PhatPat23 wrote:I've missed the last three (Yao-less) games; partly because I haven't had much time to watch, but more so because it'd be too sad to watch us without Yao. Someone fill me in on a few things.
a. How's our tempo? Leaning towards Phoenix (pre-Shaq Phoenix) - or towards Detroit?
b. Have we ran anything out of the low-post?
c. Defensively, do we look more active after replacing Yao with Dikembe and C-Landry?
d. Would Chuck (Barkley, not Hayes) still say we lack an identity?
I need a detailed report on my desk by two.
A. I wouldn't say we're leaning towards either Phoenix or Detroit, rather, we're caught somewhere in the middle. When there's a fast break opportunity we get out on the run, but we don't force it, and we still play defense (unlike Phoenix). We certainly have been running though, and we've been converting turnovers into fast break points. When our shots aren't falling we struggle in the halfcourt set, but the good thing is that Mac has been driving to the basket aggressively. His driving has resulted in him either dunking it or dishing it off to Scola/Landry for an easy 2.
B. Not much out of the low post. Scola has done some work down there, and against Denver we actually stuck Mcgrady on the elbow, let him go to work, and he produced. We either have to begin establishing Scola as a permanent threat, or Adelman has to find some way to work around this if we make the playoffs because it'll be a problem.
C. We've been VERY active on the defensive end. Mutombo has been swatting balls (he had more blocks vs Denver than the box score gives him credit for), and we've been stripping lots of balls. Scola had a career high 5 steals vs Memphis, Battier's been outstanding (shut Rudy Gay DOWN and held Melo to under 20). Overall, Mutombo's defensive presence has really inspired us to play some balls out defense.
D. Yes Barkley would still say we lack an identity. That's not relevant to how we're playing though...Chuck can just be a d*uche sometimes.
