knickscity wrote:nixluva wrote:The issue is that we really had no reason to expect that there would be these injuries coming out of camp. Sure at some point in the season, but this was not to be expected. In either event it's really not the most important point to get stuck on. It still remains true that what is most important is how this team develops and finishes. Teams can go into slumps at any point during a season. If it comes at the start it doesn't mean that is the end of the story.We don't know how Calderon and Bargs would have functioned together in this system, but they are very familiar with each other and Jose knows how to setup Bargs. The best years Bargs has played in this league came when he was paired with Jose. It's still up in the air and we won't know for many more games what both players impact will be on this team in this system. Indications are positive since both of them actually looked good in the limited time they had working in this system. Based on their strengths it's a system they should do well in.
The guys that are healthy and playing have been making progress even if it hasn't shown in the W/L column yet. They're getting better and more comfortable. The chemistry is building and that's a good thing. Stumbling out of the gate doesn't mean it's the final word on the full potential of a team. Fish is also someone who needed time to get a feel for his team and with the injuries that kind of made it harder. We haven't come close to seeing the best this team has to offer and this is why I have a problem with all the super negative posts and calls for tanking etc. It assumes this team can't and won't play better.
Listen, every team has injuries...that why rosters have 15 spots, so to say there is no reason to expect injuries is pure silliness. You hope those injuries arent to your main guys, but have you ever seen a season where every team was healthy....advise me when this was.As far as Bargs and Jose...they lost a ton of games "knowing" each other, neither has had wonderfil seasons together. Jose's job here is to help move that ball and hit shots...not cater to Bargnani.
Now I do agree with you that the triangle principles are being displayed, I'll grant that and wont deny it. I just dont feel this type of offense is best for this squad. Whether it translates into wins, as a fan I would rather it do...I just dont believe it will.
Despite how you feel I am entitled to feel the way I do, based on the players we have and their individual histories.
Injury isn't really a valid way to evaluate what the team should be able to do, if that was the case they would downgrade the Bulls based on DRose injury history. The Heat would also be a candidate for a poor predication based on his health, but that's not what most analysts do in judging a teams actual potential. If Paul George returns they won't downgrade the Pacers based on his injury history they'll assess the team based on what he can do when healthy. Yes it's a consideration but you can't account for it since players often come back and have healthy seasons even after a stretch of health issues. Take Zadrunas Ilgauskas serious injury history early on and then he had a good career after that.
As for Jose and Bargs, losing games in Toronto has NOTHING to do with how they'd impact this team. It's foolish to assume that cuz a player was on a team that didn't do well that this is the main thing you should use to evaluate if they can help a completely different team. Totally different roster, coaching staff and system of ball. The only thing that we can do is judge their talent and how that should fit into this system. In that regard both Jose and Bargs are a very good fit for this system.
In regards to the Triangle and this roster let's just say that this roster is in need of improvement regardless of system, but we haven't even seen these players at full strength or after they've fully adjusted to playing this way. From what I can see they are actually starting to get a handle on things. My take has been that this team has talent that has not been fully maximized and just watching how Shump has looked offensively makes me even more sure of that stance. JR is passing the ball at a higher rate and more effectively. We've seen guys like Dalembert make passes he's never been asked to make and he has made some really great passes. Let's see how this team looks with even more time playing this way, with each other and with more healthy guys back. Not to mention with Fish having more time to get a better handle on things. We haven't seen anywhere near the best this group has to offer. There's a ton of upside for this team IMO. Maybe not elite level, but they can get a lot better than they looked in the 1st ten games.
