Honest response to game 3: The team knows LMA is leaving and some players have quit on the team. The regression is too severe to attribute to injuries or bad match-ups.
Force a team to take long jump shots - to make it tough on them - and then turn around and base your entire offense off of the same principle? Cognitive dissonance within the coachs/teams philosophy is really biting us in the ass now. I, for one, am excited at the hope of some philosophy change in play-style. You only have to look at our opponent for a good example; that playing un-complex, physical and fundamentally sound basketball can be synergistic to the talent involved. There's a glimmer of hope on the horizon that, finally, the futility of years of our team offense being predicated on the long jumpshot, may be coming to an end.
I wanted to wait a bit before I posted my assessment of the team... So here it goes. Neil - he is the hardest one to grade because what we see is only a small portion of what he does. We don't hear/see many of the trade offers he was involved with or contract negotiations. Drafting has been OK. Before the draft, I was hoping for the Lillard/Leonard tandum. There is no way I would have drafted CJ or Crabbe (CJ is finally making a difference- so maybe I was wrong on him). On that draft I wanted Gannis & Gobert... Still wish we had drafted them. Free agent work has been poor. He's lucky we didn't score his "targets" of Hibbert & Hawes, but to only come away with Mo, Blake, & Kaman is disappointing to say the least... Stottts- has a good offence, but wat to perimeter oriented for my taste. I would love some back door cuts & cuts down the key on occasion. Don't get me started on the D. Steals may not be a indicator of a "great" D, but the lack of steals is definitely an indicator of poor D. LMA - great player, but not who you want to be your #1 leader. He doesn't do the "little things" and it sets the tone for he rest of the team & it makes a big difference. Has he ever taken a charge - he normally does the ole defense and gives people an open lane to the basket. He never gets boards "outside his area". He's missing those hustle stats that those who win championships will have. That's all for tonight. I'll get the rest of the team tomorrow.
I don't think "predict" is the right word, but I had high hopes for both, well almost predict Meyers. It seemed like he had to have something but it surprised me that he is the shooter he appears to be.
I'll quibble with the "darling keepers" bit, but a nice surprise in that that we have seen glimpses that they might live up to the potential of where they were drafted
My support of Meyers has never waivered. I have always asked for patience. I also believed in CJ, but felt he was more easily replaceable.
