[TIMSCAR20]

Rell has been a team captain since his Soph year. Of course he is a leader. I agree with LUConn. Rell is a guy that you have to have on the floor to defend and rebound and get loose balls. I think this team will be able to score points. The question in my mind is will they be able to defend?

[Cider Jim]

The question in my mind is will they be able to defend?

Scar, take that question to the football forum, esp. when we play Presby.

[kel varson]

Rell has been a team captain since his Soph year. Of course he is a leader. I agree with LUConn. Rell is a guy that you have to have on the floor to defend and rebound and get loose balls. I think this team will be able to score points. The question in my mind is will they be able to defend?

Scar, I'm sure you'll agree with me, but defense can be taught/caught. A lot of offense is just natural ability, to which Rell's is limited. I'm saying, you can teach 5 guys to play defense and become like Rell Porter. There's only so much you can do with our personel offensively.

And yes, Rell has been a team captain since his Sophomore year, but what have the teams had to show for it? I agree he's a leader, but it takes more than words and enthusiasm to help the team win.

[LUconn]

Things that can't be taught in basketball: Instinct, Athleticsm, and probably something else I'm not thinking of. Rell has both of these. Everything else can be taught. You can even learn how to play offense, although I admit, he's already a senior and I really don't expect him to do much more than get a cleanup basket here and there and not turn the ball over, in terms of the offensive end. But the point is, even though he's not good at the stat filling stuff, he does other things well that nobody else wants to do that need to be done. Who else is gonna dive for the loose ball? Sell his body out for a pick? Foul somebody hard enough to make them think twice next time before making a move? Box out so somebody else can get a rebound? These are all important things that most people don't want to do. And a lot of teams don't have anybody to do them.

[TIMSCAR20]

Actually Kel I think the opposite. I think defense is effort mostly then anticipation and Rell has a great deal of both. Those 2 things are hard to teach. The anticipation is a feel for the game type of intangible and the effort is in the heart. Some guys just don't have that desire to play D like that but they are such good offensive players that they get by (see NBA). I think you can improve offensive skills through drills and running sets but you are right about there being a ceiling in terms of how far you can take a person's offensive skills.

[TIMSCAR20]

Kel, I re-read your post and I think I essentially said the same thing as you

[TDDance234]

The thing about Rell is that he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective. He can defend, rebound and out-hustle anyone on the court and doesn't need to the ball to create his points.

[kel varson]

Actually Kel I think the opposite. I think defense is effort mostly then anticipation and Rell has a great deal of both. Those 2 things are hard to teach. The anticipation is a feel for the game type of intangible and the effort is in the heart. Some guys just don't have that desire to play D like that but they are such good offensive players that they get by (see NBA). I think you can improve offensive skills through drills and running sets but you are right about there being a ceiling in terms of how far you can take a person's offensive skills.

Yes, I do agree with what your saying, but I would think getting people to play tough hardnosed defense is doable from a coaching perspective even though you may not be able to teach intangibles like anticipation. Maybe your right though, even a good coach can't make people play with heart. I always played with heart, so to me, it seems like something that is teachable. I can remember a time where I played without heart and all of sudden in one big basketball game it was like a light came on in my head and I realized, "hey if we're going to win, I've got give a little more." I guess some people never find that extra 10 or 20 percent of motivation. I did and to the coaching staff and spectators it was like night and day.

[Hold My Own]

...give me another 4 just like him

and we would score 10 points per game.

After I posted that I knew it was coming


But Kel....no we dont give Scollies to cheerleaders but I hardly consider him a cheerleader, he brings a lot to the table...a inside presence


I dont even know how this debate started! The QUOTE was "Alex is hands down the leader of the team...heck even Rell has stepped nicely into that roll" Thats all! I wasnt calling him the head master president of all leaders of Liberty Basketball...just our #2 on the leadership tier (see quikstar) and that was only to show how low AS really is b/c someone called it his team

[kel varson]

Scar, you need a new avatar for this season.

[kel varson]

...give me another 4 just like him

and we would score 10 points per game.

After I posted that I knew it was coming


But Kel....no we dont give Scollies to cheerleaders but I hardly consider him a cheerleader, he brings a lot to the table...a inside presence


I dont even know how this debate started! The QUOTE was "Alex is hands down the leader of the team...heck even Rell has stepped nicely into that roll" Thats all! I wasnt calling him the head master president of all leaders of Liberty Basketball...just our #2 on the leadership tier (see quikstar) and that was only to show how low AS really is b/c someone called it his team

It was the part about him progressing that got me started. I'm hoping he has progressed, but people have said that every year.

[TIMSCAR20]

Scar, you need a new avatar for this season.

I wanted to trade it out after his last game but I have been too lazy to figure out what I want my next one to be. I may just go "commando" for now.

[Cider Jim]

I may just go "commando" for now.

That's not a visual most of us want to think about, Scar, unless you're BrokeBack. But I've started a poll to help you out.

[jmdickens]

Things that can't be taught in basketball: Instinct, Athleticsm, and probably something else I'm not thinking of. Rell has both of these. Everything else can be taught. You can even learn how to play offense, although I admit, he's already a senior and I really don't expect him to do much more than get a cleanup basket here and there and not turn the ball over, in terms of the offensive end. But the point is, even though he's not good at the stat filling stuff, he does other things well that nobody else wants to do that need to be done. Who else is gonna dive for the loose ball? Sell his body out for a pick? Foul somebody hard enough to make them think twice next time before making a move? Box out so somebody else can get a rebound? These are all important things that most people don't want to do. And a lot of teams don't have anybody to do them.

I really don't remember Rell ever doing those things.....I remember Tyler Baker doing all those things.....

Rell just isn't a basketball player.......but, he is somewhat of a leader, I questioned last years headmaster or coach, leader and cannot find the positive light on him.(I took this out...come on Dickens! HMO)