<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a system, the players just don't run with it. Monty's style is backdoor plays and a little bit like the Princeton offense and sort of what the Pistons do with Rip Hamilton on midrange jump shots or long twos. It's basically inside/outside ball movement mixed with the 18 foot jump shot off the catch against a defender's "no-man's land". We try to run screens or picks, but a few guys get outmuscled or sometimes get called for the offensive foul trying to cheat a little. If a play is called for a perimeter guy he wants to dump into the big guy inside and the big guy sets the perimeter guy moving off the ball. Well most of our perimeter guys don't move off the ball or move fast enough or our big guys don't play inside to create spacing for the outside guy to take the shot or they don't set very good screens. I think there is our trouble. We have Murphy and Foyle and Diogu is just a rook learning a foreign system. The system won't work with our guys, but it could work if we find the right people and we don't switch coaches constantly. Let's put it this way, Larry Brown and a lot of nba coaches have had some batty ass lineups too, but it's a matter of finding the right pieces to the puzzle. We need to upgrade Murphy and Foyle and not by doing it with Diogu at center. The man is a pure power forward. We don't even have a center taller than 6'11 that weighs at least 260 lbs that can block shots, rebound, and pass. Could be Biedrins but he ain't ready for a while. We also need to get stronger, faster, and we need more guys who can set other players up by creating. We also need to defend and score the ball because we can't expect to win when players are so one dimensional and they are starting for us.</div> Good stuff here -- that was a strength of Mussleman; he was smart enough to play dumbed-down ball when he had players that weren't as adept at a complex system like Zarko, Cheaney, and Dunleavy are. "Okay Gilbert, you take the ball, dribble it, and JRich? yeah, you dunk the basketball. Okay, now go out there and get 'em!"
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AlleyOop:</div><div class="quote_post">Good stuff here -- that was a strength of Mussleman; he was smart enough to play dumbed-down ball when he had players that weren't as adept at a complex system like Zarko, Cheaney, and Dunleavy are. "Okay Gilbert, you take the ball, dribble it, and JRich? yeah, you dunk the basketball. Okay, now go out there and get 'em!"</div> And that's one reason he got fired too. It's just not good development for the team game we sorely lack and especially because we have a lot of non-ballhandlers or slow ass guys on our roster that couldn't beat a parked car or work their way inside on smaller opponents. Baron knows he can't do everything by himself and especially because smart, athletic defenders can close off the passing lanes if he holds onto the ball too much and good transition defense can stop us anytime we try to run like the Suns do. And we don't want Baron to shoot it all the time with the way he shoots. We just lack guys who can create for other people, so that's why Monty's off the ball movement is so important, especially for the way we space the floor, fool defenses into going the wrong way and get easier points in the paint without having to rely on Murphy being a post player. But I guess we have guys that get confused or think it's not for them. That's why the big dudes we drafted in the last few years, I have big hopes for since they have high potential or a very well crafted game. Defensively, we need a lot of help inside. With Diogu, he might not be Elton Brand, but I think his effort on D is a lot better than Troy Murphy. Taft and Biedrins look like very good defenders and they are athletic with good hands. We need to bring back the quality of passing and defense guys like Clif Robinson and motivated Erick Dampier played. Foyle may be a great shot blocker but defensively he's not your ideal post guy or one to score on putbacks. Then Murphy just kills all ball movement in favor of his step back jumper or the occasional drive to the basket. Looks like Dirk Nowitzki but even Nowitzki isn't that soft on D and he can set up other people off the drive. I'm not sure about the Artest trade, but we need to do something to avoid forwards going off on us every single time. Our bigger need I think is a center, then Diogu can move to his natural position at power forward. Having Artest would be better than Dunleavy, but I think Dunleavy would play a lot better with somebody to dish to inside and be more of a setup guy than just a catch and shoot player. It's just not good if Murphy's game is too identical to Dunleavy's shooting game. We don't need an outside shooting power forward that doesn't pass or play help D, especially if Diogu has an outside game with his 20 foot jump shot, passes, and plays help D. In this case, I think Diogu is way better than Murphy in terms of the team game and overall fundamentals for his position. I'd prefer to have the players out there that will do the little things and get the results.
I agree - Find a way to bench or trade Murphy and slide Ike to the 4. Have AB and Foyle "fill in" at the 5 until we can make a move there. I'm reluctant to say I've been impressed with Dunleavy lately. Playing much more assertive and aggressive than JRich. A trade of Artest for Murphy would mean a very interesting combination at the 3 with Artest/Dun.
