Kuric has Quietly Been our Best
by HorsePig55 on Mar 3, 2011 5:23 PM EST
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PrintIf you asked most people who our best player has been this season, everyone would say,"DUH! Preston!!" Yes, that is true for the season, but of late, one person in particular has quietly emerged.
Kyle Kuric has been averaging 15.7 points per game in the last ten games. Preston(!) has been averaging 13. Kyle has been averaging 5.7 rebounds in the past ten games. Rakeem Buckles is our leading rebounder with 6.1 per game. He is shooting 47% from the 3-point line. Those are some gaudy stats when you consider he isn't exactly our go-to guy.
Another thing I've noticed is how he has developed his game. He's shooting the mid-range shot well and definitely going to the basket more. What I'm saying is that he's not just a shooter anymore. He can shoot from all places on the floor.
I really like him in the four guard line-up. He is showing the ability to get rebounds and he will be the X-factor (along with Siva). He is going to be needed to make this line-up work. He will have to rebound, shoot from the Korner, and essentially do it all.
Alright, comment, I want to hear what you guys think. And most of all...
GO CARDS.
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Siva and Preston are both more important to this team than Kyle
But Kuric has elevated his status from “contributor” to “X-factor” this year and is now approaching Siva/Preston’s status as clutch scorer and indispensable in close games.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 3, 2011 6:00 PM EST reply actions
Just going by stats man
A better title would have been "Kuric has risen to teams elite.
"Marquise Teague Sucks!"
-Bryce Cotton
We both agree (I think?), I was only providing the feedback for which you asked.
But yes, stats-wise Kyle has been a leader and the most efficient player over the last 2 months.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 3, 2011 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
Would it be possible
for only one of you to agree? You’re making my brane hurt.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
During the festivities of Preston Day, someone asked who would take up the mantle next year.
The answer is Kyle Kuric. Just watch.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
Well, he'll actually HAVE to lead by example.
Since he’s a mime.
by Leeroy Jenkins on Mar 3, 2011 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
He’ll be more of a Taquan Dean type leader. Someone who doesn’t have to say much, but when the game is tight and he’s out there you know to get it to him.
________________________________________________
www.lordkayoss.com
Is there a difference between "best" player and "most important" player?
I think there is. So, it’s fair to argue King has been the “best” recently. But, it’s a tough debate as to whether Peyton or Preston! has been “most important”. I will side with Preston! since he can backup Peyton at the point (for a stretch) and no one can back up !’s leadership on the court.
Stout Out!
Agree
But only on offense is he Louisville’s “best” player as of late. Others like Peyton and Preston (and Gorgui) are much better on the defensive end and they create more opportunities for Kyle to score than he creates for them.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 3, 2011 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
Yes,
Thus, KK is not our most important player, but rather playing the best.
"Marquise Teague Sucks!"
-Bryce Cotton
That may be changing
Kyle’s rebounding has picked up dramatically and he’s starting to get his fair share of steals. At least of couple of his fastbreaks we’re from solo-defensive plays he made.
I think it’s better to look at “who’s playing best” as “who isn’t replaceable,” because we don’t have the obvious superstars on this team. In my opinion it goes something like this:
- Siva, Knowles, Kuric (can’t lose any of those guys and expect to win)
- Jennings, Dieng, Smith (winning would be difficult)
- rest of the team (would be a tough loss)
Pitino’s teams always struggle early in the season, losing a couple games they shouldn’t. They start showing flashes in late December and early conference play, then absolutely go gangbusters (potential-wise) in February. You can chalk that up to simple improvement, but I think a lot of it has to do with his players buying into their role in his system.
So what we have now is a team of players who are excelling in their roles (and actually have a lot of room to grow). We don’t have a Garcia or Dean who can single-handedly keep us in a game (Preston is close, but still streaky), so every player is counted on to hold up their end of the bargain.
Siva isn’t nearly as good if Kuric, Smith, Marra, and Knowles aren’t moving to their spots. Knowles isn’t nearly as effective if Siva isn’t penetrating and Kuric isn’t rebounding. Kuric isn’t as effective without those two guys pressuring on the perimeter and getting him the ball on offense.
So who’s the best? I don’t think we have one. I don’t think you can honestly look at stats from one player without considering the contributions of their teammates. That isn’t necessarily true on a lot of teams, but is crucial on ours.
by loverofthegame on Mar 4, 2011 8:25 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I would quibble only with "who isn't replaceable"
If there’s one thing this team has shown us, it’s that anybody is replaceable. It seems like we’ve suffered through injuries to, absences of, or dramatically sub-par performances from almost every key player on this team, and yet we soldier on. That’s what makes this team so special to me. They find a way to win.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
Beyonce
“Irreplaceable” just came into my head, while thinking of great plays of the season that include a voice over from Paul Rogers. Not only is recruiting getting very creepy, but this teams grip on my mind is creepy as well.
by Feathered Biceps on Mar 4, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
Agree. I would say Preston can replace Siva but would not be 100% comfortable saying it
Kuric’s role is less complicated than Siva’s and Preston’s and perhaps even the 5 position in most matchups. Over the past month, Kuric executed his role “the best” but his role is (arguably?) less important.
As Rick implied, I’m only quibbling to promote discussion and explore different points of view.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 4, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
Heck no,
Russ playing thirty/twenty minutes and Justice playing ten or twenty would promptly shove our FF chances out the door.
"Marquise Teague Sucks!"
-Bryce Cotton
Da king
We can’t win without Kuric. He’s working his way up my all time favorite list. He’d be even better if he had a post presence to open things up more
I agree that King Kyle is
important, but I also believe he is the beneficiary of not being the focus. Preston has been hounded by teams because he carried the Cards when nobody else could. Now that Kyle and others are contributing, we are a MUCH better team.
I think we see Kyle play his best
when the ball is moving and our players are moving. He doesn’t create his own shot often (although we’ve seen a few instances of late). So it takes the team playing the kind of motion offense that gives us a little more than just high ball screen at the top of key over and over again.
In short, Kyle is a benefactor of some great players playing team ball. Although he does do his part as well by finishing them off.
Not saying I’m not confident in Siva and the pick and roll either, but it’s nice to have alternatives this year.
by Feathered Biceps on Mar 4, 2011 10:24 AM EST reply actions
Yes, this is part of where I'm coming from
He benefits more from Siva & Preston than they him on offense. He is Louisville’s best “executor” by far but his role is much less difficult/demanding than others’.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 4, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
I dont see where you're coming from.
Being 6’4 and being asked to rebound from the 4 must be demanding.
"Marquise Teague Sucks!"
-Bryce Cotton
fair enough
defensive rebounding is challenging at 6’4" in a zone defense & Kyle does a great job with his leaping ability at the 4. Preston’s rebounding avg is still better than Kyle’s though and he’s only 6’1" and plays defense on the perimeter.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 4, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
Also,
I love Preston! hes a GREAT leader and when he is hitting shots, usually he is unbelievable. I’m only going by stats here (Preston’s leadership can’t possibly be measured) but when he is off, he is not efficient at all. Kyle gets more with less shots. Preston generally jacks up a crapload of shots when he scores a lot of points. Similar to Kemba Walker.(Keep this debate going! This is an interesting debate…)
"Marquise Teague Sucks!"
-Bryce Cotton
Who'd have thought
Two years ago to think that Preston! and Kyle would be in the conversation as our most important players…in the middle of a fantastic season? Wow.
Stout Out!
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