How much of this stuff is on Lionel?

[mid-post]

Don't get me wrong, I've been a fan of what he's done for this team. But honestly games like tonight just make me question what the f*ck he's doing sometimes.
Your team is getting raped by the opponent bench, you aren't rotating to play perimeter defense, people aren't rebounding, they aren't getting to loose balls and the offense in crunch time is straight dogsh*t.
They shouldn't have been in this postition to lose the game and you can't just give away double digit leads in the fourth over and over.

[jman3134]

A lot of it is on Lionel. As likeable as he may be, the guy does not have a definite system in my book. The offense looks sloppy and there is NO dribble penetration whatsoever. I think we are relying on individual player talent at this point, with little direction.

[dark-child]

Think of it like this, you teach something for two hours a day and it is flawless in practice. You get in the game and the collective group of bone heads act like they have never practiced aganist defensive pressure or running a play without Mike Conley having to set them up.

For more clarity, you can also look at it like this: You often see Phil Jackson let his team ride out a rough patch rather than call a time out to guage there response and toughen them up. It is not always the adversity that builds character but how we respond to that adversity that shows are true mettle.

[mid-post]

Think of it like this, you teach something for two hours a day and it is flawless in practice. You get in the game and the collective group of bone heads act like they have never practiced aganist defensive pressure or running a play without Mike Conley having to set them up.

For more clarity, you can also look at it like this: You often see Phil Jackson let his team ride out a rough patch rather than call a time out to guage there response and toughen them up. It is not always the adversity that builds character but how we respond to that adversity that shows are true mettle.

I think that's a good point. As a fan it can be kind of difficult to watch your team give games away and share the "big picture" vision of a battle-tested squad that Lionel might have. And maybe that one huge shot by Rudy is a significant event for this team and the coming season(s). Maybe it gets them going and gets them to the playoffs. Maybe it's part of Rudy's platform to stardom and leadership.
Thing is, if Memphis doesn't make the playoffs this season, those lessons learned in crunch-time might not mean anything, especially if the team gets blown up at the end of 2011.
I guess my point is that you should maybe occasionally call a timeout if your young team is struggling to reach double digits in the fourth quarter and you're about to drop a game in a hostile environment.