Give Josh some love

[CarlosTheJackal]

Duncan has, as noted elsewhere, stayed in the game after losing his starting role. I was not much of a Josh supporter early in his career, but cringe when I read posts here about "getting a pair", lack of senior leadership, yadda.

8-8 from the line yesterday, on a day no one else was doing that well. Critical baseline shot, two critical rebounds when Love was not available the last 9 minutes. The guy stepped up, and deserves a hearty round of applause next time he takes the floor at Cintas.

Well done, Josh!

[Mr. Neutral]

Josh has stepped up this year, no question. Is he the player that we envisioned (correctly or incorrectly) four years ago? Maybe not, but certainly injuries played a part in that, along with his being asked to play out of position most of the time. Kudos to him for sticking with it, and giving X a two-headed monster at center that has served the team well this year.

[dabott]

I made a comment a couple of weeks ago on this board that got bashed pretty hard that Josh should be our "go-to" guy in tight games because he is still our most versatile offensive player. That was the second straight road game that he made a big shot around the basket in the final 2 minutes and showed some emotion about it as well with the fist pumps, I loved seeing that!!

[Mr. Neutral]

My only concern about JD as our "go-to" guy in must-score situations is his ability to put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. He's certainly improved on that inside, but he also plays outside quite a bit, and unless he's got an open shot, taking it to the hoop in traffic isn't really his strong point.

[CSS85]

I will go so far as to say that Josh won the GW and UMASS games. There were excellent performances from several others, including Lavender, but at crunch time in both games, the guy with the crucial basket was Josh, and the guy with the crucial defensive rebound(s) was Josh. I'm more impressed with the UMASS game because he started off slowly and foul ladden, and overcame it at the end. That baseline reverse layup was a spectacular play in that situation.

[xuhuh!]

I will go so far as to say that Josh won the GW and UMASS games. There were excellent performances from several others, including Lavender, but at crunch time in both games, the guy with the crucial basket was Josh, and the guy with the crucial defensive rebound(s) was Josh. I'm more impressed with the UMASS game because he started off slowly and foul ladden, and overcame it at the end. That baseline reverse layup was a spectacular play in that situation.

I loved seeing dunc ## rip the ball down like it was his 3 straight defensive rebounds...offensively he shows better inside when his instincts take over vs. 'thinking' /setting up an offensive move...earlier in the season he was turning the wrong way some on his defender inside making a harder shot attempt..and i don't think he gets a 'good look' at the rim on that jump hook.....gee i love to e-coach, my thumb was worn out on the volume control..

[passion@thegame]

Josh coming up big late in the game is not something that is really that new to this year. Check the end of the BYU game last year and also the second half of that OSU game.

[xudash]

Josh coming up big late in the game is not something that is really that new to this year. Check the end of the BYU game last year and also the second half of that OSU game.

That was exactly what I was thinking. Respecting that no one play wins or loses a game, I vividly remember him taking it to the hoop from the left baseline late in the BYU game on a beautiful basket where he left his defender in the dust. It was a key basket at the time that allowed Xavier to keep the momentum and the lead.

I hope he goes "Chalmers" in the NCAA Tournament by finding his 3-range AND mixing in some of those drives. The sky is the limit at that point, assuming the other existing contributors keep doing what they're doing.

[CarlosTheJackal]

"Go Chalmers", I like that turn of phrase. Better than "Pull a Chalmers"?

Gary is right, I cringe a bit when Josh starts doing a little dribble dance on the perimeter...but he can put it on the floor and make a quick straight line to the basket if a slower, mismatched defender jumps out to defend the 3.

[MADXSTER]

Does anyone else seem to think that J Dunk seems to pick up alot of ticky-tack fouls? So many times through out this season he gets whistled for some small incidental contact and I'm left scratching my head. Maybe it's just me. I watch replays and still don't see it.