Re: Odd Thoughts: Shameful loss to the Raptors
It's interesting that Peck dumped so much on Frank. I was also at the game and thought I saw several changes in the offense. more options that gave guys good shots. The problem was those guys missed those shots. I don't see the Frank hate for this game. He did pretty much all that a coach can do. I have some issues with the amount of time he's playing the guys that can play, but I do understand why he's doing it. At some point, Frank will have pick at least 8 guys and start playing them 35 mpg instead of playing the old starters 40 mpg. Guys are going to wear out and no one will be able to play. At some point he has to start dancing with who he has.
The Danny sucks in spite of the evidence that he doesn't shtick is getting old to me. I didn't count them, but it seemed that Toronto posted our SF's every other time down the court. Linas Klenza, DeRozan, and the dude from Fresno State shoved our wing defenders under the basket and either forced double teams or just shot over them all night. Some day Paul will be a good post defender, but it wasn't last night. Neither was Lance or Gerald. When none of your wing types can guard Linas Klenza, you have real issues. Pretty sure Danny could guard any of those guys pretty easily. Danny's defense is often criticized here, but the Pacers really missed it last night.
Pacers missed Danny Granger last night. Evidently he is the only guy on the team that can do that little mid-post post and get that 13-15 footer Peck talks about. I keep waiting for Paul to start doing that. But evidently he just isn't strong enough yet.
Paul just isn't there yet. His game is better than last years, to be sure. But he seems like the early Jalen Rose in the sense he can do everything ok, but nothing good enough. He is young, and is still getting better, but he still has an almost good enough game. Plus I don't think he's tired enough of getting beat. One of the things that seems to make most good NBA players good players is they really really really don't like losing games. Paul doesn't seem to like losing, but it also doesn't seem to bother him after the games over. A dash of Jeff Foster would help.
Speaking of young. I think that's a contributing factor. The Pacers two most talented players are the youngest. That has to be an issue. When things are going good, young guys play well. When things start to fall apart, young guys get worse. There is a mental toughness that comes from experience.
FWIW, the money spent on George Hill last summer was money well spent. Dude is fearless, unselfish, smart, totally coachable, defends and scores. All he wants to do is win. and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. The more guys you have like that on a team, the better that team is.
The money spent on Roy last summer, meh. I know the team had to pay him. I get that. But right now, Roy is suffering from big contract syndrome. He made lots of money last summer, he's getting lots of props for his community outreach and had professional success last season. As with most guys, he's lost sight of just exactly how hard it is to be a really good NBA player. He's a little out of shape. He's not playing well. He's feeling sorry for himself. Danny is not playing, so he needs to do more to make up for that. The checks keep coming in no matter how he plays. So he's got his head up his as a result. At some point, he will start to play better. He is a good guy that wants to do well. He's just having trouble handling success. More evidence of the youth of this team. His issues fall into the 'what doesn't kill you just makes you stronger' category. At some point he will emerge from this funk mentally stronger and more professional. But right now, he sucks.
To make a long story short, it's the players, playing bad. When they get tired of losing, they will start playing hard enough to start winning. And it not having Danny Granger on the court. Getting Danny back will fix a host of issues.
It's interesting that Peck dumped so much on Frank. I was also at the game and thought I saw several changes in the offense. more options that gave guys good shots. The problem was those guys missed those shots. I don't see the Frank hate for this game. He did pretty much all that a coach can do. I have some issues with the amount of time he's playing the guys that can play, but I do understand why he's doing it. At some point, Frank will have pick at least 8 guys and start playing them 35 mpg instead of playing the old starters 40 mpg. Guys are going to wear out and no one will be able to play. At some point he has to start dancing with who he has.
The Danny sucks in spite of the evidence that he doesn't shtick is getting old to me. I didn't count them, but it seemed that Toronto posted our SF's every other time down the court. Linas Klenza, DeRozan, and the dude from Fresno State shoved our wing defenders under the basket and either forced double teams or just shot over them all night. Some day Paul will be a good post defender, but it wasn't last night. Neither was Lance or Gerald. When none of your wing types can guard Linas Klenza, you have real issues. Pretty sure Danny could guard any of those guys pretty easily. Danny's defense is often criticized here, but the Pacers really missed it last night.
Pacers missed Danny Granger last night. Evidently he is the only guy on the team that can do that little mid-post post and get that 13-15 footer Peck talks about. I keep waiting for Paul to start doing that. But evidently he just isn't strong enough yet.
Paul just isn't there yet. His game is better than last years, to be sure. But he seems like the early Jalen Rose in the sense he can do everything ok, but nothing good enough. He is young, and is still getting better, but he still has an almost good enough game. Plus I don't think he's tired enough of getting beat. One of the things that seems to make most good NBA players good players is they really really really don't like losing games. Paul doesn't seem to like losing, but it also doesn't seem to bother him after the games over. A dash of Jeff Foster would help.
Speaking of young. I think that's a contributing factor. The Pacers two most talented players are the youngest. That has to be an issue. When things are going good, young guys play well. When things start to fall apart, young guys get worse. There is a mental toughness that comes from experience.
FWIW, the money spent on George Hill last summer was money well spent. Dude is fearless, unselfish, smart, totally coachable, defends and scores. All he wants to do is win. and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. The more guys you have like that on a team, the better that team is.
The money spent on Roy last summer, meh. I know the team had to pay him. I get that. But right now, Roy is suffering from big contract syndrome. He made lots of money last summer, he's getting lots of props for his community outreach and had professional success last season. As with most guys, he's lost sight of just exactly how hard it is to be a really good NBA player. He's a little out of shape. He's not playing well. He's feeling sorry for himself. Danny is not playing, so he needs to do more to make up for that. The checks keep coming in no matter how he plays. So he's got his head up his as a result. At some point, he will start to play better. He is a good guy that wants to do well. He's just having trouble handling success. More evidence of the youth of this team. His issues fall into the 'what doesn't kill you just makes you stronger' category. At some point he will emerge from this funk mentally stronger and more professional. But right now, he sucks.
To make a long story short, it's the players, playing bad. When they get tired of losing, they will start playing hard enough to start winning. And it not having Danny Granger on the court. Getting Danny back will fix a host of issues.
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