TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: EJ Montgomery/Nick Richards

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Posted by blue hoot (Member # 398) on 03-24-2019, 12:07 PM:

I just think we need more production from these guys or else it will be very challenging to reach the Final Four and win the title. I still can't believe Richards is almost a Junior and EJ is almost a sophomore and still get very little production from them. All they are is a couple players that gives us some serviceable minutes. Thoughts?

Posted by cadcatfan (Member # 3035) on 03-24-2019, 01:32 PM:

Both have shown "flashes" of playing really good at times this year, I think Washington moreso than Richards. We definitely need more consistent plan from both of them.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 03-24-2019, 02:53 PM:

They have the size we need inside but seem to go to sleep from time to time. Richards just does not know how to play basketball and Montgomery will be a good one for us hopefully next season. I don't see Richards getting any better than he is right now though, he does not have the basketball mentality.

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 03-24-2019, 03:19 PM:

Richards has decent offensive skills, but on defense he sometimes looks like he has no clue. Yes, he can provide good help defense at the rim, but I can't count the number of times his man gets free and has NOBODY within 10 feet of him, while Nick is on the other side of the court. I can say that his hands are better than last year, when any pass into the post was a turnover. That is much better now.

EJ is just raw. He needs some muscle and a better repertoire on offense. I hope both EJ and Nick return and become leaders on next year's squad. They could be an amazing inside duo with just a little more improvement. Nick is a natural 5, and EJ is much better suited as a stretch 4. I think nobody will have such a great inside combination next year as those two, if they continue to get better. Big men traditionally mature more slowly, and I have high hopes for them.

[ 03-24-2019, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]

Posted by ukman (Member # 3032) on 03-24-2019, 03:35 PM:

They both, especially Richards since he gets called to do it much more, need to actually set a pick and hold it before they roll. If Richards would do that either he would get more dunks, the guard would get too the basket, or we Richards would have great post position.

Posted by PaulCat (Member # 513) on 03-24-2019, 05:27 PM:

I think they both play scared. One slip and they're on the bench. If they could play loose I think they'd be a lot better.

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 03-24-2019, 05:37 PM:

with only 8 players doubt that is their fear (bench)

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 03-25-2019, 01:03 PM:

We're doing pretty godd with the two of them. Don't forget that these were not the top picks Cal wanted when signing day approached, they are the next best choices available. If we want to see better play he has to sign some of his top picks instead of letting Duke, etc. take them. Just like the one at LSU.

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 03-25-2019, 01:49 PM:

Maybe LSU got Water because of money. Hard to compete with that factor..

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-25-2019, 02:33 PM:

Unless we are 100% sure he took money from LSU it's hard to even talk about it.

Posted by blue hoot (Member # 398) on 03-25-2019, 04:35 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by PaulCat:
I think they both play scared. One slip and they're on the bench. If they could play loose I think they'd be a lot better.

I agree, they play very tentative and sometimes because of that, they look clumsy.

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 03-25-2019, 05:14 PM:

Unless we are 100% sure he took money from LSU it's hard to even talk about it.

--------------------

Believe his coach is on tape talking about him. The reason he is playing is "did he know" is what is rumored.

[ 03-25-2019, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: ukcatfannfl ]

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 03-25-2019, 06:15 PM:

EJ MOntgomery and Nick RTichards are future pros.

They aren't there yet. Maybe next year will be their year.

Richards has the worst handle since Jorts. When he strengthens his hands and can catch and control the ball in his hands, he will be a star. Jorts couldn't catch a cold, until his senior year.

EJ is the better player of the two right now.

Without PJ, the guards have to penetrate and either score or kick out, for this team to keep on winning. If they don't penetrate I think the offense will have droughts.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 03-25-2019, 06:37 PM:

I just don't understand these kids who don't have strong hands. When I was a teenager I had extremely strong hands (especially my right one) but I admit I did have trouble with penetration. Now that I'm old my hands are very weak and I can't penetrate at all.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 03-25-2019, 06:56 PM:

Handy, I think our generation all had strong right or left hands when we were young, things were a lot different then. Now days the girls have the strong hands.

As far as Richards, I don't see him ever playing in the NBA, he just does not know how to play the game of basketball and I fear he will never learn. Montgomery will be an NBA player, probably after his sophmore year at UK. He knows how to play the game, just needs to add muscle and gain his confidence.

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 03-25-2019, 08:27 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by SCWC:
Handy, I think our generation all had strong right or left hands when we were young, things were a lot different then. Now days the girls have the strong hands.

As far as Richards, I don't see him ever playing in the NBA, he just does not know how to play the game of basketball and I fear he will never learn. Montgomery will be an NBA player, probably after his sophmore year at UK. He knows how to play the game, just needs to add muscle and gain his confidence.

Nick is a diamond in the rough that will be in the NBA. I have never been paid to be a scout, but I believe he will be a star.

Link

[ 03-25-2019, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: boomdaddy ]

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 03-25-2019, 09:16 PM:

Along these lines, this is absolute truth. When I was in 7th and 8th grade, 13-14 years old, I milked three cows, morning and evening, every day. I was the class runt. Didn't reach 100 pounds until after I was in high school. However …. I probably had the best grip of anyone in my class. If somebody, especially a girl, had anything they could not unscrew the lid from, the big old boys tried to get it off, and if they failed to do so, I'd ask to try it, much to the amusement of the big guys. They never could believe it when I unscrewed it effortlessly. But I could.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 03-26-2019, 07:26 AM:

Norm, are you sure milking cows was the reason for your hand strength?

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 03-26-2019, 09:42 AM:

Yes. I couldn't get a full grip on anything else available.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 03-26-2019, 03:18 PM:

Norm's quote

quote:
Yes. I couldn't get a full grip on anything else available.

---

I know what you mean Norm. As I said I was never much of a penetrator. I was always told I pulled up just short before shooting.

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 03-27-2019, 03:57 PM:

quote:
Yes. I couldn't get a full grip on anything else available.

Wow. Impressive. That much bigger than a cow's udder, eh? [Smile]