[valentine]

Why are they getting so much preseason hype?  I think they deserve to be in the top 25, but in no way are they a top 5 team.  You can’t be a top 5 team when you are completely deficient on the defensive end of the floor.  Duke allowed opponents to shoot over 50% on two point attempts last year.  They couldn’t guard Vermont, Mercer, etc.  With the exception of Justise Winslow, they’re no better defensively last year.  I could go on, but it would take too much time.  They’ll win their fair share of games, but it will be due to the fact that they outscore other teams.

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

ESPN loves Duke.  Almost all their signings get boosted in their ratings.  

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

ESPN loves Duke.  Almost all their signings get boosted in their ratings.  

[theballerwayParticipant]

But the presence of Okafor should allow them to get off better looks from three which their preffered shot. They also have a good platoon of guards(suliamon, Cook, Joneses) so they should be able to apply good ball pressure without guys gettinng tired. No rim protector(Plumlee?) but they should easily be better defensively as well as offensively ths year.good number of veterans helps too.

[theballerwayParticipant]

But the presence of Okafor should allow them to get off better looks from three which their preffered shot. They also have a good platoon of guards(suliamon, Cook, Joneses) so they should be able to apply good ball pressure without guys gettinng tired. No rim protector(Plumlee?) but they should easily be better defensively as well as offensively ths year.good number of veterans helps too.

[tuck243Participant]

What other teams housed 2 of the best players at their positions on one team?  Tyus Jones was ranked the #1 PG and Okafor the #1 Center…  Around them are solid Juniors and Seniors so what’s your point?  The fact is pre season ranking doesn’t account for defensive caliber teams…  Defense isn’t much of an issue when you can just go zone…  I think you’re over thinking this, because you don’t even know what teams will be considered a "defensive team" this year or play defense period…  What we do know is that the Blue Devils will be better than they were last year which is why they are in the Top 5…   

[tuck243Participant]

What other teams housed 2 of the best players at their positions on one team?  Tyus Jones was ranked the #1 PG and Okafor the #1 Center…  Around them are solid Juniors and Seniors so what’s your point?  The fact is pre season ranking doesn’t account for defensive caliber teams…  Defense isn’t much of an issue when you can just go zone…  I think you’re over thinking this, because you don’t even know what teams will be considered a "defensive team" this year or play defense period…  What we do know is that the Blue Devils will be better than they were last year which is why they are in the Top 5…   

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 As you stated Dukes main problem last year was allowing the other team to score inside. That’s because Jabari Parker and Amile Jefferson were playing the center position. Both were no taller then 6’9 so you could see why other teams were 50% on two point attempts. This year Jefferson will be playing a lot more of the 4 with the addition of the number 1 recruit in the nation who happens to 6’11 with a 7’3 wingspan and weighs 270 pounds. Not only will Jahlil Okafor help tremendously on the defensive end, he will also be playing for Duke who is known for spreading the court and shooting 3s allowing him to go to work downlow. His back up is a Plumlee brother who will now be in his junior year and just like the other Plumlee brothers he is 7 foot with hops.

Not saying this team is definitely top 5 material or even better then the Jabari led team from last year, but they’ve basically turned last years weakness into this year strength and seem like a way more all around team.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 As you stated Dukes main problem last year was allowing the other team to score inside. That’s because Jabari Parker and Amile Jefferson were playing the center position. Both were no taller then 6’9 so you could see why other teams were 50% on two point attempts. This year Jefferson will be playing a lot more of the 4 with the addition of the number 1 recruit in the nation who happens to 6’11 with a 7’3 wingspan and weighs 270 pounds. Not only will Jahlil Okafor help tremendously on the defensive end, he will also be playing for Duke who is known for spreading the court and shooting 3s allowing him to go to work downlow. His back up is a Plumlee brother who will now be in his junior year and just like the other Plumlee brothers he is 7 foot with hops.

Not saying this team is definitely top 5 material or even better then the Jabari led team from last year, but they’ve basically turned last years weakness into this year strength and seem like a way more all around team.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

Everything you said is based off of last year…this a new team, with new players who are better defenders. Like someone posted above, Amile and Jabari were the centers so of course buckets came easy at the basket. That won’t be the case with Okafor. Replace Rodney Hood with Justice Winslow, who doesn’t have the same offensive game as Hood, but is a MUCH better defender. Coach K said Matt Jones will likely start, and he might be the best defender off them all. Point in case, this team will be a much much better defensive unit than last year

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

Everything you said is based off of last year…this a new team, with new players who are better defenders. Like someone posted above, Amile and Jabari were the centers so of course buckets came easy at the basket. That won’t be the case with Okafor. Replace Rodney Hood with Justice Winslow, who doesn’t have the same offensive game as Hood, but is a MUCH better defender. Coach K said Matt Jones will likely start, and he might be the best defender off them all. Point in case, this team will be a much much better defensive unit than last year

[ph90702]

When, on paper, they’re no better defensively than last year (except for Justise Winslow), isn’t it fair to use fall on last year?

[ph90702]

When, on paper, they’re no better defensively than last year (except for Justise Winslow), isn’t it fair to use fall on last year?

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

Jabari and Rodney Hood were pretty terrible defenders. They are no longer there. Replace Jabari and Rodney with Justice who is a much better defender but nowhere near the offensive players Parker and Hood were. Duke had two elite offensive wings last year, but this year, they will be sorely lacking in that department. Justice is a good defender, but raw offensively. Sulaimon and Grayson Allen are solid but they’re both 6’4′, Hood and Parker were both 6’8′. I don’t know how good of a defender Tyus Jones is but scouting reports say he is not elite and pretty average. The things I have read about Okafor is that he is not a rim protector or an elite rebounder. He’s a pretty average athlete with elite offensive skills. I don’t know how much better Duke will be defensively this year, but last year they were pretty horrible. I think Justice has the chance to be a good wing defender. Jahlil won’t block a lot of shots, but he’s so big he’ll grab a ton of rebounds. I don’t think Duke will suddenly be an elite defensive team, but they’ll be improved from last year.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

Jabari and Rodney Hood were pretty terrible defenders. They are no longer there. Replace Jabari and Rodney with Justice who is a much better defender but nowhere near the offensive players Parker and Hood were. Duke had two elite offensive wings last year, but this year, they will be sorely lacking in that department. Justice is a good defender, but raw offensively. Sulaimon and Grayson Allen are solid but they’re both 6’4′, Hood and Parker were both 6’8′. I don’t know how good of a defender Tyus Jones is but scouting reports say he is not elite and pretty average. The things I have read about Okafor is that he is not a rim protector or an elite rebounder. He’s a pretty average athlete with elite offensive skills. I don’t know how much better Duke will be defensively this year, but last year they were pretty horrible. I think Justice has the chance to be a good wing defender. Jahlil won’t block a lot of shots, but he’s so big he’ll grab a ton of rebounds. I don’t think Duke will suddenly be an elite defensive team, but they’ll be improved from last year.

[ChewyParticipant]

 for the most McD All Americans on a college basketball team… ever…in the history of college basketball (with UK this year too)

[ChewyParticipant]

 for the most McD All Americans on a college basketball team… ever…in the history of college basketball (with UK this year too)

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 "On paper", how are they no better defensively than last year when they actually have a center playing center? Okafor isn’t Anthony Davis or anything but a 6’11 270 pound dude with a 7’5 wingspan will surely change things. Jabari was the biggest guy in the starting line up and he’s a small forward… Not to mention, as I stated earlier, Matt Jones is likely starting and he’s a dog on defense. This years team won’t have elite level d but it will be way better than last year

 

 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 "On paper", how are they no better defensively than last year when they actually have a center playing center? Okafor isn’t Anthony Davis or anything but a 6’11 270 pound dude with a 7’5 wingspan will surely change things. Jabari was the biggest guy in the starting line up and he’s a small forward… Not to mention, as I stated earlier, Matt Jones is likely starting and he’s a dog on defense. This years team won’t have elite level d but it will be way better than last year

 

 

[MattP31Participant]

 I hate Duke but I believe this team is stacked. You have a backcourt with Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones which could be very, very good. On the wing you have Sulaimon, Matt Jones, Grayson Allen, and Winslow. Up front I like Amile Jefferson and think Okafor could be a dominant college player capable of having the offense run through him and with few college kids able to stop him down on the block. The recent rumors of him adding range out to 15 feet on his jumper would be scary.

Even the defense is better. Winslow for Parker is a major defensive upgrade, and having a frontcourt of Okafor at 5 and Jefferson at 4 is way better than Jefferson at 5 and Hood at 4. I’m not saying they will be great on D, but a significant improvement to better than respectable isn’t unreasonable.

Seriously outside of frontcourt depth they have it all. A good senior point, potentially dominant low post scorer and possibly a go to guy for buckets, firepower on the wing in terms of scoring in Sulaimon, multiple guys that can shoot from deep, and a more athletic team than last year with the additions of Winslow.

[MattP31Participant]

 I hate Duke but I believe this team is stacked. You have a backcourt with Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones which could be very, very good. On the wing you have Sulaimon, Matt Jones, Grayson Allen, and Winslow. Up front I like Amile Jefferson and think Okafor could be a dominant college player capable of having the offense run through him and with few college kids able to stop him down on the block. The recent rumors of him adding range out to 15 feet on his jumper would be scary.

Even the defense is better. Winslow for Parker is a major defensive upgrade, and having a frontcourt of Okafor at 5 and Jefferson at 4 is way better than Jefferson at 5 and Hood at 4. I’m not saying they will be great on D, but a significant improvement to better than respectable isn’t unreasonable.

Seriously outside of frontcourt depth they have it all. A good senior point, potentially dominant low post scorer and possibly a go to guy for buckets, firepower on the wing in terms of scoring in Sulaimon, multiple guys that can shoot from deep, and a more athletic team than last year with the additions of Winslow.

[Author]

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