I know, man. But, in all fairness, we are still one piece (legiti C) away from a full-fledged lineup. Most possible the legiti C is landed to deal with lopez brothers or ibaka who may baby hook for 2pt in the paint or run for 3pt shot behind the arc in the clutch. I dunt think tucker is the right type (length wise) could get the specific D done while it comes to prevent from a deadly buzzer beater.
Sorry, but not seeing this... If small ball gets exposed in the playoffs and we get swept or lose 4-1 or something - that will be it for small ball as a primary set... Depending on the coach that replaces MDA... we're really just a serviceable center away from a somewhat traditional set... Imo if MDA is gone then small ball will go with him... and EGo will be traded for a serviceable center.... ...imo...
Yeah, it's conceivable that if it flopped in the playoffs, Morey would revert. But imagine telling Westbrook he has to go back to playing in a traditional set. We've actually run two experiments: Russ and James with a center, and Russ and James without. Experiment #2 has weaknesses, but Experiment #1 wasn't any better. More likely, we're just talking about continuing to play small ball, with big men available from the bench in unusual situations. And in that scenario, D'Antoni or a D'Antoni clone still feels like the right fit.
I think small ball has its place... as does a traditional set... Imo our downfall has been our rigidness regarding our game plan... MDA has always said things like "we dont adjust - we just play our game - they adjust..." We've lacked balance... We take a good idea and run it out to the nth degree... with the belief that if some is good then more must be better... Whether its small ball or isos or 3s... I wish we could just utilize these practices without selling our soul and painting ourselves into a corner... When we were on the 'treadmill of mediocrity' and didnt have the talent to be true contenders it made sense to go all in on on different philosophies to try to make up for our shortcomings talent wise... but at this point I just dont see it as being a necessity... Balance... multiple options... use what works on any given night... ...imo...
There isnt one. Just need to bring in assistants like Nick Nurse types, young and innovative. Still.want Darren Erman.
Difference with tweaking your system, than changing system. Phil Jackson did not adjust Triangle offense for Bulls and Lakers championship teams. Dominant systems impose their will. 5 out will be a dominant system, if not already.
Lets get Ariza back this offseason and really try this not so small ball. Westbrook Harden Ariza Covington Tucker
Dominant systems imposing their will - or dominant players imposing their will? Big Chief Triangle is a prime example.... For all the accolades of his vaunted triangle offense - how did it work out when he didnt have the best player(s) in the game? How many championships did his system deliver without MJ or Kobe? Were his Knicks teams still really good utilizing his philosophies but just lacked the talent to be true contenders - or was it a sh*t show? If I'm to be sold on a system (for the sake of the system) - then show me it working when its not being employed by an uber dominant team.... Otherwise, its fine to have a primary philosophy - as long as you're willing to adjust depending on the circumstances on any given night...
We've been chasing Covington for years. He's also the type of role player that would fit on any team, not just in our small ball structure. The fans in Philly and Minnesota loved him. He certainly was not just a last hurrah effort for MDA.
Totally agree with you about balance and keeping our options open. If Morey could have gotten Covington and kept Capela as a luxury for when we need to play a center, he would have done it. So I guess I don't see it as a binary choice between "all in" or not all in. It's more like a sliding scale where we'll have to settle for a weaker alternative at center. Also, not to entirely contradict myself (but, yeah, sort of), I'm kind of tempted by D'Antoni's argument that sometimes the mistake is to chicken out on going all in, and that in fact that's the mistake he made in Phoenix.
They made it sound as if was championship or bust for MDA in the off-season. Maybe a deep playoff run will get him an extension though.
I remember the whole Robert Horry and Steve Nash black eye in those playoffs against the Spurs. Nash shooting FT's with basically one eye. Horry should have been ejected. They got hosed
