First off the Sixers problems are all about offense. You aren't the only one who disagrees with me on this, but I have great confidence in my analysis and I have the facts to back it up.
It's easy: A good offense means that you get up a decent shot most of the time, if you can run down the court and get an easy one, that's great, and you should push it after every shot, made or missed. But if that first shot isn't there, you start passing and work your offense. The most important part is what happens after your shot. Obviously you want 2nd and 3rd chances if you miss-yes, that IS a part of offense. But if the other team gets the ball, you want to be set up before they get down the court. The Sixers can play decent half court defense when they are set up. With a team like the Sixers. who have good speed, there should never be easy shots for the other team other than long misses that fall into their hands.
When the Sixers are falling behind, it is invariably because they stop scoring, and the misses fuel easy offense for the other team. Watch the games and see what happens. They stop working the ball, they force up outside shots, they force a shot on the break that turns into a miss and an easy outlet pass for the other team. All it is, is a lack of discipline, and understanding. I want this team playing SMART basketball. Quick, informed decisions on which way to go with the ball, running the pick and roll the right way and making the pass when you're the one who's double-teamed.
Screw Eddie's offense. Run Andre around screens. Run Thad on the other side. Lou or Jrue or AI will find someone to pass to. Because if they're not open Brand and Sam will.
AS for Speights, never has a player been so disparaged or his play so distorted. He does rebound, he does block out. He blocks shots, he makes outlet passes off of defensive boards. He also reaches in, loses his man, or gets drawn out of position. But all of these things are correctable and I'm willing to live with a few mistakes since his scoring often makes up for it and his size helps on both ends. Seriously, Thad isn't ever going to have a chance of blocking out Perkins or Garnett, is he? Speights can. He already has in fact. So after playing so well, how do you suddenly give up on him?You got all excited just because Brand is getting back to being his normal self?
The most important thing for Speights is playing time, When he makes mistakes then you can show him the tape and get him to understand what he should have done. In order to be conscious of what's going on, you have to understand how they want you to play and how to play specific opponents. Mistakes are expected with young players. That doesn't mean you bench them.
And. The more bigs you put on the floor the better chance you have of seeing Thad at the 3 and Andre at the 2, which I think are their natural positions. I would have been fine with Smith as well. You have to be patient with young big men, and encourage and support them. You're asking them to play against more experienced players and one little mistake and you bench them?
Dalembert and Brand are good players, but it's not good to play them too many minutes. Sam often gets into foul trouble, and Brand did last night as well. You don't put in Smith and Speghts only when you get into trouble. They deserve playing time in order to develop.
Sam didn't look like the monster he was in the first quarter, in the fourth. Maybe giving him a little more rest would help at the end. The more time you give Speights and Smith the more they will learn and the better they will be. You can only learn so much by watching, it takes experience too. He has played well in the past, but I think he's out of rhythm, and the team has forgotten how to use him. Lack of playing time is the cause, than anything else. He deserves 10-15 min. minimum no matter what he does.
Sorry about the language, I get a little excited at times
Speights is going where he's told to go. Sometimes he should be in the high post, and Brand in the low and vice-versa. I think this is more a lack of coaching than anything else. Some players get freezed out in this offense, because they're not playing smart ball. Specific plays should be called, like a post up for Speights in the low block. Then he knows to work for position and get ready for an entry pass. I'd love to see him and Iguodala or Williams in a 2-man game. The point is, take advantage of what he brings to the table in a half-court offense. When they're running, he fits right in anyway.
Speights percentage has gone down along with his playing time. You pull him quick after a missed shot or two and that WILL affect your stats, and not in a good way.
What is wrong with Speights and Dalembert? Nothing that I can see, but it's never on the floor. Could Smith and Brand work on the floor, or Smith and Dalembert? I'd like to see these things tried, but not by just throwing them out there.
I do like your finishing line-up. Sam has done a good job lately, but it you know it would be better for Speights to be taking those shots at the end.
