Duke Mid-Season Thread

• sleeper

  

  reclegend22;1076237 wrote:It most definitely is. I am a diehard Duke fan, as loyal as they come, but I secretly cheer harder for the anglo-saxons. Don't tell anybody this, but when one of the "darks" makes a good shot or cool pass, I only politely clap. Inside, however, I am thinking how wonderful he would look dangling from a joshua tree.
  
  As for reality, it will be us against the world on Wednesday. I welcome it. Duke has played some of its best basketball over the years with an edge. This year's team doesn't naturally have it; it has to be manufactured for them. Perhaps the loss today will do that. Just like in 2008 when Greg Paulus was our team leader and Carolina an imposing machine of athleticism and superior talent with which we couldn't possibly hang, we will be heading into Chapel Hill with no more than a puncher's chance. We won that night. Let's see what happens.

  We? LOL
• chicago510

  

  ccrunner609;1076532 wrote:thats what kids do.....everyone is a bandwagoner at first. Loyalty and fandum comes with staying power. I haev liked them from day one.
  
  As for the white player comment.......I guess I could see that. I was playing HS ball when Hurley and Laetner played.....I always wanted to mirror my game after them.

  Nah. I rooted for the teams my dad rooted for and the schools I attended. Ohio St Bball sucked my whole childhood and I still to this day root for them.
• chicago510

  

  Back on topic, Duke better turn it around defensively and with their shot selection or they are going to get run out of the Dean Dome.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  reclegend22;1076237 wrote:It most definitely is. I am a diehard Duke fan, as loyal as they come, but I secretly cheer harder for the anglo-saxons. Don't tell anybody this, but when one of the "darks" makes a good shot or cool pass, I only politely clap. Inside, however, I am thinking how wonderful he would look dangling from a joshua tree.
  
  As for reality, it will be us against the world on Wednesday. I welcome it. Duke has played some of its best basketball over the years with an edge. This year's team doesn't naturally have it; it has to be manufactured for them. Perhaps the loss today will do that. Just like in 2008 when Greg Paulus was our team leader and Carolina an imposing machine of athleticism and superior talent with which we couldn't possibly hang, we will be heading into Chapel Hill with no more than a puncher's chance. We won that night. Let's see what happens.

  ccrunner609;1076532 wrote:thats what kids do.....everyone is a bandwagoner at first. Loyalty and fandum comes with staying power. I haev liked them from day one.
  
  As for the white player comment.......I guess I could see that. I was playing HS ball when Hurley and Laetner played.....I always wanted to mirror my game after them.

  LOL you guys are both ****...duke sucks and their fans are ****
• DeyDurkie5

  

  reclegend22;1076237 wrote:It most definitely is. I am a diehard Duke fan, as loyal as they come, but I secretly cheer harder for the anglo-saxons. Don't tell anybody this, but when one of the "darks" makes a good shot or cool pass, I only politely clap. Inside, however, I am thinking how wonderful he would look dangling from a joshua tree.
  
  As for reality, it will be us against the world on Wednesday. I welcome it. Duke has played some of its best basketball over the years with an edge. This year's team doesn't naturally have it; it has to be manufactured for them. Perhaps the loss today will do that. Just like in 2008 when Greg Paulus was our team leader and Carolina an imposing machine of athleticism and superior talent with which we couldn't possibly hang, we will be heading into Chapel Hill with no more than a puncher's chance. We won that night. Let's see what happens.

  ccrunner609;1076593 wrote:You add so much to this thread

  you don't add anything to this forum
  
  
  "first"
  
  you suck, gym teacher bitch
• reclegend22

  

  DeyDurkie,
  
  You know what would really add to this forum is if you had kidney failure and passed away.
• Prescott

  You know what would really add to this forum is if you had kidney failure and passed away.

  I see you still maintain class in the face ridicule and defeat.
• reclegend22

  

  I see you still maintain class in the face ridicule and defeat

  Only when it comes to people who are utterly bereft of reason and mentally on par with sperm. Otherwise, I normally do not participate in hopeful deaths. In this particular case, it seemed appropriate.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  reclegend22;1076698 wrote:DeyDurkie,
  
  You know what would really add to this forum is if you had kidney failure and passed away.

  LOL I'm glad I got to you..duke university holds such high standards when it comes to their fans
• hoops23

  

  ccrunner609;1075662 wrote:I hope we see a gameplan of good guard penetration and first option offense of pumping the ball inside to PLumlee. The UNC game will be a guage on how far they have come since OSU game. If they win on the road in this game I would predict a final four for sure

  
  
  
  :laugh:
• DeyDurkie5

  

  my posts got deleted?
• vball10set

  0-6 from the line it OT? pathetic
• Fly4Fun

  

  I cleaned up the thread as it was getting extremely derailed by name calling and bitching. Feel free to continue posting on-topic.
• swamisez

  

  I would attribute the 0-6 from the line to fatigue. Curry, Cook, and Rivers played every minute of the second half. Rightfully so, they were the ones who brought the team back into the game. Put a great bit of energy into that comeback and it takes a bit out of you.
  
  The lesson, don't sleep walk through the first half and do a few extra sprints so when you need to hit free throws in overtime, your legs will be there.
  
  Duke will come to play vs. Carolina, no need to find motivation there. I just wonder if they are talented enough to make shots in a hostile environment against a quality opponent. My gut says no, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was a great contest.
• georgemc80

  horrible effort in the OT. How do you go 0-6 from the stripe? What was that horrible driving shot?
  
  I told my son that the questionable call on Plumlee at the end of half would be a big factor in the end.
• centralbucksfan

  chicago510;1076582 wrote:Back on topic, Duke better turn it around defensively and with their shot selection or they are going to get run out of the Dean Dome.

  This is worst Duke defense in as long as I can remember. Its been going on all season long. You don't just flip a switch this late in the season.
• swamisez

  

  I kind of disagree with CBF here. I personally feel defense can be flipped on like a switch because defense can be engineered with great effort. Duke has limitations in personnel obviously, but they have shown that when they play as hard as they can the defense is effective at deterring opposing offenses. The desire just hasn't been there.
  
  While this isn't the case for all teams, I think it is the case with Duke this season. They do have two guards who can stay in front of defenders (Thornton and Cook) and they possess rim defenders (Plum 1, Plum 2). Where they have struggled is they allow so much dribble penetration bigs step up to help and this creates great looks for defenses. Much of this I feel comes from Coach K opting to play his offensive lineups that utilize our three worst defenders (Curry, Dawkins, Rivers). Over the last two games K has opted for a more defensive look. This produced a great game at Virginia Tech, and a great 2nd half against Miami.
  
  There was no sense of urgency or fight out there for most of the game vs Miami and this has resulted in a defense that ranks 214 in efficiency giving up 42 first half points. When the second half arrived Cook replaced Thornton, Hariston was inserted, and Dawkins saw no playing time. This gave Duke its best chance to win. Unfortunately, Cook while brilliant defensively and offensively for much of the second half, dismantled during crunch time. If you are a Duke fan you have to ask yourself whether you are willing to let him learn by playing at game 22 of the season or if you want to continue to let the Curry, Dawkins, Rivers triumvirate get abused.
• centralbucksfan

  swamisez;1076942 wrote:I kind of disagree with CBF here. I personally feel defense can be flipped on like a switch because defense can be engineered with great effort. Duke has limitations in personnel obviously, but they have shown that when they play as hard as they can the defense is effective at deterring opposing offenses. The desire just hasn't been there.
  
  .

  ++
  
  
  If this were early season, 5-10 games in, I would agree. We are now 20+ games in. There is obviously something more there that one of the greatest coaches of all time is having trouble with. Thus, I don't think they are capable of flipping that switch, this late. If yesterday game, or FSU game was an away game..ok. But those two HOME losses put up big red flag IMO. Just my 2 cents.
• Prescott

  The quandary: Cook and Thornton can defend on the perimeter. Cook and Thornton are not great 3 point shooters. duke loves the 3. What to do?
  
  BTW, Cook tool one of the worst shots of all time.
• centralbucksfan

  Prescott;1077048 wrote:BTW, Cook tool one of the worst shots of all time.

  Wow, that was an aweful shot. I was like, WTF??
• swamisez

  

  Somehow duke is 4-0 on the road and 2-2 at home in conference play. the defense has been there on the road. I think it is a warrior mentality they take with them that doesn't happen at Cameron. This is why I feel they can turn it around. They Just have to translate it to a home game.
  
  I figure duke will play Carolina very well Wednesday night.
  
  As for the defense lineup vs offense lineup. I'll take cook at point all day. Despite the bad decision he is still 4:1 assist to turnover in conference play. The shot was terrible no doubt but he gives the offense a better look. More so than curry or Thornton running the show.
• Midstate01

  

  swamisez;1077691 wrote:Somehow duke is 4-0 on the road and 2-2 at home in conference play. the defense has been there on the road. I think it is a warrior mentality they take with them that doesn't happen at Cameron. This is why I feel they can turn it around. They Just have to translate it to a home game.
  
  I figure duke will play Carolina very well Wednesday night.
  
  As for the defense lineup vs offense lineup. I'll take cook at point all day. Despite the bad decision he is still 4:1 assist to turnover in conference play. The shot was terrible no doubt but he gives the offense a better look. More so than curry or Thornton running the show.

  
  Very unusual for them to be 2-2 at home.
• reclegend22

  

  Duke with a stellar start against N.C. State in Cameron. The Blue Devils are 0-for-8 from three and shooting 25% overall. The swoon at home continues. Let me say this. Aside from perhaps the North Carolina game, there is absolutely no home-court advantage in Durham this season. None. Teams simply aren't fearful of coming here anymore. They seem to be relishing in it. Bad news for the Devils.
  
  I figured N.C. State would present lots of trouble. They line up 6'5, 6'5 and 6'7 on the perimeter and can really stroke it as well as use their size and athleticism to get to the rack. Duke is in trouble.
• reclegend22

  

  BTW, Duke fans, N.C. State leads it 31 to 16. This might get depressing really quickly.
• Mulva

  

  44-25. This is a spanking.