Interesting interview with Rudy on Dan Patrick's ESPN show. Mostly about the Lakers and the playoffs, but he did comment about how much he learned from reading Pat Riley's book.
Pat Riley said, "Offenses don't score; player's do." He also characterized his offense as "3 yards and a cloud of dust." Basically, he said Xs and Os are overrated in a continuous-motion game, especially in the 4th quarter during the "real season." Players and team defense wins this league, not Xs and Os. That is my impression of what Pat Riley believes in. And isn't that exactly what people keep trying to tell Kevin Garnett. "Just demand the ball and take Nitwitz...don't pass when you aren't being double-teamed Kevin." That is a paraphrase of what Magic said last night.
I kind of agree with that. I think what he means is that in the 4th quarter the other team will not let you run what you are comfortable running, thus creativity must be used to compensate. DaDakota
I'd have to disagree with Slick Riley. X's and O's work if you use them to your player's strengths. There are not 348 alike players in the NBA, to where any set of plays or philosophy will work for 348 players. I guess he's saying that Matt Bullard should be as good on an ISO as Kobe Bryant?
I do think that Xs and Os are very important, but less in Basketball then in Football. What Xs and Os do provide is a basis to start the offense, or defense. If you have people just free wheeling out there, they are like 5 individuals and not a team. DaDakota
Definitely, X's and O's don't matter as much in the NBA as the NFL, because you don't have 40 seconds between plays to call a play. NBA is much more improvisational. However, every team has a general offensive philosophy, and that is basically X's and O's imo.
Its true to a certain extent, but subtle motions or configurations do help in the 4th qts of games. A coach needs players and players need a coach. If schemes didn't matter, Trailblazers should have beaten the Lakers. All game and most of that series Smith and Wells were working on Kobe and Rasheed was winning his matchup, after they got up by 15 and the Lakers made their run, neither hardly touched the ball. If these guys are hitting and scoring, you as a coach have to find a way to get the players the ball. Whether its a simple guard down pick like Utah or pnr between those two player forcing a mismatch. Riley , you can't argue with his success, but while being a coach of the Heat,his team has an incredible record when scoring 100 pts, yet he continue to run the same bogged down offense that has yet to get him to the finals. If thats not poor coaching i don't know what is.
As a friend stated YOU COACH IN PRACTICE During the game you just make suggestions and be the Objective observer. . . let ya players know what is going on that they may not see this is ESP true in the 4th Quarter Let the players play Rocket River
I think the Rockets would be much better if they had Riley. Francis and Cuttino's games are based on creating their own shots. That's what you need in a Riley team. With the 40ppg they provide, the rest of the team would only have to provide 50 to be an excellent team. That's my thing with Rudy. He's a good coach, but not for all teams. I just think this etam needs RIley or Van Gundy. I like their system, how you dont' get minutes unless you play D, regardless of anything else. I think that kind of thinking is excellent for our players. Has anyone stayed on a Riley team while being labelled lazy? I do agree that after 5 years or so, he should be replaced. When the players have matured and have their work ethic in place, then a coach like Rudy is required.
Yep. I bet Heat fans would be all for a Rudy T for Riley/fillers trade. There's one primary difference between the two coaches - one every player in the NBA would love to play for and the other every player in the NBA would dread to play for, wondering if the next day they'd suffer thru 10-a-days just to play in a starting lineup with 5 40-year-olds and a very slim chance of beating the younger legs.
If Miami's team next year was worth ****, Rudy would be able to coach it. But they're awful, and have no money. Here's what they got undercontract I think Zo (16M) Grant (11M) Eddie Jones (13M) Anthony Carter (4M) Gatling maybe? Stepania? No money. BADLY built. They should re-build, starting with trading Zo. For Kandi and a pick? Kandi would be making big money, and has improved bigtime. Plus the pick adds depth. Brian Grant and their pick for Camby, Harrington, and the worst of the 3 NY PG's. Bender and Mercer for Eddie Jones and a future 1st. That would look like this: Kandi/Camby Camby/Harrington Bender/Clipps pick(multi-positional player) Mercer/House Carter/Eisley/Strickland maybe At least they're young.
Riley is a good coach, but eh hasn't done really anything since he left the Magic. The Knicks went to the finals once and lost and the heat had lost in the first round something like 5 times. Riley is to the point he's overcoaching. No matter what people say, Grant,Mourning,and Jones should take you to the playoffs in the east, not to mention, Jim Jackson and Strickland. Riley was outcoached this yr just like last yr against Charlotte. Coaches need players, but at least it seems his teams compete.
