters playing against Coppin State and CCSU.

 

[jibsey]

Whaley was a defensive stalwart against tough completion for us so making this type of change after 2 cupcakes is not warranted. Let’s see these guys go up against high quality players a few times. I think we’re going to know a lot more pretty soon.

 

[Kenny11]

I’m fine with either of them starting but one thing I’ve noticed is Whaley is more comfortable doing the high-low pass to Sanogo and we definitely try to get Sanogo going early every game. Not a great game from Whaley yesterday but he had 5 assists

 

[imno1]

Whaley will come around but I said this all off-season. Our best lineup come conference play will be Cole, Hawkins, Martin, Akok, and Sanogo.

 

[Improviser]

Atlantis should put things into clearer focus.

Would be interesting there if Akok catches fire on offense, but gets beaten on defense, and if Whaley scores very little but defends well. Akok blocks shots and so does Whaley. Akok has an outside shot, but Whaley not so much. Different strengths and weaknesses.

I guess the plus/minus thing will show it for what it is.

Should be a really good test.

 

[microfich]

What I have seen is our team's calling card, our defense, has been phenomenal.
No way I change out any of those gears right now much less take out Top Gear, Ike, the BEDPOY. He'll be even more important once he gets oiled up for bigger games.
Akok's progress is one of many great early stories and his minutes will be just fine.

 

[uconnfan68]

I have to say with the way Whaley has been used it’s a good question. To have a guy who is literally one of your best offensive rebounders continuously hanging around the 3 point line is mindless. He doesn’t want to dribble it, he’s not a great passer and for now he’s not shooting it. Having him and Andre in the game to start with neither wanting to shoot it will kill Sanogo, Cole, Martins spacing when we play skilled defensive teams.

Hey I love Whaley and think his defense will be of the utmost importance but if he’s not being used to his strengths then I see the debate here. And while Akok has shown he can make shots and offensively he can help, he has been beaten off the dribble in the first 2 games a few times.

Tough call here but I get it!!

I thought IW had a few nice assists on entry passes to Adama.

 

[mauconnfan]

I thought IW had a few nice assists on entry passes to Adama.

He definitely threw a couple nice ones, couple more than AJ who threw a couple doozies.

 

[husky429]

Not sure I'd change anything quite yet but I don't love Jackson/Whaley/Sanogo playing together this much. Too little shooting.

 

[Scrappy3]

It’s a no brainer
Akok might be the best player on the team
Wholly is a perfect back up 5
Too many non shooters in SL
Akok is a natural selection for the starting 4

 

[jibsey]

It’s a no brainer
Akok might be the best player on the team
Wholly is a perfect back up 5
Too many non shooters in SL
Akok is a natural selection for the starting 4

Aside from Cole we didn’t have a 3 point shooter in the starting lineup even though Martin made 3 yesterday. My concern is getting behind early and having no answer. I have never seen Hawkins play but maybe he’s an answer here or Gaffney starting.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Whaley has to start.

He's a much underrated cog on this team.

They showed Hurley talking in the huddle at one point yesterday and I paid very close attention to what he said. Whaley was at the center of everything they were planning on offense; the screens, the ball movement, etc. A lot of responsibility for the set seemed predicated on his execution. Very telling...

 

[NJHusky]

If Hawkins is the shooter he is rumored to be, then him starting provides the outside threat. Having AJ play with Akok and Gaff makes that group incredibly athletic with 2 shooters

 

[Chin Diesel]

Put me in the "don't mess with what is working" camp.

Through two games Akok has shown much better shooting l, scoring and activeness than Whaley.

But Whaley has his strengths. He has been passing good to Sanogo and we know he has the strength to okay against better team's interior players.

Akok has shown he can be effective coming off the bench.

Right now Akok and Gaffney coming off the bench around 5-6 minutes in to the game is working.

Also put me in the "It's more important who finishes than who starts" camp. If Akok keeps playing well he's getting 20-25 mpg.

Only lineup change hints we have heard is Hurley consistently saying Hawkins is "needed" for this team. Gotta think at this point Hawkins takes Jackson's starting spot. That helps open up the floor for Sanogo.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Put me in the "don't mess with what is working" camp.

Through two games Akok has shown much better shooting l, scoring and activeness than Whaley.

But Whaley has his strengths. He has been passing good to Sanogo and we know he has the strength to okay against better team's interior players.

Akok has shown he can be effective coming off the bench.

Right now Akok and Gaffney coming off the bench around 5-6 minutes in to the game is working.

Also put me in the "It's more important who finishes than who starts" camp. If Akok keeps playing well he's getting 20-25 mpg.

Only lineup change hints we have heard is Hurley consistently saying Hawkins is "needed" for this team. Gotta think at this point Hawkins takes Jackson's starting spot. That helps open up the floor for Sanogo.

I think the player who's minutes will be most impacted by Hawkin's arrival in the lineup is Polley. And I think Polley knows it, hence why he was pressing so much vs. Coppin St. Players always play worse when they lose confidence and start pressing.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I think the player who's minutes will be most impacted by Hawkin's arrival in the lineup is Polley. And I think Polley knows it, hence why he was pressing so much vs. Coppin St. Players always play worse when they lose confidence and start pressing.

Hurley spent at least a minute talking about Polley and how he needs to get Polley in the game sooner.

This is all reading tea leaves but Hurley has had a consistent message on Hawkins and he was straight forward with talking about finding a way to get Polley going better.

 

[Magic32]

Only lineup change hints we have heard is Hurley consistently saying Hawkins is "needed" for this team. Gotta think at this point Hawkins takes Jackson's starting spot. That helps open up the floor for Sanogo.

Would love to see that switch of Hawkins for Jackson. Jackson and Whaley in together will be worrisome if neither is willing to take those open jumpers because teams will sag off and prevent Sanogo from getting the ball. I also feel Jackson would play better coming off bench bringing energy.

 

[MTBingNinja]

Excellent thread! Great to have such a “problem” to have. Can’t imagine what Hawkins will bring to the table. I like how deep the team is. If the chemistry and productive balance runs through when substitutions come in, then that’ll be unbelievable. We’ll have to see who wants the ball and who will step up when the game is on the line.

 

[bendm]

Id be fine with Whaley staying in the starting lineup a la Olander but being the first guy subbed out for akok. He just shouldn’t be getting more than 10 mpg at the 4 but with 15 more mins as backup C that’s still 25 mpg total.