LOL that the only thing Karl proponents can point to is how good he used to be. I can't believe we have 1 page, let alone 3 pages dedicated to this conversation. I was one of the people that reluctantly wanted Karl here. I did not like Karl when he was with Seattle. I thought he was pompous and arrogant. Guess what, he still is. The problem is, he is coupling that with lackluster coaching from an energy and involvement (most likely due to a combination of health and age) AND he's is completely unwilling to compromise his style of play both offensively and defensively when it's obvious it isn't working.
Here are things that are as close to facts as you can have.
Offense: There are very few plays run, ever. They play the dribble drive which dumbed down is a fancy way to say organized street ball. It's fun to watch when it works, but facing elite defenses it simply is garbage. I actually really like it, it bursts. I think that it's effective if they can get to it within the first 8 seconds of the shot clock. If they can't they should have a number of different sets with ACTUAL plays, that they can change too. They do not have this. Karl has proven on his end of game plays, that he can draw up some pretty damn good sets and plays. Their post up play is one play. Cross screen for Cousins, or sometimes gay with the 2 guard. Post him up, everyone else watch. They run this 8-10 X a game.
Defense: It's switching modified zone. The first Dallas game when Collison was switched onto Nowitzki at the end of the game and he got a no-call offensive fouls from Dirk. I went crazy, wondering how we could allow that to happen. After reviewing the play it became clear that it was intentional. That was the first time I realized that not only are the going under screens and switches called plays, they are directed from the coach. One of the SacTownRoyalty guys did a great break down on how they run a 2-3 or 3-2 zone with screen switches and crash the lane. Karl has admitted this is his tactic. In a league where teams are shooting upwards of 30 3 pointers a game, he is really making sure teams don't get that all elusive 12 foot jumper.
So, with Grants rant and others in the media and the posters on this board who feel the same way who are hammering this team for lack of effort, let me ask you this. How much effort could you possibly give if overtime you went out to play defense, you were knowingly going into a situation where it was complete losing battle if the opposing team shot the ball with average effectiveness. I could probably have done it for about 10-15 games. 60? No freaking way. We have heard all year from the players questioning schemes and rotations. They have no control of that, except to completely not do what the coach says. They are doing what he says, it just doesn't work. At all. I don't even know if it would work in college at this point.
It's really that simple. I give this team credit for lasting as long as they did while being asked to repeatedly go onto a court and execute a fatally flawed system.
