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January 09, 2008
Vincent realizes thin line of strategic success
There’s plenty about Sam Vincent’s coaching that I question, but he’s spot on, describing his team’s post-up challenge.
They need to involve Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed in the offense, but it’s foolish to throw them the ball if doing so grinds the offense to a halt. That’s happened too often this season.
It didn’t happen Tuesday; Okafor and Mohammed combined for 15-of-17 shooting from the field. And there was significant side benefit; the attention the Nets had to pay to the centers opened jump shots and driving lanes for perimeter players.
Throwing the ball into the post in basketball is a lot like running the ball in football. When it works, it’s the best way to control tempo and dominate opponents. When it doesn’t work, it just makes things worse.
Not every night will be like Tuesday. Okafor is limited offensively. His hands aren’t particularly soft (to steal a wide receiver term) and his moves sometimes look overly choreographed – like someone learning to line dance – and that’s why his shot gets blocked a lot.
Sill, the Bobcats are a much better team for his presence. You accept that trade-off and make the best of what you have.
Posted by rbonnell on January 9, 2008 at 12:13 AM | Permalink
Comments
it sucks to be you. see you fools in the playoffs..... from the stands. hahahahahaha
Posted by: dwight howard | Jan 9, 2008 8:39:28 AM
You'll see us from the stands? So you'll be missing the playoffs will you?
If you are going to post an insult, at least get your wording correct.
Posted by: James | Jan 9, 2008 9:10:40 AM
The Bobcats will win more often if they score more points than the other team.
Posted by: LeeL | Jan 9, 2008 9:24:45 AM
We will win more often is we score more points than the other team.
Thanks alot MOTO (Master Of The Obvious)
I am now dumber for reading what you wrote.
Posted by: visconti | Jan 9, 2008 9:58:29 AM
I agree with your assessment Rick.
and wow LeeL are you John Madden?
Posted by: Al Michaels | Jan 9, 2008 2:04:17 PM
"Okafor is limited offensively. His hands aren’t particularly soft (to steal a wide receiver term) and his moves sometimes look overly choreographed – like someone learning to line dance – and that’s why his shot gets blocked a lot."
I agree with that analysis Bonnell, Okafor has always been offensively challenged, even in college. It is funny how some big men are able to overcome offensive weakness to become better (NOT Elite of course!) overall players, Brendon Haywood (serviceable big man) comes to mind. I think his biggest problem is that he comes off as being disinterested at times. I think if he tried to develop a power offensive game it would help. Think of Otis Thorp or Rick Mahorn. I don't see Okafor developing a soft jumper or a plethora of moves (ala Hakeem the Dream!) but he could develop a more controlled agressive approach. I will not use the term 'mean streak' but a lowered shoulder here or there or a strong demanding post/re-post up now and then can't hurt. What do you guys think?
Posted by: northcliq | Jan 9, 2008 2:31:55 PM
For you Bonnell:
The main motivation for us to read your column is the hope that you will provide a perspective that we can not or are not able to see from our living room couch! We base this assumption on the fact that you have an exposure to the team that is more intimate than the average fan.
"Throwing the ball into the post in basketball is a lot like running the ball in football. When it works, it’s the best way to control tempo and dominate opponents. When it doesn’t work, it just makes things worse."
Thanks for the 'expert' analysis.
Posted by: northcliq | Jan 9, 2008 2:39:01 PM
I agree that Okafor is limited but at the same time he offers something that not too many on the team do. Defense! Think of the games we won because of his defense. He cannot do it alone and that is part of our problem now. Teams with great centers win championships, we are in need of a great center with the right offensive & defensive skills.
We would greatly improve with a versatile, balanced center to compliment Okafor in the starting line up. We don't need a project guy, we need a starter if the plan is to make the playoffs in the near future. That is our draft priority because a PG can be picked up in FA.
The team need to get the minutes going for the guys on bench. They need time in the game so we can start winning some back to back games. Time on the court is the best way for them to get experience because we lack quality depth past Felton, Richardson, Wallace, Okafor, Mohammed, & Carrol.
Posted by: CEREBRUM | Jan 9, 2008 5:04:20 PM
You guys are a bunch of idiots. We would be undefeated if we scored more points than the other team every game. I dare anyone to contest this theory.
Posted by: LeeL | Jan 9, 2008 5:16:24 PM
You guys are a bunch of idiots. We would be undefeated if we scored more points than the other team every game. I dare anyone to contest this theory.
Posted by: LeeL | Jan 9, 2008 5:16:40 PM
I totally agree with LeeL. If we score more points than our opponents then our opponents will have less points. The problem with this season is that more often than not our opponents have been scoring more points than we have. Thus, if we correct this scoring problem, we might have some hope of slipping into playoff contention. If anyone needs further explication please go to my blog on my myspace webpage entitled:
"breaking down sarcasm for complete brain dead morons"
Posted by: JL2Felt | Jan 9, 2008 5:28:54 PM
Jeez, the postings after this Bonnell article have really taken a nose dive. How about providing constructive opinions rather than just abusing each other. There are other forums on the web for that.
I still believe that Nazr and Okafor should be playing side-by-side. Nazr provides the offense that Okafor can't and Okafor the D the Nazr can't. Add to that their combined rebounding and suddenly the team is looking a lot stronger in the front court - the Bobcats ongoing weakness.
Also, let us all not forget that Nazr and Okafor were going up against a rookie and 2nd year in Sean Williams and Josh Boone - not exactly huge scalps.
At least for this game Vincent played Carroll first off the pine and gave him reasonable minutes. Still need to get Dudley in the rotation.
Posted by: Foxy | Jan 9, 2008 6:30:58 PM
Both teams played hard.
Posted by: Bro D. | Jan 9, 2008 7:07:11 PM
Brendan Haywood is TERRIBLE. Okafor is shooting over 50% from the floor this season and is near that number for his career.
Posted by: Michael Aaron Procton | Jan 9, 2008 7:08:47 PM
By the way, if any of you ever get tired of this pathetic blog, check out mine. You'll notice that I am in to both boy bands and chick flicks. Tee hee...
http://www.myajc.com/M2thaC1369
Posted by: Michael Aaron Procton | Jan 9, 2008 9:49:02 PM
Procton -
I don't think the Haywood comparison is as far off target as you make it seem. At least for this season, Haywood has similar stats (10pts, 8reb, 1.8blocks, 54%fg). Okafor definitely has more potential, though, both offensively and defensively.
Posted by: Cats_Fan | Jan 9, 2008 9:51:07 PM
These fools from top to bottom make me long for the hornets.
Posted by: taxpayer | Jan 9, 2008 10:08:32 PM
Procton-
That profile you got there is great. What are you a pedophile or something? You say you have no kids but have a picture of one. It's not cool at all that you are in to child porn you sicko.
Anyway, I wonder did you watch the Bobcats game tonight? Do you ever watch, or just read box scores? If you did watch, you saw how important Mohammed was in the 4th quarter and with under 5 minutes to play. I'm not an anal stat bitch like you, but I think he had something around 20 points, 10 rebounds. Remind me again when the last time your man crush Brezec did that? Has he ever done that?
Don't worry, I don't expect a reply since you ignore replies that call you out for being a dumb ass. Nice profile though. Sicko.
Posted by: Mike Law | Jan 9, 2008 10:08:59 PM
Anyone notice how Okafor didn't play anymore after he started crying about a foul in the 3rd quarter?
Didn't miss him one bit. What a bust. And this guy says he wants "Dwight Howard money"? Pathetic. Go play for the Knicks.
Posted by: Mark S. | Jan 9, 2008 10:20:57 PM
We just beat the best team in the east. We scored 95 points in doing so. Of those, 52 came from Richardson and Mohammed. Both of these guys have been playing great ball lately. Interestingly, these are the two players that Jordan brought in via trades this year. I think his foresight might be a bit better that many of you give him credit for. I am not a big McInnis fan, but I just noticed the he is averaging 4.1 assists and 1.58 turnovers per game. This come out to be a 2.6 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Not too bad! Also he seems to be a very good defender. I doubt if Vincent has him in the lineup for his looks.
Posted by: jimm | Jan 9, 2008 11:12:06 PM
Hah...that's me, jackass. Futhermore, Mohammed has already had his chance at starter's minutes, and he goot too tired. That we took on his RIDICULOUS contract AND gave up two younger, cheaper players who have both had success in the league still makes me sick.
Posted by: Michael Aaron Procton | Jan 10, 2008 2:40:26 AM
Procton your a complete idiot we gave up 2 younger players..... I like Hermann but he is nothing more than a energy player who comes off the bench as and 8th or 9th man on a good team & Primoz shouldnt even be in the league. Nazr may not be an allstar & has a bad contract but he has given this team what they needed all along -- a post presence. His contract looks bad but this team as constituted now will not be the team when we make the playoffs for real. We still have May, Morrison and probably a lottery pick to figure into the future so you can be assured that MJ & crew will make some more moves between now & next year to both improve this team and take away all the youth that needs to develop to get some veteran leadership so Nazr's contract will not have quite the impact when you move some of the other pieces around.
Posted by: Toriano | Jan 10, 2008 9:35:10 AM
I told you if the Bobcats scored more points they would win.
Posted by: LeeL | Jan 10, 2008 10:17:49 AM
I initially didn't like Nazi's contract, but he provides something this team has needed for a while: an offensive THREAT and PRODUCER from the post who also rebounds and plays defense. We have had it in bits and pieces from various players in the past, but never the combination that he has in a single player. He is not the dynamic shotblocker/rebounder that Mek is, but he is more solid in most facets of the game.
If he could work with Mek on learning to make himself available, CATCHing the ball and going up STRONG and QUICKLY, he would do wonders for him. I'm glad Rick finally admitted/accepted Emeka's offensive deficiencies, as the notion that the team has played keep it away from its star has been exaggerated and misleading in the past. As it is, if Mek doesn't have the quick jump hook over shoulder go to move on his sweet spot on the block, it is more of an adventure than it should be when the ball goes his way.
I get tired of listening to Henry Williams (I could really put a period here) and Steve Martin harp on pounding it to him like he is Duncan. We DEFINITELY need to go inside, but Mek should not be the focus of the offense. He is more complimentary.
Nazi has more capabilities here and that is probably why he plays more down the stretch. While I think the team has a better flow with Nazi on the floor, it's fine if we keep Mek starting and Nazi playing heavy minutes. It's funny how much better of a point guard/playmaker Felton "becomes" when Nazi is the other half of the pick and roll, drive and dish equation vs. Emeka.
I think Emeka is a terrific defender and the job he did in making KG work was huge yesterday (even with the bad block call on him under the basket), but it should be clear now that the Bobcats made a MORE than fair offer to him. The Dwight Howard money talk should not be brought up anymore.
Posted by: jperry | Jan 10, 2008 10:46:37 AM
Great game last night. I only have one criticism at the moment. Why does McInnis play so much? He doesn't score, doesn't assist, doesn't rebound. Of course he doesn't turnover and doesn't get lit up defensively either. It's like having four players and an excruciatingly mundane robot on the floor for most of the game. We're not a team who can really afford to have no production from one of our starters every night and I think we're still at a place where we need to be giving our young guys more of a run regardless of the outcome(anybody heard from Carrol, Hollins, Dudley, or Davidson recently?). While it may help us not throw away the occasional win by having Mr. doesn't do anything wrong (because he doesn't do anything) playing big minutes, it is going to hurt us in the long run.
Posted by: BustaCat | Jan 10, 2008 2:49:53 PM
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