Does Speights Matter?

by mlmintampa on Jun 25, 2008 10:05 AM EDT in Florida Basketball

Another season and another first round draft pick for the Florida Gators. Marreese Speights is nearly a lock for the first round in Thursday’s NBA Draft. NBA scouts look beyond his relative lack of fitness and see the .624 field goal percentage and averages of 14.5 points and 8.1 boards a game. Put him in an NBA system, where he can be tutored by Shaq (in Phoenix, pick 15) or by Dwight Howard (Magic, 22), and he can become a force. He was playing 24 minutes a night in college. If he gets 10-15 a night in the NBA, he will easily make a team’s rotation.

But does his decision to go pro really matter? Was there ever a point this season where you said, “Wow, Speights is dominating here.” If there was, let me know. Because for better or worse, the offensive options for UF were;

1a. Calathes outside

1b. Calathes inside

3. Who ever has the ball with five on the shot clock whenever Calathes is sitting

Calathes is the most dynamic player the Gators have. In the absence of players matching his caliber or willing to support him, the team fails. If Florida had done this, maybe they would have flamed out in the NCAAs and not the NIT.

Speights’ exit means the reinforcements coming in (Allan Chaney, Kenny Kadji, Eloy Vargas) will have to play more as freshman, which is what everyone wants anyway. I’m not trying to downplay the output of Speights, but being the most efficient player on the floor will not get you the ball when you’re only out there half the time. He is truly heading for greener pastures. Now it’s up to Calathes to take the reins and realize that there are four other dudes on the floor. Some of them may actually be able to shoot too.

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Having a junior playing center who has SEC game experience versus a true freshman is a big deal, even if Speights never truly dominated. He lengthens the rotation and gives Billy more flexibility with substitutions.

I know that we’re not looking at another championship even with Speights back next year, but he would help the team in several ways. He would get them closer to a conference title of some sort, so yeah, it matters for UF.

by Year2 on Jun 25, 2008 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

misstated

i don’t think you can really say that calathes needs to realize that there are 4 others players out there when he set a school record for assists.

by abeaugh on Jun 26, 2008 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

Calathes

It’s a little of a backhanded compliment, but I’m trying to say the team is Calathes’ team. Speights leaving only makes the transition quicker. And yes, Calathes led the team in assists, but it’s not always about a pass leading to a field goal. He’s got to organize the offense too. I think this season he will have a better understanding about that, especially if he plays with the Greek Olympic team. The International game depends on outside passing.

mlmintampa
UF C/O 06

by mlmintampa on Jun 26, 2008 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

Calathes

Cut the guy a little slack. Not only did he lead the conference in assists and set a team record, but he did os as a true freshman. Contrast that to what the ‘04s were expected to contribute their freshman seasons. They were worked in slowly with a few minutes off the bench here and there.

Not only was it a UF record, but I believe it was the second highest number of assists in SEC history. That is an unheard of accomplishment for a freshman.

Now consider who he had to pass to and you can really see how historic his numbers were last season.

Let’s hope he gets even better this season. As for Speights – I wish he would have played one more year. I don’t think he and Donovan saw eye to eye.

by skigator93 on Jun 26, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

I mention this in the article. Everyone agrees Speights, when on the floor, was a good player. But he only averaged 24 mins a night. Asking Calathes or even Lucas to alter their game for the times that Speights is out there is a stretch.

mlmintampa
UF C/O 06

by mlmintampa on Jun 27, 2008 7:07 AM EDT up reply actions