longstrangetrip wrote:Good choice to eschew the 2+1 tonight, q. I'm resisting the urge to knee jerk react about Tyus, Zach, Gorgui, Wig, etc, etc, etc
Sam's post-game was interesting though. He talked about the frustration of coaching a bunch of guys who haven't learned anything in AAU ball except how to dunk. He went into great detail about how remedial their practices are, and how the young guys still aren't comfortable with things that used to be second nature to rookies in the old days after finishing four years of college. I sense that it is even more difficult to get things across to guys like Zach, Wig and Bazz who have managed to dominate their whole lives by just being more athletic than their competition. The things he said they go over again and again in practice are the same things Jim Peterson says he watches being taught when he goes to practice. Coaches with veteran teams can work on intricate offensive plays in practice...Sam needs to spend his time teaching his guys things like how to get in a proper defensive stance, because they have never learned it. And it clearly still isn't sinking in.
But blaming Sam for the team's immaturity is like blaming the cowboy who just led his horse to the river because the horse won't take a drink. We gotta keep being patient with these guys, because even on bad nights like tonight I see some new things. Tonight I saw Wig drive the lane and kick the ball into the corner to Ricky for a wide-open three. And I know I'm seeing players setting up outside the arc more frequently than they were even ten games ago. The ball handler isn't always finding them, and when he does, the shot isn't going in frequently enough...but there's some progress nonetheless. Some young guys like KAT with high basketball IQ's get things more quickly, but others like Zach, Wig and Bazz with low IQ's take longer. And some like Gorgui may never get it, and we have to accept him for what he is. But after listening to Jim Peterson today and Sam tonight, I'm confident that the right practices are being taught...they just aren't sinking in as fast as I would like.
I'm resolving to stay patient. And I'm feeling grateful that the Philly game isn't going to be televised!
LST, tonight is not a good time to unequivocally back Sam and his practices. If that clown can't at least take some of the blame for what we saw tonight, he's a bigger idiot than I think he is. Can't get in a defensive stance? You don't think Bill Self has a grasp of fundamentals? The lack of improvement in our young guys? Maybe if it was just one or two guys you could look past the coaching, but not when it's universal like we're seeing. There is absolutely no reason this team shouldn't be showing consistent improvement as this season goes on. It sure looks like they've regressed to me. I don't have any time for an arrogant coach who isn't succeeding in his own arena.
