Who is this teams "Leader"?
As Selection Sunday nears, bubble talk is heating up. I won't get into specifics about bubble talk, but if you must your better off discussing it with Mr. Nusser. As he stated, most people have a generalized idea of what makes a "Tournament Team". I'm certainly not saying that is what the selection committee will look at in less than a month, but one of those conceptions is that successful teams have a true "leader." So, for the sake of entertaining all of you, I pose the question, who is this teams leader?
We cannot begin this discussion without starting with Klay Thompson. Make no mistake, if he has to, he could put the team on his back and go all Jimmer Fredette during a game. His quietness restricts his vocal leadership though. Believe me, I have no idea what goes on at practice or during team meetings, but he just doesn't seem the type to fire the whole team up before a big game. Klay is a different type of leader than us as Cougar fans are accustomed to, but he sure is good at putting the ball in the basket, so you won't hear me complaining.
More after the jump.
Another candidate is the highflying Marcus Capers. As with most teams, there is generally one player who completes the selfless and inglorious things that help a team win. This category fits Capers, and he seems to have accepted this role. He is an awesome player, but I don't think he is this teams leader.
Lodwick is much more of a mystery to me. He is another one of our juniors, but he was red shirted, which makes him a year older academically. That definitely has given him the respect of the younger players.His role was thoroughly discussed earlier this site, so I won't dissect that. What I will say is he makes his teammates around him better. His effort and communication on the defensive end greatly improve our zone. However, he doesn't play enough minutes (averaging 22.6) or take enough shots (again, averaging only 2.9) to fully impact an offense the way a leader is "supposed to." At WSU's page on Kenpom, he is listed under the "invisible" category, because he uses less than 12% of our possessions.
To me, a leader has to be able to take over a game, and when called upon take the last shot. Not to mention create opportunities for their teammates and get them to play as hard as they can when on the floor.
DeAngelo is a similar story. Although less often, a post can be a teams go-to-guy (case and point Derrick Williams at Arizona) but I don't think DeAngelo is as polished as Derrick Williams. The other issue I have is his playmaking ability is dependent on the guards getting him the ball near the basket. Without the ability to control the game, I'm going to go ahead and say he is not our leader. One heck of a sidekick though, when he gets going its hard to stop.
Now we move on to Reggie Moore. When Moore is attacking the basket with reckless abandon and shutting down his man on defense, this team is very hard to beat. He also has his moments of immaturity when his youth cracks through the television set. Sometimes he settles for contested jumpers and his defense soon follows. You probably could make a case that Reggie is also our leader, along with Klay, but I am still waiting for the conventional wisdom "leader."
All this does is make me miss Rochestie even more.
This was my first time posting one of these, so don't trash it too bad.
This FanPost does not necessarily reflect the views of the site's writers or editors, who may not have verified its accuracy. It does, however, reflect the views of this particular fan, which is just as important as the views of our writers or editors.
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Klay is a leader in every way I want my leader to lead.
By example.
He’s the hardest worker on the floor, and I can only surmise he’s among the hardest workers off the floor, given the improvement in his game the last two offseasons (and in high school, as well, when he skyrocketed from a middling midmajor recruit to a 4-star guy other Pac-10 schools were trying to poach).
As I’ve said in other places on this site, I think this team has a following problem — not a leader problem. Klay shouldn’t have to scream and yell, as I believe the ability to lead with your mouth is among the least valuable leadership traits.
Obviously Klay.
Maybe if Klay’s having an off night someone else steps up, but he’s definitely the primary leader. No doubt in my mind.
Attractive, Intelligent Reader
Pretty dang good post.
I honestly don’t know since I haven’t seen the Cougs all that much. I’m of the thought process that you need one guy to lead by example and another to go “See what this guy is doing? Do it his way.”
Klay leads by example, but the guy who says follow his lead (from what I have seen) is absent
What goes up must come down.
Sorry Duck fans
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Feb 11, 2011 10:21 PM PST reply actions
thanks
I wasn’t sure how people would respond
by Rochestie4ever on Feb 12, 2011 9:23 AM PST up reply actions
Way better than my first post lol
What goes up must come down.
Sorry Duck fans
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Feb 12, 2011 10:06 AM PST up reply actions
I voted no leader
But Jeff brings up no followers and that makes me rethink a little. I don’t know that I have ever heard that before. Ponder ponder ponder…
When I look at the football team I see effort and someone punching the other team in the mouth. Each week it would be someone different. It would be the type of play that told the other team to pay attention because if you don’t you are going to lose or get hurt.
I just don’t see that attitude exuded by anyone on the basketball court. And while I am and have been a big fan of Bone for 15 years this worries me.
Gonna ponder some more alone.
From being around the team, the problem clearly isn't no leaders
In fact, there’s too many leaders and not enough followers. But I’ll leave you to guess who they are.
CougCenter, SBNation Seattle, @FloydCoug
Night Editor - SBNation.com
by Brian Floyd on Feb 12, 2011 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
I haven't been around the team as much as you
But I’d write leaders like this: “leaders.” Because they sure don’t look like actual leaders to me, just people who think they’re leaders which means, bringing me back to my original point, that they’re actually need to be followers.
by Jeff Nusser on Feb 12, 2011 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
Well, there is a difference
between leaders and “true” leaders
by Rochestie4ever on Feb 12, 2011 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
I really don't see Klay as a leader. (sorta)
I get the leading by example thing. I agree with it. But I’ve never thought of athletes that lead by example as leaders. They keep the team focused and make the team better becuase other players look to them and say “I should be working as hard as him”. I think Klay fits that mold and I think its great. Voting for Klay is understandable.
But when I think of a leader I think of the guy that walks into the huddle and says “we got this.” The guy others look to when they just don’t know what to do. I don’t think we have one of those guys. It’s hard to find in a basketball team. I think Reggie trys it. He gets the guys in a huddle or pulls a guy to the side. But other than that I don’t see it. And the guys don’t turn to him when the team is down. And I don’t see Klay doing that either.
And the followers thing. That makes sense. But who are they neglecting to follow? I guess I don’t really see what you mean.
Ever seen Tim Duncan say, "We got this?"
I just think talk is overrated. But that’s my own personal bias, I suppose.
Side question: Why do you think it is that Reggie’s attempts at getting the team together don’t really seem to work?
I think talk is a huge part of being a leader.
But it isn’t a perfect science. I guess I’m thinking if Winston were in the game and he needed to ask someone what he should do who would he ask? Could be anybody, but who would he want to ask?
About Tim. It could be body language (something Klay has had trouble with and is getting better…and Tim has none.) But Tim being very stoic or composed could be him leading. Other players see that and say “Tim’s fine, so I am too.” But I don’t see Klay there. Not yet at least. He could get there. So, again, I get it but I guess I’m just being overly picky about this whole leader thing.
I think Reggies attempts don’t work because he doesn’t really know what he is doing. And the other players know it. They’ve seen him make bad passes and make other mistakes. Reggie is a good player, but when he says “we got this” players aren’t going to listen. I guess that is the problem you see? I see that as no one following him. And it’s just my opinion that Reggie isn’t a leader.
What I said sounds really harsh. I still think Reggie is a darn good point guard.
So, essentially what you're saying, is that if a guy isn't leading by example first, his words are ignored?
Your Tim Duncan example.
He probably has mastered the art of both. And that makes him a great leader. So I guess I am saying that. Ignored might be too harsh. But something along those lines.
I really think I’m getting too picky about this. During a basketball game you can’t give a “braveheart” speech. I’m looking for the leader to be the second coach. But even coaches aren’t perfect. And I know that Klay has to be a leader somehow.
I was also interested in hearing what you thought of this.
If Winston were in the game and he needed to ask someone what he should do who would he ask? Could be anybody, but who would he want to ask?
"If you want to know how good of leader you are, take a look around and see who's following you".
That’s a quote I once heard… I think to a certain extent it’s true of our team. I voted for nobody because I don’t feel that anybody else is really conceding to another individual on the team, or that there is ONE particular person rallying the team when we are down 5 with 2 min. left and need to make a defensive stop.
I also agree with Nuss that we don’t have enough followers, but I tend to put more weight on the leader stepping up and earning that level of “respect.”
If I had to choose I would go with Faisal Aden ;-).
Actually, honestly some times I feel it’s our student body. They seem to be the only ones able to amp up our team and take them to another level.
by LeaveItToWeaver on Feb 13, 2011 11:42 PM PST reply actions
I believe this perspective has a lot of merit, also.
by Jeff Nusser on Feb 14, 2011 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
Our fans
sometimes sink back into silence when it isn’t going well, but they are very loud when the team is doing well, which really helps. I think them bieng louder when we are down is more important then when we are doing well.
by Rochestie4ever on Feb 14, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

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