Does speed really kill?

SumTingWong · Post #1 » by **SumTingWong** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:20 pm

The one thing we have in abundance that no one can deny is speed and open court athletic ability at ALL positions. We have to rank in the top 7 or so teams just on that single attribute. No plodders are we.

Now Hilda I'm no good at being noble but it doesn't take much to figure that we got us some serious problems when it comes to rebounding, shooting, defense and experience-- just to name a few.

I'm a basketball fan or more precisely a fan of the Wizards but to be frank my knowledge of the technical intracies of the sport is at best that of a casual observer (now football otoh I know intimately). This leaves me in the awkward and somewhat humbling position of relying on some of you brain smart basketball gurus for some serious insight so here's my query...

In 2011-12 is it possible to make the playoffs in the East and hopefully do some damage with a team built around a transition game? Will our weaknesses matter or are we potentially so dominant in other areas that we can overcome them?

verbal8 · Post #2 » by **verbal8** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:54 am

I think you might be able to create a winning team in the NCAA. I think the teams that have been successful in the NBA playing at a fast pace also have had good shooters.

Hoopalotta · Post #3 » by **Hoopalotta** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:01 am

Shooters? We've got scooters!

Lookit, the NBA is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed.

Post #4 » by **nate33** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:43 am

The team has the physical talent to make the playoffs in the East based on our incredible length and athleticism. We could have the best defense in the league. The issue is basketball IQ. Can our long and athletic bigs grasp Flip's system and execute it night in and night out? Can Wall improve on his problems with pick-and-roll defense? Can Young become a better help defender? Can Blatche play with sustained intensity? All these things are mental.

SumTingWong · Post #5 » by **SumTingWong** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:00 am

verbal8 wrote:I think you might be able to create a winning team in the NCAA. I think the teams that have been successful in the NBA playing at a fast pace also have had good shooters.

If we can acquire a reliable veteran shooter either through free agency or trade would that be enough or do we need more than one marksman?

SumTingWong · Post #6 » by **SumTingWong** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:06 am

nate33 wrote:The team has the physical talent to make the playoffs in the East based on our incredible length and athleticism. We could have the best defense in the league.

Wow! Wasn't expecting that. Damn that's encouraging.

The issue is basketball IQ. Can our long and athletic bigs grasp Flip's system and execute it night in and night out? Can Wall improve on his problems with pick-and-roll defense? Can Young become a better help defender? Can Blatche play with sustained intensity? All these things are mental.

This leads me to another round of questions. Is Flip the right man for this job? Can he teach a band of youngins to be professionals? Is his system really suited to a team like ours?

dangermouse · Post #7 » by **dangermouse** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:07 am

I dont think we will make the playoffs, and I hope we dont. We need another high lotto pick next year.

Illuminaire · Post #8 » by **Illuminaire** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:06 am

+1 Danger.

Ideally, we find ways to give our new rooks more burn than they necessarily deserve. This will both aid their development AND prevent us from accidentally becoming the Indiana Pacers.

There is the off-chance that John goes super-saiyan on us and sparks an offense that nearly reaches the lofty heights of league average, but it's pretty likely we'll be legitimately horrible at scoring. Possibly even in transition, if the Singleton horror stories are true. =p

This is the year we build our defensive foundation. We don't want the playoffs, because barring a miracle, we will still suck at half-court offense. (And in the playoffs, you MUST be able to execute in the half-court) The year after, when we're more seasoned and have one or two more pieces - then we can talk about being a tough out in the playoffs.

closg00 · Post #9 » by **closg00** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:57 am

dangermouse wrote:I dont think we will make the playoffs, and I hope we dont. We need another high lotto pick next year.

With no rebounder or shooters, we will be an ernest but tanking team (Last tanking year)

fishercob · Post #10 » by **fishercob** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:08 pm

closg00 wrote:
dangermouse wrote:I dont think we will make the playoffs, and I hope we dont. We need another high lotto pick next year.

With no rebounder or shooters, we will be an ernest but tanking team (Last tanking year)

+1 and I'm okay with it. One more tank year and then it's time to start winning. It's one of the reason I'm able to rationalize potentially losing a season to a work stoppage (though I have concerns about how they'd determine draft order and we'd end up picking 19th or something).

pancakes3 · Post #11 » by **pancakes3** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:19 pm

sign in my HS football team's weight room: "Speed kills but STRENGTH punishes"