Ryan Saunders is the Problem Poll

[Jester1534]

I did not comment yesterday in the Memphis game thread but read everyone going back and forth on D-Lo. As someone who does not understand the game as complex as you guys. I am kind of the middle on D-Lo. I think he is abysmal on defense, but I also think he's creative on offense, but I think most people don't like his offensive game because it's not flashy or explosive at all.

Any why I wanted to do this poll is I believe the real problem with this team is Ryan Saunders and I think you all will agree. As a High school baseball coach, it's my job to put my players in the best position to succeed. There is no offensive game plan right now. How many times did you see last night were there was one pass and 3pt shot went up or crap ass drive to the basket? My point is the Wolves main problem is there not being put in places where they can get most out of their abilities.

Scale 1-10 1 being the lowest problem 10 being the highest problem

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm saying 5-6. It's probably the same score I'd give to a "how much is DLO a problem" poll. I'm kind of on the fence with a lot of these guys - POBO, Coach, players.

But I've got my pitchfork and torch standing by the ready in the garage!

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

9-10. He's not a head coach. Looking at analytics doesn't make you a coach. It's how you get your team to play the way that analytics favor that makes you a coach and this team has no offensive or defensive systems. They just went from building a roster to shooting layups and 3's with no actual system designed to accomplish that goal. Towns has no idea what he's doing out there defensively as the anchor so I struggle to tell we have much of a system on that side of the ball either. It just comes off as an organization who preaches what the right things to do are without actually developing the game plan to accomplish those things and that falls on the coach.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Whose problem is he?

For the players... probably.
For the fans... probably.

For Rosas... not a problem at all. In fact, Saunders is so unproven and so green... that it buys Rosas AT LEAST another year in the gig regardless of how the team performs on the court. He can leak "Saunders was overmatched" stories to ward off criticism for the first year entirely. He and the new coach can then talk about how the first year together, they're just trying to build something from scratch. It takes time. That can lead into year 2. Saunders is actually really good for the front office. Probably the best buffer in the league right now.

[Coolbreeze44]

Saunders doesn't have the chops to be an NBA head coach, but the real problem is Rosas. Ryan is just a puppet running the ridiculous scheme Rosas has mandated. I don't think it really makes much difference who the coach is under this regime. It's not going to work, and to me at least, it's been apparent for quite a while.

[Monster]

I think this is a worthwhile poll and very good question to ask. I've pondered it The last few days in some ways myself.

I personally need more information in terms of NBA games this season with this group. It's possible I come to a conclusion earlier but I'm gonna wait at least 15 maybe 20 regular season games this year to decide where I am on this. It's unlikely Ryan is going anywhere anytime soon (I'm not either lol) so I have time.

[TAFKASP]

Sure its the job of the coach to put players in position to succeed, but these players have looked like they've never even played the game before.

A great coach cannot succeed with horseshit roster, but great players, or even good players should show some semblance of skill and BBIQ even in the worst coaching situations. RHJ isn't close to the most talented player on the roster, yet he was the only player who looked like he's played the game before.

Wolves gonna Woof I guess.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

No problem at all... He's a Saunders... He has the Glen Taylor stamp of approval...

[kekgeek]

No problem at all... He's a Saunders... He has the Glen Taylor stamp of approval...

Isn't it crazy in terms of winning % 2 of our top 3 coaches Glenn Taylor didn't get along with in Dwayne Casey and Thibs

[FNG]

I voted with the other guy who chose 3-4...there's just not enough evidence for me at this point to put much blame on the coach.

As I've mentioned in another thread, I see basketball coaching as entirely different than football coaching. Football is a much more technical game, and X's and O's are much more important than they are in basketball. I'm not saying systems don't matter, just that they don't matter as much as they do in football. The NBA is much more of a players' league in my opinion, while play calling and systems are more vital in football. I think the primary role of the NBA coach is to put the right players together on the court at the right time. The second most important goal is to get the players to want to win for you.

So far in preseason, I think Saunders has failed miserably in his first goal. Layman should not be the starting PF for any team in the NBA- he was a SF in college and considered one when he entered the draft, and hasn't grown any longer or bigger since then. I also think Saunders has failed in starting D-Lo at PG instead of the natural choice Rubio. Further, while I love Okogie's energy, he is not a starting SF by any measure. So why do I give Ryan a pass here if he has failed the first goal? Because i take him at his word that the lineups he is throwing out there in preseason are not necessarily how the regular season is going to look. As I've said before, Rubio is a known commodity- Ryan doesn't need any more court time from Ricky to know what he is going to bring. Rosas has given Ryan a lot of new toys to play with, and Saunders is using the preseason to see how they fit together. Now, if we get into the regular season and at least two of D-Lo/Josh/Sunshine are still starting at PG/SF/PF, I will change my vote to at least a 7-8. But I don't think I will have to.

In the other area, I think Ryan shines. I can tell when his players talk about him that they like playing for him and want to win for him. I think the dark cloud that hangs over the team right now has little to do with Ryan, and almost all to do with the KAT problem. He is the cornerstone of this team and is playing like crap right now, and this roster knows this team is going nowhere with KAT shooting 25% and playing lethargic D. I'm still optimistic about KAT shaking off his malaise though, and I think we are going to see an entirely different team when he does.