One could argue it is a coach's fiduciary responsibility to use the assets (players) in a manner equivalent to their contract. They are the highest paid for a reason, and to have a coach that can't utilize them as a result of his approach is counterintuitive.
I think we all believed that Mike the offensive genius would incorporate a game plan structured around Melo because he's our best offensive player. And its safe to say we haven't witnessed that yet. Even in wins. At least not consistently.
You guys do understand that Miami is one of the hottest teams right now at the peak of a win streak and almost universally considered as the championship favorite?
They make a lot of teams look really really bad. That is what happens when you lose. You look bad. They played their A game and considering how hot they were late, there is probably no team in the league that could have stopped them tonight when there were that motivated.
I think the key was Bosh. When 2 of the 3 are playing good, you have a chance. When all 3 are going off like yesterday, I doubt any team in the league would look good against that.
We've got half the season left to mesh and get into shape. Is there anyone out that that thinks the Knicks were already prepared to contend for the championship? Good teams take work. Its been proven over and over. Our team has been thrown together last minute with a ton of injuries slowing things down even more. Have some damn patience.
But, it's not about the lost tonight persay, it's been going on all year, we need a bucket, and we have no plays to get our stars any kind of good looks.It looks like anarchy out there, this should never happen, with the talent level we have now.He has his PG, so he has no more excuses, if he doesn't realize, it's a players league, and you have to feature your stars, he's and retard and has to go.
Not to derail the good thread, but this is pretty much true. And while the pts of RED and others responding are valid and interesting, there's an overriding trusim which I think is in play: when you are facing a juggernaut, and you are simply an inferior team, your **** isn't going to look good, no matter what you do.
Not unlike how we have always looked so janky on defense, especially on the frontcourt, till, surprise surprise....we actually bring in bona fide legitimate NBA center who is good.
What this thread really shows is we need adjustments to look better, at the end of the day. And all we can be asked to do is get better, whether it's good enough or not at the end of the day. MDA is too intelligent a basketball mind in my opinion to not make those adjustments, and field an offense/team that is maximized for what lays ahead in the playoffs. In the meantime, it'll be like it's been all season: steps in the right direction, sometimes two at the expense of taking one back first.
*BUT*, putting the pom poms down, and ending the foolishness of calling Lebron (or Wade) "chokes".....MIA is going to have the best two in the league, by a wide margin, and they got them at premium discounts (along with Bosh) which gives MIA the franchise an edge that is difficult to overstate.
With these truths in place, it's very difficult for any franchise to legitimately compete in my opinion, if they make *any* sub-optimal moves that can't be undone.
This is the main reason the Melo deal was so jank, and a total joke. And why STAT's play is so deeply alarming.
Whether the Melo deal was good is actually irrelevant. We didn't negotiate nor approach the deal shrewdly, and it's clear that whatever shrewdness and negotiating prowess Walsh was displaying to get the *best* deal, and thus the *right* deal, was negated when Dolan put his paw prints all over it.
It's laughable we have people in denial about this, and just wanna go ad nauseum saying that the deal was good because we got the best player, and make these overly detailed player comparisons rationalizing why it was really OK we threw in Gallo, Moz, Felton etc.
The second unfortunate reality we're going to have to deal with is that even when STAT played like the STAT of last year, he was a monumental defensive liability and didn't rebound.
When you splash your max on players they need either fit like a mother****ing glove, or have no major deficiencies. Arguably, Amare did fit like a glove....until the Melo deal, which in itself is pause for the concern.
Barring Lin continues to play at an ethereal level (and it's crazy that so many just had this expectation that he would, especially in his first yr really playing a NBA season), and barring Amare and Melo becoming players they never really have actually been, and have certainly have never been with us, we're in for a world of hurt.
Our one saving grace, IMO, is going back to the up tempo pace we set last year, but with the additional talent, defensive play, and overall commitment to defense.
It's that style that let us compete with teams we really had no business competing with or beating; and despite the broomstick sweep, it's the only reason we run BOS ragged to their least breath and nanosecond of losing for two games, despite how deeply flawed we were as a team at that time.
Lin played really bad, and MIA swarmed our players and smothered them from the start with DPOY-type defense. Players just aren't going to flourish in such a spot.
Unless your individual players display exemplary effort and game. This, IMO, is what legit defines a "superstar". They can get their eats, and will a team, even if the kitchen is filled with smoke. Melo just isn't getting it done; and I think him just getting healthy and placed into our ever-revolving merry go round of players is the reason why....vs him sucking. I think his NBA DNA is one where he can and will do what it takes. And so I put more of an onus on MDA getting things to where that will happen.
I agree it's paramount our stars are featured. But I don't see why we should think the team isn't aware of that, or moving in that direction. Lin is so new, Amare and Melo are still adjusting with each other, Melo just got back from injury...yadda yadda.
It's getting old, and I hate excuses, but it is what it is. Can we just have a reasonably set roster for a couple months one time.....
Great thread. As I said last night.
Lins confidence was shook from the start on the strip by Chalmers. He didnt look comfortable all game after that. I hope this isnt a long term thing. He's going to need his confidence.
MDA could have done somethings to alleviate the pressure the kid felt, but I now feel he needed to go through this. He needs the game experience. He'll now need to adjust accordingly.
Bosh is what killed us this game. You can not let the entire big three get off. Bosh is the easiest to handle so all efforts should have to be taken to slow him down.
Some saw us play zone. I didnt. Maybe because I'm sick as a dog. For a team that struggles so mightily against zone defense not to play any is on the coach. Down 4 after halftime would have been the optimum time to spring it on them. Some say we havent practiced the zone in order to implement it. Hogwash. I could grab 5 guys off this board go down to the park and run a 3-2 or 2-3 zone. Effectively. This is on the coach.
STAT was playing hard and got less run than anyone expected. Bosh cant handle him and neither can Haslem or Anthony. You have to feature STAT if you want to win this game. This is on the coach.
Melo played hard wasnt getting any calls. Again he wasnt featured. This is on the coach.
IMHO MDA does not make adjustments. I've said it before he has to do things game by game quarter by quarter to positively effect the outcomes. Lin is not going to be able to carry this team, but he can be a major cog in a serious playoff run if the entire team is coached up...
Adjusting is one of his biggest weaknesses...
After reading the daily news paper the other day…a journalist ask the coach was he worried that Melo might mess up the chemistry since Lin started at the point. The coach said something like “ Melo has to be Melo, all I tell him is attack and don’t worry about fitting in…I don’t even know what fitting in means"...
LOL and smfh.
One other thing. I dont think its a given the Heat will be in the finals for the next 5 years. They're good. They can be beat though.
Yes i understand the OP i read it completely agree with it stat&melo not being featured is system not running specific plays yes i get it, but i wasn't commenting on the OP's essay i was commenting on a statement someone posted in the OP's thread about our players performance, Running specific offensive plays has nothing to do with not grabbing rebounds, etc. Melo's been in this situation before you think there was a specific game plan vs Celtics in the playoff's in game 2 in the finals? no it was give the ball to melo and get out the way and the man still managed to put up 42/17 rebs, as a star in this league it's your job to pick your team up when things clearly aren't going right, or at least show some leadership and play hard.
Last edited by NYk_Reloaded718; Feb 24, 2012 at 13:09.
Rebounds require proper positioning around the boards. Most times most of the players are spaced around the parimeter...then they crash boards when a long range shot is fired. Chances of rebounding in this fashion is slim...as our players are boxed out by the time they collapse to the basket. Besides, rebounding takes a lot of strength too. When you play a fast pace game like the Knicks...energy levels deplete faster and timing is much harder to come by.This is what I see as far as our boards is concern... A sapped player will hardly get you great results.
idk, perhaps the coach thinks he has track and field athletes on his team. Maybe he'll do much more better coaching in that sport.
Ill look into the link thing, but yes i can believe stat took 1 shot in the 2nd half they dont pass the ball to him what so ever, chandler see's more touches than stat.
I cant believe he had 5 rebs though he was a rebound machine vs the Hawks i dont know what happened vs the heat, maybe he was tired?
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