Hoops is like a game of Chess.

This team could do better, but it’s a fundamentally flawed collection of players, with several showing some rather superficial signs of ‘talent.’ Some of the ‘talent’ includes some reasonably high scoring, but low efficiency shooters who don’t rebound the ball well. That rarely produces victories. Some of the ‘talent’ are guys long on ‘potential’ but short on results. None of it is in the form of a good point guard to direct the mess.

I disagree. A coach is suppose help you get better, especially at the fundamentals. That is their job. It’s not all about X’s and O’s. It’s about developing team chemistry, teaching the fundamentals and game strategy. That’s why they have practice. So you can get better!

Let’s face it. Nellie is a one trick pony. He’s all about offense and teaches no defense. He doesn’t develop the younger players. He overworks the vets. His rotations are screwed up. If a player has one good game, he most likely will not get any burn the next game. I don’t know why, but that’s been his pattern. Nellie likes to tinker with the lineup to create mismatches. But the mismatches favor the other team! When Dwight Howard’s backup, Borat, goes off and puts up Dwight Howard numbers on your team, you’ve got some serious issues.

But the one gripe I have with Nellie is how he treats the players who are not “Nellie Players”. Case in point Al Harrington. He has misused Al the past 2 years, not maximizing his potential. Not look at what he’s doing for NY. He is a beast! And the sad part is, he could have been doing the same with the Dubs.

I hate the fact that Nellie gets too much credit for turning around this franchise. He deserves some credit, but he also should deserve some of the blame for what’s been going on this season. This team has good individual talent. But the makeup of the team as a whole is not good. Too many of the same players-players who like to go one-on-one: Stack-Maggs-Craw-and then throw Monta in the mix.

What everyone is overlooking is the fact that Baron was a valuable piece to this system. Without him, everything fails. Is it a coincidence that the team’s FG % is horrendous this year, compared to the last 2 years? The offense is just not the same as it once was. Baron was the team leader, heart and soul. He brought energy every single game. And in the end, he was overworked by Nellie and underappreciated by management. He was perfect for Nellie’s system. But now you replace him w/ a D-leaguer in Watson. He’s a good player, but not a starter IMO. They traded a 1st rounder for Marcus Williams, who can’t even get on the court. Without a true PG, an All-Star caliber PG, this offense will not work. And since they don’t play defense, it looks like it’s gonna be a really long season.

Commisioner Stern at the podium…
And with the first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select PG Ricky Rubio-Spain.

MULLIN WORKED SO HARD TO GET AL. I CAN’T BELIEVE WE SCREWED THIS UP! IT IS NELSON’S FAULT AND HE IS OVER THE HILL – MULLIN MADE MISTAKES BUT ALSO MADE THE RIGHT MOVES UNTIL HE GOT VETOED THIS PAST SEASON ON BARON. I LOVE THE W’S BUT IT REALLY HURTS TO SEE THE TEAM RIGHT NOW. I WENT TO THE GAME LAST NIGHT AND NELLIE LEFT WRIGHT/AR ON THE BENCH LIKE A MORON. THE TEAM KEPT JACKING UP JUMP SHOTS WITH A FEW SECONDS ON THE SHOT CLOCK – IT REMINDED ME OF THE JIMMIE JACKSON/JOHN STARKS DAYS THAT MAKE ME WANT TO HURL!