01-04-2026, 12:13 PM
(01-04-2026, 10:16 AM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Flagg is not running any plays though like a PG would. He dribbles the ball past half court and then stands there confused on who he should pass it to. He's not running any pick and roll or initiating the offense.
I guess it will improve his ball handling bringing it up to the court but it really just seems performative.
Yeah, people keep pointing out that running the offense through Flagg will aid in his development, but that's obvious and has never been the point. Anyone who thought about it for even a second over the summer came to that conclusion.
The point is that many of those same people (and I worry this group includes Kidd) thought it was going to work right away, and that this team would be competitive. Now, we're all acting like it's something they're doing because of some "stealth tank" that I don't believe is happening yet (but probably will), and the reality is that they're just giving the ball to a 19 year old and saying "do something," basically. I don't see much evidence of productive developmental opportunities for him outside of just general tightening of his handle against real-game NBA defense, and tbh, that's not developing as fast for him as the other parts of his game seem to be when he's put into more natural situations.
I just don't like some of the implications. I admit I could be misreading them, somewhat, but one thing that in my view has been a consistent factor since Kidd came here, even with Luka, is a steady decline in any sort of organizing principle on offense. I know they tried to change systems this season and that Lively getting hurt put a huge dent in those plans, as has AD being in and out and Kyrie not playing yet. But, we're seeing the ball find Gafford in the post like 5-10 times per game, lately. We're seeing Naji Marshall and PJW drive right at defenders who are 6-8' away from them because everyone on Earth knows they want to avoid shooting 3's if at all humanly possible. It's like the team doesn't know what to do - what their strengths and weaknesses are. They seem extremely poorly coached to me.
The point is that (imo) not only is Flagg not ready to "run" the offense, I kind of hate the offense they're asking him to run. That's kind of a chicken/egg thing, I suppose. Tough to know for sure what even the offensive plan is some nights. But all I was saying in this, a game thread, is that it's very, very not fun to watch.