Really good points. I agree and disagree on some of them. I agree that Nellie knows his players best. I agree that he gets the best out of strong-willed players. I think Marco has been more than patient during his short pro career. I think he's shown the talent in summer league (I know that means nothing, but still...) and I think he's shown it in flashes during the regular season (last season and this season). The thing is, his abilities, regardless of whether he's had it all along or he's just recently earned to showcase it, is exactly what this young team needs. And this is where I disagree. When you're talking about needs, let's look at how Azubuike, CJ Watson, and DeMarcus Nelson were given playing time. Azubuike came in from the D-League because we had a need for a SG...I believe J-Rich was injured. He was put into the mix right away. CJ Watson too...we had no backup PG. And so on and so forth. So, how can you say that Marco's any different? He brings things to the table that the needs obviously needs...ball movement, precise and timely passing, effort on D. If I, Joe Warrior Fan, saw this, why did Nellie not? It just goes back to Nellie's treatment of certain players. I don't necessarily disagree with his method because as you said, strong-willed players will benefit from it...it humbles and motivates them to do better. Anyway, I am hoping this is all a moot argument since Marco has earned, at least in two games, to be a part of the rotation now. Go Marco!
Well if Don Nelson wants to run, he better have a good point guard pushing it up the middle. But in halfcourt, you can make playmakers out of anyone provided the dudes can catch and execute as a team. I'd rather see well executed halfcourt sets and tough defense and rebounding rather than a bunch of overdribbling, 1 on 5 players that jack up bullsht when they can't push the tempo. That style gives no suitable defense too. The run tmc days must die. We must build up something that starts with some resemblance of a playoff caliber defense and a balanced offensive floor game. We need to develop a really good team can beat another team in all sorts of ways, not just one, tired strategy that can't get one passed the 1st or 2nd round of the post season. Run n' gun is fool's gold. The suns couldn't win jack in the playoffs playing small and for Boston it didn't help them until they got Pierce, Garnett with a prototype shooting guard in Ray Allen + a pure point guard + an adequate enforcer role player to be center. They got all the offensive roles covered and they D-it up. Who would've figured they could win a ring with a bench that didn't seem that deep? I can't possibly see how Don Nelson thinks that Mags will be a better PF than lets say Wright, Turiaf, Kurz, or Randolph or Richard Hendrix. That's just b.s. When Nelson pulls those kinds of moves, he ain't the kind of coach that will help us get to the next level. He just wants to do the gimmicky way to win with just combo guards and swingmen. Except for the past 2 games and the first 7 games, I've really hated Nelson's coaching. It was just balls. Play bigger and play Belinelli! That's where our future is. We got Belinelli who could be something like a Ray Allen at max potential and then you got Wright/Randolph who could very well be like Chris Bosh/Lamar Odom clones. I mean hell it does sound like Nelly wants to be like Isiah Thomas and somehow think that the Knicks' Eddy Curry + Zach Randolph will bring better inside outside play... (dude! those guys don't pass the ball or play any D. Recipe for disaster...) and Marbury being Marbury thought the addition of Zach Randolph would be a good thing. The funniest was a team that had Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Zach Randolph, and Eddy Curry. Good luck getting that team to share the ball... or play D and only two of those guys can actually rebound and it ain't the center position doing it.
