Illini Basketball 2022-2023

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#277      

illini80

Forgottonia
Well, the only one I would call an actual sharpshooter was Plummer.
We never saw him play this year so I’m not sure why you would say that. You are comparing his freshman year to a 5th year senior. Doesn’t seem like a fair comparison and I’m not sure we’ve ever had a shooter like Plummer when he was hot in our history.
 
#279      
Are You Serious Clark GIFs | Tenor
 
#283      
Well that seems to imply he hasn’t healed as well as hoped. There’s still time, but if he can’t get to 100% pretty quick it will be really difficult for him to be a factor in time for this season. I’d probably lean toward the redshirt also, but Luke may feel differently.

Unfortunate but not surprised. Foot injuries are a nasty thing and take forever to heal fully because of the lack of good blood flow to the area.

Recently partially tore my plantar fascia (no surgery) and it took almost 5 months to get back to 100% for pick-up basketball.
 
#284      
I don't think he is going to get drafted. Most think he is leaving because the mock drafts have him going in the second round but I don't think he shoots it well enough, handles it well enough and has enough Bball IQ to make it. Remember he was close to transferring every year he has been here so if he may just enter the draft just because.
I am trying to be optimistic about ColHawk but I guess his 3pt% doesn't help him enough. His best scenario is probably get drafted and then play G league/oversea.
 
#291      
I don't think he is going to get drafted. Most think he is leaving because the mock drafts have him going in the second round but I don't think he shoots it well enough, handles it well enough and has enough Bball IQ to make it. Remember he was close to transferring every year he has been here so if he may just enter the draft just because.
Thank you. Everyone gets caught up with his physical tools and “ceiling.” Need to have more — not like he’s a complete physical freak — and I haven’t seen it. WI game kind of sealed it for me. I find it hard to fathom that a junior projected to be a high second round pick can’t take it upon himself to get one basket during a half when team is struggling offensively. Heck with his great physical tools shouldn’t he be able to get a good look or two at least? He took one shot. And one can’t blame him not getting the ball. He has the ball in his hands just about every time down the court.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s an important part of the Illini’s success this year. I just don’t think he’s got what it takes for NBA and I wouldn’t draft him. Maybe I’m wrong and he’ll develop into a Bobby Portis type player. I hope he does.
 
#292      
I am trying to be optimistic about ColHawk but I guess his 3pt% doesn't help him enough. His best scenario is probably get drafted and then play G league/oversea.
He’s barely shooting over 30% from 3 on the year and that is with two games when he shot a combined 11 of 17. Maybe the 19 games this year when he’s shot 22% from 3 are the outliers, but I’m not buying it. Hawk does some good things, but except on rare occasions shooting 3s is not one of them.
 
#296      
I still can’t fathom how an NBA team can’t find a roster spot for Kofi but can for Hawkins. I get it, the game is played way differently at the next level. I still think Kofi would impact a team in a greater fashion than Hawkins can given his current playing ability.

To me, there are just too many meh nights from Hawkins. Last game is a prime example I can’t say he played well but he was just a non factor for so long in that game that doesn’t scream NBA player or potential to me. I know and understand he had a positive impact on the game outside of the scoresheet, but I would just need to see more out of him if I were an NBA exec.
 
#297      
Lol that is about right.
Is there a longer-term thinking around that? If the numbers thrown around here are correct, then I think Kofi would have gotten 2-2.5x the Japan money to play here next year. But there is still an NCAA eligibility clock, so the NIL money is one year (or two, don't recall the years he had remaining) and done. If he gets a serious injury in that year, that might be all the playing money he ever gets.

I also don't know the terms of his Japan contract, or other pro contracts, but I assume there is some insurance provision to cover serious injury (if not outright guaranteed money). So perhaps $400K x the life of his pro contract outweighed the one year of NIL here.
 
#298      
I still can’t fathom how an NBA team can’t find a roster spot for Kofi but can for Hawkins. I get it, the game is played way differently at the next level. I still think Kofi would impact a team in a greater fashion than Hawkins can given his current playing ability.

To me, there are just too many meh nights from Hawkins. Last game is a prime example I can’t say he played well but he was just a non factor for so long in that game that doesn’t scream NBA player or potential to me. I know and understand he had a positive impact on the game outside of the scoresheet, but I would just need to see more out of him if I were an NBA exec.
I think the primary difference is how weak Hawkins’ weaknesses are compared to Kofi’s & how well their strengths fit into the team concept.
Kofi was a poor pick and roll defender and struggled to pass and dribble. These are major liabilities at the NBA level. In order to utilize the strengths he brought to the table, you would have to build your offensive and defend sets around him to take advantage of what he brings to the table while mitigating his shortcomings. Basically everything you do on the court has to change based on his inclusion in the lineup.

Hawkins is capable in most aspects of the game. He a a very good defender all over the court. He is certainly limited from a scoring perspective, but you could play him w/o fundamentally changing your gameplan.

When you are building the back end of a roster, it is easier to utilize a guy like Hawkins than it is a guy like Kofi. For Kofi to be effective, he has to be The Guy. Hawkins is more effective when he is just one of the guys.
 
#299      
I still can’t fathom how an NBA team can’t find a roster spot for Kofi but can for Hawkins. I get it, the game is played way differently at the next level. I still think Kofi would impact a team in a greater fashion than Hawkins can given his current playing ability.

To me, there are just too many meh nights from Hawkins. Last game is a prime example I can’t say he played well but he was just a non factor for so long in that game that doesn’t scream NBA player or potential to me. I know and understand he had a positive impact on the game outside of the scoresheet, but I would just need to see more out of him if I were an NBA exec.
The days of the back to the basket centers are pretty much over. Putting Kofi's offensive limitations aside, in the NBA, centers can shoot and handle the ball on the perimeter. That's a big ask for him to be asked to deal with defensively. As a GM, I'm guessing that you'd have to ask where his ceiling is. In regards to Hawkins, many 2nd round picks are viewed as projects. At 6'10", with athleticism and a relatively good skill set, I'm guessing that a GM would view him as a guy that can potentially be developed and be serviceable after a couple of years of that development . He just has more tools.
 
#300      
I still can’t fathom how an NBA team can’t find a roster spot for Kofi but can for Hawkins. I get it, the game is played way differently at the next level. I still think Kofi would impact a team in a greater fashion than Hawkins can given his current playing ability.

To me, there are just too many meh nights from Hawkins. Last game is a prime example I can’t say he played well but he was just a non factor for so long in that game that doesn’t scream NBA player or potential to me. I know and understand he had a positive impact on the game outside of the scoresheet, but I would just need to see more out of him if I were an NBA exec.
Guess defense doesn’t count. Just count the times he is challenging the shots at the rim and opponents two point percentage. Guess PPG tells it all.
 
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