Abouo Needs To Start

I hope Abouo is made a permanent starter. The team flows better. There is better chemistry between Abouo and Jimmer than there is between Jimmer and KC, and Abouo plays much better defense.



All Abouo needs is a bit of confidence from Rose and the opportunity. We'll need him come March

I agree and have been saying this for a little while now. I think he should start in place of Kyle. Don't get me wrong Kyle's descent but he lacks the big time experience. He's more suited to play off the bench, and feel like that would be a good roll for him. He's a decent rebounder but when he's out at point it seem likes he's scared of pressure and will take the first attempt he has at getting rid of ball. Charles is a better rebounder and defender than Kyle and is in my opinion more suited to start.

I second the motion.

I think Hartsock needs to sit and have Chuck and KC play together



JF

JE

CA

KJ

BD



That's my 5 now.

Agreed. As I watched him play yesterday, I couldn't help but think that this is the kind of game that could really propel him into a more significant role. Kind of like how Loyd came on at the end of last season. We could certainly use his defense and rebounding.

YBrit wrote:
I think Hartsock needs to sit and have Chuck and KC play together



JF

JE

CA

KJ

BD



That's my 5 now.

Dude, there's no way I would play Kevin Johnson at the 4. He's too small and too old. Plus, he used up his elegibility any way and I don't know if he can live the HC. Never mind that he's busy serving as mayor of Sacramento.



;)

YBrit wrote:
I think Hartsock needs to sit and have Chuck and KC play together



JF

JE

CA

KC

BD



That's my 5 now.

Agreed to the max. Noah has been playing poorly for a number of games now. At one point Jackson, Charles, and Collinsworth were all on the court together and watching them play D was a thing of beauty. Their zone defense is water tight and they close on defenders incredibly well. These three were a large reason Utah had so many turnovers. Defense wins championships.



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I'm normally not a fan of losing your starting job to an injury. But in this case, I think Abouo has played well enough to have earned the right to continue to start. He's playing better than he did pre-KC injury and he's playing better than KC was pre-KC injury. His shooting has come up. He's earned more playing time and starts.

abouo does do some great defense, but if you had written this a few days ago, you would have said Rogers needs to start because he had a great game.



Yes Abouo had a career night last night. But don't forget how many dunks, 3s, and just plain old wide open shots he's missed all year. This was just one game. (see also Noah Hartsock). If Abouo can do what he did last night, consistently, then I'll agree with you, I'm still too concerned about his inconsistency.



Missing dunks? In multiple games? really?

Abouo has shot .500 or better in five straight games.

Abouo, could have attempted at least 3-4 dunks and layed it in. World of difference. Smarter play not desperate play.

Still as a 6th man coming in--if he were to remain consistent, would be huge.

But his greatest contribution over the last 3-4 games is his defense and rebounding.

If we start to get on a roll offensively again-back in a groove-- and peak by mwc tourney or even ncaa tourney; AND if Abouo and rogers can continue to contribute, we could indeed make a deep run, maybe even Elite 8.

I've been on the CA bandwagon since before he ever played a game at the Y. I love his footwork, his defense, and strength. I personally feel like he's a baby Barkley when he's confident. He can shoot, pass, run, defend, and rebound. The problem is that the game sometimes goes too fast for him mentally. Yesterday that was no the case, and when he plays instinctly like he did yesterday (without overthinking it) he's a force.



Charles has all the ability in the world, and the only question has been his confidence. When he plays confident, he doesn't make mistakes and he does what he did yesterday.



Considering we're a top 10 team, neither KC nor CA have played well enough all year to be the 'bonafide' starter... however since confidence is the issue for Charles and experience is the issue for KC, then I side with starting CA so that he can continue to get confidence.



KCs will not have enough experience this year as a starter or not to be a force so I'd rather see him as the 6th man.



Both play great defense, both are tough but Charles has a much higher ceiling this year. KC will likely have a spectacular career but Charles is the present and he's also very important to have confident to go for next season.

It's nice to see Charles finally be able to assert himself. The last 2 games leading up to the 22-point performance last night seem to have gone a long way to boost his confidence. It may be that the injury to KC was the boost he needed to get things going. KC being moved to the 6th man would likely help keep him from hitting the freshman wall too hard as we near the end of the season. With the way Rogers has played as of late I believe he should earn some more playing time as well, maybe even at the expense of KC.

I really think Abouo's time playing on the Ivory Coast national team just had him drained. He's been playing competitively for almost two years straight with no significant breaks. His limited minutes early on have given him time to recharge his batteries and now he's back to playing at the level he did last year.

Charles played an absolutely fantastic game on Saturday. He looked like a starter on a top 10 team, something he hasn't always showed. I agree with Schmoe in that his constant playing for 2 year probably really wore him out. But he's been looking better and better.

I would love to see our 5 be, JE, JF, CA, KC, BD.



Noah has not been playing well.

BYUROCKS wrote:
I would love to see our 5 be, JE, JF, CA, KC, BD.



Noah has not been playing well.

If Noah hasn't been playing well, I don't know how you classify how "well" KC has been playing lately. In the last 5 games each played, here are their stats:



Noah: 25 points on 8/25 shooting and 8/10 FTS. 33 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 steals, 10 blocks, and 13 personal fouls.



Kyle: 15 points on 6/14 shooting and 6/10 FT, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers, 4 steals, 4 blocks, and 11 PF.



While Noah hasn't been a world beater lately, KC has been even less impressive, especially not enough to warrant sitting the taller Hartsock to make for a small ball lineup.

I think many of us expect more from Noah because we've seen him play much better. In comparison to himself, sure, he's been playing a lot worse, but in comparison to other players, I'd say he's playing fine.

Ive been saying for a while now that CA should start over KC. KC IMO isn't ready to be a starter on a big tome cbball team. Too Many easy missed shots right at the rim in the past few games, and usually because he's playing timid. CA has earned the right to be the starter, based on his D anld rebounding alone.



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CougarClaw wrote:
abouo does do some great defense, but if you had written this a few days ago, you would have said Rogers needs to start because he had a great game.



Yes Abouo had a career night last night. But don't forget how many dunks, 3s, and just plain old wide open shots he's missed all year. This was just one game. (see also Noah Hartsock). If Abouo can do what he did last night, consistently, then I'll agree with you, I'm still too concerned about his inconsistency.



Missing dunks? In multiple games? really?

Before the season even started I've been saying Abouo should start ahead of KC. And, it just wasn't this last game. It's been the last three; Abouo has been the X-factor. Injury aside, KC hit the freshman wall a few games back. KC had a good game at Colorado (16 pts) and hasn't scored over 6 since.



Abouo can do what he did last night consistently. The problem has been he hasn't had a consistent opportunity to do so. The last three games have finally given Abouo the opportunity. Abouo's problem has always been confidence. Confidence in himself and confidence from Rose.