I would think it's pretty nuts to have Watson playing guard to give ISU's staring guards a spell or to disrupt opponents' backcourts but I'll eat crow if it happens and works.
Demarion Watson
- Thread starter jacobj
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I would think it's pretty nuts to have Watson playing guard to give ISU's staring guards a spell or to disrupt opponents' backcourts but I'll eat crow if it happens and works.
Yeah and I like him playing.
I'd see it more swapping a bit with Chat or Jackson though before Heise or Milan.
Even when Milan comes back, Watson has shown he's deserving of minutes. Even if its only 6-7 a game he should still have a role.
As good as he is on defense in general, he got blown by on the perimeter a few times in the first half today. Heise is definitely the better on-ball perimeter defender.
I don’t believe that. I think that they’ll slowly work Milan back in. And we’ll go to more of a 9 man rotation where Watson gets less time if Milan is on. I have always been critical of TJs use of the bench during noncon blowouts. I think when you’re up 30, the bench guys should see more time. But I don’t have a problem with what he’s done in conference season. Watson does not have the offensive skill to make much of a dent in the rotation.
I wonder if people see him listed as a guard and so think he plays that but he's more of 3/4 type that scraps for rebounds.
Really like DWat, he always says the right things in interviews I’ve heard of him. Seems like he’s kept himself ready to contribute even when he wasn’t playing. Similar to last year when he had that big game against OU without playing much before that. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I generally trust the next guy in is going to be ready with the coaching staff and culture we have here right now.
Heise being a solid scoring threat raises the ceiling for this team. I do not think that we can win a NC or even make a FF without that happening.
Yea, I don’t know. Would like to see him a little more aggressive on offense and take a couple more shots sometimes. But i suppose it’s a fine line, especially in tight games.
we have a lot more defensive versatility when Watson and Jefferson are the bigs because both those guys can guard the perimeter and they are both rebounding machines. Dwat is really taking a lot of Chatfields minutes I think.
I don’t necessarily agree with this. Jones, Gilbert, Jefferson, and Milan (if he comes back 100%) give us 4 legit scorers. Plus Lipsey if we need him and Jackson is solid for 8-10 a night. That’s plenty of options for scoring to make a FF.
To me, Heise vs Watson is a matchup deal. If we need a D guy for a 4 or a big wing, or if we’re struggling to rebound, Watson should play. If we need D on a smaller 3 or a 4th guard, throw Heise out there.
You're putting too much stock into a bench player. If Milan could elevate his game when he returns then we are talking.
We are 18-2 right now and Heise has the worst metrics on the team of any rotation player and its not even close.
I’m sorry, but there are 4 guards on the roster if Nojus can’t be trusted. 3 are starting. Even if Milan eventually regains his starting role, Heise is going to be a major part of the rotation. He needs to be, because we need that extra ball handler and perimeter defender. My point is that if your major rotation players that are no threat to score (like Heise and Watson), that makes things more difficult for everyone. But if they are an actual threat, the ceiling of the team rises.
Without Milan we are absolutely missing a guard who can come off the bench and score. That’s a big hole. Curtis played all 40 minutes today. Had a career-high but he can’t play that much every game. With Heise in we’re basically playing 4-on-5 on offense, it’s like Tamin freshman year without the driving and finishing.
Where do you view metrics? On the season as a whole, the net adjusted team efficiency when each player on the floor is actually highest with Heise above everyone else. His BPR is 6th, ahead of Jackson, Chatfield, Watson and Nojus. This is per EvanMiya.
He clearly is not confident right now on offense, but the stats say when he has been on the court the team has played well.
If we need some energy, if we need some rebounding, if we need some defense, if we need to stop a guy that has been torching us from the 4 spot, if Jefferson or Momcilovic is in foul trouble. He's a tremendous asset to have.
It’s also great to have an option to play JJ at the 5 without going too small.
