dsg2021 wrote:A lot of my first half and sweater vest notes are still very relevant. But with this 2nd half, we battled hard and did well enough. We’ll get them next time. Yet, there also was a couple big things to point out.
So to me, Suggs costed us the game a little bit, and then as well, we are not using Franz and Paolo early enough in the shot clock nor purposefully enough as point forwards.
Suggs' defense was masterful on Donovan. But the creeping up FT’s eventually gave Donovan a still All Star like 28 points on 23 attempts. He also criss-crossed his assignments and gave Garland too much space on two of this 3’s/jumpers if I remember right. It was still herculean defensive effort, so where Suggs really hurt us more legitimately was in the team offense. He took 2-3 ill advised 3’s in 1st Q alone, but by the end of the game it was 5-14 to Franz’s 11 attempts at scoring. Garland to me, is for guarding his shooting and to keep mind of his passing target when he penetrates.
The other major issue is not recognizing that we have point forwards, not point guards. We are not supposed to have Suggs probing the defense for 10 seconds before handing it off to Paolo or Franz. We get confused on offense in small ways too. Calling for screens but not using them. Calling to space out the floor, but not driving. We need to be more purposeful and give Paolo and Franz the ball with a lot of time on the shot clock.
I still want to the first open shot to be taken, but if it doesn’t come early in the shot clock, then I want it to come with some type of Franz/Paolo set plays involving others like PnRs, Horns, flares and whatnot.
Of course, the 26 3P% (before Paolo’s last 3) is a big culprit. I’ve already said I want trial/series adjustment minutes for Caleb over Gary before I even experiment with Black or Goga minutes. But what really stood out to me, what was the true story of the whole game, was ORL’s 17 Assists to 14 TO’s to CLE’s 23 Assists to 10 TO’s. Paolo (10-13 in 2nd half I believe?) and Franz are your point forwards. Tape session and soft-practice how everyone plays off of them, at the top of the key, with the ball, before Friday. And I know Franz faced doubles, but don’t let him have only 11 attempts if he’s leading us with a great 6:2 A:TO ratio. We robbed 'Kelle of a Cummerbund or Mittens too!
You should post more often. Very nice summary.
Shooting was a killer. So many attempts that came out flat from the hand or were rushed. The kids need to just calm down in attack and pick their moments. It's a real art (in many sports) to being "intense on defence and relaxed in attack". Magic are still learning how.
…Turner and Steele must have a share of his earnings the way they were praising his brilliance for kicking out to open guys on perimeter. I’m sorry, but he’s such a non-threat on the perimeter- it’s just not functional. He did some good things, but I couldn’t help thinking how it might’ve looked if it was Tyus Jones (only because he was so available) in the same minutes…and I’m not that high on Tyus long-term. It’s also a testament to how little faith Mose has in his rooks that, even with Harris out, they don’t see a second. Suggs was kind of irrelevant offensively and was really bad on-ball- I think his handles have gotten even looser. Paolo could’ve passed a few more if anybody actually cut rather than settled in for his show with a bag of popcorn…still no sign of any real offensive scheme, imo…just dominant talent in Paolo & Franz in iso…that’s a great foundation at least.
