My ten grains of salt:
1. I couldn’t watch the game, it was way to late for me over here (tip off @ 2 AM), however, after reading all the info and analyzing all the data made available in the net, it is easy to conclude that we lost a tight game against a strong opponent almost exclusively due to Woody.
I am also downloading the game so I can check it out in detail later today.
2. I have always been a moderate Woody supporter because I am a firm believer that coaches can also grow and improve.
I am a strong believer that part of the team’s success is due to Woody and that he has instilled good things in this group.
I also thing that the players like him and listen to him. this is an extremely important factor and something which cannot be disregarded.
3. however, Woody is proving to be a very slow learner. Why? Probably because his a** in on the line and he is too afraid to take risks and use his bench (including JT0).
Maybe, like I have read in the blog earlier, he is an excellent Assistant, rather than a good HC. We just have to wait until the end of the season.
I know that everyone sees RandMo under a very bad light due to his poor conditioning last year, however, he is UNDOUBTEDLY our best and most refined low post threat. he has very good fundamentals and his moves are sharp and well executed.
I concede that his defense and rebounding are still below par, however, when we have trouble scoring why not give him some minutes and some possessions? how can he develop into something useful to us if he does not play?? and how many times have we seen our own starters failing to defend well and having match up problems against scrubs??
The fact is with our current use of the bench, we are delusional if we thing we can go beyond the second round. PURELY DELUSIONAL, EVEN IF WE GET THE #2 spot in the East!!!!!!!
The 1989 BAD BOYS had Vinny Johnson, James Edwards, Mahorn and Salley ALL PLAYING a minimum of 18 minutes. NINE guys played consistent minutes.
The 1990 BAD BOYS again had 8 players getting a minimum of 22 minutes (they didn’t resign Mahorn).
Even the 2004 Pistons’ much shorter rotation had Okur and Lindsey Hunter averaging 11 minutes, Corliss Williamson averaging 15 and Mike James and Elden Campbell averaging 8/9 minutes.
I mentioned already a few weeks ago that we need to “sacrifice” (meaning accepting the possible sacrifice of – and not that it’s a given fact that there will be an actual sacrifice) a few wins by playing our bench more, INCLUDING JT0!!!!
Yes, he is raw, but not playing him does only bad things to him. how can do much worse than Bibby is right now?? Let me tell you: HE CAN’T.
I like Bibby and I still consider that he can still have a very important role in our future success, however, I cannot shake the feeling that Bibby is a bit lazy and is feeling a little bit too comfortable regardless of what he brings to the table:
a) he should shed some weight;
b) he should be forced to penetrate more (yes, he is slow, but we have seen him drive and pop, off picks, in occasions with acceptable results – Woody has to demand that from him) – remember, Bibby’s best game was not only his 3 point shot but also his mid range shot.
c) his game dropped dramatically after his ankle sprain. how many games did he miss? ZERO and everyone knows that ankle sprains do not get better by playing injured. TO REST is essential!!
4. Nonetheless, that is not the only thing going bad with Woody: he’s in game analysis is poor and I believe that his opponents scouting is also.
This is the second time in just a few games in which the opposing team’s bench completely trounces us.
MIA won the game with their bench and now PHO won the game with their bench. how can you be so ill prepared that you let Dequan Cook score at will in almost every single game against us??
How can we play the Magic making the exact same mistakes? Leaving their 3pt shooters completely free to turn the games around?
How can he play PHO at home, see Dragic do a good job against us and not be prepared to see him do it again?? Dragic in ATL was 5-10 for 10 points, 2 reb, 6 assists, 3 steals in 23 minutes!!!!
How can he – as certainly did – not prep talk the team to be careful with Dragic? both times we came prepared for Nash and then we relaxed when his replacement came in…
BAD PREPARATION. you need to remind the players of what has happened in previous games and know your opponents (the same goes for MIA’s Cook)
5. Our record is now dwindling slowly as the season progresses. this is obviously linked with the fact that Bibby’s game has gone down, Crawford missed a game and is playing hurt and below his standard.
AND WOODY does not adapt… well, to be honest, he does, BY SHORTENING THE ROTATION!!!!
You have 2 players out of your top 6 playing hurt and you SHORTEN the rotation??? WTF???
5. I already suggested a few times and will continue to do it again:
Marvin is playing a lot worse than last year. Many factors certainly contribute to that, including some which are not of his responsibility.
Despite Woody’s commentaries that he hoped that he would step up his game, the fact is that now that we have Craw, there are less minutes and less touches for Marvin: he his seldom involved in the offensive game.
Marvin is a natural shooter (the shots are not going down, but his release is good) who is now reduced to an utility player.
He brings a low key type of defense which is precious within the switching defense (his +- against PHO was positive), however, the overall balance of his presence on court seems in many occasions negative.
Why not bring him off the bench like he played in NC? Why not try JJ at the SF spot and Mo at the starting SG slot?
Mo is playing out of position and looking at his log YOU CAN SEE that he is suffering from lack of minutes. he had a few good games early in the season WHEN he played 20+ minutes.
He should start and get 20/25 minutes and he would certainly deliver. since he is not producing under the current assignment, why not try this?
JJ at the SF slot would be able to use his dribble and superior comparative speed against most SF and we could have JT0 coming in at the PG spot with Craw and JJ attracting the opponents defense.
I am sure that JT0 would get to the rim and score (or dish) with that ATL line up since he would not be – FOR SURE – the focal point of the defense.
This would allow us to have a much deeper rotation. IT IS NOT a given fact that your starting 5 has to be the top 5 talents in the roster, but the combination which allows you to have a better ROTATION.
We need to have a second team which keeps enough pressure offensively and but points in the board, even if they do give away on defense as well.
The fact is, how can you motivate you bench to play good defense, be focused and produce if you don’t give them enough minutes to even warm up??
