12-23-2021, 01:50 PM
(12-22-2021, 03:53 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: There was an element of a semi-serious attempt to elicit a riposte from fif in that post, but your point is a good one, and let's examine it.
I think it was you who made a comment recently that I meant to take up. To the effect that THJ isn't nearly the fit in Kidd's system that he was in Carlisle's. I agree with that.
The thing is, I'm not sure if the bottom line issue here is THJ and all the other underperforming players, or that maybe this coach just isn't very good when it comes to schemes, and is responsible for a lot of the negative synergy we see out there. This roster has its flaws, for sure, and I'm not saying they're a contender, but this collection of players should be doing better than they are. Much better. We know they can be better than they are, because we've seen it in the last two seasons.
The one thing in Iztok's critique of the offense that I found more worrisome than anything was his conclusion that spacing just isn't something Kidd and his staff think is that important. He provided videos of how the players' positioning, pursuant to Kidd's direction, is ruining the offense, and noted that Kidd has had all the spacing markers on the practice court removed.
I also think all this strategy to marginalize Luka and center the team around KP has passed its sell-by date. I don't necessarily blame Kidd for that. I would bet that Cuban hired him with the charge to do whatever it takes to get KP back in the All-Star conversation. (OTOH, as some think, if Nico made this decision, then shame on Nico for imposing it and allowing Kidd to continue it).
All this is to say that I fear we may putter around making incremental changes, shuffling the deck chairs, and continuing to try to fit square pegs into round holes, and end up having this same conversation in one, two, and three seasons. This isn't specifically about THJ, but let's take him as an example, as he has been the player most hurt by the clogged-up offense.
Whoever re-signed him obviously had in mind that he would be a key piece and would be a substantial positive. If we're writing that idea off after a few months because Kidd can't figure out how to configure a modern offense, and dumping a guy we know can contribute for whatever they can get to cope with Kidd's incompetence, I think that is just a poster child for how all-over-the-place and without goal posts this organization is. (For the record, I am not opposed to trading THJ, specifically. I am talking about the team's seemingly just throwing whatever they can think of at the wall and flailing around, failing to even establish an identity.)
Okay, end of rant. Thank you in advance for bearing with me.
Damn! The clearest expression of Kidd hate I have seen here this season, and it comes from a poster I very much respect.
(Not to mention it's surprising coming from an employee of the organization.)