The Phil Jackson era Bulls beat the Knicks with less talent six times out of eight at three of the postions on the floor. What was the difference? Passing. The PJ era Bulls could hit the shooters and the cutters, and of course they had Jordan. The Knicks lived and died on the jumper. Mostly, they died. The difference is the coach and the sets for badass talent. Knicks sets settle for Js whereever when the clock runs out. Bulls sets deliver the ball in sweet spots or send it to the hole. We have comparable talent, or really superior talent, to some of the weak champion Bulls teams. Tmac is a superstar. Yao is above average. The rest can play adequately. Not so different from Jordan and Pippen and whatever. Most former Bulls were better in the triangle than out of it. Scott Williams, B. J. Armstrong, even that stupid blowhard Steve Kerr. Dude deserved that pop in the mouth. Jordan didn't win with Doug Collins - he needed space to operate. Fire JVG and give Tmac his space, let Yao rain over midgets stupid enough to test him outside.
Yes we played Bibby and Wade. So if we play BIBBY in the PLAYOFFS WE LOSE. PG position has been horrible since day 1 the team knew that #4 position has been terrible since day ! they knew that. Come on this Team Mangt. is just trying to get by because of the costly moves made in previous years that makes them to have no choice then to sit on this team.
I totally agree with Tmac needing to drive more. He can get to the hoop anytime he wants. Unfortunately Tmac's unwillingness to drive more often is one of the larger things that differentiates himself from Kobe. Kobe and Wade are WILLING to ACCEPT the physical contact to get to the FT line. Tmac only does at certain times. I would like to see this team in general attack the basket more. It certainly gives us a better chance at offensive rebounds when we are going TOWARDS the basket instead of falling away. And we would get the added benefit of probably getting more calls going our way because the Rockets would be the "aggressor" in those instances.
I don't think I want TMac driving through the lane on a regular basis. I don't think that is in our best interest because of his history of back problems and the risk of injury. I wish we had a PG who could and would. Sura is great reserve off the bench, I really like his hustle, but he is not a starting NBA PG. The Rocket's have got to get one. Ford and Strickland are hardly the answer.
Good post. But TMac averaged 10FTA two seasons ago, 8FTA last season, and is down to only 6FTA so far this season. I agree that TMac might shy away from the physical contract, but it doesn't take a lot to get the call. I definitely agree with your 2nd part in a general attack. We tend to just shoot jumpers and immediately back peddle on D. It's good to get back on D, but being last on offensive rebounds is terrible. Too many times do I see 4 of the opponents players on the glass with not a single Rocket around them. Driving in creates a lot of opportunities.
Also, I think this would also help Yao a lot as well. Yao gets a lot of points by cutting to the basket along with the player driving in and recieves a lot of easy dunks by passes he recieves on the run. When Sura, Barry, TMac drive in, either the C or PF must step up to stop the ball, giving Yao or Howard an open look under the basket. If Yao gets the ball on the cut, he either gets a dunk or gets fouled.
It's all too eay for us to tell nba gaurds to just "Drive in more". Maybe we've been spoiled with SF for so long that we forget how strong you have to be to take that abuse night after night. T-mac isn't even as built as kobe. T-mac drives enough. He usually drives if they single cover him or on a post up. Ain't gonna be doin too much driving when you are doubled 80% of the time.
