I'm not sure if it's working for Russell, but for Julius I kind of see the benching working. He has shown energy off the bench and he's become a rebouding machine.
But he was doing great with the energy and beasting on the boards in the several games right before the benching.
If the benching was to motivate them, say so. For Randle though I don't get it. I don't see any significant difference in his play. He's a monster on the glass, but the rest of his game continues to have the same holes as always. Head down too much, ball stopping, help defense is poor, forcing it inside too often, no jumper. These things have been consistent on or off the bench.
Really? I haven't checked his Per 36 min stats, but I felt like his efficiency (for rebouding, that is) has gone up a bit. Perhaps I am wrong, but there were some games where he disappeared before the benching. Now he seems more consistent. Yes, that is true. But that won't be fixed in games. Only repetition in practice will fix the holes in his game.
OK so I did some digging. 5 games before benching vs Pacers - 11 PTS, 1 OREB, 11 DREB, 27 minutes vs 76ers- 12 PTS, 3 OREB, 8 DREB, 28 minutes vs Wizards - 15 PTS, 7 OREB, 12 DREB, 31 minutes vs Hawks- 8 PTS, 3 OREB, 2 DREB, 28 minutes vs Pistons - 15 PTS, 2 OREB, 9 DREB, 24 minutes Per 36 minutes - 15.9 PTS, 4.2 OREB, 10.9 DREB 5 games after benching vs Raptors - 15 PTS, 7 OREB, 4 DREB, 21 minutes vs Wolves -20 PTS, 3 OREB, 9 DREB, 33 minutes vs Spurs - 4 PTS, 1 OREB, 6 DREB, 20 minutes vs Rockets - 7 PTS, 3 OREB, 7 DREB, 23 minutes vs Bucks - 14 PTS, 6 OREB, 8 DREB, 25 minutes Per 36 minutes - 17.7 PTS, 5.9 OREB, 10.0 DREB There wasn't as much as a difference as I felt there would be (a bit skewed by the monster game he had against the Wizards, and the game he struggled against the Spurs) but his energy going after offensive boards have gone up quite a bit. At any rate, this kid is a BEAST and nothing is stopping him from leading the league in rebounds a couple years down the road.
Andre Drummond is the best Center in the NBA today. His post game is rudimentary, but he's operating under SVG and SVG is turning him into Dwight Howard Plus. Drummond has some of the same holes as Dwight did, but his game continues growing. Yesterday he hit a half court buzzer beater. The kid is tremendous.
Drummond does not believe he's already a champion so he works on it and works on it some more. Voila!
I'll take your word for it. If he's not trying to lose then he's the most incompetent coach I've seen.
Drummond is fantastic, but Cousins to me is the best big man in the game when his head is on right. Problem is often times it isn't. Drummond has really been helped by Josh Smith and Monroe departing. A lot more room for him to work with. Wish he wasn't restricted this season. He would have been our number two target.
And he's so effing annoying while being that incompetent, because he thinks he's old school and "molding" these guys. I called it yesterday. Today there were quotes where he seems to be patting himself on the back for the "process" (his s*** coaching) ....." because D'Angelo is starting to get it". He wants him more aggressive on offense, and now he is. Yeah a-hole, in spite of your 80's offense and dislike of all things modern with the Xs and Os. I hate that. Meanwhile, for what f****** rational reason are Russell and Randle still coming off the bench???? Nance is not the better player now, nor will he be the alpha dog, cornerstone, leader type of player going forward. Not a knock on Nance, love the kid. Off the bench. And what is the experiment with keeping Russell on the 2nd team??? Sure he's doing well, but he would be doing well and learning more playing on the 1st team like a future cornerstone player. He and Kobe are playing well off one another, long as Kobe doesn't re-lapse on his 10 step program.
It could be that Scott wants the kids to "see" the game by pacing their time, point out their mistakes and letting it soak in then inserting them back at opportune times. A method as opposed to them being on the floor where they could get overwhelmed by more refined competition and experience. Of course, it is at the expense in the "W" column. I am also trying to believe if this is the case. These odd rotation patterns is confounding I admit. I'm trying to find/rationalize a sliver of good even if it is a teeny one.
I'd also be more accepting of this logic if a) he spoke to the players and b) Randle wasn't already acclimated 85% to the NBA right now. If he's sitting them down to try to let them gauge a pace, they should be told that. "Hey you're doing great, but I see you sometimes a little iffy out there. Take a seat, pay attention, I'll get you back in real soon and I want 100% out of you." Easy peasy and completely understandable from a learning perspective. Randle however, is already physically capable of going out and playing at least 28 minutes a night at a high level. The only things he needs to focus on as far as timing goes is passing the ball. Sometimes he'll miss open players because he's not 100% caught up with how fast NBA defenses can be. Got to have your head up to make big time plays.
Well...who knows if (a) is being communicated to the players by explaining their shuffling on the rotations? Scott did say that he wanted Russell to be aware of the constant mistakes he is making on the floor. He and 24 are putting more time in discussing this with him on the bench. Yes, Scott could do with more finesse instead of his heavy handed style. As far as Randle is concerned, I agree though he is far from a finished product. Then again the Young and Black situations aren't logical if we want to go there. In time Randle will be a constant terror when he figures it out completely and his thought process catches up with his game.
I'm actually agreeing with you in a way, but I'm just saying how inept Byron is even at his OWN way of coaching. I know most don't support the heavy hand anymore, but I'm okay with it IF there's plenty of communication about expectations and results. So far we've heard from both Randle and Russell that Byron hasn't told them personally why they were benched. He just moved them there in a meeting and that was that. Well that's just bad coaching. Randle definitely needs more time. If he stopped developing right now he'd still be a good player, but to be a great player he needs to grow in a lot of ways as a player. More concrete footwork on drives and in the post. A jump shot. A better ability to see/make the pass. Better defensive awareness... There's a long long way to go still.
^Scott's drill sergeant approach does not translate well in the long run especially if the team was loaded with veterans...the mutiny in New Orleans attest. Yes, I am aware of how he is handling matters. In a way, you don't want players developing a sense of entitlement high draft status and all that but these are respectful, well grounded young men. Last thing this franchise needs is disillusionment among them. Maybe in the back of their minds, they have concluded this is temporary that changes will come soon being part of the team and a better fit for their talents. So they are just rolling with it along with 24's final hurrah...
