Re:

[gh18@xxxxxxxx]

No set plays for Baker = 

1.  Baker will have be a monster on the boards in order to score.
2.  Baker understands that he is not the first or second option in the
offense.  He has to understand that he is playing the same role as Robert
Parrish, block shots, rebound, and score when needed.
3.  Eventually Baker will have a set play.  However, he has to understand
early that he is team player and not the star.
4.  I salute O'Brien for this effort.  This move will help team
chemistry, because it is important that everybody understands their role.
 



On Mon, 14 Oct 2002 10:35:35 -0400 JB <jimmetz@mac.com> writes:
>         There are  some very interesting situations emerging, as 
> examined by 
> the newspapers and reflected in the coach's quotes, over the last 
> two 
> days.
>         It sounds like coach O'Brien isn't trying to impose an 
> offense. What's 
> that about? He wants movement, running and passing, but won't put in 
> 
> any set plays. It could work, like it did at Kentucky, as he says he 
> 
> wanted better passers on the floor this year, but it would work much 
> 
> better with a true point guard.
>         With no set plays for Vin Baker, how in  the world does 
> O'Brien expect 
> him to have an impact? How long will it take for Baker to wish he  
> was 
> back in Seattle? This is one situation that could really hurt this 
> franchise going forward. There is no way that Wallace, or even Frank 
> 
> "Trader" Lane, can trade out of Vinny's contract.
>         Offensive anarchy? If the Darwinian theory of evolution 
> holds true,  
> the captains will dominate the ball even more, leaving coach 
> O'Brien's 
> wish for movement and fast breaks in the waste basket.
>         Could  Lance be right about coach O'Brien setting this year 
> up, to 
> have the players beg the team to bring in a point guard for next 
> season 
> and actually be willing to have him run the offense?         Coach 
> O'Brien's 
> focus on defense is sound, but two things have to happen between 
> defense and offense, that the team not only ignored, but weakened 
> itself in, in the off-season. 1.Rebounding.   2. Passing. You can 
> play 
> all of the defense you want, but if you don't get the rebound, the 
> other team can just tire you out, getting shot after shot. Without 
> good 
> passers, particularly a great, or even good, point guard, you don't 
> get 
> high % shots, or involve the whole team on the offensive end, 
> leaving 
> everyon disgruntled  and standing around, flat footed, weakening the 
> 
> rebounding and eventually the defense.
>         Coach seemed to have two mantras going into the off-season: 
> 1. He 
> wanted athletes in the front court, not rebounder/banger types. 2. 
> His 
> point guards had to be shooters first, passers second. This does not 
> 
> seem to be very balanced. In fact, he was lamenting this week, that 
> the 
> team is not strong enough, under the boards and keeping the other 
> teams 
> away from the rim. Duh?
>         Where is Joe Gallagher? We brought him in to teach post 
> play, but 
> without plays being charted to get the ball into the post, what good 
> is 
> it?
>         Richie Adubado?  Here; just watching practice, to renew old 
> 
> acquaintances? Anyone remember what Rich's specialty was? He's 
> coaching 
> in the  WNBA. That league surely is founded on  motion and passing. 
> 
> Here's hoping........
>         The other situation, involves the lame duck ownership issue 
> and  
> expanding the roster. Now that it's too late to bring in real 
> players, 
> like Jacques Vaughn, or Gary Trent (I still am in shock  that we 
> signed 
> Wolkowyski  and Bremer, over these two, for the same money); we have 
> 
> O'Brien and in part, Wallace, lobbying to sign another player.  Who 
> is 
> out there? Not much really. Jimmy Jackson and Rod Strickland have 
> talent, but  are hardly the good locker room veterans I'd like to 
> see 
> on this team and both are still looking for  more than the minimum.
>         We need muscle  and point guard skills, but who makes the 
> decision  on 
> whether to  spend it? Gaston is still the owner, until the December 
> 
> meetings, at the earliest, I believe.
>         Trades are a possibility, but unless they figure ways to 
> make Baker a 
> real part of the offense, it's hard to believe this team can 
> duplicate 
> last years showing, without some muscle and a true point guard.
>         
>         
>                 JB
> 
>         Unchain My Heart !
> 
> 


Greg
gh18@juno.com

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