Alijah Martin Committed To Gators

I think Lebron could dominate D1 college at 45 years old if he’s healthy. That knowledge and experience is hard to beat.

 

Richard wouldn’t even be able to transfer after May 1 (without sitting out a year), so I doubt anything like that happens. Aberdeen is versatile enough that he can play three positions. I personally don’t see Martin at the three in our league, nor do I see him simply splitting minutes with Clayton at the 2. If Kublickas decides to stay with us rather than returning overseas, I am more sanguine about him filling some minutes.

But so much hinges on Aberdeen’s development (kinda like Wilbekin’s at a similar stage—another guy who really only touched the floor for defensive reasons his first couple of years, but who gradually improved his offensive game each year before breaking out as a junior). If he can take that next step, maybe as a 8-3-3 guy in 20 or so minutes a game alongside Clayton and Martin, he would give us high level defense at three spots, good ball handling against pressure, and some solid pick and roll ability. The guy he reminds me of more than Wilbekin, though, is Justin Hamilton (with J-Ham’s pre injury athleticism).

 

Wasn’t Pullen one of the best assist/turnover ratio guards in the country? I think a lot of players would look bad with in comparison to him. Regardless, Clayton was a great combo guard for us last year. He did well for as at the point when asked, albeit with a few specific bad stretches that probably was no more than 5 minutes total the whole season. The way people talk about him you’d think he coughed the ball up the second he touched it.

 

1) Yes
2) Yes, and I don’t agree that we struggled mightily with it last year. We had a few spots where we struggled, but that was the exception and we should chalk it up mostly to good defense.
3) Not sure, but let’s not exaggerate Clayton’s struggles.

 

Golden’s been reading my posts…

His quote from the other day:

“… it doesn’t necessarily mean he is gonna be the main point guard or anything like that. But we are confident in his ability to play out of the ball screen a little bit more. At FAU last year… and they were very good obviously… he was more of an off ball spacer, scorer. And we want to give him more of an opportunity to get downhill in our ball screen action… make more plays for himself and others.”

 

Playing him, Clayton and Aberdeen/Richard together at times will be some serious speed and handling.

 

The one grouping I can't wait to see is what I consider our version of a "Death Lineup": Clayton, Martin, Aberdeen, Haugh, Alexis.

Defensively, there is enough length and shotblocking to play our drop coverage, but, with the athleticism, we would also be insanely switchable at the one through five, we could hedge and recover, trap, use full court press. Offensively, that's three guards who could push the tempo in transition and two bigs who can trail and finish. Enough ballhandling and post scoring to run your continuity ball screen actions, but could also run plenty of five or four out sets with bigs who can slip screens or cut to the basket and finish, lots of dribble drive ability on the perimeter and off ball movement from guards.

 

They call traveling more often in college though

 

As big and strong Lebron is, last night Zion trucked him going to the basket, I think I saw this on YouTube.

 

That wasn't last night, it was a couple weeks ago. Zion is a big guy and Lebron took a charge. I wouldn't call it getting trucked, because Lebron was standing there still to get hit while Zion was heading full steam. If Lebron was going at him with full force and got knocked down, then that would be a trucking.

 

Clayton is better off the ball. He seems to have the "ability" to be a primary ball-handler, but I think the bigger issue is his decision making. He has too many of those brain-fart moments and/or is too casual with the basketball at times, sometimes at crucial moments. Until he learns to value the basketball more, I'd be happy with someone else running the point.

 

Either way, seems like we're going to be very deep at the 4 and 5 even without Michah

 

I wouldn’t expect us to play it a lot, either, because we want more size in the post. I agree that Condon and Chinyelu cover most of the minutes at the five. But I also think we see some of Condon and Chinyelu playing together, too, for that double post look we loved with Samuel at the for last year. And that probably means some limited minutes for the Alexis-Haugh pairing.

If there is one combo I don’t expect us to see much, it’s Chinyelu and Alexis. Neither have post games of which to speak at all. You could probably throw them out there for a few minutes and expect great defense, but we would be very limited offensively.

 

A lot to like here...
https://247sports.com/college/flori...odd-golden-gators-roster-breakdown-231231989/

 

says all the right things

 

yes and it wouldn't even be close. He's still playing at a 3rd team All NBA level in the NBA. He'd carve up the college game, not just physically but intellectually and yes experience-wise. He could probably still do that at 50. He'll likely play in the NBA until he's 42 or 43

 

Yep and the only reason I said "could" instead of definitely is because of the huge dropoff once you hit the wall. I was basically in my peak until about 38-39 years old and then the decline hit me like a ton of bricks at about 41 years old. I couldn't even dream of dunking now, but in late 30's it was still pretty easy. Still fast, still a cardio freak, but lost a few inches of vert and injuries and aches started piling up and lingering. It's a steep cliff from peak condition.

 

it was a charge on Zion’s part, but he blasted Lebron who left the court holding his wrist.
Once the collision happened, Lebron flew through the air. he felt what others in the league have felt getting hit from one of his moves to the basket.
Look I like Lebron but he has also had many trips to the basket just blasting smaller players. Time doesn’t stand still for anybody.