OldHoyafan
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Post by OldHoyafan on Dec 4, 2007 9:23:49 GMT -5
I just watched the u-tube clips of Greg Monroe and can't help but notice how much he reminds me of the Big O. Being from Mississippi I was a big fan of Othello Harrington. I think if JT3's offense had been in place during Othello's stay on the hilltop, instead of JT2's offense, Othello would have been a potential All American. Othello's skills were very similar to Monroe, with the possible exception of speed. Big O was not the swiftest of foot, but was a great position guy for rebounds. I can't tell on videos if Monroe has more speed. Can't help but notice the similarities in the smooth lefthanded stroke also.
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on Dec 4, 2007 9:25:42 GMT -5
Had to fix - it's Othella, not Othello.
I don't know who played the Iago role.
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OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by OldHoyafan on Dec 4, 2007 9:34:32 GMT -5
Thanks, sorry Big O. Its the thought that counts, I hope.
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Post by nashvillehoyas on Dec 4, 2007 9:49:32 GMT -5
I agree. Othello's frustation was clearly noticeable. Unfortunally we never got the opportunity to see big O show his skills. He had to take a back seat to Iverson during his junior and senior years. I had the pleasure of meeting Othello during his sophmore year at Murrah High School. He is a fine young man. The sky is the limit to what he will accomplish as a person....Thanks for your observation OldHoyafan.
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AvantGuardHoya
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Post by AvantGuardHoya on Dec 4, 2007 10:25:38 GMT -5
Admittedly I haven’t seen much of Monroe, but other than being left-handed, the comparison to Othella is lost on me. The Monroe I’ve seen on video clips has better all around skills than Othella. His handle and passing skills outshine those of Othella, who really only demonstrated low post and mid-range offensive ability. Defensively I think Monroe’s got greater potential, too.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked Othella. But Monroe strikes me as bringing more to the table and having a bigger upside.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Dec 4, 2007 10:53:56 GMT -5
Othella wasn't as tall, wasn't as mobel, wasn't as athletic and wasn't as good at passing.
But Othella put up some sick scoring and rebounding numbers in high school. Based on the high school highlights I saw of O he had a wonderful faceup game and a great turnaround jumper. He also had a soft shooting touch. For the most part those skils were underutilized at Gtown. JT tried to play him as if he was the next Ewing or Mourning which was a mistake. O's offense regressed under JT.
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Post by afalcon10 on Dec 4, 2007 10:55:17 GMT -5
sure hope so.
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blueandgray
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Post by blueandgray on Dec 4, 2007 12:24:49 GMT -5
Interesting comparison... but other than being from the South and perhaps their height... I don't see many similarities. While Othella was fundamentally sound, could rebeound fairly well, had good hands and nice touch on his shots... he lacked raw athleticism. He played somewhat flat footed and rarely exhibited an ability to explode or really get off the ground. Monroe on the otherhand is the type of player who could play facing the basket or with his back to the basket. Further, he is a great athlete... very explosive! He's a finisher. The type of player where if he receives the ball on a fast break... can take two giant steps from the three point line without a dribble and dunk! That was Othella's game.
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blueandgray
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Post by blueandgray on Dec 4, 2007 12:26:53 GMT -5
Edit last sentence to read: "That was NOT Othella's game."
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Dec 4, 2007 12:39:53 GMT -5
Monroe is a legit 6'10, Othella was pushing 6'8--barely. Othella would've fit in well with III--and as MCI said--Pops tried to use him as a Mourning/Ewing type--and he was a collegiate PF. Monroe is a better talent--he can do more things at a high level, and is a taller player. What makes Monroe special--he defends the paint/rebounds/blocks shots like a Center--but plays offense like a Forward and Center--he's got some nice post up moves--but he can also draw people away from hoop. For instance--if he has ball at top of key next year and Hoyas see man to man defense--not only will cutters be a threat--Monroe putting the ball on the floor and driving by a C or PF will be a seriously threat--and he's skilled enough to kick the ball out or drop it off to cutter/open man if they collapse on him--he's the PERFECT FIT for a big in this offensive system. Othella had no handle, wasn't as tall, couldn't pass very well, and was a below the rim type of player--solid player, and gave Hoyas everything he had--but Monroe is a vastly superior prospect in my opinion.
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Post by stafford72 on Dec 4, 2007 12:46:49 GMT -5
Remember that Othella was a first round pick and stayed in the NBA for 10+ years. He was an outstanding rebounder for his size and leaping ability. He was an excellent outbreak passer--a la Wes Unseld. He had a well refined shooting touch and if we did not have other multiple options--mostly Iverson--could have and would have scored more. As it was, he had outstanding career numbers for Gtown. We can only hope that Monroe will shoot as well and rebound as well as Harrington did.
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Post by I Bleed Hoya Gray on Dec 4, 2007 12:56:58 GMT -5
Anyone have the authority to change the name of this thread to Othella instead of Othello? Sorry if I sound like a jerk, but it kinda bothers me.
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SoCalHoya
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Post by SoCalHoya on Dec 4, 2007 13:02:23 GMT -5
I agree that Othella was very good, but was overshadowed by a very highlight-reel-worthy Iverson. He was a valuable piece of the 95-96 (Holy Trinity) team, but did so without much fanfare. He got great position for rebounds and scored a great deal on put-backs and post moves. He was also a pretty sharp passer. I think Monroe will have a bigger impact, he is a much more dynamic player, but that is no slam on Othella's contributions.
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Post by FrostbackHoya on Dec 4, 2007 13:16:59 GMT -5
I was at the Bobcats/Raptors game last night, and O got into the game for 7mins according the box score (seemed even shorter.) If O is only 6'8", then Okafor is also shorter than advertised, because he's not a full 2" taller than O. (BTW, O is listed at 6'9" these days, so 6'8" is just round-off error.)
Bobcats can almost put out an 'all BE' all-non-star lineup: Dudley (BC), Carroll (ND), Okafor (UConn), and O all play (badly) for the ongoing nightmare which is Charlotte, although Felton was UNBELIEVABLY bad. The Raps spotted the Kittys three starters (Bosh, Bargnani, and Ford were all out) and destroyed them anyway. Felton looks like the second coming of DayJack -- just won't go strong to the hoop. They only gave the Raps 4 blocks in the box, but the number of missed bunnies by people looking over their shoulders was insane!
As for Othella -- had a couple of decent offensive rebounds, but couldn't stay with the Raps small-ball quickness, so he was out almost before he was in. Looked in good shape, though -- I expect he'll play as long as he wants to make money at the end of the bench. No one is going to look past a solid 6'8" practice guy who can warm the end of the bench and not embarass you when you put him out there.
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Hoya50
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Post by Hoya50 on Dec 4, 2007 13:18:15 GMT -5
my hoyatalk namesake was a decent college player. i loved othella, but he didn't progress very much during his hoya career and was a player that frankly lost his confidence. i was at the memphis-gu game in toronto (iverson frosh) and you can plainly see iverson and othella arguing on the court - at one point, iverson says something like "i'll slow down for you". iverson just took over the team for othella's last two seasons and it was to the detriment of othella.
monroe is a completely different player and shows much more promise than othella did. roy's departure and greg's arrival will bring a completely new look to this team.
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Post by JohnnyTwoTimes on Dec 4, 2007 13:31:29 GMT -5
For the people who have seen him play - isn't Chris Braswell a better comparison as an Othella-type player? Judging from what I have read, that is the guy, more than Monroe, who might conjure up images of O. I agree that Monroe seems to have a bouncy athleticism and fluidity with the ball, as well as a defensive presence, that were not part of O's game.
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vcjack
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Post by vcjack on Dec 4, 2007 13:56:05 GMT -5
I was at the Bobcats/Raptors game last night, and O got into the game for 7mins according the box score (seemed even shorter.) If O is only 6'8", then Okafor is also shorter than advertised, because he's not a full 2" taller than O. (BTW, O is listed at 6'9" these days, so 6'8" is just round-off error.) Bobcats can almost put out an 'all BE' all-non-star lineup: Dudley (BC), Carroll (ND), Okafor (UConn), and O all play (badly) for the ongoing nightmare which is Charlotte, although Felton was UNBELIEVABLY bad. The Raps spotted the Kittys three starters (Bosh, Bargnani, and Ford were all out) and destroyed them anyway. Felton looks like the second coming of DayJack -- just won't go strong to the hoop. They only gave the Raps 4 blocks in the box, but the number of missed bunnies by people looking over their shoulders was insane! As for Othella -- had a couple of decent offensive rebounds, but couldn't stay with the Raps small-ball quickness, so he was out almost before he was in. Looked in good shape, though -- I expect he'll play as long as he wants to make money at the end of the bench. No one is going to look past a solid 6'8" practice guy who can warm the end of the bench and not embarass you when you put him out there. O had been out recovering from knee surgery for a while, he made his return in a home game against the Sonics where he played for a minute and in that amount of time only managed to foul Jeff
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Dec 4, 2007 14:49:40 GMT -5
Othella wasn't a first round draft pick. He was the first pick of the second round of the '96 draft (a very deep draft).
O was closer to 6'7 than 6'8.
O had a very productive GTown career but he was still wasted by JT because his strengths were ignored and he was planted as a back-to-the-basket center in the paint.
That being said O made a lot of money as a pro.
One of my five all-time favorite Hoyas.
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paranoia2
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Post by paranoia2 on Dec 4, 2007 14:53:11 GMT -5
Greg Monroe imo will never be savagely dunked on by a superior athlete (Rasheed Wallace UNC) in a sweet 16 game. I believe that Monroe dribbling would beat the 18 year old Othella just plain running the length of the floor. Harrington never ended face up moves with "humbling dunks" but rather spinning fade aways or pump fake layins. Othella was played in the post by JT 2 because he lacked the foot speed to play on the wing on offense or defense. I think a more apt comparison could be a Lamar Odom but with a higher basketball IQ and more of a penchant for playing the team game. Time will tell.
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Post by bronxhoya87 on Dec 4, 2007 15:19:57 GMT -5
Monroe looks like Derrick Coleman to me. Although from that tape I did not see the explosive athlete I thought I would see. Lots of lay-ins around the hoop not the thunderous dunks I would have expected.
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