(06-10-2021, 09:47 PM)Kammrath Wrote: I think LAC is legit and they are my favs to win the title after BRK.We could probably have a whole separate discussion on the coaching in the series.
However, I think RC massively underperformed in the LAC series. I think hot shooting from the role players and ELITE, ELITE play from Luka for 3 quarters a game covered up a LOT of coaching and rotation warts. I think the Boban starting decision was REALLY GOOD, but beyond that I don't think RC did much positive from a coaching stand point other than letting Luka go to work and not getting in his way too much.
I think RC leaned on Maxi, hoping he would be Maxi of old....and he wasn't even close.
Yes, he did lean on Maxi, who wasn't even close to the Maxi of old. Rick attributed that to a season-long procession of illness/injuries, including the Achilles soreness during the series. I guess we'll see whether Maxi can return to his previous form.
I think RC leaned on DFS to stop Kawhi far too much, and as much as I LOVE DFS, he is NOT an NBA stopper even remotely.
No, he isn't. By the time he had gotten around to using DFS on Kawhi, what would you have done instead?
Look, I don't think RC has very good pieces at his disposal, but I think RC was a "C" at best as a coach this past year. Really disappointed in his overall performance. I feel like he almost seemed disinterested at times. Who knows.
There were a number of head-scratching moments. For me, it's sort of like an expert card player who holds a worse hand than his opponent. If he loses, you might differ with some of the playing decisions he made, but did the cards mean there was just so much he could do anyway? I'm not saying it's one way or the other, just that it's very hard to separate performance from what he had to work with.
I have to say, I don't think Rick was uninterested in coaching the team this season. If you are right and his heart isn't in it any more, then he should move on and make room for new blood and fresh ideas. But I think he is a dedicated professional and is giving his best efforts, wrongheaded or not.
I think there is a general sense of frustration among fans that it seems like the team should be better than it is. Maybe that's a failure to use a system that maximizes the talent at their disposal. Maybe some of us have just drunk too much of the front office Kool-Aid. But the coach is a natural place to look after a disappointing performance. The coach isn't perfect, any more than anyone else, and hopefully he and the front office will dig deep to come up with some answers.
(06-10-2021, 09:55 PM)Kammrath Wrote: I think JB will get MORE effective in the regular season with an increased role (to an extent), but in the elite speed and intensity of playoff basksetball he looked like he didn't have the physical tools to be on the court. I am not trying to "shock"....but I personally WAS shocked at how out of place he looked. Wasn't expecting it.
That's really the question, isn't it?