I noticed that too tonight about Martin's shots, though I wouldn't term it selfish. He couldn't hit his shots off curls or catch-and-shoots, but he was more comfortable attacking one-on-one. And that required him to have the ball and create. I don't mind that if he needs that to get his range, but I hope he can also shoot in our system--through ball movement. Actually I hope he can shoot both ways--because sometimes we will need him to go one-on-one. You know, I think Brooks is just so used to Ariza not needing to be set up. Ariza just takes them.
Ab had a lousy game. After Martin's equally lousy first half, shooting 0 for 7, he got on a roll, hitting 5 for 7 in the second half, getting us close late. Brooks never looked at him again. That wasn't lousy, DD, it was brutally stupid. Are you going to seriously tell me you weren't yelling at the TV for AB to pass the freakin' ball to Martin? I sure as hell was. Lots of fingers can be pointed at a lot of players in this game, but the fact remains that when Martin got on a roll, we still had a chance to win, as badly as we were playing. That Brooks simply ignored Martin when he did is just inexplicable. Someone needs to toss a bucket of cold water in his face and wake the dude up.
I definitely got the sense that Brooks was purposely looking off Martin. He kept initiating the offense to the other side of the floor and just ignored Martin when he was wide open. I like Brooks a lot and think he is a special player that has kept us in many games this year with his shooting, but that does not excuse really bad decision making and poor pg play.
Deck, You are far too old and experienced to be joining the chorus. This was their first time starting together, it is going to take some time to learn when to give each other the ball, and when to give each other space. Brooks has been playing all year with Battier and Trevor, he will need to make adjustments to his game because Kevin can create and score too. Don't overeact, this is nothing more than chemistry, and honestly, it is expected. DD
Deckard is right. Too bad I can't rep him. DD, I understand where you're coming from. AB and Martin need time together but Brooks surely wasn't looking for Martin. The only way they can work together is by Brooks passing the ball to Martin so they can develope chemistry. Time and Time again we've seen Brooks try to go through 3 defenders... He has to stop and make the pass. I think Brooks is only going to get better but he needs to work on his playmaking skills. Brooks is still very young and this team will struggle because there are new pieces involved. Everything takes time...
I'm not overreacting, DD. That would be the idiots calling for him to be traded, or similar nonsense. I'm talking about last night. I'm a big fan of AB. I honestly cannot fathom why he froze out Martin when he finally went on a roll and got us close, and we still had a chance to pull out a win. That's all. Nothing more than my reaction to his bizarre play in the second half. I simply do not understand it. If it is a disease, I hope Coach A has a quick cure. If Lowry had been available, he would have. He would have yanked AB out of the game so fast his head would still be spinning. We had no real alternative to leaving him in, unfortunately.
It will take time and Brooks is still learning the job. The one thing we have to remember is Brooks will have to go through that adjustment period. He was asked to be the scorer in the beginning of the year.
ONE game people.....ONE game. And with proper perspective...ie Orlando is better, we are missing Yao, developmental year.....it doesn't bother you so much. DD
blah blah. doenst matter if he passes it or not. this team is going no where fast and we went this route for 2 draft picks that will have to come in, adjust to the nba, and learn the style of play. it was a waste when we apparently had two GOOD offers, one from the wizards and one from the bulls. getting a decent center in haywood, a decent offensive and defensive player in butler or we could have gotten thomas's athletic ability, miller and salmons or hinrich would have been nice offensive and defensive additions. no none of those guys are stars but putting them in the mix with our current players ,sans scola or landry would have been great deals. sorry to continue to harp on it being that its a done deal now but it was a bad deal imho. we've taken on jeffries contract which is just ridiculous, we have no cap room now. morey is not looking like a genius to me....im sure they'll play better when lowry and ariza returns and we're at full strength but we have a few bad years in front of us now...hopefully they also realize they need to play yao about half the season to reduc ehis chance for injory next year. make him go full speed through the entire season and he goes down again...
Again, he has played all year with inept wings like Trevor and Shane, he will need time to adjust to Kmart. Brooks has no issue passing it to CBud...they have chemistry, give him time to find it with Kmar too. DD
Ordinarily, I would be blaming last night on just not having any real time to gell, and that's true, regardless, but the second half looked to be beyond that. One would have to be brain dead not to be going to Martin when he went off. I'm sure coach was telling AB to get Kevin the ball. What happened? I just don't get it. Maybe saying he "froze him out" is a bit strong, but at the time, watching the game, that is what it looked like to me. That, or AB losing his mind going down the stretch. You pick. I would love to be a fly on the wall when the team watches film of this game. Coach A will probably use words that would make a longshoreman blush.
I think he has grown accustomed to being "The main guy" and when they started to make the run, he tried to do what he has done all year and that is take over....it didn't work. Again, chemistry.....time......it will come.....patience young grasshopper...patience. It was only one game..... DD
I would be the Old Grasshopper! Yes, it's one game. It's been "one game" for a while now. "One games" taking us right out of our remote chance of making the playoffs. I'm one of those people who still had hopes of pulling that out, figuring the experience would be worth its weight in gold, if we managed it. I'm off that wagon as of last night.
Ah, I see your problem now, you forgot this is a rebuilding, developmental year. We are probably NOT going to make the playoffs, but because of that will have a lottery pick and a new roster next year when Yao comes back. The playoffs, first round fodder.....yeah, that would be cool, but I think with such a large amount of roster turnover that is highly unlikely. When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, then you will be ready...... :grin: DD
Look, I hope last night was a one time thing with AB. I've seen him pass the ball to Trevor more. I do think AB feels responsible for the success of the team so I won't blame him for trying. The whole Yao argument doesn't have anything to do with They way AB played and refused to give the ball to Martin. Martin deserves respect from this new teammates but that will take time and I think the 3rd and 4th quarter showed his mates that he can ball and create. This will take time.
You are much more calm the morning after... Did you see the El Salvador boxscore? Did you cousin hit the field? DD
Yes it's one game but it's also worth mentioning. And yes Orlando is the better team... Hell... we beat the Lakers and the Jazz this year on the road and they were a better team. So that doesn't mean anything when we say Orlando is the better team. What matters most is how we compete against these teams. That's more important to me. I'm not as upset as others because this year is more about the future than right now. I think fans struggle with losing now because we were soo great earlier this year. No Yao means no contending. So I'm not as bothered as others. Morey still needs to make some upgrades in certain areas. Overall, we need to let Brooks and Martin experiment play out for the rest of the year.
Exactly, and let's not forget that we have 4 new players, that is a HUGE turnover on a roster......5 new players if you count Temple too. You don't turnover 33% of the roster in midseason without some reprecussions. Chemistry is a fickle thing....new personalilities, new basketball types, all take time to get to know each other. And the PG is effected more than anyone else as one of his jobs is to facilitate for these new people, and he has no idea where they need the ball...YET. DD
