Oh, yeah. I'm excited about that backcourt and will be pretty upset if Livingston isn't resigned.doclinkin wrote:Flip is excited anyway:"Do I wish we were still playing Saturday? Yes. But based on everything that has happened and based on where I think we can be next year, in two years, and in three years, I feel really good," he said. "We've developed our young players, when you look at Andray [Blatche] and JaVale [McGee] and Shaun [Livingston] and Nick [Young], that's four guys. When you look at where they're at compared to where they were two months ago, it's like night and day. I don't anyone would've imagined that those guys would be playing at the level that they are at now. I feel good about that now."
I like Flip's chances to dream up new wrinkles now that he knows his core personnel (youth) and has to take a long range/teaching view on how to make it work. Once he got over his frustration and disappointment at the lack of instant success he has made a few smart tweaks and changes. He'll have a summer to play with configurations in his head, but he's clearly got some significant (if raw and undeveloped) talent on his squad.
He clearly sees Livi as a core member of the squad though. That's a positive for the re-sign of the cat. It's also leverage for Shauns agent, but whatever. I like that he developed the system in part to dream up a better role for Gil. Gil thrived playing in the 2-guard sets with Larry. And I for one would no question prefer Livingston over Hughes in decision-making etc. Neither one can shoot from outside, but Livi will actually keep the rest of the squad involved.
Meanwhile Gil gets to play wild card, run loose, slide past screens, etc. Either one can initiate the offense and drive up court. Whomever has the mismatch gets to do what they do. Generally I suspect this means Gil will be faced on the (shorter) PG, but if he's healthy and re-tuned then he's been too strong for most PGs to handle. If they switch then Shaun gets to post up the little guys. With Dray optionally able to fade back for midrange attack there's room underneath for either to attack, but with Shaun on court Dray won't be forgotten as a primary or secondary option.
If you noticed in the past 10 games, the first set play of each game was a downscreen off the right block for Nick Young. That is where Gilbert will either be able to pull up or drive. If defenses cheat to cover Arenas, you've got Blatche posting up. Considering how effective that offense has been with NY1, imagine Arenas taking over that spot.
It's really become easy to see Flip's offensive genius recently, but only when SL and AB were on the floor together. His offense looked efficient like a machine. Can't wait to see what he can do with more firepower.
