100% Shooting

[themistocles]

Has anyone noticed that Prather, in his 29 minutes during two games has shot 100%?

2-point Field Goals - 6 for 6
3-point Field Goals - 1 for 1
Free Throws - 4 for 4

This team has clearly got more than one player who can put the ball in the basket.

[rserina]

C'mon, statistician. Seven shots over two games is not exactly a great sample, now is it? I personally am less concerned about what Prather brings offensively than what he does defensively. He is such a good perimeter defender with the size and athleticism to harass smaller fours, too. Guys like him off the bench make life miserable for opponents taking on a second unit. Anything he gets offensively is a bonus and largely will come from mismatches against slower fours, as it did yesterday. Glad to see him back on the court.

[GatorChoice]

I thought that too rserina, but the game seems to have really slowed down for Casey and he's playing with more confidence. If that keeps up, he's going to add another viable scorer to our lineup which is a tremendous help.

[108]

the kid has NBA athleticism and should be able to get to the rim several times a game

rooting for him

[GatorRade]

C'mon, statistician. Seven shots over two games is not exactly a great sample, now is it? I personally am less concerned about what Prather brings offensively than what he does defensively. He is such a good perimeter defender with the size and athleticism to harass smaller fours, too. Guys like him off the bench make life miserable for opponents taking on a second unit. Anything he gets offensively is a bonus and largely will come from mismatches against slower fours, as it did yesterday. Glad to see him back on the court.

Definitely a small sample size, but I do think it might be indicative of his shot selection, which yesterday was entirely composed of high percentage shots.

[rserina]

I thought that too rserina, but the game seems to have really slowed down for Casey and he's playing with more confidence. If that keeps up, he's going to add another viable scorer to our lineup which is a tremendous help.
Oh, I was just giving Pythagoras a hard time. The big challenge for Prather, like Yeguete, has always been his decision-making with the ball in his hands. Too many sloppy turnovers. That is also one reason why his move to the four late last year was so successful. He didn't have to run ball screens or make many post entry passes, but was content to space the floor, slip to the basket off screens, take a slower guy off the dribble, work the baseline against zone, and attack the offensive glass. Not as many ballhandling responsibilities for him at the four.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Oh, I was just giving Pythagoras a hard time. The big challenge for Prather, like Yeguete, has always been his decision-making with the ball in his hands. Too many sloppy turnovers. That is also one reason why his move to the four late last year was so successful. He didn't have to run ball screens or make many post entry passes, but was content to space the floor, slip to the basket off screens, take a slower guy off the dribble, work the baseline against zone, and attack the offensive glass. Not as many ballhandling responsibilities for him at the four.

If you go back and watch Prather's highlight reel dunk against UCF you will notice Billy yelling at Scotty, who had the ball, "Casey, Casey". Prather then runs the baseline to the opposite wing, Scottie gets him the ball and Prather turns back door fand drives for the reverse slam. Prather must be showing in practice that he is ready to have some plays run specifically for him. I am excited for him and the team

[akaGatorhoops]

Stats aside, it is very clear watching him that he has the ability to get to the hoop and explode to the rim. That is an special offensive talent. I think he can bring more than just defensive length and skill to the floor.

[GatorPlanet]

Love the first step to the hoop...very explosive. By the time he's taken it, it's almost too late for the defense to react. Very much like the Brad Beal first step.

As scouting reports start to zero in on him, the next step will be to find the other parts of offense to help with.

[VTGator]

Love the first step to the hoop...very explosive. By the time he's taken it, it's almost too late for the defense to react. Very much like the Brad Beal first step.

As scouting reports start to zero in on him, the next step will be to find the other parts of offense to help with.

However much they scout, a confident Prather playing alongside KB, Rosario, Murphy and PY/WY should be a nightmare for defenses. Prather won't have to do too much to be effective, he'll just have to take what the defense gives him while focusing on the other guys.

[rserina]

It all depends on the matchup. Prather probably won't get that against an athletic three, but he certainly can get it against a four in our league.

[iam4uf]

If you go back and watch Prather's highlight reel dunk against UCF you will notice Billy yelling at Scotty, who had the ball, "Casey, Casey". Prather then runs the baseline to the opposite wing, Scottie gets him the ball and Prather turns back door fand drives for the reverse slam. Prather must be showing in practice that he is ready to have some plays run specifically for him. I am excited for him and the team

Yeah, I heard Donovan pointing that out as well.

[InstiGATOR1]

C'mon, statistician. Seven shots over two games is not exactly a great sample, now is it?

I'm sorry I must have missed the part of his post where themistocles concluded that therefore Prather would likely not miss a shot all year. Good grief.

[tommyuf21]

A completely different player this year. Happy to see the light turn on.

[rserina]

I'm sorry I must have missed the part of his post where themistocles concluded that therefore Prather would likely not miss a shot all year. Good grief.
You must have also missed the rest of that post, where I qualified my point, and the subsequent post, where I said I was just giving him a hard time. Good grief.

[InstiGATOR1]

You must have also missed the rest of that post, where I qualified my point, and the subsequent post, where I said I was just giving him a hard time. Good grief.

Fair enough. I did miss your follow up post.

[qwghlmgator]

Stats aside, it is very clear watching him that he has the ability to get to the hoop and explode to the rim.

Somewhere, Kyle Wiltjer is nodding his head in agreement. :yes:

[rserina]

Somewhere, Kyle Wiltjer is nodding his head in agreement. :yes:
You really have to lick your chops at that matchup. This is really the first time since Calipari arrived that we can create mismatches in our favor. In recent years, their length, versatility, and athleticism across the board has hurt us. Now, we can dictate a little. Go small and they have to put Poythress at the four, with few other options on the perimeter, or risk playing Wiltjer or Cauley 20-feet from the basket. Our depth, size, and defensive abilities at the one through three are all better than theirs, while our versatility in the front line forces their shotblockers out into space and creates driving lanes to the rim. We have guys who can defend Poythress and Goodwin and we have the spacing on offense to take their shotblockers out of it. Hopefully we can capitalize on those advantages.

[tupacbiff]

I thought that too rserina, but the game seems to have really slowed down for Casey and he's playing with more confidence. If that keeps up, he's going to add another viable scorer to our lineup which is a tremendous help.

If you are basically going to quote me you should at least credit the source.

[Colin]

Prather is awesome. We have a strong bench behind a strong starting five.

[jguz]

I thought that Prather missed his last shot last nite, but am not sure and didnt record the game. Made a beautiful drive to the basket, finished with an underhand scoop to the front if the basket. Think he was further out than he thought and it clanked off the front of the rim. It could have been someone else tho. I'm pulling for him tho.

[themistocles]

Actually rserina, I agree with you, exceedingly small sample, however, I learned when I was gambling professionally that things which happen almost all the time, fall into a different league that other things from a probabilistic perspective. That cause me to reinvent Cohen's Power Analysis.

Also, you must realize that he hit 4 of 4 free throws, thus, in fact, the sample is 11 shots.

I think that everyone's comments point out the sort of effects that having a Prather like this one might well have on the team and the opposition.

The fact that Wilbekin has shown he will shoot, and Prather also, means that opposing teams will have difficulty finding a player to leave open when they double anyone.

[rserina]

Actually rserina, I agree with you, exceedingly small sample, however, I learned when I was gambling professionally that things which happen almost all the time, fall into a different league that other things from a probabilistic perspective. That cause me to reinvent Cohen's Power Analysis.
Dork

I think that everyone's comments point out the sort of effects that having a Prather like this one might well have on the team and the opposition.

The fact that Wilbekin has shown he will shoot, and Prather also, means that opposing teams will have difficulty finding a player to leave open when they double anyone.
I agree. Balance is paramount for Donovan's system. One version of the Rserina's Power Analysis over the years has been to look for two guys who score in double digits in the post. Over Donovan's sixteen seasons thus far, we have made the tournament every single year that has happened (ten times), but have missed it four times we have not (2-4 out of those instances). Furthermore, our five best seeds and our six best finishes have all come under those conditions. The more balance we have offensively, the better of a team we are.

[GatorChoice]

If you are basically going to quote me you should at least credit the source.

Lolwut? It's crazy I know, but people sometimes have similar thoughts. Egocentric much?

[gatordee]

No I did not notice that. WOW! That is almost perfect!

[tupacbiff]

Lolwut? It's crazy I know, but people sometimes have similar thoughts. Egocentric much?

It's ok to have the same thoughts but when you read it from the same person over and over you should credit him.

Egocentric - most def

[regurgigator]

I thought that Prather missed his last shot last nite, but am not sure and didnt record the game. Made a beautiful drive to the basket, finished with an underhand scoop to the front if the basket. Think he was further out than he thought and it clanked off the front of the rim. It could have been someone else tho. I'm pulling for him tho.

Sounds like the shot he was fouled on.

[ArtVandelay]

I thought about this thread when he missed his first shot tonight! Thanks for jinxing him on that layup :nervous smile: