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Injury Updates: Traore had a “bad ankle sprain” on Nov 26 & was SUPPOSED to be back by Dec 10. Koch was hospitalized?

Fran-Con-2 said:
We’re a quarter of the way into the season.

He had 0 pts and 1 rebound in 16 minutes last night. He has only averaged 38% fg and 3 rb a game against cupcakes.

At this point, Dembele is just a warm body. He offers nothing. Are we really going to give him half the season to figure something out?
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One league game played in his second season of his career. Yes give him some more time to figure it out. Unless you feel that you have an immediate upgrade for someone who is 6’9” and 260 pounds. Traore, 6’6” 210, Mulvey 6’11” 245, Brauns 6’9”, 245.
Who’s your favorite to start?
Traore is the best choice I agree because he’s athletic and has game but you’re giving up inside 3 inches and 50 pounds. The thing imo that hurts Ladji the most is confidence, take his starting assignment away from him at this point and again imo his confidence plummets and you’ve lost him for the season. I know he has to get more aggressive and soon or that’s gonna happen anyway but I’m for giving him a bit more time to figure it out in hopes that he pushes through. He needs a game where he scores 15-18 and grabs 12 boards. I think he’s capable but until he does it I get the skepticism and it is warranted until he actually does it. 4-5 games is when he has to or I’m with you.
 
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CyberJJ said:
I think he would "at best" be a second round draft pick.
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Well there’s only 2 rounds, so that’s still pretty solid. He’s objectively a good player and will likely play pro ball somewhere next year.
Franisdaman said:
yeah, I thought Ladji would have made a jump this year.

I was wrong.
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I mentioned in another thread I am running out of patience with him. With the injuries we’ve sustained the main argument for starting him still is that idk that there’s a clear cut option to take his spot currently.

You mentioned starting thelwell and presumably bumping Payton down to the 4; I think I’d rather start Pryce instead as a bigger body at the 4. At least until Traore gets back.
 
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sober_teacher said:
Well there’s only 2 rounds, so that’s still pretty solid. He’s objectively a good player and will likely play pro ball somewhere next year.

I mentioned in another thread I am running out of patience with him. With the injuries we’ve sustained the main argument for starting him still is that idk that there’s a clear cut option to take his spot currently.

You mentioned starting thelwell and presumably bumping Payton down to the 4; I think I’d rather start Pryce instead as a bigger body at the 4. At least until Traore gets back.
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they have been really tight lipped on Koch's condition; will be interesting to see if he travels with the team
 
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Hawksfinal4 said:
One league game played in his second season of his career. Yes give him some more time to figure it out. Unless you feel that you have an immediate upgrade for someone who is 6’9” and 260 pounds. Traore, 6’6” 210, Mulvey 6’11” 245, Brauns 6’9”, 245.
Who’s your favorite to start?
Traore is the best choice I agree because he’s athletic and has game but you’re giving up inside 3 inches and 50 pounds. The thing imo that hurts Ladji the most is confidence, take his starting assignment away from him at this point and again imo his confidence plummets and you’ve lost him for the season. I know he has to get more aggressive and soon or that’s gonna happen anyway but I’m for giving him a bit more time to figure it out in hopes that he pushes through. He needs a game where he scores 15-18 and grabs 12 boards. I think he’s capable but until he does it I get the skepticism and it is warranted until he actually does it. 4-5 games is when he has to or I’m with you.
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That ain't happening, and I don't believe that he is capable of it. His best game by far was vs South Dakota when he had 11 points and 8 boards. Otherwise he's averaging 4 and 4 and the only 2 cupcakes left are New Orleans and New Hampshire. The team is better with 3 guards in there with Thelwell taking that starting spot from Dembele. Traore when he returns is a few inches shorter but probably plays 6 inches taller. He's a high flyer whereas Dembele is pretty much glued to the floor. Their per 40 rebounding numbers are nearly identical and Traore blocks shots at 5 times the rate that Dembele does while fouling at less than half the rate. It's apples and oranges with these 2.
 
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jonesy5960 said:
That ain't happening, and I don't believe that he is capable of it. His best game by far was vs South Dakota when he had 11 points and 8 boards. Otherwise he's averaging 4 and 4 and the only 2 cupcakes left are New Orleans and New Hampshire. The team is better with 3 guards in there with Thelwell taking that starting spot from Dembele. Traore when he returns is a few inches shorter but probably plays 6 inches taller. He's a high flyer whereas Dembele is pretty much glued to the floor. Their per 40 rebounding numbers are nearly identical and Traore blocks shots at 5 times the rate that Dembele does while fouling at less than half the rate. It's apples and oranges with these 2.
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I think everyone agrees & you make the case, Traore should be starting when healthy.
 
LukaDuka said:
You're right about that. Just because he had a look from the NBA he thinks he needs to be the man. In actuality he's the third best scorer on the team if Dix & Freeman would get his touches. This team doesn't need Payton to be the man, or more so we don't need him to be the man shooting 15 three's every game. If he's hot, ok. If he's not, draw the defense and give up the rock to Freeman & Dix. Quit forcing shots up like you need to reach your quota for F's sake!
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He's actually averaging under 8 three pointers a game. Personally, I'm OK with that. He seems to be struggling with his shot at present, but we've all seen what he can accomplish when he is on fire. He is a senior and I know for a fact that Freeman and Dix both look up to him, for his on floor performance and off the court leadership.
 
In another thread it was reported that Traore is out for MI. Surprising that Fran has already ruled him out, when he was supposedly a game time decision for NW. It is going to be tough handling MI's size. Dembele needs to have a sudden awakening.
 
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jonesy5960 said:
That ain't happening, and I don't believe that he is capable of it. His best game by far was vs South Dakota when he had 11 points and 8 boards. Otherwise he's averaging 4 and 4 and the only 2 cupcakes left are New Orleans and New Hampshire. The team is better with 3 guards in there with Thelwell taking that starting spot from Dembele. Traore when he returns is a few inches shorter but probably plays 6 inches taller. He's a high flyer whereas Dembele is pretty much glued to the floor. Their per 40 rebounding numbers are nearly identical and Traore blocks shots at 5 times the rate that Dembele does while fouling at less than half the rate. It's apples and oranges with these 2.
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Ladjji's getting better. Little too in love with his own shot but otherwise a kid that has played very little basketball, unike one of these American AAU kids. I think he will improve a little faster as the season progresses. We'll see.

Traore wouldn't break my heart in the starting lineup. The other guys 4-man better hustle back on D.
 
Is Ladji getting better? To my eye he looks exactly the same as last season - basically a stand still jump shooter on offense and an okay defender but not a brilliant one. No back to the basket low post game and not much of a dunker either. I hate to say that but that's how I see it. His stats are better than last season but over half of our games have been against cupcakes. When looking at the games against decent opponents, the numbers are dreadful. I hope it's a confidence thing and he can turn it on. I'd like to avoid having to use Payton Sandfort at PF and, with Traore and Koch out, Dembele is really the only other option.
 
Ladji is a threat to hit a 3 when open and unguarded. Traore is too but if he’s out and Cooper is out your other choices are Pryce , Even Brauns or Riley Mulvey, with Pryce you lose the defense and rebounding, with Braun’s of Mulvey you just leave them open outside and they clog the lane where Freeman works. Injuries hurting the Hawks
 
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With Traore out, I think Fran has to stick with Dembele, especially with Michigan's size. No, Mulvey and Brauns are NOT better options. Fran has already reduced Dembele's time over the past couple of games. Unlike some, I still think there is a lot of upside, although there is only one way to go over most of the season.
 
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Ronman said:
He's actually averaging under 8 three pointers a game. Personally, I'm OK with that. He seems to be struggling with his shot at present, but we've all seen what he can accomplish when he is on fire. He is a senior and I know for a fact that Freeman and Dix both look up to him, for his on floor performance and off the court leadership.
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I posted this after the Utah St. game where he threw up 13 three pt shots & made one. He shoudn't have been shooting half of those.
 
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sober_teacher said:
Well there’s only 2 rounds, so that’s still pretty solid. He’s objectively a good player and will likely play pro ball somewhere next year.

I mentioned in another thread I am running out of patience with him. With the injuries we’ve sustained the main argument for starting him still is that idk that there’s a clear cut option to take his spot currently.

You mentioned starting thelwell and presumably bumping Payton down to the 4; I think I’d rather start Pryce instead as a bigger body at the 4. At least until Traore gets back.
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Start Pryce as a "bigger body at the 4"? Really? They're basically the same height and he's thinner then Payton, and less mature. That makes zero sense. Honestly I think Michigan "who starts 2 good 7' dudes" are going to punish us bad in the paint. I look for big O to be in early foul trouble. Mulvey and Brauns are going to need to play some solid meaningful minutes in this one, and we're going to have to shoot well from three to hang.
 
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HoustonREDHawk said:
With Traore out, I think Fran has to stick with Dembele, especially with Michigan's size. No, Mulvey and Brauns are NOT better options. Fran has already reduced Dembele's time over the past couple of games. Unlike some, I still think there is a lot of upside, although there is only one way to go over most of the season.
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Unless Tadjo figures out why he's on a basketball scholarship.....
 
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kceasthawk said:
Start Pryce as a "bigger body at the 4"? Really? They're basically the same height and he's thinner then Payton, and less mature. That makes zero sense. Honestly I think Michigan "who starts 2 good 7' dudes" are going to punish us bad in the paint. I look for big O to be in early foul trouble. Mulvey and Brauns are going to need to play some solid meaningful minutes in this one, and we're going to have to shoot well from three to hang.
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My apologies, Pryce is 5 pounds lighter than Payton. Looking at them live i thought he was a bit bulkier.
 
Hawksfinal4 said:
One league game played in his second season of his career. Yes give him some more time to figure it out. Unless you feel that you have an immediate upgrade for someone who is 6’9” and 260 pounds. Traore, 6’6” 210, Mulvey 6’11” 245, Brauns 6’9”, 245.
Who’s your favorite to start?
Traore is the best choice I agree because he’s athletic and has game but you’re giving up inside 3 inches and 50 pounds. The thing imo that hurts Ladji the most is confidence, take his starting assignment away from him at this point and again imo his confidence plummets and you’ve lost him for the season. I know he has to get more aggressive and soon or that’s gonna happen anyway but I’m for giving him a bit more time to figure it out in hopes that he pushes through. He needs a game where he scores 15-18 and grabs 12 boards. I think he’s capable but until he does it I get the skepticism and it is warranted until he actually does it. 4-5 games is when he has to or I’m with you.
Click to expand...

Some good points. Too bad Tadjo hasn’t progressed more quickly. Like his size and bounce.
 
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sober_teacher said:
My apologies, Pryce is 5 pounds lighter than Payton. Looking at them live i thought he was a bit bulkier.
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Well Payton's had two more years in the weight room. He's also crafty with those little runners 6-8 ft out. He always produces on offense, and his big games come when his three pointers are falling. He's scored 26 against the Wolves in each of the last two seasons. The issue with him (other then his neon green light, even when he's off) is he's just a tweener. He can't guard an athletic wing or backcourt player, and he gets bullied in the paint by power forwards. This will be the same issue trying to make the league next season.
 
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Hawksfinal4 said:
About 31% from 3, that’s a bit of a threat and last years percentage I believe was better. Not even close to No ,.. he is not. I’m more concerned with his 2 point percentage
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Sorry,.. but the kid is a bricklayer.
 
Good to hear they might be coming back and play but I'm not expecting them to return at top playing performance first game back.
Hope they do well and contribute but not getting my hopes that high for where they were at before their injuries.
 
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I would press a lot in this game, especially when Traore is on the court. Sometimes the best thing you can do to a team that gets in your face like ISU, is to give them a taste of their own medicine. I think our guards can stand up to ISU's pressure much better than we did last year. Thelwell will especially help. I am concerned about guarding the basket without Freeman sitting on the bench again. Would sure be a great time for Dembele to start being aggressive.
 
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HoustonREDHawk said:
I would press a lot in this game, especially when Traore is on the court. Sometimes the best thing you can do to a team that gets in your face like ISU, is to give them a taste of their own medicine. I think our guards can stand up to ISU's pressure much better than we did last year. Thelwell will especially help if Fran decides to play him. I am concerned about guarding the basket without Freeman sitting on the bench again. Would sure be a great time for Dembele to start being aggressive.
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FIFY.... If Thelwell is sitting on the bench for half the game his impact will be limited. He hasn't played more than 24 minutes in the last 4 games.
 
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