Making a hash of a 17 point lead against a non-playoff team isn’t even worthy of an analytical breakdown.
Instead, here are three Googled “Sam Mitchells” who, if given the chance and maybe one viewing of Hoosiers, would outcoach the Raptors’ idiot savant:
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 am
So here’s some thoughts…
Atlanta came back from 17 down to within 7 or 8 by about the 7.5-8 min. mark of the 4th. From that point on until about the 4 to 4.5 min mark the 2 teams traded hoops and the lead stayed at about 7 or 8. Then what happens you ask? With about 3:20 or so left, out goes Calderon and in comes T.J. to finish the game. Now don’t get me wrong…T.J. didn’t play horribly…he didn’t pull his usual “I’m Allen Iverson” shit but I see a pattern developing here. T.J. hit some “shats” but he also had a few turnovers and missed some “shats”. I don’t know how Sam could possibly still think it’s a good idea to have this guy in at the end of the game. Now I’m not a T.J. hater…I think he’s a decent player and should get his minutes but come on…how many leads do we have to blow down the stretch to connect the dots!
A few other thoughts:
-Why did Bargnani sit the 4th quarter? Seemed to me he was playing pretty well. Reminds me of the BS Sam pulled a few weeks ago when A.B. went off for 16 in the first quarter and was rewarded with a half hour rest on the bench…idiotic!
-Another one…maybe a little more off the beaten path. I understand that Kopono is a good…hmmmmm…ok…great, shooter but come on. Everyone knows it and guys play in his shorts on defense. He’s not good enough to create his own shot and there are no plays run for him where he can roll off screens for good looks…maybe there should be…maybe there shouldn’t be…fact is that there isn’t. I think he could be useful if used right but if you’re not going to use him right he’s a liability on the floor. I honestly would give the minutes to Brezic or Humphries. At the very least you would get something productive…probably some rebounds (God knows we could use a few more of those!). Now last night may have been an issue on the defensive end because of the quickness of Smith, Childress and Horford but let’s get real here…it’s not like they’re playing any sort of defense anyway. I don’t understand why Sam keeps these guys glued to the bench when they’re getting killed constantly on the boards. I’m certainly not a huge Brezic fan…in fact I think he’s a mouthpiece but I also realize that when the story is the same night after night as a coach, you have to react. That’s Sam though…he keeps doing the same damn thing hoping that one day that light bulb will come on and all of a sudden the shit he’s trying to do is going to work…Abraka-fucking-dabra! Let’s live in the real world shall we! Anyway, I digress, I realize that both Brezic and Humphries have their limitations…all I wonder is would you get more useful time from them right now than from Kopono? These guys can rebound and you still have plenty of offensive firepower from T.J., Jose, Chris, Carlos, Andrea, Parker, etc. Really…I just think you need to try and stop giving so many damn second chances.
That’s about it…maybe some stuff people will disagree with but honestly, this team with the current rotation and strategies by the coach is getting swept (ok…maybe they’ll win 1) in the first round. In the playoffs there is no time for mistakes…every game is crucial.
In closing, one last thought…FIRE SAM NOW!
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 am
Sam called a nice play last night out of the timeout. Unfortunately I’m sure that he also had a hand in starting the clock 0.1s too early.
Idiot.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
Janke: I don’t think TJ was at fault for the loss by any stretch. With the lead widdling down, the Raps simply missed shats and ran some suspect plays. TJ cam in for Jose at the 6:30 mark of the 4th. Who is to say that Jose being in there would have held the lead?
The major reason why we lost this game wasn’t a result of poor PG play, but moreso the lack of rebounding.
Case in Point: Rewind the game tap back to 4.7 seconds left. Watch Jamario handled that rebound. For that matter watch the Raptors as a whole rebound in the 4th quarter. That should explain why a 17 pt lead was blown.
Further, you cannot expect teams to maintain 17 pt leads on the road. At some point, as always in the NBA, the home team makes that “final run”. If a road team can withstand that, then they deserve the win. If not, you have GM’s on the phone with the league about a desperation winning basket.
Peace.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
“Who is to say that Jose being in there would have held the lead?
The major reason why we lost this game wasn’t a result of poor PG play, but moreso the lack of rebounding. ”
I WILL say it. TJ once again, put on his cape (no big S on it, just NC for Napoloeon Complex) and failed to get anyone else involved, including Bosh who could’ve got to the line at will.
The only time he’d pass off would be late in the clock (the grenade-juggle) or early in the clock, so he’d get it right back.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Not sure if you watched the same game “Admin”… TJ’s game is different than Jose’s, agreed? And yes, I hate it when he pulls on the “Superman cape” sometimes. But, last nights game wasn’t to be blamed on TJ. Take a good long look at our outstanding rebounders.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I’ll agree with you that TJ was not wholly the fault, but TJ’s way of running the point compared to Jose’s, is not conducive for closing out games when things are tighter.
1) His me first early shots in the shotclock do not help our inadequate rebounders at ALL in getting position.
2) The lack of a consistent floor marshall also means the offense doesn’t have a natural rhythm to it, Parker/Delfino have to be ready to catch that ill-aimed (never at the chest) pass with 3 seconds to go, throw up a fake and get a shot off.
3) 5′10 PGs (who scowl at the refs) darting into the lane and throwing up teardrops are never going to induce VALUABLE late-game road free throws.
4) Lastly, I think you’ll agree there’s better shots taken when Jose is on the floor. Therefore, less rebounds needed. (82games.com has a +10.4 swing for JC vs TJ)
April 4th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Dan:
I did say that T.J. was not necessarily to blame for the loss, however, I am also saying that there is a very clear trend that when he finishes tight games…they lose. Maybe it doesn’t always come down to him jackin’ jumpers but there’s lots of other possible factors. Jose just seems to be a better decision maker and the “team” seems to play better around him. Granted, Jose may not score as much as T.J. but in relation to the shots that each takes he’s much, much more efficient. I think when he’s on the floor the squad makes better use of their possessions on the whole.
I’m not saying they would have won for sure with Jose in but given what I’ve seen this season (and last), I think the chance would have swung much more in our favour.