The clip is pretty much exclusively about Elton Brand being benched. He says it was partially because he wanted to go smaller against the Warriors, partially because he likes Elton coming off the bench at the five, and there are other reasons which he won't talk about. When he's asked if this was a one-time thing, he makes these cryptic comments about not liking to change the starting lineup and, "you have to show some confidence in the people you start." So again, he's saying he has no confidence in Brand? Is he saying he's going back to the big starting lineup because he doesn't like to change it? Or would going back to the big lineup be another change?
Very confusing. On another note, the official Sixers Twitterer, whoever that is, had a comment last night that the Sixers were "forced" to use a small lineup to match up with Golden State. Does anyone else find this hilarious? I mean, the Warriors are a putrid team. We aren't talking about a powerhouse that should be dictating things to you. When the Warriors play the Celtics, does Boston bench Garnett or Perkins to go smaller and match up with them, or do they play their big lineup and punish Golden State with size mismatches? How about the Lakers? Or Chicago? Or even the Clippers?
The Sixers weren't forceD to do anything with their lineup last night, their coach just used their opponent as an excuse to put the small lineup out there like he's been dying to do all year. Think about the mismatches the Sixers would've had to work with had they started their big lineup (AI3, AI9, TY, EB, SD), or God forbid, their even bigger lineup (JH, AI9, TY, EB, SD). Anthony Morrow would've been guarding Thad, Monta Ellis would've been guarding Iguodala, Radmanovic would've been guarding Brand.
I just love the logic behind letting a pitiful, shorthanded team dictate terms to you. Quality, quality coaching.
what the fuck is wrong with this guy? why is he being deliberately cryptic? he obviously knows we're going to jump all over the "i'll just leave it at that" comment.
I actually disagree with you on this one. I liked the move, as long as it's a single game.
The job Holiday did on Ellis I thought was the key to the game. The main mismatch you have with our traditional lineup was Thad on Morrow, but he had a similar mismatch on Vlad, who didn't have a chance in hell of stopping Thad from driving.
If you make the change, you do it by saying "I want to get my best perimeter defender on Morrow, I think Thad still has a mismatch he can exploit, and I think the Warriors are bad enough on the boards (missing their two best big men) that they won't be able to exploit the disadvantages our small lineup creates on the offensive glass". In the end, all 3 turned out to be true. Jrue shut Ellis down, Thad destroyed the Warriors regardless of who defended him, and the Warriors grabbed only 15% of their o-boards.
For once, I think EJ actually made a move that made sense.
Now, if he does it against Cleveland, then I'll grill him about it.
Jrue on Ellis, yes. But I see Vlad guarding Brand as a bigger mismatch than Vlad guarding Thad, plus Thad still has a huge mismatch with Morrow on him, probably an even bigger mismatch honestly.
I just have a huge problem with going away from tremendous advantages to match up with a shitty team. But that wasn't the reason for this anyway, just the reason he's trying to sell us on.
Phil Jackson has a standing philosophy on playing against Nellie-teams that I agree with; he never sizes down to match them. He prefers to bully them with his size and win the games that way.
Now, I'd prefer if the Sixers had played Jrue, Dre, Thad, Brand, Sam. Let Thad and Brand bully them inside from the jump. Play power basketball. They likely would've won this game even earlier.
Do you guys remember the bobcats game? where brand leave boris diaw for wide open jump shots. Well, Vlad is a much better shooter than diaw. How many 3's will he had? and how can you debate a move which had us up by 30+ points. AI played great 20 pts 7/10 6/8 FT's 4 assist and 1 TO.
Brand can not guard three point shooters. His offensive game has not showed that he can dominate anyone no matter how inadequate the defender. He has no shown one skillset consistently.
Thad I love but having a quick guy in front of him will hinder his drives to the basket. Yeah he can post up but he can post Vladimir too. And drive by him with ease.
Eddie also has given ai carte blanche. He's starting, period. We needed to get jrues d on the floor.
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what the fuck is wrong with this guy? why is he being deliberately cryptic? he obviously knows we're going to jump all over the "i'll just leave it at that" comment.
I actually disagree with you on this one. I liked the move, as long as it's a single game.
The job Holiday did on Ellis I thought was the key to the game. The main mismatch you have with our traditional lineup was Thad on Morrow, but he had a similar mismatch on Vlad, who didn't have a chance in hell of stopping Thad from driving.
If you make the change, you do it by saying "I want to get my best perimeter defender on Morrow, I think Thad still has a mismatch he can exploit, and I think the Warriors are bad enough on the boards (missing their two best big men) that they won't be able to exploit the disadvantages our small lineup creates on the offensive glass". In the end, all 3 turned out to be true. Jrue shut Ellis down, Thad destroyed the Warriors regardless of who defended him, and the Warriors grabbed only 15% of their o-boards.
For once, I think EJ actually made a move that made sense.
Now, if he does it against Cleveland, then I'll grill him about it.
Jrue on Ellis, yes. But I see Vlad guarding Brand as a bigger mismatch than Vlad guarding Thad, plus Thad still has a huge mismatch with Morrow on him, probably an even bigger mismatch honestly.
I just have a huge problem with going away from tremendous advantages to match up with a shitty team. But that wasn't the reason for this anyway, just the reason he's trying to sell us on.
It was like there is the "right" move, and the "really" right move. The really right move would have AI coming off the bench last night.
Phil Jackson has a standing philosophy on playing against Nellie-teams that I agree with; he never sizes down to match them. He prefers to bully them with his size and win the games that way.
Now, I'd prefer if the Sixers had played Jrue, Dre, Thad, Brand, Sam. Let Thad and Brand bully them inside from the jump. Play power basketball. They likely would've won this game even earlier.
Do you guys remember the bobcats game? where brand leave boris diaw for wide open jump shots. Well, Vlad is a much better shooter than diaw. How many 3's will he had? and how can you debate a move which had us up by 30+ points. AI played great 20 pts 7/10 6/8 FT's 4 assist and 1 TO.
Also by going small it meant less minutes for brezec and smith
That's Jordan's logic, I assume. For me, it's backwards. It should be "how the hell do they expect to get by with Vlad trying to guard Brand."
Exactly
Brand can not guard three point shooters. His offensive game has not showed that he can dominate anyone no matter how inadequate the defender. He has no shown one skillset consistently.
Thad I love but having a quick guy in front of him will hinder his drives to the basket. Yeah he can post up but he can post Vladimir too. And drive by him with ease.
Eddie also has given ai carte blanche. He's starting, period. We needed to get jrues d on the floor.