I just respectfully but vehemently disagree with you both. Basketball IQ says in that moment, you're down 1 in the conference semis. You have the ACC POY on the floor, and several other really good scoring options. With under 6 minutes to go in that situation and Duke being on their heels...is Casey shooting *that* shot REALLY the best thing? With Pack/Wong/Wooga/Miller on the floor? There was 13 left on the shot clock, by the way. It's not like he absolutely had to take that shot.
You can talk about L trusting him, you can talk about him being wide open D1 player, you can talk about him being a Stretch 4...
*Casey shot 10% from 3pt range last year per our official stats*:
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His
only make was in mop up duty against FAMU in the 2nd game of the season. Logic tells me that he shouldn't be taking many 3's, and it also tells me that the supposition that L trusts him with that shot is a faulty premise because I know L knows he was only 1/8 from 3 up until that Duke game. From 2pt range coming into that game? 8 of 13. That's 62%! Take Casey's name off of it...which is a better shot for Player X who shoots 13% from 3, or 62% from 2? Especially a 6'9 Freshman PF?
It's not like he's a great 3pt shooter that's been struggling but has license to take that shot. You ask Coach L in an interview if he was comfortable with that shot he's gonna be positive and support Casey which is the right thing for Coach L to do...but in the locker room and watching tape...you know that got questioned/called out.
If you're gonna claim "Stretch 4", yes - his body type is such and he has some guard skills...but *not in that moment*. Either give it up to someone else, or put the ball on the floor and try to get to the line. The more accurate claim is he's a
*developing* Stretch 4. He's not there yet. Get his HS film out of your head for a moment...he has potential to be a good Stretch 4, but on the floor at that point in time? He's the small 5. This is what I mean about using his athleticism/quickness - put the ball on the floor, go to the rim, and at least draw the foul and look for the finish. I mean FFS...drive to draw the D and pick one of those other 4 guys to take a 3 instead?
I mean this all respectfully to each of you...but I've got valid reasons for my concern and for disagreement that Casey should've taken that shot. Especially being there and seeing it play out in person, it was super obvious that he didn't need to take that shot.
As I've mentioned in this thread, I'm confident L and the staff will work with him and Casey is super talented - he ought to develop nicely. But all I can judge him on up to this point is what he showed on the floor this year, and hope for his work and potential to meet up as early as this season. I think it will all come together, and I don't want it to be lost that I'm rooting for Casey to be a star for us...truly. Valid criticism doesn't automatically mean I'm rooting against him, somehow. He's gonna be a stud, but right now he's what's referred to as a puppy with big paws.