re: LSU Basketball Recruiting Thread: 2024 (And Beyond)

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again you have shown zero evidence

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People like who you use this as their main argument are some of my least favorite people to argue with on TD and are far too common on here. You do realize there is a difference between a fallacy ridden argument with no evidence and an argument that you simply disagree with the evidence provided? Just because you disagree with what someone is saying does not mean they provided no evidence. It simply means you disagree with the evidence they provided.

It is a fallacy on its own to base your entire argument on “you have no evidence” and to dismiss an argument on “you committed xyz fallacy”

Is it possible that you skimmed over my post and glanced over the evidence I provided? Or is it that you simply ignore the evidence to fit your narrative?

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who said he was the focal point?

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Let me provide “evidence” as to why baker was the focal point. He was recruited in a schematic sense to be the replacement for KJ Williams. A big man that provided offensive consistency and could stretch the floor. A similar pitch was provided to both him and Jordan Wright because they were both role players at their previous school. McMahon offered them a big role in a P6 program for their final year.

Baker’s play style on the court had a negative impact on MULTIPLE players on our roster. Despite this, he still played a good bit and still played from the same spots on the court until a few games into SEC play.

This raises the question, what exactly is Baker’s style of play? Posting up from both the high post and low post. Playing the weak side to get the ball passed to from drive and kicks. This playstyle contributed to a lack of space on the court, a black hole when he received the ball, and an unwillingness/inability to set screens on and off the ball. Now let’s discuss how this impacted players negatively.

Carlos Stewart- probably the biggest victim of bakers playstyle imo. Carlos at SC operated a lot from the top of the arc and at the elbow. He also drove into the paint and scored with a variety of finishing moves. He couldn’t do any of this however with Baker posting up for 15 seconds of the shot clock and his role being reduced to an off ball player.

Jalen Reed- a player who’s best offensive trait is inarguably scoring one on one driving from the perimeter to the paint. Couldn’t do so with Baker clogging down low though.

Jalen Cook- baker was terrible at PNR/PNP actions with him as he was not a genuine roll threat and not good enough of a shooter. (I wonder who was though)

Tyrell Ward- Baker never set him any off ball screens to help him get open

Now despite all of these glaring issues and the negative impact it had on offensive efficiency and team chemistry he was still allowed to operate in the same manner for well over half the season. Sure it worked at times, but McMahon failed to pull the plug on games where baker was just a flat out non factor. To me this is indicative that he was supposed to be a focal point of the team on the offensive side, especially when you consider the sacrifices other players had to make to allow him to play his game.