Nellie on Brandan (Kawakami)

[crzy]

Lip service or does he really get it?

[crzy]

I think he's talking a good game, but in the end, Brandan Wright is not going to see significant time this year unless there is an injury or we start losing games.

Listening to his recent interview, 10 teams vying for 8 spots has Nellie extremely reluctant to give playing time to his inexperienced rookies.

I can understand the reasoning behind Wright not playing though, just from a physical development standpoint, but I don't understand why Belinelli is not getting any playing time. Weren't people crowing about how ready he was, a professional overseas, could contribute right away, etc.

[-bob-]

I bet you anything Mully has something to do with it. Like back when he told Monty to use Monta more.

[St.Nick]

I think Nellie reads this board and got his feelings hurt by LF and Rowell.

[Sleepy51]

I think Pietrus had finally gotten on his last nerve (then had a really good appearance last night.)

[ILOVEIT]

I hope he starts getting enough minutes and is put in a position to make a difference....I think last night he had to chase a guard around the outside.

I would love to see him at PF....and allowed to do some glass cleaning and shot swatting....

[floppymoose]

Pietrus has been near all star quality on the defensive end this year. And below d-league on the offensive end. And played out of position frequently.

If he could just be close to average on offense he'd be worth keeping around.

[Mylie10]

Agree on Pietrus flop.

He was really good with that block and also that quick post up move, but then he goes and fouls with .001 on the clock.

I scratch my brain.

Brandan should already have been playing more.

Starting him is good because he gets to be in there with the main guys and he won't affect the outcome of the game in the first 5 minutes.

but really he should get some time in the second half as well.

[floppymoose]

Was that the foul when Viniwhateverious fell down in front of him? If so, I don't blame Pietrus for that one. It was a bad call.

[Mylie10]

Petey clearly grabbed his arm. I was pissed at the refs at first, but after seeing the replay he grabbed the forearm.

It wouldn't be a big deal normally, but he makes that foul far to often.

I am pleased with the way he's been playing for the most part. He's been better and we certainly could use more big games from him.

Once the trade deadline passes and he's not dealt, he might settle into better play. He's been distracted since summer when he didn't get his deal.

I think he gets dealt and we give his minutes to Brandan. but you've been clear saying that he's gonna stay this year. If he does then I hope he puts the bull crap behind him.

[FNQ]

Pietrus has been near all star quality on the defensive end this year. And below d-league on the offensive end. And played out of position frequently.

If he could just be close to average on offense he'd be worth keeping around.

I think your exaggerating... Pietrus is still very poor at closing out, and he reaches like crazy... and very demonstratively, which ensures anytime hes actually successful, it looks like (and is called) a foul anyways....

But for trade value purposes? Pietrus is an all-star in waiting

[Sleepy51]

-= original quote snipped =-



I think your exaggerating... Pietrus is still very poor at closing out, and he reaches like crazy... and very demonstratively, which ensures anytime hes actually successful, it looks like (and is called) a foul anyways....

But for trade value purposes? Pietrus is an all-star in waiting

Yeah,
Not at all sure where Pietrus played all star defense this year. He's been expending a lot of effort looking for box score/highlight plays like last night's block, but he's been almost constantly out of position, compromising other guys (especailly on the glass) and fouling as he gambles unecessarily on plays that don't really help the team end posessions.

I thought this was really the first game in quite a while were he wasn't unoticable to terrible.

[Sleepy51]

Starting him is good because he gets to be in there with the main guys and he won't affect the outcome of the game in the first 5 minutes.

Starting him is (Please Use More Appropriate Word) Nellie BS.

Our starting 5 is Baron, Monta, Jack, Al and Beans. We almost NEVER have a good start with other guys in the 1st unit. Cohesion matters in basketball. The primary unit plays the most minutes together and can most reliablly be counted on to execute some kind of coherent offense and defense in sync. There no good reason to be starting games off with jury rigged lineups. Play your best five . . . period.

Nellie claims "he can't figure out how to sub a guy in for 4 minutes over the course of the 1st half because it might kill a run?" Then how about this Red: sub him in for whomever is sucking ass and causing us to fall down by 12 early in every game . . . oh, can't do that because it's either Baron or Jack's slow starts that dig us holes and Nellie refuses to hold those two accountable for anything.

Until Nellie stops trying to win the games before tipoff with his "legendary" mathcup shenanigans we're going to stay inconsistent. We HAVE a starting lineup that plays good Nellieball and causes matchup problems all over the floor. They should start against EVERY team so that we can put our best foot forward. Make your genius adjustements AFTER you see how your best players do their thing douchebag.

[floppymoose]

Sleepy, I'm wondering what the best approach is for Nellie to take to get Baron and Stephen going. With most other coaches I'd agree with what you are saying. With Nellie, I'm not so sure. Nellie is a rarity in that he uses the freedom he gives his players as leverage to get them to solve their problems "in house". And that's not just bs because we saw it work last year.

Maybe Nellie should just let Baron and Stephen screw up until they figure it out for themselves.

[GswStorm3]

I didn't mind the idea of starting Wright last night, I just didn't like the idea of him guarding Mo Peterson. On a sidenote I would love to see a Baron/Jackson/Harrington/Wright/Biedrins starting five atleast once this season or maybe even next season possibly under K.Smart.

[Twinkie defense]

Nellie can't win with some of you guys. You want to see Brandan get some burn... okay then, how about a start vs. the Mavs? I thought it was awesome.

I don't think Nellie is giving lip service, either... he said before this tough 7-game stretch that he was going to rely more on the end of rotation vets, and that's exactly what he's done.

If Wright does manage to get 8 minutes per game starting less than half way into his rookie year, all of that hand-wringing about Wright's development and Nellie "hating" rookies goes right out the window.

[Sleepy51]

Nellie can't win with some of you guys. You want to see Brandan get some burn... okay then, how about a start vs. the Mavs? I thought it was awesome.

I don't think Nellie is giving lip service, either... he said before this tough 7-game stretch that he was going to rely more on the end of rotation vets, and that's exactly what he's done.

If Wright does manage to get 8 minutes per game starting less than half way into his rookie year, all of that hand-wringing about Wright's development and Nellie "hating" rookies goes right out the window.

The only hand wringing I've done about Nellie and the rookies is that he has mothballed his "Vet" free agents (because they suck) and we need bench minutes from someone, who's left?

I don't want Nellie messing with the starting lineup and I've been consistent on that all season. I didn't like the 1st Nellie tour because he overdid the gamesmanship. He won me over last year with his "I'll play my best 5, whoever they are" approach. Well now it so happens that his best 5 are his most conventional 5 and he keeps jerking things around (Al and Monta in particular.)

Playing Wright only matters to me if we don't have someone better to play the positions he plays off the bench. Starting his is idiotic. Not because Brandan sucks, but because we need our best 5 playing in sync to defend and start a half the way we want to.

As Floppy said, that game was lost when Paul got his 5+ minutes of rest while the lead grew. If we play an even halfway competent start on D does Paul realistically get all that rest?

[Mylie10]

Usually I'd agree wholeheartedly Sleep. you're right our best starting 5 for now is Baron/Monta/Jax/Al/Beans.

But we've been getting off to really slow starts recently without much from the bench. i think nellie wants to play the kid some and also get something from the bench.

I personally wouldn't start the rook right away. I'd have him come in and play 5 minutes of meaningful basketball per half to get him going and confident.

But for the last game I have no problem with it and it didn't affect the outcome. It was a way to get him in and I only wish he'd have played more.

The problem I'm having is that when we ARE playing poorly, he's not allowing Wright, Belli, or Obee, to play at all. He needs to find roles for these guys come hell or high water. They can help, so let them.

I'm convinced that rested Baron is the best Baron. He as well as Nellie needs to have confidence in his team-mates. They both have to find a way to rely more on guys who aren't Stephen or Al.

The future best lineup to start should be:

Baron
Jack
Wright
Al
Beans

But Wright's not ready to do that yet. But if it were my team, he'd be ready by now.

[Twinkie defense]

That's because your team is girls JV

[Sleepy51]

But for the last game I have no problem with it and it didn't affect the outcome. It was a way to get him in and I only wish he'd have played more.

It absolutely did affect the outcome last night. We started the game out of sync and with no defensive cohesion. Granted, Mo Pete and Peja are good shooters, but last night they were immaculate shooters partly because they were wide ass open for the entire 1st quarter. That's not because of anything in particular that Brandan did "wrong" but because guys play D differently when they are in sync with and confident in the guys their working with. We play a team defense that requires everyone get thier jobs done, and that they be willing to trust the next guy to be where they're not. Everyone was tentative and reserved on D last night because it wasn't a "unit." The defense is where the screwy lineup hurt us, and it's not the first time.

If Nellie can't figure out how to look at the clock and send a young player to the scorer's table at 8 minutes, then he needs to be put out to pasture. Baron/Jack are not going to go on strike if Nellie makes a dead ball sub during a run. He's making it more complicated than it needs to be. Just put the kid in the game AFTER we let our starters get off to a real start. Starting him was malarky, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was a passive agressive FU to the management in response to being pressured to play the kids more to solve his bench complaints. Nellie wants to add a $10mil player to the roster. He's being told to make due with the discount parts the front office has already paid for.

Oh, and starting with Al off the floor gave him an excuse for that stupid f ing idea of having Jack defend West. How idiotic was that nonsense? Jack is a heck of a defender, but even on a good night he's not supposed to be guarding back to the basket power players. That was an assenine concept.