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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by rserina

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by NorthCaptivaGator

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]

Originally Posted by rserina

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]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

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]

Originally Posted by rserina

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]

Originally Posted by akaGatorhoops

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.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by qwghlmgator

Somewhere, Kyle Wiltjer is nodding his head in agreement.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.