The reason you don't give guys that slack off in practice playing time is because it sets a bad example for the rest of the team. If Rudy lets guys that don't work hard in practice play, then why should anyone else care about practice? I mean all you need to do is produce in the game, right? Why don't we just tell Steve that he doesn't need to practice anymore because he produces on the court? If Los isn't practicing hard, then he doesn't deserve the playing time. I mean if I were him, and I knew if I practiced hard, I would get decent playing time, I definitely would be practicing hard. If this is true that Rudy didn't play Los much because of his bad practice habits, then that makes me respect Rudy even more. You practice hard to improve your team, if you only care about the games and not about the practices, then you're not a team player. ------------------ To resist is to piss in the wind, Anyone who does will end up smelling, Knowing this why do I defy, Cuz my inner voice is yelling.
Just about ever single software development team out there with less than 10 employees...LOL! The question you are asking is a semantic one imo. What do you want me to say? I think you are saying, can poor talent play well together and maximize their skills by playing their system perfectly. But in a this league, poor talent that plays well together will make it to .500, most likely. The Orlando Magic last year had the perfect complement of average talent to match a system that the coach picked for them. The coach won the Coach of the Year on probably the lowest winning percentage ever for that award. No matter how well they played with each other and how well they learned and embraced Doc River's system, they barely got to .500 in a weak conference. Most people say that was all heart and chemistry and not enough talent. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited April 26, 2001).]
I know this will get me bashed and this is no way a comparison but . . . . didn't Augmen talk about how Hakeem didn't practice hard etc. So the example may have been preset. Rocket River ------------------
I think you are saying, can poor talent play well together and maximize their skills by playing their system perfectly. Not what I'm saying at all. I say chemistry is overrated. Furthermore that fans like us know NOTHING about it, and reporters blather about it when they've nothing better to write about. Chemistry is an excuse people use when that can't figure out a real, rational reason for something. When a team improves its record and fans can't come with a tangible explanation, fans say "They really improved their chemistry over last year". when a team is on the playoff bubble, fans say "We just need better chemistry, and we'll break into the playoffs". "Chemistry" is a phantom explantion when someone can't figure out some tangible explanation. Winning teams have good chemistry (OK - the Blazers - you got me), losing teams have bad chemistry, bubble teams need to improve their chemistry.
I agree with you that game-time performance is important, but if you're slacking in practice that's going to rub other players the wrong way. Why should they give their all if one player isn't? Hell, let's all take the day off if that's the case... ------------------ Yugo grills, Yugo mills, Check out the oil my Yugo spills...
Chemistry is everything you say it is!!! But, it can also be everything I say it is, as well. All you say is it is overused and used incorrectly. Yet, coaches who use it once every 10 years to describe their team....what about them??? That's probably why it got overused, because underdog coaches like NC State's Volvano used the phrase. So, I don't fully agree with you, as I dismiss the media's over-use. Mango reminded me what I said a year ago about chemistry. Chemistry is a word that represents intangibles concerning 5 people thinking like one. If you don't think 5 people thinking like one, and embracing a systems that is tailored to their skills can't beat a more talented team, then you are on the extreme side of the talent vs experience vs chemistry argument. To me, chemistry is a coach finding a system to match his players skills and the players embracing it as their own and learning it well. There is a system out there for nearly have mixture of talent, speed, height, shooting, defense, etc. Many coaches (like Rick Pitino) try to force a system on a team not suited for it. And many teams can never agree on any system that suits them as a team. Chemistry, plain and simple, is a measure of coordination between 5 people, which requires those 5 players knowing what each other can and can't do. You can see it, imo. That said, the media uses Chemistry as a catch-all phrase to explain champions and losers, as you say. It is overused. But, you can measure it. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited April 26, 2001).]
Maybe his training ethic is why he has sat on the bench for all on his career and also why he gets injured so often as he rarely goes full bore and when he does snap. Could it also be his attitude is dodgy due to personal problem and hence he thinks who cares. Send him home. ------------------ "Repression never did me any harm (I finally ceased to include "stop masturbating" as one of my guilt ridden New Year's resolutions, but that's a different topic)." Achebe - programmer by day, Mrs Palmers Husband by night
If everybody plays well in the game I dont give a rat's arse if they even practice at all. Heck, if they all produce without practicing and win the title would you care? Now Im not saying that being a slacker at practice is good. I can see how some of that may, say, rub off on Cato. But Id still prefer to have a practice slacker but on the court stud than the reverse, which may be true of KT-- he definitely rarely produces on the court IMO. ------------------ I hope, when they die, cartoon characters have to answer for their sins.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'd take KT over Los anyday. ------------------ Gabba gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba gabba we accept you we accept you one of us
Isn't chemistry still about something greater than the sum of the parts? That means that, as heypartner suggests, that the sum of the parts is still critically important. I hate to ask this question but what kind of practice player was Sir Charles? ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils. PowerbizOnline.com
Me too BGM, what do you have against Kenny JayZ? What part of his game do you not like? He plays good defense, rebounds, and finishes better than most people in here say he does. He produces very well considering the time he gets. ------------------
I agree with jamcracker about chemistry is misused, especially when referring to other sports like baseball and football. But this is way off topic now. Anyone want to continue this in another thread like TheFreak's original thread?
I like Kenny but he misses more layups than anyone I have ever seen this side of a first grader. Re: Chemistry, Experience, Talent Wouldn't Chuck and MJ have an abundence of all of these, giving the Wizards an edge. ------------------ "Of course, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong" -- Dennis Miller
RichRocket -- Barkley was a notoriously terrible practice player. George Karl himself, after coaching Barkley in the Olympics (as an assistant) said that as much as he loved Barkley and his game, he could NEVER have him on his team because of the way he approached practice. Charles would never even participate in pre-game shoot-arounds, and admitted it proudly (this may have changed when he came to Houston, I don't know), I would say he even bragged about it. ------------------ "I'll be gettin real drunk and making fun of everybody"
We still haven't heard how reliable this source is that DaDakota said he had for the Los information. ------------------ Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
I, for one, think it's a very plausible reason for his lack of PT. It's either that or Los is a headcase that they don't trust or Los is injured a lot more often than we know. I prefer to believe that he just doesn't practice hard. ------------------ snap crackle pop
Sure, DaD's is definitely a plausible reason. I can see how Rudy would dislike someone who dogged it in practice. But who knows? As far as I know DaDakota fabricated this "Los didn't practice" business out of whole cloth. Who knows why the Rockets don't want him back? I always thought Carlos played well. I never figured out why Rudy didn't play him more. Injured? Bad Attitude? Headcase? Didn't Practice? Who Knows? I'd prefer to think he had nagging injuries, but I don't think injuries are enough for the Rox to dump him. It must've been something, right? FWIW, I saw Carlos stick his head in front on the camera during 5 or 6 interviews/locker room shots and he always had a big grin on his face and seemed like he was having a great time joking around with the other players. I really like Carlos, and I'll be sorry to see him go.
Cant quite put my finger on it. I like his hustle a lot, but I just dont think he has *it*. Missed layups, not a consistent rebounder, too many outside shots, short for a PF. Plus, he doesnt compliment Mo very well. ------------------ I hope, when they die, cartoon characters have to answer for their sins.
Maybe it was just a case of Rudy underestimating what Carlos could bring to the team. He made Rudy look foolish for not playing him many a times. Alot of times I hear about players being great in practice,but dissapearing come game time.Maybe Carlos is the exact opposite, or maybe Rudy just didn't think he didn't fit into the system. People have mentioned that maybe he was a bad influence on Cato,which is all just speculation, but everything Carlos said makes that scenario unlikely. He was the first to say after Dream got injured, that Cato would have to be the one to step up. It was all on him. He never acted like the Rockets would be a better team if they shared the ball more, like whiney b**** Cato did on many occasion. I know I would have much rather had Carlos start after dream got hurt. Carlos prayed to God every time he checked in the game,acting like it was a blessing every time he stepped on the court. I highly doubt Carlos took practice for granted considering his background. Carlos is one of my favorite players on this team, and I too will be sorry to see him go..... ------------------
He cut down on his outside shots as the season progressed, and I thought he was the most consistent rebounding big man on this team when given quality minutes.If he got big minutes, he would be a 10 rebound per game player. Also, I've heard he's a legit 6'8, and even if he isn't, he makes up for it with his bulk. He's an above average defender as well. I'm not sure he should compliment Mo at all considering they are both power forwards. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited April 26, 2001).]
