Lauri Markkanen

jsbowl16 · Post by **jsbowl16** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 5:19 am

Puerco wrote:I hope Lauri isn't too tired from playing man defense during the conference tourney.

He wont be. One game in twelve days before the conference tournament definitely helped.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:38 am

Bangkok Wildcat wrote:
azcat49 wrote:
Jefe wrote:
“We talk about it all the time, being a complete player, and his goals,” Pasternack said. “There are a lot of players in the NBA who are just three-point shooters. There are 6-10 guys who are just three-point shooters. He wants to be a complete player. His goal is to be an NBA All-Star, not just a lottery pick and a good NBA player.
I just got goosebumps
Last time I heard coaches and players talk like that it was Jim Rosborough talking about why Sean Elliott made the decision to come back for his SR year. How did that turn out
Those were the good old days.....wish the NBA Players Union would pull their heads out of their butts and adopt something similar to baseball or football....all these kids leaving early sucks for both fans and is bad for some of the players too (yes Jerrett I see you).

Oregon is so good because they are loaded with upper-classmen.....Can you imagine what this team would look like if Lauri, Rawle, and Kobi were Juniors & Seniors instead of Freshmen??? Wow.

I think making them stay through sophomore season is a happy medium. Anything more, you are pushing guys to play overseas, inviting greedy AAU people to create a "CFL" type of situation, and you may see some guys going the JUCO route like baseball.

Puerco · Post by **Puerco** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 10:47 am

jsbowl16 wrote:
Puerco wrote:I hope Lauri isn't too tired from playing man defense during the conference tourney.
He wont be. One game in twelve days before the conference tournament definitely helped.

Yep, I knew I should have used a sarcasm emote.

Bangkok Wildcat · Post by **Bangkok Wildcat** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 11:59 pm

rgdeuce wrote:
Bangkok Wildcat wrote:
azcat49 wrote:
Jefe wrote:
“We talk about it all the time, being a complete player, and his goals,” Pasternack said. “There are a lot of players in the NBA who are just three-point shooters. There are 6-10 guys who are just three-point shooters. He wants to be a complete player. His goal is to be an NBA All-Star, not just a lottery pick and a good NBA player.
I just got goosebumps
Last time I heard coaches and players talk like that it was Jim Rosborough talking about why Sean Elliott made the decision to come back for his SR year. How did that turn out
Those were the good old days.....wish the NBA Players Union would pull their heads out of their butts and adopt something similar to baseball or football....all these kids leaving early sucks for both fans and is bad for some of the players too (yes Jerrett I see you).

Oregon is so good because they are loaded with upper-classmen.....Can you imagine what this team would look like if Lauri, Rawle, and Kobi were Juniors & Seniors instead of Freshmen??? Wow.
I think making them stay through sophomore season is a happy medium. Anything more, you are pushing guys to play overseas, inviting greedy AAU people to create a "CFL" type of situation, and you may see some guys going the JUCO route like baseball.

Interesting rgdeuce on the AAU angle....ok, I'd happily take your suggestion....anything but ONDs....as much as I enjoyed Aaron and Stanley, they are easily forgettable when reminiscing over past, great Arizona players....One Year is just way too short a time to bond.

At least with your 2 year minimum, that'd take a load off of the Coaches recruiting, stressing, planning-wise and would be more fun for us fans....really takes a lot of fun out of the game when you're stressing, from day one, who of your star Freshmen will bail early

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:38 am

As much as I dislike the one-and-done situation, it still beats the hell out of guys making the jump straight out of high school. We now get to see the Kobes, McGradys, Garnetts, and (maybe someday) Lebrons for a year on an NCAA floor.

That first half by Lauri last night was amazing, that left handed push shot he made from about 7 feet out after drawing contact was nuts. Had a nice left-handed hook very early too. Beautiful touch.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 9:31 am

My best professional friend who is new to march madness (NW grad) was just in awe with LM last night and texted me a ton to tell me about it.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 9:39 am

And he didn't get a 3pt show from Lauri either. Special player.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 9:54 am

CalStateTempe wrote:My best professional friend who is new to march madness (NW grad) was just in awe with LM last night and texted me a ton to tell me about it.

I loved Lauri's first half. He could get inside at will and he never settled for the three and constantly worked to get easy looks at the rim. That's how I like his game. His 3's will present themselves, but he is working to get the better looks and that's when he is truly dominant.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:12 am

^^ the only real time he is going to get anything close to the FGA's he should be taking on a nightly basis.

qwertyus · Post by **qwertyus** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:30 am

I feel like we're going to be feeding him (and Dusan/Chance) in the post a ton to get Londale in foul trouble/tired. With Londale out, I'll bet their inside-out game takes a hit.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:43 am

qwertyus wrote:I feel like we're going to be feeding him (and Dusan/Chance) in the post a ton to get Londale in foul trouble/tired. With Londale out, I'll bet their inside-out game takes a hit.

If Landale has him, I like giving Lauri faceups from 17. Landale doesn't strike me as having great lateral quickness, and Lauri has a great up fake to putting the ball on the floor. I could see that move getting Landale reaching.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:29 pm

Switching Lauri on Landale won us this game.

Great 2nd half by Lauri on both ends

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:36 pm

Alieberman wrote:Switching Lauri on Landale won us this game.

Great 2nd half by Lauri on both ends

Lauri showed what he can do on D tonight. He did a great job on Landale. Of course, he also hit a huge 3 and was good on offense. I'm just glad we have him.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 8:25 pm

Lauri punked him tonight. Didnt slow him down. Punked him.

EVCat · Post by **EVCat** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:06 pm

Lauri's last 10 minutes allowed us to stay away from doubling and giving open 3s. He may have lost some battles but by not giving up and getting some blocks, he allowed us to stick to the plan and not rotate out of sound perimeter D. Great game

qwertyus · Post by **qwertyus** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:13 pm

Man, LM's block on Lansdale (with like 5 mins to go) that turned into a terrible Trier jumper early in the shot clock got me so pissed! LM won us that game for sure. No nerves on the FT's.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 1:35 pm

Buddy saw Lauri out for breakfast this morning, two different groups of people bothered him for pictures within his first few minutes of being seated. Said Lauri look respectfully annoyed. Better get used to it now stud

Main Event · Post by **Main Event** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:54 am

NBA draft stock watch: Which tourney stars are rising and falling?

Stock up

Lauri Markkanen, PF, Fr., Arizona

After a midseason slump that saw his jump shot take a vacation, Markkanen has been a force for Arizona in March. He dropped 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting against North Dakota, and after a slow start against Saint Mary's made some big plays down the stretch for Arizona on both side of the court, including a big 3 and a block with three minutes left in the game.

Scouts are pretty split on whether he'll be a star in the Dirk Nowitzki mold, or merely a good stretch-4 like Ryan Anderson. Arizona has been asking him to do more in the post and less on the perimeter lately, which has helped his all-around game (scouts were happy to see him grab 11 boards and block a couple of shots against the Gaels). Scouts have him pegged in the Nos. 5-9 range in the draft.

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_ ... nt-edition" target="_blank

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:32 pm

That stretch when he took it from 58-55 to 63-55. Great.

Hits a three. Blocks a shot. Drives and draws a foul. Hits the FTs. That was ballgame.

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:44 pm

gumby wrote:That stretch when he took it from 58-55 to 63-55. Great.

Hits a three. Blocks a shot. Drives and draws a foul. Hits the FTs. That was ballgame.

I was in Tempe when he decided to start to do this. Me likey.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:41 pm

The emergence of Pinder has helped Lauri stop worrying about picking up fouls.

Gladiator Cat · Post by **Gladiator Cat** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:55 pm

Chicat wrote:The emergence of Pinder has helped Lauri stop worrying about picking up fouls.

Good point Chi. Boy right about now would be a good-time for Pinder and Simmons to bring some mojo to the line-up.

We'll need both from here on out.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:00 pm

Great thing about this team is that we can play big or we can play small. That and the fact no one else has a player like LM

Gladiator Cat · Post by **Gladiator Cat** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:05 pm

All true but being able to take some fouls and maybe knock down some shots is huge, huge, huge.

We'll need all hands on deck if we are to reach the FF and advance to the championship game. But I'm getting way ahead of myself.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:58 pm

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:35 am

That's some great company there, Kevin Costner's son could really ball too.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:13 pm

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:19 pm

Miller on right now. Ticker reads that Arizona has the best NCAA win pct. without a Final Four appearance.

Nice knowing ya The Finnisher. Go be truly great at the next level.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:23 pm

Sad to see the most dynamic and special player Arizona may have ever seen completely wasted away. Matter fact, its fucking depressing. Its infuriating.

Main Event · Post by **Main Event** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:25 pm

Didn't touch the ball...

I feel like we failed this kid

billk78 · Post by **billk78** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:26 pm

Main Event wrote:Didn't touch the ball...

I feel like we failed this kid

Well....Trier did.

whatisee · Post by **whatisee** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:32 pm

billk78 wrote:
Main Event wrote:Didn't touch the ball...

I feel like we failed this kid
Well....Trier did.

what a fucking sham...like you don't want to get it inside for a solid two.

Lando05 · Post by **Lando05** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 11:56 pm

It's like we wasted a college version of Dirk, how do you do that?

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:09 am

I love Lauri, his season will go down as one of my favorites by a Cat, but part of that is on him and it is IMO the one gripe one could have with him - his lack of assertiveness. Its a gift and a curse. Some guys w his skills will scream and practically rip the ball from their teammates. You simply dont find many players of his skill level be cool w not taking a shot for the final 11 minutes of a do or die game.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:54 am

rgdeuce wrote:Sad to see the most dynamic and special player Arizona may have ever seen completely wasted away. Matter fact, its fucking depressing. Its infuriating.

You know that's going to get out in recruiting circles.

Fuck, 11min. I knew it was long. It didn't think it was that long. That's criminal. Meanwhile we have trier doing his best NBA jams impression, but not really on fire (except for like 3min with 7 to go).

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:56 am

rgdeuce wrote:I love Lauri, his season will go down as one of my favorites by a Cat, but part of that is on him and it is IMO the one gripe one could have with him - his lack of assertiveness. Its a gift and a curse. Some guys w his skills will scream and practically rip the ball from their teammates. You simply dont find many players of his skill level be cool w not taking a shot for the final 11 minutes of a do or die game.

Then that's when coach needs to step in and tell his troops where the ball needs/should go. Instead we have trier clapping like an idiot everytime down the court when the ball is passed to the opposite side of the arc.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 9:37 am

Lauri is going to be remembered as our basketball version of Gronk.

He is so good and so unique that his college coach had no idea how to properly use him and he will be an amazing star in the Pros.

No reason he wasn't constantly put in position to score or get fouled last night, yet he barely even touched the ball in the 2nd half. He is a matchup nightmare and he was invisible. I can't wrap my head around that.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:13 am

Please come back for one more year.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:15 am

rgdeuce wrote:I love Lauri, his season will go down as one of my favorites by a Cat, but part of that is on him and it is IMO the one gripe one could have with him - his lack of assertiveness. Its a gift and a curse. Some guys w his skills will scream and practically rip the ball from their teammates. You simply dont find many players of his skill level be cool w not taking a shot for the final 11 minutes of a do or die game.

This. He's still figuring himself out. He obviously was taught to be a team first guy, but he's good enough that he needs a bit of Allonzo in him. He is comfortable fitting in when he can stand out.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:37 am

If he is going top 10 then he better get that mentality quick. If he doesn't have any alpha dog in him maybe he needs to come back and work on that next year

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:38 pm

Anyone keeping a scholarship count? Don't think there is room for LM to come back, perhaps Trier too. Simmons is gone of course, but like someone posted a month or so ago, Trier is gone too due to the way the NCAA treated him. Need to make room for that Duke player too if he wants to come here.

PennZona20 · Post by **PennZona20** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 1:00 pm

Lol if everyone comes back (not gonna happen) we are at a full allotment of 13.

Dusan
PJC
Pinder

Chance
Trier

Lauri
Kobi
Rawle
Dylan

Ayton
Lee
Randolph
Barcello

That's 13. But there are guys coming when others leave. Bowen if kobi and Trier leave. Maverick Rowan will transfer in traditionally like TJ if there's room. Dusan could go to Europe if Lauri comes back. Duval could join the team. Akot could reclassify.

Still a lot to be decided on this roster.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 1:07 pm

I don't think anyone has been living well enough to see this lineup, but sometimes I dream of:

Ayton
Lauri
Rawle
Trier
PJC (or dare to dream, Duval)

Assuming Ayton is clear, if one of Lauri/Trier is back, we are loaded. Both return and it feels impossible.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 1:20 pm

PennZona20 wrote:Lol if everyone comes back (not gonna happen) we are at a full allotment of 13.

Dusan
PJC
Pinder

Chance
Trier

Lauri
Kobi
Rawle
Dylan

Ayton
Lee
Randolph
Barcello

That's 13. But there are guys coming when others leave. Bowen if kobi and Trier leave. Maverick Rowan will transfer in traditionally like TJ if there's room. Dusan could go to Europe if Lauri comes back. Duval could join the team. Akot could reclassify.

Still a lot to be decided on this roster.

Great list, thanks for posting.

Talbot Denny needs to go on it though, he is a scholarship player, at least for now. Assuming he doesn't retire like Smith due to injuries.

PennZona20 · Post by **PennZona20** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:24 pm

Merkin wrote:
PennZona20 wrote:Lol if everyone comes back (not gonna happen) we are at a full allotment of 13.

Dusan
PJC
Pinder

Chance
Trier

Lauri
Kobi
Rawle
Dylan

Ayton
Lee
Randolph
Barcello

That's 13. But there are guys coming when others leave. Bowen if kobi and Trier leave. Maverick Rowan will transfer in traditionally like TJ if there's room. Dusan could go to Europe if Lauri comes back. Duval could join the team. Akot could reclassify.

Still a lot to be decided on this roster.
Great list, thanks for posting.

Talbot Denny needs to go on it though, he is a scholarship player, at least for now. Assuming he doesn't retire like Smith due to injuries.

Talbot was promised one year as a grad transfer. He wasn't promised two. His ship is not guaranteed next year. I'm sure if when Miller is done filling out the roster if there is one left over Denny can have it, but he's certainly not guaranteed it.

PennZona20 · Post by **PennZona20** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:25 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote:I don't think anyone has been living well enough to see this lineup, but sometimes I dream of:

Ayton
Lauri
Rawle
Trier
PJC (or dare to dream, Duval)

Assuming Ayton is clear, if one of Lauri/Trier is back, we are loaded. Both return and it feels impossible.

A lot of posters say we can't win a title or make a final 4 w PJC as the starting PG. I'd argue w that lineup we could, and if not , he'd certainly be the reason.

rgdeuce · Post by **rgdeuce** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:50 pm

Last night I nearly posted that the only thing that would cheer me up would be Lauri shocking the world and saying he was coming back. I told myself I was stupid for even entertaining the idea and rolled over to try to fall asleep.

PennZona20 · Post by **PennZona20** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:24 pm

I mean Justin Jackson was a lotto pick after his frosh year and roll thru the tourney. He's currently hitting shots from 35 feet while unc is rolling as a junior. Now granted they give him fake classes at unc w no consequences but why can't we have that???

Duke will have a 5 star Grayson allen likely for 4 years.

Lotto pick Robert Williams is coming back for A&M.

Why can't just this once, Arizona get some good fortune.

I can't see a frontline of ayton and Lauri flaming out early.

whatisee · Post by **whatisee** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:50 pm

Congratulations Lauri!

3rd Team AP All- American

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 3:27 pm

PennZona20 wrote:I mean Justin Jackson was a lotto pick after his frosh year and roll thru the tourney. He's currently hitting shots from 35 feet while unc is rolling as a junior. Now granted they give him fake classes at unc w no consequences but why can't we have that???

Duke will have a 5 star Grayson allen likely for 4 years.

Lotto pick Robert Williams is coming back for A&M.

Why can't just this once, Arizona get some good fortune.

I can't see a frontline of ayton and Lauri flaming out early.

Because someone did something nefarious sometime after 2001 that has cursed this program. I wouldn't get your hopes up on that luck changing any time soon in regards to this decision.

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