Who will be next years lightning rod?

[ibahawkeye]

I'll agree it was Cook this year and will be next year assuming he returns.

Part of it I think is Cook's style. He's such a freak athlete but so far from a complete player because he has no mid-range shot. He's such a dominate force inside that he draws a lot of attention from the D. His passing has significantly improved. He can handle the ball but he still turns it over too much. Part of that is because the D knows they don't have to respect him from as a shooter so in some sense it's pretty unique he's as good as he is when the D knows what they are getting.

He's certainly a power dunker but I just don't know how tough/gritty he is in the sense of D and rebounding.

To sum it up, I think as a fan base we know what he could be if he just had somewhat of a mid-range jump shot and it's never developed. If that mid-range shot were to come around, his ceiling would be pretty high.

 

[PCHawk]

I'll agree it was Cook this year and will be next year assuming he returns.

Part of it I think is Cook's style. He's such a freak athlete but so far from a complete player because he has no mid-range shot. He's such a dominate force inside that he draws a lot of attention from the D. His passing has significantly improved. He can handle the ball but he still turns it over too much. Part of that is because the D knows they don't have to respect him from as a shooter so in some sense it's pretty unique he's as good as he is when the D knows what they are getting.

He's certainly a power dunker but I just don't know how tough/gritty he is in the sense of D and rebounding.

To sum it up, I think as a fan base we know what he could be if he just had somewhat of a mid-range jump shot and it's never developed. If that mid-range shot were to come around, his ceiling would be pretty high.

I'm just not a fan of the idea of Cook being a better mid range shooter. It will never be a good shot for him so the team would be better off if he abandoned it all together.

 

[dahlhawk]

I dont think it's going to the camp that has made it worse for him. It's two things. One is that he seems to have made it clear that he's not a 4 year guy. Moss went for evaluation, but that's where it stopped. From what I've read (and it could be contrived) is that Cook has always "known" he would be off to the NBA before his eligiabily is up. That's what fans get on more so than him going through the evaluation. The other thing is he is supposed to be our best player but he played down right awful at the end. That's when it really went bad as far as critisism is concerned. Things got kinda bad for Garza when he was struggling but it wasn't as bad for him because of the two reasons I mentioned. I'm with you tho, this isn't about what I feel or believe. I'm just explaining people's obvious thought process. Hell watching Cook over the last few weeks had gotten me to the point I was ready for him to be gone. Then I remembered he's a good player that's playing bad. Not a bad player that's playing normal.

My problem with Cook is really my problem with Fran. He admitted that he plays Cook on the perimeter because Cook wants to play there. Cook has no jump shot, legit passing skills, or reason to be the focus of the offense. Fran has stated he wants Cook to play inside more. Who is the coach here and is this about a team or an individual? If Cook is hurting the team by trying to improve his NBA stock by not playing where the team needs him the most, then I have a problem with Fran. Now if Cook wants to work on his game in the D-League I say, thanks for the memories and good luck. I would welcome Cook back next year if he puts the team first, but if he comes back to audition one last time for the NBA, then go to the D-League and get paid.

 

[ibahawkeye]

I'm just not a fan of the idea of Cook being a better mid range shooter. It will never be a good shot for him so the team would be better off if he abandoned it all together.

I think I agree with what you mean which is at this point if he hadn’t developed it, it’s not happening.

But my point is that’s what it would take for him to get a sniff in the NBA along with better D.

 

[CP87]

No. I didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed. And don't patronize me by telling me to take it easy. I feel passionate about what I'm discussing.

You said Cook brought it on himself. So, yeah, you did say he deserved it. He should of or could have acted differently so people wouldn't jump on him? By doing what?

He wasn't posturing. He was going through a process available to him for an evaluation about his future, similar to if someone takes an internship in their academic field of study for a gauge on their future. Moss did the same thing as did plenty of others.

You, and others who think like you, decided that he was posturing. That's the way you look at it, not the way it is.

Your expectations don't justify your actions. Saying that's the way it is in the "real-world" is stereotypical BS. These guys are under a public microscope that most people in the "real-world" will never experience or understand. The "real-world" analogies are nonsense.

Again, expecting more, like your comparison of a HS athlete getting attention, doesn't mean over-the-top criticism and scapegoating is justified. It's your choice to do it, but it doesn't make it right.

I will agree that I'm pissing in the wind here. Your mentality is not the exception anymore. With the Stephen A. Smiths and Skip Baylesses of the world, sports conversation has just become one big echo chamber of criticizing athletes.

While I don't like it, I can see some justification in professional sports. Athletes are paid a lot of money to perform. I've got no time for it being done to college athletes. I think it's weak.

And with that, I'm out. I'm not going to change the tone here.

On social media, I've just started blocking and muting people. I'm not getting into it with them anymore. I'm going to reduce these exchanges on here as well. My life is better without you.

I started monitoring the HN message boards in '03. I'm worn TF out by the growing negativity.

No one has won a championship in about 10 years. It is only about identifying who "choked", who isn't tough enough, whose fault is it that the losers lost. Takes so much of the fun (and value) out of sports.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

I disagree. Cook was by far the lightning rod this year and I don't think there was close second. I'm taking into account my radio hits, social media and conversations with fans, too, though.

define lightning rod. providing an honest (and at times obvious) critique equals lightning rod? my definition of lightening rod forces separation and is unhealthy for team chemistry. that is a typical definition of lightning rod in sports. last season, the offense slowed down and bogged down with jbo at pg. this season, he improved (better than i thought he could) but still isn't as good at pg as needed (no dribble penetration into the lane to break down defenses and allowing opposing pg's to do so.) was he motivated by the critique and criticism? cook has bad hands, gets the ball stripped consistently (as does the team as a whole), misses too many bunnies at the rim and regressed from the ft line all season long. but, i do not recall anyone saying that either jbo or cook were bad teammates or bad for the team.

seems like a manufactured discussion. honest and fair criticism is, well, honest and fair. cook was a tremendous teammate this season AND he showed over the course of the season how good a teammate he was because he stopped taking/forcing jumpshots when it was obvious he wasn't making them consistently. i don't see lightning rod there.

Edit: I'm not trying to challenge you or anyone other than to point out that i think "lightning rod" is a bit of an exaggeration with regards to the fans providing critique/criticism. Caveat: I have never been and will (likely) never be on social media and my reply was based on the iowa message boards i visit. i can't speak for social media.

 

[karras]

I was watching the Wisconsin tournament game with Badger fans and they were saying they were so excited for Happ to be done. Walking turnover who can’t make a layup and doesn’t play defense they said. This is arguably one of the best players in the history of their program.

Yeah, every fanbase uses players/coaches/ADs to advance their pet theories. I know I've done it.
In football it was "Fant can't block" . . . which was the default snark for people who had great affection for Hockenson. I liked them both but recognized the subtle differences in their gifts and to this day can't figure out why we could maximize one and relegate the other to "specialist" status.
If you're Fran, you have to know how to use an asset like Cook. Sometimes he did. Sometimes he didn't.
I bet 99% of coaches have this problem. The 1% who don't, are the ones who go on to legendary status. Lute is legendary. Mr. Davis was memorable. There is a wide chasm between legendary and memorable.

 

[RobHowe]

define lightning rod. providing an honest (and at times obvious) critique equals lightning rod? my definition of lightening rod forces separation and is unhealthy for team chemistry. that is a typical definition of lightning rod in sports. last season, the offense slowed down and bogged down with jbo at pg. this season, he improved (better than i thought he could) but still isn't as good at pg as needed (no dribble penetration into the lane to break down defenses and allowing opposing pg's to do so.) was he motivated by the critique and criticism? cook has bad hands, gets the ball stripped consistently (as does the team as a whole), misses too many bunnies at the rim and regressed from the ft line all season long. but, i do not recall anyone saying that either jbo or cook were bad teammates or bad for the team.

seems like a manufactured discussion. honest and fair criticism is, well, honest and fair. cook was a tremendous teammate this season AND he showed over the course of the season how good a teammate he was because he stopped taking/forcing jumpshots when it was obvious he wasn't making them consistently. i don't see lightning rod there.

Edit: I'm not trying to challenge you or anyone other than to point out that i think "lightning rod" is a bit of an exaggeration with regards to the fans providing critique/criticism. Caveat: I have never been and will (likely) never be on social media and my reply was based on the iowa message boards i visit. i can't speak for social media.

Sorry, man.

Don't have the time, energy or desire.

 

[oldhawk12]

define lightning rod. providing an honest (and at times obvious) critique equals lightning rod? my definition of lightening rod forces separation and is unhealthy for team chemistry. that is a typical definition of lightning rod in sports. last season, the offense slowed down and bogged down with jbo at pg. this season, he improved (better than i thought he could) but still isn't as good at pg as needed (no dribble penetration into the lane to break down defenses and allowing opposing pg's to do so.) was he motivated by the critique and criticism? cook has bad hands, gets the ball stripped consistently (as does the team as a whole), misses too many bunnies at the rim and regressed from the ft line all season long. but, i do not recall anyone saying that either jbo or cook were bad teammates or bad for the team.

seems like a manufactured discussion. honest and fair criticism is, well, honest and fair. cook was a tremendous teammate this season AND he showed over the course of the season how good a teammate he was because he stopped taking/forcing jumpshots when it was obvious he wasn't making them consistently. i don't see lightning rod there.

Edit: I'm not trying to challenge you or anyone other than to point out that i think "lightning rod" is a bit of an exaggeration with regards to the fans providing critique/criticism. Caveat: I have never been and will (likely) never be on social media and my reply was based on the iowa message boards i visit. i can't speak for social media.

I put this more on the coach than the player. The coach knows who he is recruiting and he knows what is expected. If players are allowed to continue playing a certain way and the coach doesn’t correct than the blame falls at the feet of the coach for putting them in that position.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Sorry, man.

Don't have the time, energy or desire.

that's too bad.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

I put this more on the coach than the player. The coach knows who he is recruiting and he knows what is expected. If players are allowed to continue playing a certain way and the coach doesn’t correct than the blame falls at the feet of the coach for putting them in that position.

i agree.

 

[WindsorHawk]

I've contemplated quitting posting on here because the negativity is so ridiculous . The whole "next level" talk never stops no matter what level you get to. But I love talking Hawkeye sports too much to leave. That and the constant negativity has helped me look at things in a more positive light. So posting on here is weirdly good for me.

I’ve considered the same thing...closed my FB account back in 2017. But like you I want to obsess over Iowa basketball with other fans. I don’t hit the ignore button on every poster I disagree with. But I do the ones that are obvious trolls, 100% negative and/or simply don’t like me...reflected in their posts. I’m hanging around awhile.

 

[thedukeofearl]

I’ve considered the same thing...closed my FB account back in 2017. But like you I want to obsess over Iowa basketball with other fans. I don’t hit the ignore button on every poster I disagree with. But I do the ones that are obvious trolls, 100% negative and/or simply don’t like me...reflected in their posts. I’m hanging around awhile.

Stick around

We must have a counterpoint

 

[thedukeofearl]

I've contemplated quitting posting on here because the negativity is so ridiculous . The whole "next level" talk never stops no matter what level you get to. But I love talking Hawkeye sports too much to leave. That and the constant negativity has helped me look at things in a more positive light. So posting on here is weirdly good for me.

Yeah, hang around

This would be a good thing