Perception is Reality: A Discussion on BMac and DWill

[ShastaKingsFan]

Are you just thinking of that one game where they lob citied lob city? I can only recall them setting each other up a couple times after that one game.

It wasn't a bunch of times, just a few....but remember that Ben has only got to the rim a few times successfully this entire season. Probably because things changed so quickly with the trade. However, Ben's best looks going to the rim this season were all set up by D-Will. When Derrick would push the ball, Ben would get out and run to the rim...probably because he knew he'd have a great chance to get a pass.

Interestingly, none of our point guards were able to do this for Ben. Our PG's seem to look for Ben at the 3 point line,..while D-Will looked to get him all the way to the rim. Perhaps because they're both high flyers, they have a better understanding and chemistry of what it brings to their games, when they do have the chance to hammer one down?

Ben has taken way way too many three point shots this year. He needs to learn how to probe the 'mid range', into the paint, and to the rim...but he needs help in doing that. I think part of the extra pressure on him, is that a good game or bad game rides so much on his 3 point shooting. It shouldn't be that way. The 3 point arc has hindered his progress. I'd love to see him practice a lot with no 3 point line

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Also forgot to mention, great title to this thread with the "perception is reality". Such a true statement most of the time. In this case, as soon as a young developing player thinks or perceives that something with the team will go in a certain direction, he's already set himself up mentally for that to in all likelyhood happen.

If someone thinks that they're an integral or important piece of a team, the odds of that happening go way up. Vice versa, if you think after a change, that you're no longer as important, it will most certainly influence how you play

 

[Kingsguy881]

Do You think the trade of Vasquez might have hurt BMAC and or D Will? With this current roster I might be more inclined to put Greivis as the PG than IT. Bottom line is IT has the ball in his hands way too much and Greivis definitely did a better job setting Cousins up on the low block to start the offense...

 

[Livinthedream]

It wasn't a bunch of times, just a few....but remember that Ben has only got to the rim a few times successfully this entire season. Probably because things changed so quickly with the trade. However, Ben's best looks going to the rim this season were all set up by D-Will. When Derrick would push the ball, Ben would get out and run to the rim...probably because he knew he'd have a great chance to get a pass.

Interestingly, none of our point guards were able to do this for Ben. Our PG's seem to look for Ben at the 3 point line,..while D-Will looked to get him all the way to the rim. Perhaps because they're both high flyers, they have a better understanding and chemistry of what it brings to their games, when they do have the chance to hammer one down?

Ben has taken way way too many three point shots this year. He needs to learn how to probe the 'mid range', into the paint, and to the rim...but he needs help in doing that. I think part of the extra pressure on him, is that a good game or bad game rides so much on his 3 point shooting. It shouldn't be that way. The 3 point arc has hindered his progress. I'd love to see him practice a lot with no 3 point line

Ben plays well with Ray as well. I think it's what you say about having no preconceived notions. People knock Ben's Confidence and mental toughness. However, what is being lost is that this is a team game and Ben is dependent on other people to get him the ball in the right situation. DWill and Ray just pass the ball to the open guy.

If Ben is struggling and the guys who distribute the ball freeze him out of the game for large chunks of time, it is going to affect anyone in that situation and affect his confidence. So obviously when Ben plays with other guys who are just passing to open players in rhythm, he plays better. Even last game when plays were drawn up for Ben early in the game and he got the ball when he expected, he did well.

It's a bit of a catch-22 situation as I see it. IT doesn't trust Ben, so he hesitates in giving him the ball in rhythm. Ben can't get in rhythm because he doesn't get the ball at the right time and place. As you pointed out, the 3-pt line may be the wrong place at this time. It can also be argued that IT doesn't know how to get the ball to a player in the best situation to succeed, ala Nash, CP3.

Point is, the current construct of this team will make it hard for any young player to get better. It's mostly one-on-one play dominated by our "big three." Ben is an afterthought to these guys.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Do You think the trade of Vasquez might have hurt BMAC and or D Will? With this current roster I might be more inclined to put Greivis as the PG than IT. Bottom line is IT has the ball in his hands way too much and Greivis definitely did a better job setting Cousins up on the low block to start the offense...

Yes, definitely. Any pass first point guard would have helped both of them. Remember the lob to Williams against the Clippers that brought the house down? That pass came from Vasquez, as he watched D-Will cut across the baseline, then double back door to the rim for the open lob. We have not seen anything similar to that play since. Why? No point guard with the vision, patience, motivation, and ability to set it up.

Since we are where we are at this point. I'd be interested to see Ray, Ben, Derrick, Royce White, and Cousins...play extended minutes together and just move the ball around to who ever is open. Sub in Quincy Acy and we've got a nice group of young guys working on their games together. Based on Malone's comments, we may get to

 

[upinsmoke]

If Rudy opts to not remain with us you may just see a whole lot of the Williams and Ben together and it could work if they both blossom together. In the open court they are break neck fast and put the opponent on their heels. Who knows it just might have the same effect it had on the Raps where the young guys get their opportunity and run with it.

It has to be considered plus it open the books leaving room to re-sign IT & a FA this season (A. Bradley?) also whoever we pick in the draft a shot blocker preferably. We could even consider making a offer to Vasquez again.

1.IT/Ray
2.Ben/Bradley/Terry*
3.Williams/Outlaw*
4.TBD/Landry/Evans*/Acy*
5.Cuz/JT

*expiring

 

[mcsluggo]

The Landry acquisition is looking pretty bad.

the landry acquisition looked turrible before the ink was dry... and then he broke.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Sounds like Vivek considers both Gay and Williams to be in the future plans. From his interview posted on TrueHoop:

I want to basically play a new brand of position-less basketball. I want to have these super-athletic, young guys that can run and feel out the game. Guys like Rudy Gay, and Derrick Williams, these are guys who can play the 1-2-3-4 positions. There’s work to be done on offense but I think we’ve made progress.

Link here.

 

[whozit]

Sounds like Vivek considers both Gay and Williams to be in the future plans. From his interview posted on TrueHoop:



Link here.

Cool link. Enjoyed reading that.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Sounds like Vivek considers both Gay and Williams to be in the future plans. From his interview posted on TrueHoop:



Link here.

I like it. Way too much is made out of positions these days. Get your best working group of players on the floor and let the other team deal with it. For example, Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams playing the two wing positions together. If the other team insists on playing a smaller "shooting guard", then they're at a serious size disadvantage.

benefit/cost. If your benefits or advantages outweigh the costs or disadvantages, then play to your strengths,..even if they're not standard or typical

I like our owner a lot. He's gonna keep things moving forward and very interesting in years to come. A true out of the box thinker

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

Sounds like Vivek considers both Gay and Williams to be in the future plans. From his interview posted on TrueHoop:



Link here.

That was a great read.

 

[Bricklayer]

Sounds like Vivek considers both Gay and Williams to be in the future plans. From his interview posted on TrueHoop:



Link here.

That's very cute...and probably very stupid.

However I like his "V-Plan" a lot. Combines too of my favorite proposals on how to stop tanking, and its practical. You create a little bit of a March Madness thing for the league, really lower tanking.