The Age of Inversion

[joshrblabber]

The NBA in 2017 (like politics) is upside down. Our best rebounder is a 6'2" guard, our best 3-point shooter is a 7-footer, our "franchise" player is 5'9", and the game has morphed from a battle in the paint to a 3-point shooting contest. That's reality and we have to find the best way to deal with it.

I have been a bit critical of Brad this season but I have changed my mind. His strategy for dealing with the Age of Inversion is brilliant. All 5 guys have to have a complete set of basketball skills - shoot, pass, handle, rebound, defend.  When all 5 guys can make an open 3 and/or drive-and-dish we are impossible to cover. There can be no one-dimensional players on the floor - a good player like Tyson Chandler would cripple this offense. Three-ball is the name of the game, with teams routinely hitting 40-50% on 30+ threes. I don't know how to track this statistically, but I think that the team that shoots the most OPEN threes usually wins the game. Our 2017 offense is designed to do exactly that. We will get better at it as the season progresses, this is relatively new to all the players (particularly Al Horford and the rooks), but they all have the skills to excel. As our guys get to know each other and the chemistry improves we are becoming a real contender.

OK, I'm on the bus! Let's roll!

[jmost]

I think this is right. Shooting anything better than 33.3% on 3's is better than shooting 50% or less on 2's - unless you are getting fouled a lot. And few players shoot better than 50% on 2's. Gone are the days when McHale routinely shot around 60%. So unless and until we get a true stud who can dominate inside, our best bet is to shoot quality 3's or very high percentage 2's (dunks and layups).

[FLCeltsFan]

This makes sense. Yes, things are way different from the days when the ball went inside to Bill Russell or Shaq. The days of the dominant center are waning. That's not saying I wouldn't still like one to grab some rebounds or block some shots. I have thought all along that Mickey might be that player. He hasn't come along as quickly as we had hoped but I still think there may be hope for him. I like what we have seen from Zizic and think he may be a part of the team next season. But you are right about the players that we have all being complete players. I just wish they would get back to playing the kind of defense they played last season.

[joshrblabber]

Yes, we need to lock down the defense and shore up the rebounding. In terms of bigs, this may mean finding someone who can shoot 3's, handle, AND rebound. Is that Zizic? It sure isn't Cousins or Drummond.

[Roadrunner]

Small ball, which means everyone has to do a little of something.

My concern with Stevens is in game adjustments. Every loss, there is one opponent's player that goes on a rampage. I understand he is playing percentages, however the percentages never balance.

[freshnthehouse]

Jan 20, 2017 18:02:03 GMT -5 joshrblabber said:

Yes, we need to lock down the defense and shore up the rebounding. In terms of bigs, this may mean finding someone who can shoot 3's, handle, AND rebound. Is that Zizic? It sure isn't Cousins or Drummond.

Cousins fits all those roles now that he's added a 3 point shot to his game.

[joshrblabber]

I haven't watched Cousins enough to know if he can handle, pass and make good decisions. IMO Horford is a perfect 4 in this style, and Anthony Davis is a perfect 5. KAT or MGasol would also be great fits, they have all the skills. In any case, the strategy is solid, we just have to execute.

[Roadrunner]

Jan 21, 2017 14:14:30 GMT -5 joshrblabber said:

I haven't watched Cousins enough to know if he can handle, pass and make good decisions. IMO Horford is a perfect 4 in this style, and Anthony Davis is a perfect 5. KAT or MGasol would also be great fits, they have all the skills. In any case, the strategy is solid, we just have to execute.

Horford is an excellent passing BIG, almost like a second PG out there.