Anyone have stats as to our pace pre-Wallace and post-Wallace? I'd like to think our pace increased with the acquisition of Wallace, as he constantly would push the ball up after a steal or rebound.
We only played about 23 games post Wallace. Even if there's an increase in pace (and I doubt there is), I'd be much more convinced by the previous however many years.
I think the question is whether McMillan actually knows how to coach an uptempo team. It's not just a matter of yelling "run" after the team grabs a board. I would be interested in seeing where Bernie Bickerstaff's teams were, in terms of pace. If those teams ran - and also won games - I'd be interested in seeing McMillan give more of the responsibility for the offensive end of the floor to Bickerstaff, and McMillan can worry more about the defensive end.
There's a third way it might happen--revolution from within Since Andre's arrival there have been signs. First, McMillan was derided in the national media for not starting Miller, to keep things slow. Then he and Miller had the public argument over this very issue and Nate lost. Then Roy declined so Miller started doing things his way, alley-ooping to Aldrige. Posters said wow, McMillan has changed. McMillan just stood there and scowled at fast breaks. This season, Bernie got them playing faster. Nate watches and isn't sure whether he approves. Nate was dictator over young players, but now that Pritchard's influence is gone, we're getting experienced players who know McMillan is full of it and just ignore him. (Same for Jason Quick, so he quit.) So we may actually speed up this year with Felton ignoring Nate and using Bernie's offense from Charlotte, alley-ooping to Gerald Wallace.
I see no point in running just for running. If Felton is able to steal the ball on the perimeter (like in the 2nd highlight), It's not like Nate is going to get up from the bench and immediately call a timeout or something. I see good coaching as trusting the players and allowing freedom. Teaching them to go with what the other team gives them. If there's a good opportunity take it, no matter if there's 5 or 15 left on the shot-clock.
And of course, if it's a fastbreak there could even be 22 seconds left, I'm assuming it's obvious. The question is if you run after a defensive-rebound, running after a steal usualy happens. Running after a defensive-rebound I guess depends on a coach's philosophy.
Portland doesn't need to up the pace as much as they need to get better on the fastbreak. Andre Miller just wasn't a guy that was a blur out there and he doesn't fly by defenders. Felton is more of that kind of player. He's quicker on the break. Aldridge also isn't a great outlet passer, which is key to starting the fastbreak. He'll grab a rebound a pivot for 2-3 seconds and be overly cautious. If you watch Tim Duncan the ball is out of his hands to Tony Parker at half-court in a split second.
That reminds me of the championship team. It was 5 years or so before I was born, but Walton and Lucas would grab rebounds and without looking, turn and fire the ball to midcourt all in one motion. That team ran the break so well. They should have put that on video for clinics, man. It was a thing of beauty to watch.
Walton was the greatest outlet passer I've ever seen. He would leap for the rebound, move his hands toward where he calculated the ball would intersect him as it came down and he went up, turn his head toward his teammates scurrying toward the opposite hoop in anticipation of his pass, snag the ball with both hands no-look because his head was turned around from the ball as far as he could rotate his neck while he calculated his best pass receiver, rotate his body in midair without bringing the ball below his head so that the other center couldn't steal it, and make the pinpoint pass to the best receiver (the one farthest from his defender) way downcourt for the wide open layup. Then he would land. Then he had excellent speed in getting down there in case the layup failed. Walton had several signature moves like that that no one has ever done before or after. Sabonis was an oaf at passing in comparison, with his failed behind-the-back passes that were always intercepted.
