Should we try Austin Davis at the four?
Kind of self explanatory. Is there any potential toward a Godzilla lineup with Davis at the four and Teske playing center? We’d be able to crack some skulls on D, but would we be too slow, or would our shooting be too poor? I’m not advocating it, it just popped into my head. Thoughts?
February 18th, 2020 at 11:27 PM ^
And pull who? Livers? Wagner? Put him in over a potential breakout in progress Johns? I see what you’re getting at but that would also wear down Teske and Davis at the same time relying on Castleton and Johns to hold down the 5. That was tried last year with minimal success.
February 18th, 2020 at 11:31 PM ^
You sir, are a raging psychopath...dont let this town take that away from you
February 19th, 2020 at 12:04 AM ^
It’s so much more fun than being a timid psychopath, I’ll say that much for it . . .
February 19th, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
OK so it ain't a great idea, borderline out of touch with reality, but I don't get all the down votes. Lunatics need a voice, right? Psychotic lives matter!
February 19th, 2020 at 9:18 PM ^
Hey, us lunatics hear lots of voices in our heads!
February 18th, 2020 at 11:35 PM ^
Quit drinking and go to bed.
February 18th, 2020 at 11:36 PM ^
In the words of Squints Palledorous
If you'd a been thinkin' you wouldn't a thought that
February 18th, 2020 at 11:38 PM ^
What about Davis makes you think we'd be cracking skulls on D? His development has been awesome and he's a great story but he's still a liability on the defensive end.
February 18th, 2020 at 11:39 PM ^
Literally everything about it would fail
February 18th, 2020 at 11:41 PM ^
Absolutely not. Teske nor Davis can guard a 4 who can shoot or drive especially Davis who is a complete liability on defense. Plus there would be no spacing on the floor and team can just bunch up in the paint
February 19th, 2020 at 3:05 AM ^
This is what I was going to post. Unless Davis is a secret 45% 3-pt shooter and his inelegant lumbering around the court is just an illusion, then there's no way he would work at the 4 on offense or defense.
If we were crazy enough to put him out on the court with Teske, Teske would have to play the 4 and we'd have to pray he turns into Pau Gasol or Anthony Davis.
February 18th, 2020 at 11:47 PM ^
They've played both at the same time a fair bit and it rarely goes well.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:30 AM ^
This.
Howard went with it a fair number of possessions while Livers was out. It may have given Johns some rest but it was not very effective on offense (lack of shooting and floor spacing) or defense (lack of mobility on the perimeter).
When Livers is healthy, there is absolutely no reason to do it. If he doesn't play tomorrow, might see it a little bit again.
To take it the other way, I think Michigan should be playing Johns some at the five when the other team doesn't have a bruising post player (surprisingly rare in this big ten though). Perhaps against Rutgers tomorrow. Johns should be able to hold up against Johnson who isn't a high usage offensive player and the floor spreading M would have with five legit shooters (yes, Simpson has become legit!) is something we haven't seen since Walton was playing PG and Wilson/Wagner were playing C.
Certainly could be good against Reuvers on Wisconsin. Nebraska obviously. Maybe even Maryland since Smith is more of a stretch big.
February 18th, 2020 at 11:56 PM ^
Only in situations where Davis won't be exposed guarding a quicker 4 AND has such a size mismatch down low against the opposing 4 that it's worth sacrificing offensive floor spacing.
So basically never.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:00 AM ^
I'm thinking Austin should run the point. That up-and-under from the top of the key would be sweet.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:00 AM ^
Next time something pops into your head, ask yourself if it is really worth a thread.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:05 AM ^
Have we considered Davis at the 2?
February 19th, 2020 at 12:19 AM ^
If we get in the tourney and there is a team with 2 real "bigs". I can't think of a team that starts two legit "bigs" but I don't follow NCAAB that close. Otherwise, no!
February 19th, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
Fab Five - Howard & Weber ?
February 19th, 2020 at 12:37 AM ^
Hey guys, our team has been the tops in the month of February so far....how about we change it all up?
No. Shit is working. Ride it out.
February 19th, 2020 at 1:01 AM ^
defense matters
February 19th, 2020 at 1:06 AM ^
Wait, no, I got it! X as the ultimate small-ball 5!
February 19th, 2020 at 1:30 AM ^
I think we should take it a step further and have Davis take over coaching duties from Juwan Howard at times so that Howard can suit up and replace Teske in the starting lineup for being so soft.
February 19th, 2020 at 2:17 AM ^
Watch where Livers and Johns go when they are playing the 4 on offense. You’re basically saying you want to see if Austin Davis can knock down some corner 3s and attack a close out with a dribble drive. To which the answer is no.
Then on defense it would only work if the other team had 2 slow big men that were a little undersized. They could both guard the paint against teams with bad outside shooters I suppose, but at that point you’re just tiring out all your center depth at once.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
I for one, would enjoy seeing Davis chuck corner 3s.
February 19th, 2020 at 2:52 AM ^
Have you seen how Big Country moves?
He’s like a cheetah...with a max distance of 4 feet.
February 19th, 2020 at 4:38 AM ^
What they said, above me...
February 19th, 2020 at 6:13 AM ^
Guys, hear me out on this...Austin Davis, startIng point guard.
February 19th, 2020 at 6:29 AM ^
A lineup with Franz, livers, Johns at the 2,3,4 is viable and enormous if that’s what you’re going for.
February 19th, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
I'm almost certain that in last msu game that, for a couple minutes, the lineup consisted of Teske, Davis, Livers, Wagner and one of the guards (can't remember which one). At the very least, that proves Howard is not afraid to experiment. It mostly depends on opposing match-ups. The versatility of Livers, Wagner (and Johns) allows a lot of line-up flexibility. Not sure how often Teske and Davis will be paired up, but I'd say it will happen again.
February 19th, 2020 at 6:41 AM ^
Only if we put Z at the 5.
February 19th, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
Only if we had Zack Novak as a grad asst to coach'em up.
February 19th, 2020 at 6:47 AM ^
This silly post by the OP is the definition of getting too far forward on ones skis.
Davis is a 5. That's all.
February 19th, 2020 at 6:48 AM ^
He’s too slow to guard a lot of fives.
February 19th, 2020 at 6:55 AM ^
I don't think that's his skill set, he's a very technical post player. He's not a deep threat, head fake and drive player. He's a solid post player, who has taken coaching and used it to his advantage. He also wouldn't be able to defend players outside and dribble drive players. IMHO
February 19th, 2020 at 7:38 AM ^
We have played him there already. Two post players high and low or Horns set. Pick and pop and pick and roll.
February 19th, 2020 at 7:50 AM ^
I think people may be starting to overrate him a bit. He's the worst 1v1 defender on the team that gets regular minutes. The last thing we want is him on more mobile players that can space the floor.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:09 AM ^
Seconded. Davis is our Wilt, Teske is our Russell.
The modern game is too much about speed and spacing to accommodate two big specialists on the same floor. There are trade-offs with even one. If Davis could run the floor like a modern four then we're talking, but he's more of a throwback finisher.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
I don't think Wilt was considered a defensive liability.
February 19th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
NO. Davis should be the starting #5. Teske is a wimp. After the first few games, other teams noticed if you muscle Teske, Teske caves. Make Davis the starting #5.
February 19th, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
This might be a worse take than the OP.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Stated the way it was stated, it's a pretty bad take.
OTOH, in the last 5 games (Rutgers-Indiana):
- Teske: FG% = 28.6; points/minute = 0.25; rebounds/minute = 0.26
- Davis: FG% = 85.7; points/minute = 0.65; rebounds/minute = 0.27
I know these aren't fancystats, but Teske is shooting atrociously and not rebounding (per minute) any better than Davis is. Teske is, obviously, way better on defense.
The thing is, it seems like Teske has been told to "shoot his way out of it," for which I would blame JH more than JT. Davis rarely tries to do anything he can't do on the offensive end.
I guess on balance I wouldn't shift any more minutes to Davis, but I would tell Teske to be a bit choosier in terms of shot selection and continue his solid rebounding and defense (at least compared to Davis).
In other words, a more efficient Teske >>> Davis. But, a horribly inefficient Teske might only be > Davis.
TL;DR
February 19th, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
How much do those stats change if Davis has to play against the best 5 on the other team, when that player isn't tired?
February 19th, 2020 at 8:16 AM ^
While it is true that Davis had a breakout as a Gritty McGritterson, and rarely misses a point-blanker with his underthebasket skillset; he nullifies the spacing and can't guard the 4 or stretch 5.
He's exceeded expectations, and that's great for his minutes in spelling Teske. The best place for him to get more minutes, is to give Teske a bit more rest.
The bigger factor in him not playing the 4, is the slightly more delayed breakout of Johns Jr. Johns' emergence has bigger upside. Teske/Johns is a much better "double big" line up. If the Big Sleep needs a nap, then Davis(5)/Johns(4) is the next best for the bigs.
February 19th, 2020 at 8:47 AM ^
1. Not all ideas are good ideas.
2. Some thoughts are meant to be 'inside' thoughts, not outside thoughts.
February 19th, 2020 at 9:06 AM ^
Have you just not been watching basketball this season? Juwan runs the 2 big line up somewhat often
February 19th, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
Think bigger, OP.
Austin Davis should not be playing the four, he should be taking over for Warde Manuel as the athletic director so that he can fire Juwan Howard for not trying Austin Davis at the four.