Big Al is Back

truebobcatfan · Post by **truebobcatfan** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:46 pm

It will be nice to see Big Al back on the court. I think the CATS will be a better team with him on the court.

He will help the CATS with rebounding and with defense.

I think it will be a couple of games before he is back to normal.
You can count on Al tonight to get a couple of dunks and some block shots

inside guy · Post by **inside guy** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:49 pm

Thats true. Big Al makes the world of diffrence in altering shots

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:07 pm

Als should be back tonight, but look for Durham to sort of use tonight as a test drive for Al. Get him out there and let him see how he feels and sit him down.
BTW I find it hard to call any basketball player Big Al when I at a whopping 5-11 (w/shoes) most likely out weigh them!

inside guy · Post by **inside guy** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:51 pm

If you ever play against him I guarntee you'll be calling him Big Al, instead of just plain ol Al.

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 3:49 pm

I hope we can get Matt Towsley back for nothing else but to provide a presence in the paint. Against Tech Al did a great job offensively in transition and when he could get into position on the move. He won't be able to post up many of the heavier guys in the conference because he will just get moved off the blocks. If he can flash to the blocks and get the pass right away he can be effective. He is a real good basketball player. He moves very well for a 6-11 guy. If he were 240 lbs he wouldn't be here, because of his ablility (sans free throw shooting). After seeing him hit the floor going for a rebound with a 6-6 220 lb guy from Tech, and looking like he was broken in half, I shudder to think if he will even make it to the conference games. He has a heart six times the size of his body! He definitely is fun to watch..I hope a lot of people that haven't yet seen him, get a chance. We have to wait until january 20th for the next home game!

I think Dissly needs to re-invent himself. He has tried the 25 foot three pointer for a half year, the 20 foot three pointer for a half year and now he is injured. I think he needs to decide that he is the slasher and someone who can post less physical small forwards up. He wastes a lot of his offense by hanging out a at the three point line. When he left the game Wednesday they seemed to play better. This may have been due to the coach's half time talk or maybe they just decided to play better as a team the second half.

Marvin Moss seems to play better at the 5 position without Al Bey in there. Mick said in the post game show that he was going to look at that in the films to see if he needed to split them up. I think Marvin either gets lost in the shuffle when he plays the 4, or our offense just isn't designed for a power forward to make any plays. After all, when was the last time we had a dominant power forward? Quadre Lollis? And he was more of a slasher type instead of a post up guy.

Brian Miller needs to get his game under control. I don't think he has found his role yet since Frank left. I think he feels he needs to put up 20 a game from the perimeter. He forces a lot of shots. He definitely has some talent but if he played the way Jefferson does we would have quite a one-two punch at the 2-3 position (now with Casey starting at the point).

My favorite player is JaRon Jefferson. The kid plays within the offense, within himself, and never forces shots. He also is very smoothe and efficient with his offense. He scores a quiet 18 a game. Dissly would be all conference if he would play that way with his body and athletic ability.

I feel this team needs to get away from the three point mentality. We can still take them but that shouldn't be the first option. A lot of times, Dissly especially, has a semi open three where he could put it on the floor and take it to the basket or pull up for a 16 footer. The mid range jumper seems to have gone the way of the rebound specialist! No body wants to do it anymore!

Finally I think Casey Durham has exceeded everyone's expectation. He plays tenacious defense and doesn't hurt us on offense. He only needs to settle down and be a point guard, distribute the ball, and realize he can be an option. When he starts in the next few games the opportunity to do this may present itself.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:44 pm

Great post, Helcat. I agree with everything you said. Unfortunately, this year's team is not the first Bobcat team that settles for bad 3-point shots on a regular basis. Miller and Dissly are the worst about it. They have a lot of talent, but it is being wasted when they settle for hucking up long 3-pointers with a guy in their face. The entire team needs to drive and dish a whole lot more. Even good shooters are not good when they have to throw it up with a guy in their face and the shot clock running down - sadly, that seems to be the basis of our offensive philosophy.

CATTRACKER · Post by **CATTRACKER** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 7:57 pm

I believe you need to be more judicious regarding what you say about individual players. What it comes down to is coaching and the offense. What is Coach Durham's offense? For years I have been watching them pass the ball around the perimeter, allowing the defense to get so prepared their only option was a 3 point shot with time running out. When they do get into a rhythm he often pulls a key player and sets them on the bench, after they have scored 6 points in 2 minutes or so. And what about his "we're 15 points ahead so it is time to stall" play, with 10 minutes left on the clock. How many times have we seen them lose a 10-15 point lead because they slowed down and went to that darn perimeter game. I disagree that players need to reinvent themselves. That is the coaches' job. Why are there 4 of them (coaches) sitting there on the bench. I am in the "coach-Durham-is-burned-out-and-it-shows" camp, too. If he wants to continue giving his "heart and soul" to MSU, maybe he could do it in the front office and turn the reins over to somebody who will let those boys run with all of their gawd-given talent.

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 2:53 pm

I agree Cattracker... I merely put my post in the context of the player actually making the change...the coaching staff has to identify the needed changes and implement them to make the team better. I'm not saying the team has to decide what changes to make and make them themselves.

MSU88 · Post by **MSU88** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 12:34 am

I like your spunk Helcat72. You seem to be very knowledgable! Keep up the good posts.

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 6:00 pm

I like your spunk

I realize that you guys like each other, but let's not talk about the 'spunk' of other men on here.

MSU88 · Post by **MSU88** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:24 pm

wbtfg wrote:
I like your spunk
I realize that you guys like each other, but let's not talk about the 'spunk' of other men on here.

We don't even know each other.....your point?

Cats15 · Post by **Cats15** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:44 pm

I think it was a joke

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:34 pm

I spunked-out long time ago!