We all know that in the 4th quarter, we struggle and I am sure that Adelman is doing his best to find a solution to that problem. Defensively, we are okay, it s offensively that we struggle. Outside Yao, Wafer is our best offensive player and time after time, he has show us that he is very clutch. On the other hand, Battier is a liability on the offense. Teams double Yao and Battier cant hit anything. What about finishing with Wafer? He can change things. Adelman should atleast try it once.
In the past few games, every time we needed a big shot to get us going in the 4th and wafer had the ball, he made it. I say let him close.
I disagree. Sure, we struggle offensively, but I think the Rox get offensive brain freeze and psych themselves into struggling. If they instead concentrated on turning the defense up a notch, they'd not only relax on the offensive end, they'd probably get some steals and/or easy transition scores.
He has hit many clutch shots, like the Boston game. Also, in the Lakers game, he was the only one at the end that could score. Battier is doing anything on the offense. I am sure that he can help in the 4th quarter. Wafer has prove that he can play well in the end of the games.
I def. rather have Wafer close the game out than Aaron Brooks. I'd rather have Yao close it out, but If I was asked to give a choice for the 2nd guy it would be Wafer.
Sure Yao should be the first option.I am saying that we should have Wafer instead of Battier in the end of the games. What you think about that?
yep I agree. put brooks in with Wafer, artest, Yao, and either Shane or Scola. Wafer has the athleticism to take it to the rim. His decision making has been getting better.
We should have Wafer, Battier and Artest at the same time. Slide Artest to the 4, but I guess it depends on the matchup. We need Battier for his defense, and he's still considered a threat to hit the 3 ball. I think if he played with Lowry more, he would get more open looks.
Well in terms of this year, our top 5 players in crunch time is: Brooks (Lowry hasn't been with the team long enough, so we don't know if he's clutch or not) Wafer Battier Artest Yao
wafer could be assigned to the last shot, depending on the match up. i'd like to see how yao and lowry do, too. tired of always seeing ab taking it to the rack or shooting a 3 when the defender goes under a pick; though that should also be a valid option. they need to do it by committee in different situations.
it's not that i hate or not trust ab, and hindsight is always 20-20; but with 28 seconds left and we were trailing by only one, having ab take it to the rack against the best post defender in business is kind of... stupid.
lol obviously. But he seems to hit big shots, might as well try it you never know. Sam Cassell was big in his rookie year for us so experience has nothing to do with being clutch.
I'm torn about Wafer. He brings a much needed offensive intensity and energy to the team, but he goes through periods when he makes bad decisions with the ball. It can be a real gamble to have Wafer and Artest on the court together, especially IMO at the end of games. It's either a homerun or a strikeout. Plus, from what I've seen, Wafer isn't great at passing to Yao in the paint, which is critical in the fourth quarter when the defense tightens up.
Absolutely, give the ball to Wafer. The ability to close is pretty innate. At the end of the game, there are those who rise to the occassion because they have a strong sense of will. Horry, Cassell, Elie, Hakeem, Maxwell. These guys were all closers who relished the end of the game. Von Wafer is not near these guys, but it goes to show that experience is overrated. Being clutch is as much a mindset as it is a skillset. At the end of the game, I would go with - Lowry, Von, Artest, Landry, Yao. I would feel comfortable with anything but an Artest jack-up with this group. Landry had an off night, but he has proven clutch on many occassions. He's also the perfect target for dishes from Lowry/Von drives. It might be unorthodox, but having Barry in there might not be bad as well. His three-point shooting could prove invaluable to setting up Yao. Problem is, we need Lowry/Aaron to handle the ball.
Von is turn over prone scares me to death driving with no idea of what he's going to do and then jumping in the air and throwing a crazy pass to no one.
This was exactly what I was thinkin last night. I dont think we needed Shane Battier guarding mason or hill. Wafer would have added some offense over shane.
