Injuries a blessing in disguise?

[playmaker0017]

Well, of course you don't...

I know you're kidding to a point - but think about it - Bibby had open looks all day ... and couldn't finish.

An open look is an open look, regardless of who is on the floor.

Our bench played like bull dung for the most part - and Reef, Bonzi, Peja were usually sitting during this time.

Right now, the hero is Mike Bibby ... but months before he was the scapegoat. He couldn't find his shot. Now he looks great.

I hope that our starters come back and our bench finally performs and we hit on most cylinders on most nights. In the past, we've been firing on half cylinders with either Peja/Bibby looking stupid and our bench playing up to NBDL standards.

 

[kupman]

I don't blame Reef, Peja or Bonzi for Bibby's inability to hit the shots he is now hitting.[/quote]

I do not directly blame them for Bibby's missed shots, but I will say that it seems that Bibby seems more comfortable and sees the kind of looks he likes with the more recent line-ups.

 

[Bricklayer]

I don't blame Reef, Peja or Bonzi for Bibby's inability to hit the shots he is now hitting.

I do not directly blame them for Bibby's missed shots, but I will say that it seems that Bibby seems more comfortable and sees the kind of looks he likes with the more recent line-ups.[/quote]

I think that is closer to the truth. The question is how do you react to that as a franchise. From the beginning this year the (or one of the) major problems with this team was that there were too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many guys wanting shots and making everybody uncomfortable and unproductive. But with the injuries we've REALLY been able to see the difference in Bibby. He is far more comfortable running this two man game with Brad and then lesser talents than he is trying to run a team of established scorers. He is able to play at his own pace, take the shots when he wants them, lead to whatever degree of which he is capable.

It is better for Mike to not have those guys. And the team itself has been at least as good, and maybe even marginally better. But there is no real hope of greatness or goodness that way. Mike feels freer, but its kind of like an Iverson situation on a lower level. If the only way he can feel free is to clear out the other scorers, then its never going anywhere anyway. Mike is not that level of player where he can be great every night. In fact he's been wildly inconsistent even wiht the team relying on him here. And while we know Mike can play well alongside a superstar type talent, on this season alone it almost makes Mike look like a Damon Stoudamire type character. Big numbers for an untalented team. Struggles to fit in with too many other talented scorers around him fighting for the ball.

The question is, what do you do about that? Would suggest you either get Mike a superstar to play off of, or clear out the spare scorers who weren't helping anyway. Or you clear out Mike.

 

[piksi]

The question is, what do you do about that? Would suggest you either get Mike a superstar to play off of, or clear out the spare scorers who weren't helping anyway. Or you clear out Mike.

Do You want to be Grizzlies of old ? (little better version)

 

[kupman]

I will keep stating my opinion on this matter. I would place some of the scorers on the bench - namely Peja, probably SAR and perhaps Bonzi. Let Bibby and Brad have their freedom with help from KT and the others. Once they need rest, bring in Jason Hart and get your scoring from Peja and SAR off the bench. Play the games with essentially two different teams - the starters and the bench and each "team" will get their points from their best scorers without overloading the floor with scorers at one time......I know, I know.....this will never happen.

 

[thesanityannex]

I will keep stating my opinion on this matter. I would place some of the scorers on the bench - namely Peja, probably SAR and perhaps Bonzi. Let Bibby and Brad have their freedom with help from KT and the others. Once they need rest, bring in Jason Hart and get your scoring from Peja and SAR off the bench. Play the games with essentially two different teams - the starters and the bench and each "team" will get their points from their best scorers without overloading the floor with scorers at one time......I know, I know.....this will never happen.

It will never happen but its an idea I like.

 

[kupman]

On a related note, I think that K-mart's game and Garcia's game shows much better when they have the support of Bibby and Brad. It's too hard for young players like this to thrive when J.H. is running the show.

 

[piksi]

It's too hard for young players like this to thrive when J.H. is running the show.

It would be too hard for M.J. too

 

[VF21]

It would be too hard for M.J. too

You owe me a keyboard...

 

[kupman]

It would be too hard for M.J. too

that was damn funny - and true

 

[SacTownKid]

You people have very short memories.

When Shareef, Bonzi and Peja were completely healthy - our bench allowed other teams to dominate us night in and night out. We'd lose the lead, the momentum and the crowd. When Shareef, Bonzi and Peja were healthy - Mike Bibby couldn't hit a shot. Is that their fault that Mike was taking 15-20 shots and not hitting any? No, not really. He's getting the same looks he got before, but now he's hitting them.

Our starters usually played well enough to win.

Is the current lineup better than before? Not really. They are getting shelled by good teams. They are beating teams who were on the slide (Clippers, Celts) or with as many starters out as we have (Rockets, Magic). The only good win of the bunch was Phoenix ... who just played abysmal basketball.

Are we scoring more points? Not really. Are we allowing more points? Not really.

The issue we had before wasn't "slow" basketball. It wasn't lack of cohesion on the floor. It was plain and simple - our bench was not playing up to snuff and the current "prime" player that is leading the team was playing like rarified butt.

I don't blame Reef, Peja or Bonzi for Bibby's inability to hit the shots he is now hitting.

I agree on many parts, and I hope that they find that cohesion. But it wasn't just our bench that sucked. It was also our defense. Mostly our defense in fact.

Hopefully, when Reef and Peja return full time, these minutes will have given the young guns some confidence and timing. Then its up to everyone else to get it together.