I know I hold a tiny minority position on PD about the Pacers greatest need going into the 2011-12 season. Everyone is convinced the problem is Hansbrough and the power forward position. Based on his comments it seems even Bird feels this way. I think Hansbrough will be a vastly improved player come this fall so I am not overly concerned about his position and especially if he is getting some coaching this summer and putting in a lot of work.
My problem is with Collison and Price and their inability to pass the ball. I do not say they are ball hogs. I don't mean that. I am saying they lack the ability to see the court and make the passes a true point guard ought to make. I guess part of what bothers me is seeing the link IndyPacer put up on another thread of Larry Bird entitled, when you click through to the YouTube video, "Larry Bird Greatest Passer of All Time."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhnRtgBGMl4
Not everyone can be the greatest but I would settle for a Nash or a Rondo. I don't know how many times this past season when the Pacers would get off on a semi fast break with Collison having the ball and Hansbrough in front of him posted up one on one in an ideal situation for him very near the basket where he should have gotten the ball but did not the result being a lost ideal opportunity. I got to the point where I was wondering if there was a problem between the two players. However, I don't think that was the case at all. Was Collison waiting for a better set up? If so it was poor judgment for there were times when the set up he had was as good as it is going to get if he would have just passed the ball.
Or how many times drives would be made, the defense close in, with us having a man open on the wing or side. What happens? Some slop shot is thrown up instead of the handoff. Until some of our guys learn the glory of the perfect pass and how to make it I don't care how many points they get things are not going to be dramatically better. This team needs some quality passers among those guys who handle the ball the vast majority of the time.
Collison has great speed, a good looking jump shot, can do a lot of good things, but until he decides he wants to be a Nash like player versus a Kobe type player he is not going to be the point guard we need in my opinion (which I recognize is a minority opinion). Hibbert was right during the season about "getting the ball where he needs it" and I would add "when he needs it." Late passes even to the right guy just do not work. Timing is everything.
I have wondered if Collison's size is part of the problem but neither Nash nor Rondo are very big either. I just don't know what the real problem is. With a big clumsy guy, maybe a little uncoordinated, you can kind of figure it out but point guards do not fit in that category. I would say much the same here about Price as I do Collison but Price is the backup.
Neither Collison or Price could even think about guarding or even slowing Rose down during the playoffs either. We basically played 4 guys trying to guard 5 once Rose beat them out front. It is hard to win that way. Now I understand clearly that I cannot complain much about that for Rose is exceptional and who can guard him one on one? No one! I am not laying the blame for losing the series on either of our point guards. Still, if you ever want to beat Chicago you have to remember Rose is going to be around for a long time to come. Something will have to be done if there is not to be more of the same year after year.
I can see why Bird is trying to keep Stephenson around. I would do the same until it proved impossible or else you get to the point where you see he is not going to develop.
The most exciting aspect of basketball is the perfect pass not how many points a man can score. Scorers are a dime a dozen in the NBA and always have been. I would hope our point guards become passers extraordinaire versus being primarily scorers as they look to develop their talents for the future and the betterment of the team.
I only add this, sometimes a guard can get a number of assists just by passing around the perimeter. I want them to set up plays per Nash. I know I want too much. Comments?
My problem is with Collison and Price and their inability to pass the ball. I do not say they are ball hogs. I don't mean that. I am saying they lack the ability to see the court and make the passes a true point guard ought to make. I guess part of what bothers me is seeing the link IndyPacer put up on another thread of Larry Bird entitled, when you click through to the YouTube video, "Larry Bird Greatest Passer of All Time."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhnRtgBGMl4
Not everyone can be the greatest but I would settle for a Nash or a Rondo. I don't know how many times this past season when the Pacers would get off on a semi fast break with Collison having the ball and Hansbrough in front of him posted up one on one in an ideal situation for him very near the basket where he should have gotten the ball but did not the result being a lost ideal opportunity. I got to the point where I was wondering if there was a problem between the two players. However, I don't think that was the case at all. Was Collison waiting for a better set up? If so it was poor judgment for there were times when the set up he had was as good as it is going to get if he would have just passed the ball.
Or how many times drives would be made, the defense close in, with us having a man open on the wing or side. What happens? Some slop shot is thrown up instead of the handoff. Until some of our guys learn the glory of the perfect pass and how to make it I don't care how many points they get things are not going to be dramatically better. This team needs some quality passers among those guys who handle the ball the vast majority of the time.
Collison has great speed, a good looking jump shot, can do a lot of good things, but until he decides he wants to be a Nash like player versus a Kobe type player he is not going to be the point guard we need in my opinion (which I recognize is a minority opinion). Hibbert was right during the season about "getting the ball where he needs it" and I would add "when he needs it." Late passes even to the right guy just do not work. Timing is everything.
I have wondered if Collison's size is part of the problem but neither Nash nor Rondo are very big either. I just don't know what the real problem is. With a big clumsy guy, maybe a little uncoordinated, you can kind of figure it out but point guards do not fit in that category. I would say much the same here about Price as I do Collison but Price is the backup.
Neither Collison or Price could even think about guarding or even slowing Rose down during the playoffs either. We basically played 4 guys trying to guard 5 once Rose beat them out front. It is hard to win that way. Now I understand clearly that I cannot complain much about that for Rose is exceptional and who can guard him one on one? No one! I am not laying the blame for losing the series on either of our point guards. Still, if you ever want to beat Chicago you have to remember Rose is going to be around for a long time to come. Something will have to be done if there is not to be more of the same year after year.
I can see why Bird is trying to keep Stephenson around. I would do the same until it proved impossible or else you get to the point where you see he is not going to develop.
The most exciting aspect of basketball is the perfect pass not how many points a man can score. Scorers are a dime a dozen in the NBA and always have been. I would hope our point guards become passers extraordinaire versus being primarily scorers as they look to develop their talents for the future and the betterment of the team.
I only add this, sometimes a guard can get a number of assists just by passing around the perimeter. I want them to set up plays per Nash. I know I want too much. Comments?
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