For a coach and GM who want the team to get quickly into the offense since data supports the obvious fact that you can get a great or better shot earlier in the shot clock since defense is not set, isn’t it a big problem that we do not run it? Particularly running is something we don’t do, neither to get into our offense nor running the break. Harden does not like it and possibly the slowest person to cross half-court as a PG ever, CP3 does not like or at least hasn’t been the run and gun type and Gordon while quick is not the one to run a fast break as the PG. Our philosophy definitely does not match with our personnel, which begs the question, should they re-evaluate who they are as a team? Right now and last year our way of fast breaks and running is either a lucky pass by Harden to a player who leaks out, used to be Brewer and now we do not seem to have one, or one pass and a quick 3 with no possibility of a rebound. Isn’t it ironic that our slogan is run as one, which is something we do not do and is not part of our team’s DNA? To me it’s obvious change is needed and either Harden gets a good earful about his slow ways and the team will accordingly train to run fast breaks, leak out etc. Or we stick to this strategy and cut out all the quick under 7 seconds threes and all, but also focus on becoming a defensive minded team with a more diversified offense.
Last time I checked we were 3-1 and led by 12 (82 to 70) in the 4th quarter and blew it against the same team that dismantled the warriors a couple of nights earlier.. Should be 4-0. This is all without a future hall of famer on the sidelines. There are issues but they are not as glaring as yester years. This team has the tools to be great.
You can't run when the other team is getting fouls damn near every possession. Memphis made it a strategy to make sure we didn't get out in transition
Fair enough, but in general we are not and never have run the offense the way MDA and Morey preach about. I'm not talking the Suns version of it. As a team, we've generally not succeeded in the running our offense quickly unless you count this threes early in the shot clock. My guess is MDA is fine with it, but not really. He would gladly have a PG who would run his stuff the way he even preaches about, but that's not Harden's game. And probably not CP3's either.
The last quarter it was literally 5 on 8. So many bad calls went against us. Horrible reffing all night long but even more so the last quarter.
Saying "unless you count threes early in the shot clock" as a qualifier takes out the entire purpose of what the early offense is supposed to do. Either fast break layup or uncontested 3 early. Why would we want to run quick offense to get a long 2? We can get the long two in the half court set. The Warriors early offense is essentially Klay or Curry taking a 3 in transition. That is the look they're trying to set up. This also doesn't take into account things we're doing in transition like drag screens and PnR at almost mid court. Gordon has done a good job being the change of pace guy so far this year. We are also working with a bizarre sample of 2 of the top teams and 2 basement dwellers.
Harden and Paul may not run but they are good at finding guys streaking down the court and rewarding them Dantoni said we are still good when walking it up but better when pushing it. I feel like harden is walking less this year
Yeah perhaps but who’s really streaking down court who can do anything besides shoot a contested 3? Really? I find Harden is running a lot less. Not sure what games you have watched..
What you will find on this board is a lot of "buts" and "ifs" - Bad refereeing - Tired - Still has a great, supremely efficient offense Yada, yada. OP, what you will in reality notice, is some of the things you mention kind of just are what they are. These things are unlikely to change. They do/can have an amazing offense and do/can get out in transition. But they also can get lulled into the incredibly horrible brand of basketball you say in the 4th quarter last night, which is particularly accentuated when Harden does his barely make it over halfcourt before the clock hits 16 thing, then get frustrated that he isn't getting the right pick IMMEDIATELY, then dribbling a lot of unnecessary dribbles before turning it over. 90% of the time, though, this works. The question is, (1) is the 10% of the time it doesn't, a function of randomness, or opponent, and (2) will a fully integrated CP3 change anything? The answer to (1) is it doesn't seem to be random. Against certain teams, the offense seems to bog down a bit. Spurs, Grizzlies as examples. Not always. But more against them than others. Surprisingly, I wouldn't count GSW as one of these teams, necessarily, they just outscore us. The answer to (2) is tbd. But otherwise, don't expect this to change. MDA isn't, at this point, likely to introduce actual plays to counter this. He had a chance last night out of a timeout and got absolutely ZERO. Harden isn't going to change. We've seen this pattern going on 3+ years now. Ariza, Anderson, etc aren't going to turn into offensive threats. The hope in the playoff is to have a 2 month "hot" shooting stretch... at least hot enough 4 out of 7 games.
Except for that Mavs game when Dirk only scored 2-5 points, I dun think we really blew someone out. We are now at + 3.5 3-1
Yeah, finally a voice of reason! I'm afraid you are right..in the regular season it works maybe 75-80% of the time (think 90% is a bit of a stretch but that's irrelevant), but against the best teams and in the play-offs, we've seen the results..I still hope for change.
I'm not worried about identity going forward yet . 4 games in with a 5 game preseason isn't enough time to develop one . It's been since 14-15 that I felt the team really had an identity . Sure , we did great last year ... But we were more identified by the strategies we employed vs how we executed them . In 14-15 you could tell the team really enjoyed watching the ball move and big guys like josh smith and Dmo were good passers and of course harden was amazing . That was the year of the "others" stepping up while Dwight was out . This year , I hope we don't fall into the same trap of defining ourselves with "we take lots of threes , play hard defense ... Etc" those are ways of playing ... They aren't a team's identity. A team's heart . MDA , expand the rotation , let the scrubs play . It's early in the season and it helps get everyone on the same page . Like in that season , we need to be able to rely on the next man up .
