I didn't see the game, so I'd appreciate some answers to the following questions: 1). There are weird +/- splits for the bench players. Some very positive, others very negative. Is there a useful context for these numbers or were they just happenstance? 2). Grant's getting ragged on over at RealGM but his boxscore is pretty good. Are they overreacting or did he play with no feel for the game, despite his decent output? 3). How bad was the spacing in the 1st unit?
The weird splits happened because Hoiberg used two different bench units. The first group, with Grant running point, got manhandled. The Bucks were applying a full court press, which I haven't seen in a very long time. Grant didn't look like an NBA player . . . it's one game but it's easy to hate the way he plays. The coaching staff and front office must see something in him. The spacing in the 1st unit actually looked fine. The Bucks played Rondo tight because of his ability to handle and pass; I think most teams will guard Wade and Butler on the perimeter; Lopez actually has decent range too. Taj looked like the weak link, but the Bulls may be able to get away with one player you don't have to guard. This team feels like a bad match for its coach. Frank Vogel would have been a good coach for this group.
Given that Hoiberg hasn't had any success in the NBA as a head coach to this point, its unclear if perhaps Hoiberg is just a bad coach. He's only had one season but the roster he had underperfomed from the previous year with basically the same roster. Some NBA head coaches have proven adept at altering their game plan to fit the roster they are given. Perhaps the front office should target a guy like that.
I suspect Hoiberg is just a bad coach. I hate going into a season with the feeling that your skipper isnt going to be able to get his team where it needs to be. This feels like the last two years of the Thibs regime to me.
Thanks SST. I was one of the people that thought Grant looked really weak in Summer League. He just didn't play with any sense of poise. My impression of him is that he has no ability to create playmaking windows for himself or the team, which causes everything to stall when he's at the helm. I'm beginning to think his future in the league is an E'Twaun Moore combo guard type, not a real point guard.