Changes the team can do now WITHOUT any trades or coaching changes

This thread is for discussing ideas on what the team can do NOW to improve if there are NO trades and the coaching staff remains the same. We all agree there are significant issues that continue to plague the team despite us hoping at times they have "turned the corner" with a mini win streak or a win against a strong opponent. The team has some really good talent but why can't they put it together on a consistent basis. Here are some of my ideas:

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  Defensive intensity!! - As the saying goes…defense wins championships. Every player at all times should show maximum intensity. Defense leads to easy buckets on offense. This is where JB needs to show some balls and sub anyone not giving maximum effort. The players don't have to like him. Look at how Pop treats his players. If they aren't playing the way he wants he takes them out with a good chewing along the way. I'm not just thinking about one player. I'm talking about players that commit stupid reach in fouls with the other team in the bonus, not boxing out, giving up easy back door cuts, poor rotations…. Hold them accountable. What does JB have to lose anyway. If he doesn't turn the team around he's gone.

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  Kick up the pace - Get into the offense faster. The longer you have to get a good shot the greater the chance. Taking 6-7 seconds to get the ball past mid court and a few more seconds to actually get into the offense is too long. The goal of the offense should be to get the easiest basket possible. Starting the offense quicker gives more time to get a good shot.

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  Move on offense - The team would greatly benefit from a motion offense. There is way too much reliance on Harden. Players need to move and the ball needs to move. Play Harden off the ball sometimes with him moving through screens. If he doesn't want to do it then yank him. Again, the coach needs to be in charge. If he really wants to be the best player in the league he'll do it. Look at how last years mvp and most likely this years mvp plays. If he really wants to be the mvp and win he'll change.

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  Take smarter shots - The goal of every possession should be to get the highest percentage shot which is a dunk or a layup. If you can't get one move out from there. If that's a mid range shot then so be it. A three pointer can be had at just about any time during a possession. The key for three's is to take smart ones…facing the basket squared up leaning into the shot. Someone posted a great video analysis of this recently.

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  Play more inside out - Everyone can see that our post up game is extremely inefficient. You still have to do it whether they respect your post up game or not. It goes with bullets three and four. Get the ball inside and have cutters constantly moving. Kick it out to open shooters. Swing the ball if the defense closes and keep them catching up. Dwight is so strong even if he doesn't have position on the first post up he should be able to quickly re-post pushing his man under the basket. We saw this against Portland in the playoffs against Lopez. Even if he commits an offensive foul at least he tried. TJ can post against certain defenders and is a good passer. Capela…well, he is learning. We really miss DMo. Post Harden occasionally too.

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  Get Lawson involved - Dribble drive penetration. The amount of players on the team that have this ability is minimal. Lawson can do this. Another ball handler. This goes with Harden playing off the ball. Harden would get easier shots which would greatly improve his efficiency. He just needs to be willing to work for it. See JJ Redick and CP3 for a good example of this.

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  Know your role - Brewer and Ariza are 3 and D guys. Neither one should be handling the ball. Play strong D, get out on the fast break, swing the ball and corner threes. Using these guys as an example. Everyone needs to do what they do well and stick with it. It's up to coach to tell them what he wants the players to do.

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  Consistent player substitutions - For the most part the team has been the same all season. By now JB should have been able to come up with the rotations he sees are the most effective. Players benefit from knowing when they will be coming in and going out. Give players adequate rest especially if they are busting their butts on defense and running on offense. Ten minutes at a time is too long. The exception to the rotations is foul trouble or the fourth quarter when riding a hot hand or specific match up.

I'm really trying to explain it's going to take some significant changes by the whole team including the coaches....no, especially the coaches. Simply saying "play harder" and clapping isn't going to cut it. I think everyone would agree that the team has under performed all season sans a couple of games and changes must be made. Too much talent to be a .500 team. Looking forward to some positive input in this thread.

 

Unfortunately that may be the only way for changes to happen but for now if I'm JB I'm taking the "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" approach and if you don't like it sit on the bench.

 

Might not be a bad idea. Anything to wake them up. I hate the idea of throwing away the rest of the season. JB isn't here to make friends...he's here to win games. This might be the only head coaching chance he gets.