Why is Wally the focal point of the offense?

TheUrbanZealot · Post #1 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Mon Jan 7, 2008 11:31 am

While I am not against feeding a hot person, this trend has become more and more prevalent in recent games. Wally is simply looking for his shot and his shot only, and seemingly has the green light to shoot at his discretion. PJ doesn't seem to mind either so I presume he's given the ok.

I'm not sure if I agree with this approach because even though he occasionally gets a hot hand, he ultimately balances out with his misses and also prevents other young players from developing THEIR OWN arsenal.

For example, why aren't we utilizing Jeff Green more in ISO's or in the post? Why don't we give the ball 10 straight times to Chris Wilcox instead of 10 straight times to Wally? We need players like Jeff and Chris to develop confidence and a consistency.

I also find it funny that people rag on Damien and Earl for taking shots, but they look like frady cats compared to Wally. I mean, every game I've seen for the past 3 weeks Wally literally chucks it virtually every time he touches it. I KNOW i'm not the only one that has noticed this. It's really becoming counter-productive and I don't see how it's developing the Sonics in any way.

In the hierarchy of development, we should be allocating as such:

1- Kevin Durant
2- Chris Wilcox
3- Jeff Green
4- Delonte West
5- Nick Collison

Everyone else really has to take what they can get. If we want to develop a consistent, confident team, we have to give our young guys priority over veterans, as I don't see what winning a couple of games thanks to a hot Wally will do for our future endeavors...

Dick Tate · Post #2 » by **Dick Tate** » Mon Jan 7, 2008 5:05 pm

If it makes him tradable for some future prospects, then that would aid future endeavors.

TheUrbanZealot · Post #3 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Mon Jan 7, 2008 5:56 pm

Dick Tate wrote:If it makes him tradable for some future prospects, then that would aid future endeavors.

Hmm, if Wally had something left to prove, then yeah, I can see that. But Wally is a 10 yr vet. He is already a proven commodity. You know what he does- he shoots, period. He doesn't need to be in the spotlight anymore than he already has been. He can score 50 pts and it's not going to have anymore bearing on his propensity to be traded than he already has now.

Usually you are trying to play someone that is kind of a question mark, or someone that doesn't get many mins at all, or someone that is a rookie. You don't put 10 yr vets who have 1 primary known skill-set out for display...

Dick Tate · Post #4 » by **Dick Tate** » Mon Jan 7, 2008 6:32 pm

I suppose there may have been some question marks as to whether Z still had any game left after his surgery. I suspect the rotations will feature Z & Thomas quite a bit less after the trade deadline passes, if either are still on the team then.

TheUrbanZealot · Post #5 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Mon Jan 7, 2008 7:19 pm

Dick Tate wrote:I suppose there may have been some question marks as to whether Z still had any game left after his surgery. I suspect the rotations will feature Z & Thomas quite a bit less after the trade deadline passes, if either are still on the team then.

Well I think he's answered that he can be a hot shooter for a playoff bound team that needs instant offense. There is no way Seattle will not attempt to trade him, unless they are planning on a free agent coup next year- which wouldn't make sense because I don't have them in the playoffs for at least another 2 years.

D5150 · Post #6 » by **D5150** » Tue Jan 8, 2008 4:37 am

wally expires in 09. that is when seattle will try and make a splash in free agency. unless they get an offer they cant refuse, i think wally plays out his contract in seattle.

djthesonicsfan · Post #7 » by **djthesonicsfan** » Wed Jan 9, 2008 8:18 pm

I was watching ESPN the other night. They reported a story that Presti had a "discussion" with PJ about J Green's minutes. The result of that discussion was J Green being inserted into the starting lineup.

Correct or incorrect, I mention the report as it highlights the different perspectives of a GM and a coach. Basically, the GM's job is to think about the long term best interest of the team. Basically, the coach's job is to win games. So, especially with this young & under construction developing team, these perspectives are crosswise to each other. With one exception. As part of the long term best interest of the team, Presti also needs a winning attitude established. No entitlements. Focused attention to detail. Complete obedience to the coach's instructions. Starting J Green runs a little contrary because even though he's got a much higher ceiling, it's still arguable if he's better than D Wilkins at this point. And D Wilkins has the veteran edge. And J Green is nowhere near as good as W Szczerbiak right now. They're getting around that by bringing W Szczerbiak off the bench as "instant offense". W Szczerbiak is the #1 scoring option, other than K Durant, on this team based on talent. Every player knows that and when they're trying to win games the players go to their best guy. It's what every player has done in every game since they've been old enough to play ball. Tell them to do something otherwise and they'll think you're telling them not to win. Bad things happen then.

January will be a brutal month for the young Sonics. Three wins. Maybe. PJ has to figure out a way to keep the team playing hard in the face of this adversity. And J Green being promoted to the starting lineup move. To be very frank, I don't think they played hard against either the Wizards or the Cavaliers. It was obvious, at least to me, the Sonics had basically conceded both of those games right from the start. This will be the most important thing I'll be watching for tonight against the Nets. Hopefully J Green's learning curve is fast & steep. Maybe leaking that Presti ordered his promotion helps protect PJ from player second guessing. But now that J Green has been mandated a starter (which I applaud), the most important thing PJ's does for the rest of the season is keep the team playing hard. Trying to win every game. And it will get even harder if/when K Thomas is traded and PJ has to figure out how to bring R Swift back into the rotation.

realfung · Post #8 » by **realfung** » Wed Jan 9, 2008 9:22 pm

I understand Wally is not your best player whatsoever...
but if Durant is cold, who can score in yoru team????

You really wanna give the ball to Wilcox to create his own shots????
I don't think so, mayeb you guys need a true PG....

Det the Threat · Post #9 » by **Det the Threat** » Wed Jan 9, 2008 9:30 pm

realfung wrote:I understand Wally is not your best player whatsoever...
but if Durant is cold, who can score in yoru team????

You really wanna give the ball to Wilcox to create his own shots????
I don't think so, mayeb you guys need a true PG....

I really don't understand that discussion as well, cause outside of Durant, Wally is the only guy that can give you consistant offensive production, if used right.

Wilcox, on the other hand, only has that one offensive move and opponents have found out that you only have to put a taller guy on him and as he's got trouble scoring over those, with his lack of low post moves.

Oh, and we not just maybe need a true PG, we badly need one and we hope that we can somehow land one in next years draft...

Relientk101 · Post #10 » by **Relientk101** » Wed Jan 9, 2008 9:43 pm

cause Wally-Z is the only one on the team besides kevin durant that can score on a somewhat consistent basis. he drops hella "wally-balls".

TheUrbanZealot · Post #11 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Wed Jan 9, 2008 10:30 pm

realfung wrote:I understand Wally is not your best player whatsoever...
but if Durant is cold, who can score in yoru team????

You really wanna give the ball to Wilcox to create his own shots????
I don't think so, mayeb you guys need a true PG....

Seattle is a team in major transition. Wally can score, sure, but what good is it doing the team? If we are going to win 20 games only, do I want Wally taking those 15-20 shots, or do I want Jeff Green, Mo Sene, Chris Wilcox, Delonte West, and Robert Swift developing their games with those shots? Wally isn't doing anything but earning his veteran mins. He is NOT helping the team in any capacity other than to keep them from being blown out by 30 points instead of 20. I don't think any of us care about the Sonics being blown out as much as we do the development of our young players. I certainly wouldn't want our young players developing a Wally-ball approach anyways.

The coach is showing respect for Wally and obviously is letting his respect sway his better judgment. If we are going to scrap the season, we might as well scrap all out, play all of our young guys to gain experience, and see which ones are worth keeping around.

I don't care if Wally was the BEST player on the team. I don't want him taking shots away from the younger players. If you watch Sonics games (I've watched virtually all of them this year), you will notice that the second Wally comes in, the entire team, even Durant is looking to give him the ball and wait for him to shoot. Sure, he's shooting well, but he is not allowing for the young players to develop their own repertoire. He is coming in, looking for his shot and his shot only, and PJ in dubious fashion is allowing it...

djthesonicsfan · Post #12 » by **djthesonicsfan** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:12 am

TheUrbanZealot wrote:I don't care if Wally was the BEST player on the team. I don't want him taking shots away from the younger players. If you watch Sonics games (I've watched virtually all of them this year), you will notice that the second Wally comes in, the entire team, even Durant is looking to give him the ball and wait for him to shoot. Sure, he's shooting well, but he is not allowing for the young players to develop their own repertoire. He is coming in, looking for his shot and his shot only, and PJ in dubious fashion is allowing it...

I agree with what you're saying about W Szczerbiak taking over on offense. I thought that would happen before the season started and it is happening.

I agree with your point that a 20 win Sonics team is miles ahead trying to develop the younger guys instead of trying for that 21st win and maybe losing a few more percentage points off of their chance at D Rose.

However, coaches & players try to win ballgames. That's what they do. Simple as that. W Szczerbiak on this team is a top player & scorer. The coach is going to play him and the players are going to defer to him. Until Presti, the GM, sends him packing or orders PJ not to play him.

Presti also wants a winning attitude installed. Best players play. Telling PJ not to play a best player runs against that grain. I very much doubt Presti will tell PJ not to play W Szczerbiak.

Presti's oft quoted "evaluation period" is not without it's problems.