GT: We're going to Miami Wed. 10/28 7:30 PM EST

EwingSweatsALot · Post #501 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:15 am

So we drafted a 4 year college player that could help us right now because we need shooting and playmaking and we are in win now mode.

This guy plays 6 minutes, while the guy we passed on looked really good, passed really well, didn't score but played really good D, and was a game leading +26 in 26 minutes.

I really hope we aren't adding this to our draft blunder list.

EwingSweatsALot · Post #502 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:15 am

How the hell is it possible to be a -14 in 18 minutes?

EwingSweatsALot · Post #503 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:17 am

Sorry for the string of negative posts. We had some good moments, Williams wasn't too bad, Lin was fun to watch. But this damn team man, I knew it was going to irritate me, but my word. No defense, terrible shooting, still paying Alfense. It's just damn frustrating that we arent even attempting to try new things.

TinmanZBoy · Post #504 » by **TinmanZBoy** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:29 am

i really don't mind the alfense... but the poor d al was playing is just pathetic...
I think there were good looking threes... we just missed...

Post #505 » by **JDR720** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:38 am

any volunteer to make the next GT?

DY_nasty · Post #506 » by **DY_nasty** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:16 am

EwingSweatsALot wrote:So we drafted a 4 year college player that could help us right now because we need shooting and playmaking and we are in win now mode.

This guy plays 6 minutes, while the guy we passed on looked really good, passed really well, didn't score but played really good D, and was a game leading +26 in 26 minutes.

I really hope we aren't adding this to our draft blunder list.

You really wanted him guarding Bosh?

:roll:

Post #507 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:30 pm

We struggled to implement a new offensive system in our first game (shouldn't be too unexpected), and we played poor transition defense (Cliff will clean that up).

Getting a bit dramatic up in here. I actually quite liked Cliff's rotations tonight.

RealGM continues to not be able to get their **** together - do they still not have enough server space to keep from crashing?

MPM · Post #508 » by **MPM** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:42 pm

Just finished watching. Frustrating. I liked the heart I saw from some of the guys as well as certain individual performances, but until we were down by 20, it was déjà vu all over again:

- Despite him hitting, there was far, far too much Al early. Clifford's version of less reliant on Al looks a lot like just as reliant on Al.

- Same ole' Kemba pounding around throwing up contested shots. I've been like Switzerland with Kemba all these years, but I'll be choosing a side this year.

- Poor showing by Cliff. Glacially slow adjustments.

Anyway, 'nuff said. It was 14/15 Hornets ball up until we had all but lost the game and it forced Clifford's hand.

Other than that, Zeller looked good. I like Hawes in spot minutes and for certain matchups, but not certain why Kaminsky isn't getting his minutes. Tank has a better shot, better handle, better IQ, and at least has the dexterity to attempt to stay in front of Bosh without looking like his limbs are coming apart.

EwingSweatsALot · Post #509 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:50 pm

DY_nasty wrote:
EwingSweatsALot wrote:So we drafted a 4 year college player that could help us right now because we need shooting and playmaking and we are in win now mode.

This guy plays 6 minutes, while the guy we passed on looked really good, passed really well, didn't score but played really good D, and was a game leading +26 in 26 minutes.

I really hope we aren't adding this to our draft blunder list.

You really wanted him guarding Bosh?

You actually think that's why he didn't play??

Not a sole person on this team can guard Bosh. Did you see our big men defend last night? Like not just Bosh, but anybody? Did you see any resistance?

It was already mentioned he was basically the 5th big man. He didn't not play because of a matchup issue. Not to mention. If they really wanted him to get some run, he could have easily managed to be out there with Zeller when Miami ran the Bosh/Haslem front court. Haslem ain't a tough cover. He coulda dealt with that.

qiantom · Post #510 » by **qiantom** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:51 pm

Question since people are asking for Frank to get minutes: why did the team get Hawes when they were going to draft Frank? The two play in such a similar way.

Post #511 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:09 pm

qiantom wrote:Question since people are asking for Frank to get minutes: why did the team get Hawes when they were going to draft Frank? The two play in such a similar way.

(1) We wanted big man depth (see Hornets 2014-15 season).
(2) We didn't have a lot of attractive options in a Lance trade.
(3) We want to transition to a more perimeter oriented offense and Hawes is one of only a handful of centers that are respectable three point shooters.
(4) Hawes has a nice contract and saves us from having to overpay for a backup C next offseason.

A few of the reasons.

Post #512 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:15 pm

http://espn730.com/common/more.php?m=49&post_id=6841

“I think the biggest thing is to watch the film and see where we’re truly at,” Clifford said following the loss. “Not committed to getting back on defense, making too many errors, and tonight the thing that we had done well in preseason we refused to do was pass the ball to each other. The ball is sticking, and in the second and third quarter that ball is sticking, guys are over dribbling and we just can’t play like that.”

I would say that's a pretty accurate diagnosis.

MPM · Post #513 » by **MPM** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:28 pm

"...and tonight the thing that we had done well in preseason we refused to do was pass the ball to each other. The ball is sticking, and in the second and third quarter that ball is sticking, guys are over dribbling and we just can’t play like that.”

This is spot on. If Cliff is pushing players to move the ball and they aren't, it's on the players first and then on Cliff if he doesn't make adjustments. Batum and Zeller are not the culprits for sure - they swing the ball around well. Al and Kemba have both been shot clock killers and ball stoppers for awhile now. As many have mentioned on here, it will come down to Cliff having the cajones to sit "franchise" players or relegate them to the second unit if they insist on continuing to play hero ball.

2PRTaylorMade · Post #514 » by **2PRTaylorMade** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:36 pm

Jefferson VANISHED in the second half of the game. I was expecting great things from him and I still will hope he puts up big numbers. Lin is looking promising might consider gettimg him of wavers. This game fell short but it was a chance to examine a few things.

Post #515 » by **Diop** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:48 pm

Fun game, you inherent a team where you're told that Kemba and Al are the face/cornerstones of the team so you must work around them. What do you do?

Flip Murray · Post #516 » by **Flip Murray** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:50 pm

I will never get over watching our "NBA ready" player sit on the bench the entire game while the guy we directly passed jams a dunk right in our collective faces.

MPM · Post #517 » by **MPM** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:56 pm

Sachmo wrote:Fun game, you inherent a team where you're told that Kemba and Al are the face/cornerstones of the team so you must work around them. What do you do?

You've nailed the fundamental conflict that this team faces. Al and Kemba are great guys with a strong desire to win, are natural leaders, and both have glaring weaknesses to their respective games that hurt our ability to win. Are there examples of guys like this around which successful teams have been built?

Flip Murray · Post #518 » by **Flip Murray** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:03 pm

I remember back to the draft where I lost my **** mind that we passed on Winslow. Then as the months passed the inevitable optimism crept in. Maybe this time it would be different. But of course once again I sit there and watch that rookie ride the pine.

Then I thought about it and why did I even care who we drafted? If we had taken Winslow he would be a bad player. Riding pine. It's because no player can possibly succeed for us. I'm sure if frank was on the heat he would have been bombing 3s last night like it was nothing.

MPM · Post #519 » by **MPM** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:07 pm

Flip Murray wrote:I remember back to the draft where I lost my **** mind that we passed on Winslow. Then as the months passed the inevitable optimism crept in. Maybe this time it would be different. But of course once again I sit there and watch that rookie ride the pine.

Then I thought about it and why did I even care who we drafted? If we had taken Winslow he would be a bad player. Riding pine. It's because no player can possibly succeed for us. I'm sure if frank was on the heat he would have been bombing 3s last night like it was nothing.

If we're not seeing success, and Hawes/Kaminsky becomes Maxiell/Vonleh 2.0 I think I'll go insane.

Post #520 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:11 pm

Flip Murray wrote:I remember back to the draft where I lost my **** mind that we passed on Winslow. Then as the months passed the inevitable optimism crept in. Maybe this time it would be different. But of course once again I sit there and watch that rookie ride the pine.

It was a single damn game, and we had been told what the initial rotation would look like for weeks. If we were like the Heat and had no depth at the spot where we drafted our rookie, then Frank would be playing more.

How long did it take for Vonleh to get inserted into a regular season basketball game that wasn't a blow out? Two full months, and even then only in spot minutes due to injury.