Is there any more proof needed (than the last 4 games) that Drayton or Nance deserve to start over Martin Iti?
Don’t forget, it’s senior day. Sager will probably start. I don’t know about the walk ons.
Hell, why not. It’s Southern Miss.
Iti is an afterthought for me. For those of you still holding out hope that he’s going to break through this season, forget it. He’s garbage this year…100% total garbage and has no business starting anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to see Iti stick around another year because I do think he can improve and develop into a decent player. But he’s going backwards in his progression right now and Nance has CLEARLY earned the starting nod at this point. Nance is a much more physical player, plays with more emotion/heart and is a better threat to score. I just think we’re a significantly better team with Iti on the bench. Hopefully that won’t be the case next year but with the minutes (lack thereof) he’s getting, I don’t really expect him to stick around.
I’m with jcl on this one. I know bog guys are slow to develop and it’s been my opinion that Iti would break out but he’s regressing right now. I don’t like it for foul purposes, but the Drayton/Nance/Withers combo is doing a fairly decent job for the big guys.
I can’t believe Iti was on the floor 12 minutes last night, I mean he only played about 2 minutes.
I would also like to see Iti stick around another year, but he has no business starting this year. I don’t really want him playing at all against the better teams we face (i.e. Louisville). Last night he was only in the game 12 minutes… he missed 2 free throws, a dunk, and grabbed only 1 rebound. He did have 1 nice block, but he also cost us at least 6 points… he was very late and very slow coming off his man for the double team. Three times the guy he was coming to double passed right around him to the man he left for an easy dunk or layup.
He needs to bulk up this summer and hustle a lot more next year.
Leave the kid alone, he is clearly down on his confidence already. Just not playing well right now–unlike our other players. But, why in the hell would you change the starting line up, just to put him down again? This starting line up is working. Lets not change whats working. I doubt Lutz will. Nance and Drayton can get all the minutes they want…adjust during the game…but now is not the time to tinker wth lineups.
[i]Originally posted by Iron9er[/i]@Feb 24 2005, 08:47 AM [b] This starting line up is working. Lets not change whats working. I doubt Lutz will. Nance and Drayton can get all the minutes they want...adjust during the game...but now is not the time to tinker wth lineups. [/b]Ding ding ding. We're now 20-4 and yet everyone is dying for a starting lineup change? What gives?
Iti played okay last night - he had one stupid foul (so did Curt) in those first five mins, but he also had a killer block on Washington and set a nice screen to get Mitch open for a jumper at the elbow. He also had at least one assist.
He wasn’t rebounding, but neither was our whole team, who got punished on the boards in the first half.
I’d agree that he shouldn’t start if he was a detriment to our squad out there, but he’s not. Lutz knows when to pull him and put Nance in and we need Iti to cause matchup problems, grab a few garbage boards and burn some fouls.
His missed dunk was a “Doh!” but it was because he tried to get fancy and dunk it while he was underneath the hoop. Should have drop-stepped and slammed it home.
[i]Originally posted by Iron9er[/i]@Feb 24 2005, 08:47 AM [b] Leave the kid alone, he is clearly down on his confidence already. Just not playing well right now--unlike our other players. But, why in the hell would you change the starting line up, just to put him down again? This starting line up is working. Lets not change whats working. I doubt Lutz will. Nance and Drayton can get all the minutes they want...adjust during the game...but now is not the time to tinker wth lineups. [/b]I agree with Iron. No doubt Iti is struggling but there's no need to slam the guy. Yeah, I think Nance and Drayton should get the majority of minutes and they are. Lutz is no dummy. :o As long as Martin realizes he needs 4 years and accepts his role, what's the big deal? I still believe he will help us this year and in the future.
Like I said before, if you want to criticize someone, pick out one of the hundreds of guys who chose another school over Charlotte. As long as his number one priority is winning, I have no problem with him. We have a TEAM this year.
[i]Originally posted by Florida49er[/i]@Feb 24 2005, 08:55 AM [b] We're now 20-4 and yet everyone is dying for a starting lineup change? What gives?I’d agree that he shouldn’t start if he was a detriment to our squad out there, but he’s not. Lutz knows when to pull him and put Nance in and we need Iti to cause matchup problems, grab a few garbage boards and burn some fouls.
[/b]
Last 4 games, Iti vs.
St. Louis - 18 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 3 rebounds, 5 fouls
DePaul - 5 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 2 rebounds, 1 foul
Tulane - 16 minutes, 1-3 FGs, 1 rebound, 5 fouls
Memphis - 12 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 1 rebound, 1 foul
How do these numbers contribute to the team’s success?
This team is winning in spite of Iti.
[b]His missed dunk was a "Doh!" but it was because he tried to get fancy and dunk it while he was underneath the hoop. Should have drop-stepped and slammed it home. [/b]
I was behind the basket for that and from where I was it looked like the Memphis player went through the basket to block Iti. Did anybody else see that or was it just me?
We’re winning with him starting. If it ain’t broke…
He stinks!! Maybe he’ll get better. Maybe he’ll stick around and bulk up this summer.But he hurts us in A LOT of ways,not just his lack of offense and missed dunks when he’s out there. He rarely hustles back when opponents are running the break.As was noted before,he has terrible defensive instincts and doesn’t know when to give weak side help…often causing Curtis or another inside guy to try and cover for him,and draw a foul.He’s got hands of stone! When he’s at the foul line I cringe.He palys too far out,or too far under the basket and opponents always get better rebounding position on him…BUT BESIDES THAT…HE’S REALLY GOOD!
[i]Originally posted by SilvioDante[/i]@Feb 24 2005, 09:04 AM [b] Last 4 games, Iti vs.St. Louis - 18 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 3 rebounds, 5 fouls
DePaul - 5 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 2 rebounds, 1 foul
Tulane - 16 minutes, 1-3 FGs, 1 rebound, 5 fouls
Memphis - 12 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 1 rebound, 1 foulHow do these numbers contribute to the team’s success?
This team is winning in spite of Iti. [/b]
Did you watch the same game last night?
Here’s Nance’s line:
16 mins, 1-2 FG, 5 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist
Almost the same line as Iti’s, with Iti not picking up as many boards but not getting as many mins, either.
I’m not saying he’s the key to our success - just that he’s not hurting us. Look at what you posted - he’s only playing 5-10 mins a game! Lutz knows when to pull him.
Oh, and the best stat - we’re 4-0 in those last 4 games with him starting.
[i]Originally posted by lucky57[/i]@Feb 24 2005, 10:00 AM [b] He palys too far out,or too far under the basket and opponents always get better rebounding position on him...BUT BESIDES THAT...HE'S REALLY GOOD! [/b]Actually, they want him out there setting screens and apparently also want him to double on big guys. I don't think he's quick enough to do those things as often as he's trying them. He seldom recovers.
He was making good screens. I just wish he would forget trying to post his opponent on offense. He should accept his role of being defense and learn to block out instead of trying to crash the board.
[i]Originally posted by LeftyNiner+Feb 24 2005, 09:00 AM-->
[b]QUOTE[/b] (LeftyNiner @ Feb 24 2005, 09:00 AM)
[i]Originally posted by Florida49er+Feb 24 2005, 10:04 AM-->
[b]QUOTE[/b] (Florida49er @ Feb 24 2005, 10:04 AM)
[i]Originally posted by 5yearplan[/i]@Feb 24 2005, 10:20 AM [b] Come on Lefty. I agree 100% that we shouldn't ride Iti since his confidence is obviously down. However, who do you think he was looking after when he almost declared himself eligible for the draft last year? Not the 49ers. We were his fallback position. With that said, I have had a couple of conversations with him (when he visited my kid's school to read to them) and he, along with Eddie, Plav, Mitchell, Nance, and Curt were unbelievable with the children. Not cocky at all. As a matter of fact, the kids at the school still talk about the team, and many of them have become fans :D I think he is realizing how tough D1 inside players are. I hope he can learn to do whatever it takes to add to the TEAM. If he learns his role and accepts it, there is no telling how far this team can go. Just my opinion. [/b]Oh yeah, I agree that his attempt to go to the NBA was selfish but like you said, I hope he now realizes he needs 4 year and accepts his role. If so, I'm 100% behind him.
And I have talked to him on a few occassions. He is great with the kids, as are all of our guys. I can’t get my 3 year old to “be anyone else” when we’re playing midget basketball. He’s always Martin Iti and I’m Brendan Plavich. :o :o Then he refuses to shoot jumpers because Martin Iti only DUNKS. 
And that is the feel good story of the day, folks. 
Lefty, I hope you have a higher % than Martin. 