You’re confusing talent with potential.
Info on Lard
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
- Start date
Lard can be his own worst enemy. Hopefully he can be focused and have a good attitude.
Cam has been a defensive liability and a poor rebounder for his size and athleticism. Energy is great, one of those immeasurables, but when you lack the fundamentals, energy can be overrated IMO.
Once he decides it’s time to become serious and the “light comes on” he will be a force. But the question is whether he decides to do this or not.
Best Lard games last season...
-- doing most of it against the teeth of the Big 12 schedule
-- some absurd offensive rebounding numbers
-- still fouled a lot, which limited his minutes, but he was rolling while he was out there
-- big part of the few Big 12 wins that we did have at home
Best Lard games this season...
-- the rebounding, especially on the offensive glass, is not there
-- still fouling a lot, not able to make it past 20-25 minutes per night of PT
-- not nearly the offensive productivity, either
-- comparable block numbers, at least, but still lacking in fundamental defense
He was better last year -- especially rebounding.
He has not sucked. He has just never broken out for some big games like he did last season. If I did not know any better, I would say the box scores for the two years are flipped. He played like a sophomore breaking out as a freshman, and he has played like a freshman this season, having his moments but lacking consistency and in fundamental plays.
I think he misses having a second big, and especially a mauler like Solomon, out there boxing out and keeping other guys off the glass so he can go and get it.
-- doing most of it against the teeth of the Big 12 schedule
-- some absurd offensive rebounding numbers
-- still fouled a lot, which limited his minutes, but he was rolling while he was out there
-- big part of the few Big 12 wins that we did have at home
Best Lard games this season...
-- the rebounding, especially on the offensive glass, is not there
-- still fouling a lot, not able to make it past 20-25 minutes per night of PT
-- not nearly the offensive productivity, either
-- comparable block numbers, at least, but still lacking in fundamental defense
He was better last year -- especially rebounding.
He has not sucked. He has just never broken out for some big games like he did last season. If I did not know any better, I would say the box scores for the two years are flipped. He played like a sophomore breaking out as a freshman, and he has played like a freshman this season, having his moments but lacking consistency and in fundamental plays.
I think he misses having a second big, and especially a mauler like Solomon, out there boxing out and keeping other guys off the glass so he can go and get it.
I largely agree that there are aspects of the game where Lard would greatly benefit from playing alongside another big like Solomon. Last year Lard also benefited in the few games Brase was healthy, with Lard on the block and Brase playing around the elbows. They played well together. We've seen that look a little bit with THT around the elbows, but not much.
On the flipside, with a spaced floor, four guards plus Lard equals lots of dunks, and has resulted in some absurd FG% games this year.
Yeah, I remember Prohm had a platoon with the big men going for awhile last season...
Beverly//Young
Brase//Lard
There was some nice high-low stuff going on between Brase and Lard, and I think Prohm wanted Brase to try to mentor him and set an example for him.
Four guards should lead to that stuff for Lard, but it has not. I think having Solomon negate the opponents' best rebounder/biggest guy, leaving Lard to pick on a smaller guy and creating space for him down low, probably did more (on net) for his style of play.
The numbers reflect your case, though --
Lard's rebounding numbers are way down (my case)
His FG% is way up this year, though (your case)
I feel bad Brase was never truly healthy. Some skill and experience would have done that team a world of good. I do appreciate him giving it one more try in Ames, though.
Good. I'm relieved. I was expecting the worst after listening to CW and RP on Cyclone Insider last night, saying things like "If Lard doesn't play on Thursday, he is probably done as a Cyclone."
honestly it is because he’s been it in bad positions. How many times does he try to over help because are guards don’t stop penetration. That causes him to be out of position for rebounds. It goes to my complaints about the strategy this year. What is the plan. It works well when we are stopping penetration but most of the time we aren’t.
Lard has also frequently put himself in a bad position, as well as the guards.
Agree we struggle with stopping penetration, but it gets worse putting a liability like Lard out there.
In all due respect, anyone can look at a stat sheet and make assessments based solely on numbers. That is why we pay high-level college coaches millions of dollars a year...to make decisions based on so much more....
(and why you and I make a hair less than that....and instead post on internet forms.
You guys have no common sense when it comes to understanding basketball. It's so simple. All we need to do to improve rebounding is play 6 guys. I would suggest going with the "pentagon and one" zone but you know that idiot Prohm will never try it.
In all due respect, anyone can look at a stat sheet and make assessments based solely on numbers. That is why we pay high-level college coaches millions of dollars a year...to make decisions based on so much more....
(and why you and I make a hair less than that....and instead post on internet forms.
Don't get me wrong I hope he makes a huge impact in that aspect and when Lard's head is in it....hes amazing but the comment made about his rebounding is what I responded to. In particular the rebounding against a physical team that nobody has rebounded well against on this team. So I'm so glad youre just assuming anything other than stats mean anything in 2 losses we got dominated on the boards.
It's not for me to understand why Lard doesn't see the court more. But...
What does it hurt to throw him in there so he can hack the hell out of whoever drives to the hoop? He'll probably get 3 blocks before he fouls out and change some minds on a few other potential drives. I calculate he's worth about 12 points in the few minutes he plays until he fouls out.
What does it hurt to throw him in there so he can hack the hell out of whoever drives to the hoop? He'll probably get 3 blocks before he fouls out and change some minds on a few other potential drives. I calculate he's worth about 12 points in the few minutes he plays until he fouls out.
Unless he has 3 fouls in 4 minutes which has happened where he does nothing for production and puts the opponent in the bonus in a matter of minutes
This year I just don’t know what our strategy is. I’m sure he gets out of position by himself sometimes but I think there is only so much one can do. I’ve never thought he was our best big. I just think people are going from inflating him to being overly critical. He still is a better defender than Jacobson.
Lard is a high energy physical player. I don’t think he has the skill set or mentality to be a great rebounder. I do think he provides value if he is allowed to play. Young is our best all around post and I think Conditt has the highest ceiling of them. Jacobson frankly is a 4 whose played out of position all year.
