Demarion Watson Appreciation Thread

CloniesForLife

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Ok but he doesn’t play even close to the same position as DWat. You can’t play Jefferson and Jackson all game.

So by the original post they want Heise and Keshon? Curt? Tamin? Milan? To play less?
See my lineups above. Some combination of 3 from the 3 main guards and Milan and then you play Jefferson and Watson.
 

Cloned4Life

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It was nice seeing Curtis go back to being the 6th man and the offense looking way better (although Gilbert had 5 turnovers and 0 FT attempts)... I'm still surprised Watson only got 3 minutes. He played really well while Milan was out and deserves to be in the rotation, especially over Heise. Makes no sense to me.
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

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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.
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.
 

AuH2O

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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.
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.
 

bozclone

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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.
 
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Chitowncy

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I want to preface this post that I am not complaining, I know this staff knows way more than me and today was a great win. Just a discussion.

I am a bit surprised Watson has not earned some time in the rotation. I totally understand that with Milan back that was going to eat into his minutes but I think a lineup with the 3 guards, Jefferson and Watson OR 2 of the 3 guards, Milan, Jefferson and Watson could be effective. Flexibility on defense and on offense you can spread it out and open up room for Watson to crash the offensive boards or be ready for lobs from driving guards or passes from Jefferson operating out of the high post. He is really our only above the rim player. Obviously didn't need it for this game but I just think those are lineups that give us a little different dimension and could be more effective against teams with more length and athleticism.
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.
 

AuH2O

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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.
 
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NENick

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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.
Evidently the coaching staff feels Heise is better at what they want from this substitution.
 

ClubCy

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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.
 

madguy30

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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.

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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ClubCy

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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.
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.
 

jsb

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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.
 

ClubCy

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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.
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.
 

CloniesForLife

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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.
I agree that the staff knows best and said as much. I just think it's an interesting thing to discuss.
 

Clon3

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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.

FWIW you want the best team on the floor. The ceiling for this team is all about our chemistry not our talent.