They have played Jefferson at the 5 and Watson at the 4.
Demarion Watson Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter CYdTracked
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See my lineups above. Some combination of 3 from the 3 main guards and Milan and then you play Jefferson and Watson.
Although people still (incorrectly) dispute this, Watson and Heise - no matter how much fans try to wish/hope it into existence - do not play the same position and are not really close to the same type of player. They are not really exchangeable and the staff isn’t expecting them to be. They play different roles. People see “Heise cut to the hoop really well in the non-con” and think “Ah hah! Watson is a good cutter! See! See! Watson can cut too! He should get those minutes!”
I love DWat and am proud he’s a Cyclone. His impact goes way beyond ‘playing time’. Do I expect him to get many minutes now that Milan is back? No, I really don’t.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
You want the best players on the floor and Watson is way better than Heise. Yes, they obviously play different positions and different roles, that is why you make adjustments and figure out which players gel together. Watson, imo, is way too good to not get 10 minutes a game. Especially this late into the season when fatigue is becoming a factor.
But Milan is a wing, as is Heise. Milan can also play the 4 . Watson is a 4 primarily. They play different positions, but Milan gives TJ the option to go with either Heise, Watson or both. He opted for Heise.
So they are not interchangeable players, with Milan back, their minutes absolutely can be.
DWat is in a tough spot because he is competing for minutes at the 4 with Milan and Jefferson. It is possible he finds minutes against longer more athletic teams where most of Milan’s minutes are at the 3. He has proven he can contribute, so I hope he gets opportunities when he can impact the game.
Great post. Agree 100%. The coaches know what they are doing and have built an unbelievable program. We are all very fortunate. These are the "good times" folks.
That said, this is a message board and the one little bone to pick I have with the coaches is with Watson not getting a few more minutes. Dude does his job, is a flexible player (you can play him at the 4 or 3 depending on the other teams' lineups), gives great D and is serviceable on O. Just wish he could get a few more minutes, particularly against a team we're beating by 20 and he doesn't get in until garbage time, and we know that we play so intense you'd think you'd want to extend the rotation to 9 guys so that we have a better chance of being healthier and fresh come March.
The only thing I can possibly quibble about. We are lucky to have TJ and staff, but wish Watson could get a few more minutes. He seems to be handling it like a pro though and team-first player.
Only disagreement is that Watson isn’t really a wing on either end. He’s a great help defender at the 4, but when he’s been guarding a wing that can handle like at ASU he isn’t that great defensively. Seems like some mins at the 4 to keep JJ fresh or at the 4 with Jefferson at the 5 would be good, but just going to trust TJ.
The one thing that is a big difference is Heise will handle the ball some as needed. But Watson is a great rebounder.
Evidently the coaching staff feels Heise is better at what they want from this substitution.
I will say it for the 100th time since Maui…if the staff who trains/practices/develops/recruits/plays these guys every single day…thinks Heise is a better option I will defer to them.
We have 40 better coaches than TJ and staff on here apparently. Most of whom probably never played a minute of varsity hs ball in their life. It’s so tiresome.
We have 40 better coaches than TJ and staff on here apparently. Most of whom probably never played a minute of varsity hs ball in their life. It’s so tiresome.
Again, seriously email the staff and see what their rationale is.
What is your rationale that he's way better?
What goes on at practice and film study that let's you come to this conclusion? Where does he fit for 10 minutes? Take Jefferson out? Milan?
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You don’t know any of what you are talking about. Only the coaching staff knows.
You know substitutions are very pointed and for a reason, right? Lineups matter. Matchups matter.
It's pretty obvious he will only be a rotation guy when there is an injury. TJ picked his rotation last fall and doesn't want to be proven otherwise.
Milan and Heise compliment each other well. When you lost Milan, you lost a lot of the good that Heise brings. With Milan back, Hiese can do what he has been good at.
I still think there should be room for Watson for a few minutes of non-garbage time, but as I predicted Watson won't see the floor now that Milan is back.
I still think there should be room for Watson for a few minutes of non-garbage time, but as I predicted Watson won't see the floor now that Milan is back.
Not gonna use a dumb reaction. I will just tell you straight up.
You are an idiot and hate TJ for some reason. You have proven you have never played and don’t understand basketball. IN MULTIPLE THREADS. You have been complaining since the start of the season.
Did you watch the game today? He went right back to what his rotation was pre-Milan and he just isn't going to deviate from it.
I agree that the staff knows best and said as much. I just think it's an interesting thing to discuss.
FWIW you want the best team on the floor. The ceiling for this team is all about our chemistry not our talent.
