re: BOOT UP

I'm as big of a Wade fan as anyone but I also don't wear the blinders.

The kid averaged 6 points per game on the JUCO level.

Let's be honest with ourselves here.

TNT sounds like he will only be happy when Wade falters or is fired. That's as bad as the Orgeron haters hoping football will do poorly so he will be canned. (For the record, I was concerned when O was hired, but I am happy that he is doing better than expected so far).

Personally, I hope LSU wins no matter who is coaching.

Coach Wade and Heiar really like him, but hey I’ll defer to the message board scouts.

Cooper is a Regis Kounja type player. Just so raw. I guess we can spread the minutes between these two juco guys who no one really wanted.

quote:

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We need a defensive player. He does not need to score a point. Having a 20 minute per game rotational. Big is critical.

Courtez Cooper could be the other 20 mpg.

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I could be wrong, but I don't think you see either guy play anywhere close to 10 minutes per game unless it is out of complete necessity (foul trouble, injury). Obviously there are always diamonds in the rough, but both guys were very lightly recruited for a reason.

I think fans are going to have to understand this will likely be a very different style team because of the personnel than what we saw in Wade's first two seasons. In years one and two Wade had at least one guy who could score in the post (Reath and Reid), along with another big who could at least get some rebounds (Epps and KBW, though KBW was a MUCH better defender and rebounder than Epps). You coupled that with a primarily ball-screen heavy offense because you had a big time creator at PG (Waters).

That isn't this team. This team is going to have to shoot it well (or at least much better) from 3 to compensate for what will likely be a drop-off in inside scoring. The ball screen heavy offense will likely go away to a large extent because Smart is not the same type of player as Waters.

Wade mentioned the fact that LSU's presumed current line up (Smart, Mays, Taylor, Williams, Watford) would be taller than the line up Auburn used in getting to the Final Four last season. I don't think that is an accident. Watch for LSU to play more like Auburn did this season than LSU did last season. The two "bigs" Cooper and the new guy are simply going to be limited role players whom you hope can steal you a few rebounds and contest a few shots inside.

It all depends on the match up as to how much any new "bigs" will play. If they are needed because of defense/defensive rebounding, they will get more time.

My guess is that unless Cooper, Thomas, or any other new big positively surprises, they won't average 40 minutes combined for any two of them.

Wade is experimenting with more motion and perhaps dribble drive to spread the floor and cause defensive imbalances. The hope would be for free throws on drives, easy buckets near the hoop and open threes. These are the most efficient ways to score in a ppp analysis.

We will probably see a combination of 4 out/1 in and 5 out sets to get maximum spacing. The 5 out sets would make it harder for a non skilled big to get playing time.

Watford is reportedly skilled with the ball by the way.