bigdogdylan5 wrote:I think we can have it both ways injuries certainly disrupted this rhythm but let’s be honest the problems with the offense that were there last year are still there and arguably worse. The offense is the most clunky piece of garbage I have ever seen. Even if we were healthy I dont believe we would be top 20 offensively. There is absolutely no space and Paolo just looks extremely frustrated. That doesn’t give him the right to mail it in on defense and jack up bad threes though. This team needs a complete retooling. Wendell Isaac Harris and Cole need to go. I love Goga but I am seriously so concerned with Paolo and Franz shooting that we need to have a stretch 5 who can shoot to rotate with him. Hell same with Anthony Black I think he will be a good player but he is unplayable off Paolo and Franz.
A lot of that is because our offense takes so long to set up Paolo and Franz and once it’s set there’s no room for off ball action because any cuts into the lane risk drawing another defender closer to Paolo/Franz. Defenders can safely hedge between their man on the perimeter (who’s shooting %’s aren’t a threat in general) and clog the paint to make Paolo and Franz drives harder, and because there’s no movement off ball they just have to keep their arms up to take away most passing lanes because they know where those kick-out passes are going.
Cole was doing some great facilitation last night and hitting open guys early which caught Memphis out of position. But even when he penetrates he freestyles and the off ball guys just don’t have any anticipation of where the right lanes will be to cut and dive through.
Even when our guys do successfully move the ball the passes are generally not clean and into the hands of shooters, so they aren’t hitting guys in rhythm. I’d love to see the numbers on how many times Fultz hit someone in the corner for an open 3 last season compared to anyone this season. We’ve just lost that aspect entirely.
There’s also basics like guys having to make their open 3’s when they get them regardless of bad passing (KCP/Isaac/WCJ). Guys have to be more aggressive getting into the paint (AB). And Paolo and Franz need to be better running an offense even if they’d prefer to be offensive hubs. You can’t have such astronomically high USG and not be prepared to get your teammates involved. Star players make those around them better. Franz routinely shows he can set others up, but lately when the pressure is on he locks in like Paolo and tries to go it alone.
My biggest gripe right now is that since we’re not playing strong winning basketball we may as well prioritise youth development and live through the lumps and slumps of AB and Jett more. I don’t really care to watch a Cole resurgence because other than building his trade value it’s not of great long term value to the team and it’s not giving us any real winning edge right now.
