Again, outstanding players last year, and outstanding this year. A nuance that will create better team rhythm this year, in my opinion, is having mainly three big men in the rotation, rather than mainly four. As for Cory Violette, last year, his final 20 games of the season were as impressive as any big man’s in the country, and that’s why he got so many serious NBA looks, and an excellent overseas contract. Fox suffered due to injuries. He is a superb big man, with guard-type understanding of fakes, stalls, and other things that put the defender at a disadvantage; and you can see even with injury, and limited senior year game time, he secured a nice contract overseas as well. So however you look at it, the big men, like the guards here, prosper.
Now for Turiaf, the most athletically- and heart-gifted big man we’ve ever had. If he sustains his level of heart, meaning playing at his full level of heart/intensity/drive, or close to it, he will lead us beautifully this year. Along side him will be the 3-B, the Brazilian Beast Batista, a highly, highly skilled big man who, in my opinion is legitimately impossible to stop. The main reason he’s impossible to stop is he’s huge, he’s got great moves, and his ability to gain the best position is second to none; on top of that, he is an amazing finisher. Now add to that Mallon; a craftier, more skilled post scorer is very hard to find. He understands the game in a pure, clean, clear fashion, he is no-nonsense and he always plays hard. This core will be very dominant, and beautiful to watch this year.
As for Raivio, also impossible to guard. Great speed, pure shooter, excellent passer. Not yet to Dickau’s level in my opinion, but has the potential to get there. And is near him at the same age.
Pierre, or rather P-“Air Altitude” Cespedes, the Montreal Lightning, is the fastest player I’ve played against. And he can bring thunder from the sky with that unreal vertical he has. Great passer. Loves to feed others. And can score very, very well himself. Will be great to watch these guys together.
Nate Doudney, competitor, excellent intensity, and another in a long line of wonderful pure shooters we’ve had here. He too will be fun to watch. He can flat-out score, and from deep. And his intensity will go a long way.
Overall, yes, I believe this team can be as good as any. Perhaps better.
What a gift it is to the community to have these players here, but more importantly, they are high quality people. They love life, they are life-giving to others. They play with passion, they love the game, and they are a unique, connected, and strong group.
Blake Stepp has immense strengths in my opinion: big, strong, confident guard; amazing leader; excellent passer, great scorer. He controls the flow of the offense, and is generally highly disciplined in his way of managing that flow. He was often partnered with Kyle Bankhead, and this created an even more highly disciplined form of offense. Under that form of discipline the potential for team rhythm is something that is developed over time, and depending on the individual chemistry of the players, there is a need to slow things and make them more controlled, less and less wild, in order to get optimum team chemistry.
This new crew is very different, though not necessarily worse, and perhaps can be even better. Here’s why, in my opinion: The new flight of guards, Raivio, Pierre, Nate, Morrison, Erroll, especially the points (Raivio and Pierre) run like gazelles, have moves made of lightning, and feed off the more wild elements of the game. When this is controlled enough (meaning when the discipline is in place enough) this can equate to an exponential form of team chemistry/rhythm. It will make, at its best, for a high flying, pure shooting, powerful team of both inside and outside force, and it will be very hard for other teams to stop as in this more fluid open style, the team has perhaps 7 significant scoring threats; this can be so difficult for the opponent to deal with. Guards that are quick, fast, slashers can blow the game wide open, and do it often, if they are disciplined with their speed.
All the guard core the last number of years has been amazing. I’m grateful we get to see this new guard core and the mark they will make. Personally, I believe it will be outstanding, national, and lasting, just as in the past.