Game Day: Hawks (10-8) @ Suns (5-13), Wed 11/30/16

[ShelC]

I don't know how a guy can play 12 years in the league, for multiple coaches in multiple offenses and not create a coherent offense nor instill defensive fundamentals. Bazz nailed it...we have talent but where's the discipline and execution?

[Split T]

I think our biggest problem on offense is we can't shoot. We're 27th in 3Pt% at 33%, our top shooters are dudley at 42%, Barbosa at 37%, and Bender at 35%. Everyone else is 34% or below. Bledsoe, Booker, and Knight are our most frequent shooters(with warren out) and have shooting lines of .438/.286, .415/.341, and .372/.344. Not good numbers with some downright ugly numbers mixed in.

The lack of assists is concerning as well, but that's been a problem for a few years now, we've had a bottom 5 assist rate every year since 2013-2014, so I'm not sure the problem is Watson as much as it's the players. We have very few stand at the 3 point line, catch and shoot type players. Dudley is really our only one and even he will pump fake and drive quite frequently. Tucker does it from the corners, but until recently hasn't been hitting that shot. I don't know why we don't ever pass the ball to the roll man anymore. Amare probably averaged 10-12 points a game just from rolls to the rim when nash was here. I'd be surprised if our roll men are getting 10-12 points a week. Do we not have the shooters to spread the floor? Are our PG's not capable of making the pass? Are our roll men not capable of finishing? Which brings up another question, Why don't we ever put Chriss into pick and roll situations? Put Bled, Knight, Booker, and Dudley out there with Chriss and run pick and rolls with the other 3 spotting up. If Knight, Booker, and Dudley are spotting up, there should be space to operate. If Bled can't run it, then put Ulis in.

[The Bobster]

If your players don't fit your system you either....

A) Adjust your system to fit you players

or

B) Adjust your roster to fit your system

It ain't complicated.

"Drive and dish" works a lot better if you have a Kevin Johnson or Isiah Thomas than it does if you have an Eric Bledsoe or a Brandon Knight.

[In2ition]

It feels like there are several things going on that are lowering their shooting percentage. Coaching situations and play calling, big men that aren't much of a threat down low, pgs that aren't willing or gifted passers, and young bigs that haven't commanded a lot of help defense.

[djy2j]

Had the game on in the background but wasn't paying much attention. Too much Tucker and Chandler wears me down after awhile. I got League Pass this year hoping to see alot of young guys play. Hopefully I still will. But a month into the season and I'm thoroughly bored watching this team try and pretend that they have some hope of playoffs. Tucker 30 mins ,Bender and Chriss combined for 25. Ulis Yay! We won and stuff.

[djy2j]

I think our biggest problem on offense is we can't shoot. We're 27th in 3Pt% at 33%, our top shooters are dudley at 42%, Barbosa at 37%, and Bender at 35%. Everyone else is 34% or below. Bledsoe, Booker, and Knight are our most frequent shooters(with warren out) and have shooting lines of .438/.286, .415/.341, and .372/.344. Not good numbers with some downright ugly numbers mixed in.

The lack of assists is concerning as well, but that's been a problem for a few years now, we've had a bottom 5 assist rate every year since 2013-2014, so I'm not sure the problem is Watson as much as it's the players. We have very few stand at the 3 point line, catch and shoot type players. Dudley is really our only one and even he will pump fake and drive quite frequently. Tucker does it from the corners, but until recently hasn't been hitting that shot. I don't know why we don't ever pass the ball to the roll man anymore. Amare probably averaged 10-12 points a game just from rolls to the rim when nash was here. I'd be surprised if our roll men are getting 10-12 points a week. Do we not have the shooters to spread the floor? Are our PG's not capable of making the pass? Are our roll men not capable of finishing? Which brings up another question, Why don't we ever put Chriss into pick and roll situations? Put Bled, Knight, Booker, and Dudley out there with Chriss and run pick and rolls with the other 3 spotting up. If Knight, Booker, and Dudley are spotting up, there should be space to operate. If Bled can't run it, then put Ulis in.

Watching our PG's pass to the roll man is comical. It's sooooo bad. One of the few plays I paid attention to last night was Beldsoe clanking a pass off Chandler's knees for a turnover. I can't for the life of me figure out why Bledsoe and Black hole Sun aren't better at passing by now. I believe to be a good passer comes with good instincts and I have never seen anything from either to make me feel they have any sort of instincts for passing.

[Mori Chu]

Other than our shooting, passing, defense, basketball IQ, talent level, and overall effort, this team is pretty good.

[ShelC]

You can run the double high screen with pick and pop options with Chriss and Chandler, Dudley and Chandler. Dudley and Chriss, Bender and Chriss, Bender and Chandler.

[Cap]

This team kinda reminds me a little of the 2003-04 team. JJ, Shawn and Amare gave that team plenty of offensive talent, but they sucked. Add the right floor leader (Nash) and system (D'Antoni), and suddenly they're an offensive juggernaut.

I'm not saying the current team is as loaded with latent offensive talent as that 2003-04 team, but we do have some quality scorers on the wing in Booker, Bledsoe and Warren (assuming he recovers completely from his mysterious head injury), and a bunch of decent role players. The right floor leader and system may be all that's needed to unleash their offensive potential.

[ShelC]

If you put Chris Paul out there, Booker and Chandler get a whole lot better and Earl looks like a competent coach.

[carey]

I missed this play last night: https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/804177258256560128

[Mori Chu]

I got careyed!

[LazarusLong]

If your players don't fit your system you either....

A) Adjust your system to fit you players

or

B) Adjust your roster to fit your system

It ain't complicated.

"Drive and dish" works a lot better if you have a Kevin Johnson or Isiah Thomas than it does if you have an Eric Bledsoe or a Brandon Knight.

They have a drive-and-dish guard in Ulis.

But of course, he's a rookie, and Knight and Bledsoe have big contracts, so that screws that pooch in the bunghole...

[EDC]

It is interesting that so far under two different head coaches our offense somehow still looks like the same garbage. I don't think anyone but a top tier coach would be able to convince these guys they need to change the way they play.

I would trade Bledsoe, Knight, Pj, and Chandler for Rubio, Dragic or anyone else that can actually create offense for other players. Someone who can actually throw a pass where it needs to be.

Guard/Ulis
Booker/Barbosa
TJ/Bender
Chriss/Dudley
Len/Williams

Grab a player like Leuer or Shavlik to help backup the 4/5.

I'm just tired of watching the same crap. I would be all for vets teaching the young guys how to play but the problem is most of our vets don't know how to play.

[O_Gardino]

This team kinda reminds me a little of the 2003-04 team. JJ, Shawn and Amare gave that team plenty of offensive talent, but they sucked. Add the right floor leader (Nash) and system (D'Antoni), and suddenly they're an offensive juggernaut.

I'm not saying the current team is as loaded with latent offensive talent as that 2003-04 team, but we do have some quality scorers on the wing in Booker, Bledsoe and Warren (assuming he recovers completely from his mysterious head injury), and a bunch of decent role players. The right floor leader and system may be all that's needed to unleash their offensive potential.

I agree. Now lets trade Back Court 2015 to New York and let the rookie pg run the show for the rest of the season.

[jonh]

Im curious--is there an offense that you see Bledsoe doing well in as the primary point guard?

[The Bobster]

Im curious--is there an offense that you see Bledsoe doing well in as the primary point guard?

An NCAA one?

[O_Gardino]

Im curious--is there an offense that you see Bledsoe doing well in as the primary point guard?

I could see him doing well in an offense where the PG is not the guy initiating the offense. Bring the ball up, and if his defender has him, then pass to Harden (for example) and let a real star run a play for the team. He might be a great fit for the Bucks.

[The Bobster]

Bledsoe was in his perfect role in LA - the third guard, providing defense and some scoring and playmaking. He's not a good enough playmaker to be your starting point guard if you want your team to be successful.

[ShelC]

Bledsoe and Knight need a strict, halfcourt minded coach who will stand on the sidelines and call out set plays. They're not the guys you hand the ball and the keys to the offense to and say "make it work, get others involved". You need an SVG, Rick Carlisle, Lionel Hollins, Larry Brown. Brown used to take guys like Bledsoe and Knight, break them down and then build them back up into legit point guards.