Aloha,
well that was ugly. This was a schedule loss. JJ should have rested Lebron, he has looked tired over the last several games. while he said he felt good at the beginning of the year, i belive he is feeling the effects of the Olympic summer just like Austin felt the effects of his team USA summer. The game might have even been closer without Lebron.
There are other issues that need to be addressed. We started the year with AD as the hub and that worked extremly well. We have went away from that over the last few games. part of that maybe AD’s foot issue but teams have made adjustments as well. Dalton went through a hot streak but teams have adjusted to him as well.
The mark of a great coach is the ability to adjust to the opponents adjustments. We will see if JJ can do that. The defense has been better. even last night, we gave up 109 points but the TWolves went on a 13 to 2 run against mostly G league guys in the last 4 minutes.
We continue to run Dalton off of screens but the defenses are ready for it and he never seems to get free. His open looks have come from inside out basketball and that is Laker basketball. We have to get back to basics and attack the paint. I would have liked to see Rui involved more as well. last night he was 4 for 5. Rui started out the season scoring well. Then played sick and missed some games. Then he hurt the ankle and missed some more. Since coming back its like he is the forgotten man on offense and its up to JJ to get him involved.
This stretch of games would not be nearly as bad if we had not given away 3 games we should have won. So I’m not going to panic yet. We need to tread water until next month when most of our games are at home. Hopefully AR will be available for the Heat.
We have shown we can win at times without Lebron, so I would look at games that we can rest him.
But now its time for JJ to earn his money and adjust to the opponents adjustments.
DLO and Rui both had good games, both seem to get table scraps. Some of this is on LeBron, he’s pushing for what? A 40 year old MVP run? It’s just not worth it.
LBJ’s drive has not changed since he entered the League.
Sot on regarding adjustments and adapting, last night Minny was so confident they knew how the screen would work they were aggressively jumping it to meet the shooter and I don’t think we exploited that once. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Reddick and the offense, have yet to see much if a defensive mind set at all. Switching everything is too simplistic and it’s showing in the win/loss column. The NBA is too good for a “one defense fits all” style of thinking. They’re scouting it and abusing it now.
So this is where his job starts, he rode a nice wave of positivity to start the season. Righted the ship after the first road trip disaster. None of that is actually coaching, that’s minding the store. I’m hoping we see a rededication to getting AD the ball in the paint (or near it) but that’s another thing that’s been scouted and they’re taking away by inviting the mid range jumper.
This game was a loser with a team effort. Would not have mattered if LBJ sat or played. JJ should have rested him. Don’t be such a chicken JJ, YOU are the Coach and YOU decide who plays.