It is time for the Leastern conference finals and here are some of my [pointless?] thoughts on this series.
Matchup to watch: Rasheed Wallace vs Kevin Garnett. We all know 'Sheed is an awesome dude, and a proven playoff player, whereas, even Bill Simmons is resigned that KG simply is not all that clutch. This will also mark the first time that KG will have to consistently play defense in this year's playoffs. However this matchup goes could very well decide the outcome of the series.
Matchup to watch #2: Chauncey Billups vs Rajon Rondo. As good as Rodney Stuckey has been, Mr. Bigshot needs to be healthy and clutch again for Detroit to win one or two games on the road. As for Rondo, I have, from the very start of the playoffs, believed that Rajon Rondo's play will dictate how far the Celtics go. He has a skilled mid range game, and is arguably one of the best offensive rebounding point guards.
X - Factor of the series : Ray Allen. Allen had a beautiful game. A quick release on one of the best 3 point strokes in the NBA, coupled with an ability to drive either way. I do not expect him to miraculously recover all his skills, but if he does regain his touch, Boston may just be the dominant team seen in the regular season.
Doc Rivers Watch: Hopefully, he has learned a thing or two from the Cleveland series such that he will actually have a decent substitution pattern. Note to Doc : Corpses do not make the greatest basketball players.
My Inner Fan prediction: Pistons in 6. However, I have about as faith in this prediction as I have of comprehending the superstring theory or everything in my Philosophy of Agency class.
Showing posts with label Doc Rivers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doc Rivers. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
A Tale of Two Coaching Matchups
Even though the Couch Potato gave only 6/10 bags for this weekend's action, today's NBA action, composed of two Game 6s, look fairly promising.
When one look at these games, even superficially, one difference between the two games stands out.
Coaching.
One game features two HOF coaches, one the longest tenured and consistently good, and the other possesses 9 rings. This contrasts sharply with the other game, which features two coaches, whose luck has been significantly better than their coaching.
Which much of the media may have ignored just how significant this is, this match up between Doc Rivers and Mike Brown will go down, for me, as the match up of two of the worst coaches in NBA playoff history. Bill Simmons (good luck on your situation with ESPN) has done a great job of sharing the skills of Doc Brown. Although, I have to admit, I was stumped to see Doc Brown following the conventional wisdom and leaving Rajon Rondo out there after he started playing well. However, this one game does not mask multiple silly substitution patterns utilized by Doc. Mr. PER, John Hollinger, gives light to one of the more dumbfounding grievances is his latest work for ESPN, the question as to why the corpse of P. J. Brown is getting more burn than the productive Leon Powe.
As for Doc Brown, it is simply frustrating for me. Just as Boston hired a good defensive assistant coach in Tom Thibedeau, the Cavaliers should look at hiring a good offensive assistant/associate coach for the Cavs to show that their run last year was not just a fluke, and to entice LeBron to stay rather than bolt Madison Square Garden or The Bronx. Look, it is NOT a good idea to get LeBron the ball 30 feet from the basket on the wing, especially when the spacing is so poor such that 3 defenders can collapse on LeBron without fear of a major penalty.
Just thinking about those two wasting the talent they had been given is frustrating.
Just watch the games for the difference. There is so much more ball movement and off the ball cuts in the Jazz-Lakers series. There is quite a bit of beautiful basketball there, with the exception of some unnecessary fouls and turnovers. The beauty of the game comes from the coaches. Perhaps Doc and Mike should be watching the game following their own for some ideas.
When one look at these games, even superficially, one difference between the two games stands out.
Coaching.
One game features two HOF coaches, one the longest tenured and consistently good, and the other possesses 9 rings. This contrasts sharply with the other game, which features two coaches, whose luck has been significantly better than their coaching.
Which much of the media may have ignored just how significant this is, this match up between Doc Rivers and Mike Brown will go down, for me, as the match up of two of the worst coaches in NBA playoff history. Bill Simmons (good luck on your situation with ESPN) has done a great job of sharing the skills of Doc Brown. Although, I have to admit, I was stumped to see Doc Brown following the conventional wisdom and leaving Rajon Rondo out there after he started playing well. However, this one game does not mask multiple silly substitution patterns utilized by Doc. Mr. PER, John Hollinger, gives light to one of the more dumbfounding grievances is his latest work for ESPN, the question as to why the corpse of P. J. Brown is getting more burn than the productive Leon Powe.
As for Doc Brown, it is simply frustrating for me. Just as Boston hired a good defensive assistant coach in Tom Thibedeau, the Cavaliers should look at hiring a good offensive assistant/associate coach for the Cavs to show that their run last year was not just a fluke, and to entice LeBron to stay rather than bolt Madison Square Garden or The Bronx. Look, it is NOT a good idea to get LeBron the ball 30 feet from the basket on the wing, especially when the spacing is so poor such that 3 defenders can collapse on LeBron without fear of a major penalty.
Just thinking about those two wasting the talent they had been given is frustrating.
Just watch the games for the difference. There is so much more ball movement and off the ball cuts in the Jazz-Lakers series. There is quite a bit of beautiful basketball there, with the exception of some unnecessary fouls and turnovers. The beauty of the game comes from the coaches. Perhaps Doc and Mike should be watching the game following their own for some ideas.
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