We keep hoping that Deng can show what he did in 06, and build on it. Deng could really benefit from the revamped team structure and focus. Thibo loves him, and it seems he knows how to use him. My great hope for Thibo is that he will be a coach who knows how to utilize players according to their strengths, like Skiles, but also knows how to help even the best ones improve their games, like PJ. Deng got strangled under Skiles' hyper-controlling style. I think Thibo has enough confidence to let Deng blossom. [video=youtube;755f0iUuJY0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=755f0iUuJY0[/video]
My take is that Skiles was a great strategist who knew how to use people according to their strengths. But his failure with the Bulls at least was his over reliance on this ability that somehow stifled player growth and development. The players got pigeonholed and warned off of trying to develop their game for the sake of the team concept. There is a fine line that separates discipline and team oriented play and stifling player development and creativity, and I think that Skiles crossed it. It's my own view, which others may not share. So, yes, Deng was utilized well under Skiles. But ultimately, Deng's development as a player was, I believe, held back by Skiles' overly rigid control. I'm willing to acknowledge that the jury's still out on this one. Maybe, Skiles was right and Paxson was too in love with his players and that he just did the best that he could with what he had. I suppose what happens in Milwaukee may partially answer that. And how Deng does develop under Thibo would be another piece. My bet for now is that Deng has found the right guy to help his game grow as it should.
I tend to agree with Good Hope on this one. I think even Hinrich's development was stifled. However, I'm not so sure about Deng. Under Skiles, Deng seemed like an afterthought. There didn't seem to be any plays run for Deng, other than the stand in the corner and wait for a kick out pass from Duhon or Hinrich. He seemed to do quite well innovating from the wing on those kick out passes. Though Deng probably could have kept on shooting 3's and become a threat from there, and for that maybe Skiles can be blamed. What's really questionable at this point is whether Deng can flourish if the plays actually are run for him. I do remember plenty of games where he called for the ball and tried to manufacture offense as "the guy" and it didn't turn out too well. I mean he looked like he was forcing it and the results weren't exactly spectacular. He also had a terrific opportunity last season with Gordon traded away, but only put up 16.7 PPG and his 3rd best PER season.
Yeah, Deng should not be the offensive centerpiece. But I think Thibo said as much at his press conference, and focused on Luol's versatility and the development of that corner three. But we'll see.
Lu needs to at least double his volume of 3 point shooting - especially when he's hitting at a 39% clip at 1 shot per game. The thing is he's so good running the floor and cutting off the ball and finishing inside off the feed where he will stay with the ball and crash the offensive boards. We still need him to do that , but , we need to expand his offense some, our offense some , to have him as a secondary corner 3 shooter with Korver being the primary starting shooter. If you have to pay attention to Korver - and secondarily Deng , he doubles his shooting from 3 ( assuming he can maintain a creditable 37 to 39% clip ) then Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer will have all the room they need. He will have less shots this year and has never got to the line a bunch anyway ...which is especially why , for his own sake ( in efficiency ) why he needs to make his offense count more The other thing is , if you lighten Lu up a little in the yards he moves off the ball around the baseline / post , and can keep him a little deeper in the offense , you keep him a bit fresher to pick up in transition defense and also in the half court when you want to use him as one of your primary defenders
