The Steve Clifford Thread 2.0 - Off the Cliff we go

[TinmanZBoy]

the hornets schemed exactly the same way last season...

I think the competition got better from last season too. Even the Sixers are trying now. I feel like a lot of this season boiled down to us taking one step forward while a bunch of teams took 2-3 steps forward.

for that scheme to work, you need a little foot speed and effort to chase the 3 points line, yet still being able to recover to help covering the paint... and that effort needs to be consistent... without Lee and Lin, it definitely hurt...but the hornets wasn't far off either, still has a positive net rating... lack of a little clutchness and maybe luck... still a solid team...

[catch20two]

the hornets schemed exactly the same way last season...

I think the competition got better from last season too. Even the Sixers are trying now. I feel like a lot of this season boiled down to us taking one step forward while a bunch of teams took 2-3 steps forward.

Only Kemba took a step forward. The rest of the team regressed or stayed the same, that includes Cho's offseason moves (regression) and Clifford's coaching (same --- robotic & stubborn).

[Mystical Apples]

the hornets schemed exactly the same way last season...

I think the competition got better from last season too. Even the Sixers are trying now. I feel like a lot of this season boiled down to us taking one step forward while a bunch of teams took 2-3 steps forward.

Only Kemba took a step forward. The rest of the team regressed or stayed the same, that includes Cho's offseason moves (regression) and Clifford's coaching (same --- robotic & stubborn).

I disagree pretty strongly. Cody's entire season was a step forward....I take that hands down. And after a disappointing 6 week stretch Frank's trajectory in calendar 2017 has been excellent + on volume equaling his full 2015-16.

I've been meaning to compile something on both but keep tripping over more worth narratives (like Kemba's historic CS).

[fatlever]

Agreed, Kemba and Cody clearly better this year than last. Frank better 2nd half of season than last year. Marvin and Batum not too far off from last year.

It all comes back to backup PG/C and the Cody injury to me, more than anything else. You can throw in the Marco injury as well, considering for a solid month after he came back he was garbage.

[UNCNYC]

I dunno what this team is missing. Lack of talent imo might not be the answer. I feel we have some decent talent. Either we need to try and cut down giving up so many 3's and or at least try a change in the tempo we play.

[Eoghan]

The Cody injury was an interesting wrinkle in this season's story line. He pretty obviously plays better at C but Clifford pretty obviously is scared to death that every center is going to go prime Shaq on him so everybody else abandons the 3 pt line to help dig. So barring any major changes to the starting lineup or defensive schemes, we're kind of stuck praying that teams don't randomly bomb away from deep against us. Maybe Cody will turn into Pekovic during the offseason and Clifford feels secure enough not to protect him with help defense constantly next season.

[catch20two]

We didn't even finish the season a top half defense. I think we're currently 17th.

The Sixers have a better defensive rating than us.

[yosemiteben]

We didn't even finish the season a top half defense. I think we're currently 17th.

The Sixers have a better defensive rating than us.

We were straight bad in March, 25th ranked defense.

[catch20two]

We didn't even finish the season a top half defense. I think we're currently 17th.

The Sixers have a better defensive rating than us.

We were straight bad in March, 25th ranked defense.

We really dig-dig-digged ourselves in a hole huh?

[yosemiteben]

We didn't even finish the season a top half defense. I think we're currently 17th.

The Sixers have a better defensive rating than us.

We were straight bad in March, 25th ranked defense.

We really dig-dig-digged ourselves in a hole huh?

We had our second highest win % and net rating in that month, so nah not really.

[catch20two]

We were straight bad in March, 25th ranked defense.

We really dig-dig-digged ourselves in a hole huh?

We had our second highest win % and net rating in that month, so nah not really.

I can dig-dig-dig it.

[TheKingofSting]

We didn't even finish the season a top half defense. I think we're currently 17th.

The Sixers have a better defensive rating than us.

We were straight bad in March, 25th ranked defense.

We really dig-dig-digged ourselves in a hole huh?

Damn those teams for getting lucky and hitting those wide open three point attempts but our coaches outdated defensive scheme is fine!


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[Eoghan]

When is the NBA going to do something about those random three pointers? We'd have a top 5 team in the league if it wasn't for that darn variance or whatever. The best team on paper should always win, everybody knows that.

[heyPlayer]

Steven Clifford is not a good coach. He doesn't know how to make adjustments. Sometimes you have to play chess against the other team in order to get the W. He always goes with the same rotation and matchups. Like if Batum was incredibly rusty due to the all star break, stop running so much of the offense thru him. He just doesn't make adjustments. This works when you have incredible talent, but not with what he's got.

[TheKingofSting]

Steven Clifford is not a good coach. He doesn't know how to make adjustments. Sometimes you have to play chess against the other team in order to get the W. He always goes with the same rotation and matchups. Like if Batum was incredibly rusty due to the all star break, stop running so much of the offense thru him. He just doesn't make adjustments. This works when you have incredible talent, but not with what he's got.

PREACH!


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[catch20two]

Steven Clifford is not a good coach. He doesn't know how to make adjustments. Sometimes you have to play chess against the other team in order to get the W. He always goes with the same rotation and matchups. Like if Batum was incredibly rusty due to the all star break, stop running so much of the offense thru him. He just doesn't make adjustments. This works when you have incredible talent, but not with what he's got.

I can dig-dig-dig it.

[GoBobs]

Steven Clifford is not a good coach. He doesn't know how to make adjustments. Sometimes you have to play chess against the other team in order to get the W. He always goes with the same rotation and matchups. Like if Batum was incredibly rusty due to the all star break, stop running so much of the offense thru him. He just doesn't make adjustments. This works when you have incredible talent, but not with what he's got.

Pretty spot on. Clifford is behind the curve in terms of innovative coaching. Everyone is going small to take advantage of the way the game is currently called. A good coach would realize if Batum is more of a PF then a SG in todays league.

[Snidely FC]

here's the thing I don't understand: Cliff is always talking about how guys who miss training camp and how the team has been on the road so hasn't had time to practice . . . what else are they doing with their lives? I mean, either these guys aren't too smart or Cliff doesn't trust them enough. I mean Popovich, Stevens, Spoelstra, they're constantly making changes and adjustments, aren't they? Their players adapt, and typically grow as players. Why does Cliff have to wait till next year's training camp to change the defense, this is a team of high IQ guys, isn't it? No rim protector? Change the defense. I don't get it.

[yosemiteben]

Coaches don't change entire defensive schemes midseason.

[Snidely FC]

But why?