Nashty & Cactus: Game 14 @ Philly

[batsmasher]

OK, before I literally fall to sleep watching this game, I better post this.

Standings

How it works

[kennydorglas]

+3 Ulis
+2 Bledsoe
+1 Len

-1 Chriss
-2 Tucker
-3 Booker

[bwgood77]

+3 Ulis
+2 Williams
+1 Bledsoe

Those three above were close, but 4 steals and 4 blocks by those guys vs the 5 turnovers, besides and otherwise great game from Bledsoe, gave them the edge for me.

-3 Booker
-2 Knight
-1 Watson

[Sunsss]

Not sure what to do with Booker. He clearly had no lift/explosiveness whatsoever.

[batsmasher]

3. Ulis, played non junk meaningful minutes.
2. Bled. Tried to carry us but the poor defensive showing hurt.
1. Sausage Williams.

-3. Booker. If you're going to start you have to play like a real basketballer.
-2. Chriss. Likewise.
-1. BK. Gotta stop yelling every time you go to the hoop and force contact for no call.

[bwgood77]

3. Ulis, played non junk meaningful minutes.
2. Tried to carry us but the poor defensive showing hurt.
1. Sausage Williams.

-3. Booker. If you're going to start you have to play like a real basketballer.
-2. Chriss. Likewise.
-1. BK. Gotta stop yelling every time you go to the hoop and force contact for no call.

Who's that at +2?

[batsmasher]

3. Ulis, played non junk meaningful minutes.
2. Tried to carry us but the poor defensive showing hurt.
1. Sausage Williams.

-3. Booker. If you're going to start you have to play like a real basketballer.
-2. Chriss. Likewise.
-1. BK. Gotta stop yelling every time you go to the hoop and force contact for no call.

Who's that at +2?

I tried the sneaky quick edit but my phone was doing a poo.

[RaisingArizona]

-3 everyone.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

+3 Bledsoe
+2 Sauce
+1 Ulis

-1 Watson. At some point, the team's collective struggles - especially on defense - fall on the coaching. Whenever there's a broken play, the opposing team gets an open 3. Our guys are never as open as the opposing team's 3 point shooters. The players aren't happy, excited or energetic. |
-2 McDonough. This one hurts the most. The team doesn't work. For as much as like so many of his individual decisions, he hired Watson, he put this team together, and for the last three seasons, he's tried to win. The only year he actually won any games is the year he tried to tank. IDK.
-3 Me. For caring so damn much. I wish I had picked a more rewarding hobby.

[saintEscaton]

Not sure what to do with Booker. He clearly had no lift/explosiveness whatsoever.

Boing Vert but you can only improve so much.

[garrick]

Not sure what to do with Booker. He clearly had no lift/explosiveness whatsoever.

Boing Vert but you can only improve so much.

He tweaked his ankle in the Pacers game and clearly looked bothered by it.

How was he in this game?

[Bogyo]

Not sure what to do with Booker. He clearly had no lift/explosiveness whatsoever.

Boing Vert but you can only improve so much.

He tweaked his ankle in the Pacers game and clearly looked bothered by it.

How was he in this game?

Injured, tired shooting poorly.

[Saberestar]

+3 Bledsoe
+2 Ulis
+1 I think that no one deserves this +1 but I have to choose someone because of the rules. Alan Williams.

-3 Chriss. Seriously, I love his potential but right now he is useless out there.
-2 Tucker. His offense is invisible.
-1 Len. He was unable to defend Embiid.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

-3 Len. He was unable to defend Embiid.

Is that a -1?

I think this is on the coaches. They don't appear to want our centers to cover opposing bigs on the perimeter. I don't have any other explanation for it. I was encouraged by the fact that Len was able to knock down the simple hook over Embiid without difficulty. I also noticed the difference in his two jumpers tonight - the first, he took his time and he was smooth. The second was rushed and hit the front rim. Then he couldn't hit his free throws the rest of the night - cost us 4 or 5 points with his terrible FT shooting. Not that it would have made much of a difference.

[Frank Lee]

+3 Bledsoe
+2 Sauce
+1 Ulis

-1 Watson. At some point, the team's collective struggles - especially on defense - fall on the coaching. Whenever there's a broken play, the opposing team gets an open 3. Our guys are never as open as the opposing team's 3 point shooters. The players aren't happy, excited or energetic. |
-2 McDonough. This one hurts the most. The team doesn't work. For as much as like so many of his individual decisions, he hired Watson, he put this team together, and for the last three seasons, he's tried to win. The only year he actually won any games is the year he tried to tank. IDK.
-3 Me. For caring so damn much. I wish I had picked a more rewarding hobby.

This right here.

At some point , the 'true accountability' must fall upon the 'creator' and the 'implementer' . 5 guys must somehow work together to bring out their individual strengths. I do not see great individual talent on this squad. I see some young guys who have shown on any night they may excel, but I do not see a system in place that allows for this to occur.

Frankly, it seems like the strength of several players is not one that translates into a team capable of consistent output. Bledsoe is not a strong facilitator. He's a one on one machine with a bully his way to his shot attitude. BK is just a flat out chucker who, in his mind, can pop from anywhere as if there is no distinction between good shot and bad. Booker needs an open look. When he gets it he has shown the ability to be deadly. But he lacks the explosiveness to create his own space. He needs a facilitator. Warren is an old school junker that plays off the breakdown of defenses. Right place right time concept. He is crafty. We get nothing at the PF spot as it is typically manned by undersized slow vets in Dud and Tuck. Definitely not their strength position as they are definitely not PFs. Chandler is a one or two trick pony, rebounds and defense, but a non existent offensive game. Len is floundering away with no real go to shot or feel for the game. Barbs is another chucker, and our young picks are just Kids in a Man's game. We can't expect them to do much even with playing time. IMO, they belong in the DLeague running together 30 minutes a night. Ulis seems the only guy who has shown the knack for giving all at his designated position. He was billed as the best court general in and that's what he does. He is a Pass first PG.

We have been duped into thinking the team chemistry is the most important aspect of success, and thus added players like Chandler (realistically FA bait) and Dudley to 'calm' the locker room in the face of poor defeat after defeat. Sure, it's important we establish good work ethic and attitude, but no where does that guarantee anything but a non grumbling squad. Watson may accel at creating off court cohesion, but his on court strategies leave a lot to be desired. In essence, I don't see him as a good x and o guy, but he may be a great mentor, but as a strategist making game playing adjustments don't seem to be there.

The 'patience mantra' has been rammed down our throats now for two-three years. It's no longer palatable to me. At some point it should be a put up shut up discussion falling squarely on McD. I don't believe he has traded well, nor been successful in the FA market. I am beginning to think his coaching selection is off as well. . The jury is out...way out, on his draft picks, with just enough promise from Book and Warren to grade him a C+. But you can't plan for success riding on the hopes of future draft classes. You guys can swallow that, but I'm spitting it out.

So you say, Frank....Lee.... what would you do? I've said it more than once....go all in on a bonafide NBA baller like Cousins (McD tried with LMA) or blow this the F up. I don't see our current PG as court leaders, nor our coach as a strength. We have no identity, nobody to build around, and it seems like nobody even notices as we focus on the every once in a while good game by Booker and Warren. That's our future ?????


So my vote for the continual Cactus echos Cosmo 1) McD .... 2) Watson.... and 3) we fans for accepting this crap

[batsmasher]

So you say, Frank....Lee.... what would you do? I've said it more than once....go all in on a bonafide NBA baller like Cousins (McD tried with LMA) or blow this the F up. I don't see our current PG as court leaders, nor our coach as a strength. We have no identity, nobody to build around, and it seems like nobody even notices as we focus on the every once in a while good game by Booker and Warren. That's our future ?????

I'd argue Book was our identity 6 months ago. I don't think many people are sold on that now. Last season's shooting troubles were attributed to the lack of talent around him. This season he has the talent, and we're cottoning onto the fact his shot selection isn't that great. Combine that with the lack of any signs of defensive awareness (although I did notice the higher effort on defense in Summer League this year), and suddenly you can't really project this guy as a superstar.

If last night is anything to go by, Bled may try and make this his team. That's about the only option we have right now. That, or Book's turf toe has somehow entered his brain and made him look not as good as he is. Because the struggles he is having aren't confined to a lack of verticality/explosiveness. They're similar to what we saw last season.

[Jarlaxle0204]

+3 Bledsoe
+2 Ulis
+1 Big Sauce

Not much to say here. Pretty dreadful performance. Yikes.

[batsmasher]

3. Bled
3 (tie). Ulis
1. Sauce

-3. Booker
-2. Chriss
-1. Tucker

It's TJ leading from Bled and Ulis in the Nashty.
BK leading from Len and Book in the Cactus.