Every time Rafer was on the bench. Do you remember all the difficulties Head had with pressure? And the previous year, Moochie, Wesley, Brunson, and the rest of the YMCA point guards? Heck, most teams pressured Lucas with limited success.
if you watch the new tmac interview he clearly states that he has been in discussions w/Coach A and the he will now get the opportunity to play "off the ball"
I also don't trust t-macs handles enough to have him bring the ball up most of the time. His handles seem to have worsened with the lost of his athleticism.
That is because HEAD is bringing up the ball, and it is known that he can not dribble. Tmac can dribble. DD
This is great news. T-Mac's ability to play off the ball may be the best part of his game. Among superstars, his ability to come off a screen for a catch-and-shoot might be the best in the game (it's up there with Rip's). Generally last year, we only saw it against weak defenses because that was the only time Rafer could create enough to allow T-Mac to play off the ball. It's one thing that I am really looking forward to for next year.
When T-Mac has brought up the ball in the past, he is typically pressured. He has handled it well enough, but opposing defenses suspect his handles enough to try to frustrate him.
No tweedle-dee in that scenario Battier would be playing the four. Adelman has said he wants to play tracy off the ball. Before you just go assuming things try thinking them through first.
How you are a rookie and a guy with 8 posts who clearly knows nothing about the game can start threads is beyond me.
EXACTLY. when tmac is finishing ONLY, the assists will come regardless b/c he's in ATTACK mode all the time. if he thinks as a PG, he's not looking for his first, which limits alot of his greatness. and that was what JVG tried him as. but u cna't fault JVG. who the hell else can create on the team last yr. but i don't want tracy playing PG. i want him get the ball and look to score everytime. when tmac is in that mindset, sometimes he'll pass better b/c the defenses collapse even more.
but the jazz were PHYSICAL. u never underestimate that. u really think dallas and phoenix or spurs could keep him from scoring. those teams though play tough D, doesn't play physical D. jazz played very physical D. and for a guy like tmac, sometimes physicality takes him off of his game a lil bit.
really? coz last I heard adelman stressed and stressed again to make Tmac a scorer again and offence will be set up in a way that makes not just himself but yao's life easier to score as well. I don't see letting Tmac running the point is making his playing easier.
If you use Tmac to bring the ball up a lot, I bet other teams will pressure the ball for sure. They don't do much against traditional PG becuase there is less benefit to do so. Even without pressure, bringing the ball up court adds extra duty/ work. It wears him out for sure. There are 3 stages to an offensive possesion. 1) Bring the ball up and pass off to another player who starts the offense. 2) Initiate the offensive set. Explore 1st, 2nd or 3 rd option if necessary. 3) Final move and shoot. Tmac used to take over at step 2) last year and it wore him out, now you want him to start at step 2? On the defensive end, you have already pointed out the problem. If anything, I like TMac to play off the ball more, i.e. get the ball on step 3).
Look, no one is saying a permanent move there, just another option for Adelman to put into play.... Lots of pieces that make up many different puzzles. San Antonio can play many types of ball, it is time we do the same. DD
You guys get so caught up in labels. McGrady ran the point lots last year and plenty the year before and has throughout his career. When he is dribblling the ball out on the perimeter looking to shoot or pass I don't know what else you call it other than playing the point. Yes, Rafer Alston was techinically the "point guard", but in that circumstance, which was a large part of the time, his job is to dribble up the court, hand the ball off, and sit around and spot up (a part of his job he seemed to relish...). You can call it "playing the point" but I call it taking the ball up the court.
no, since he has been w/ houston, he's been looking to pass more than when he was in orlando. most of the time, he looks to pass first unless he plays OFF THE BALL. u see tmac rarely passes when he goes off screens or off the ball b/c when he touches the ball, he puts it up. he rarely does that. and when we iso for him, it's only the pick and roll. and JVG and tmac both admitted that the play is not designed to get him shots, but for the team. in orlando, he's iso w/o any help. he looks to score ALL THE TIME. when tmac looks to score, he'll still get his assists (look at when yao went down). so adelman will help that. again, an attacking tmac -> unstoppable. but like tmac said in the interview, JVG's offense is TOO STRUCTURED.
I saw that quote too, but I think he made it before Scola was here. I just assumed he was talking about Bonzi or Battier playing the 4 sometimes. I seriously doubt we'll be seeing TMac at PG. But, you never know. I'd assume he'll want to put his best 5 on the court, whenever possible.
tmac said in an interview that he expects to play off the ball much more this year. this means battier would be the four. and i am guessing james or brooks at the point? NICE!
