Just watched the game on DVR...
Fisrt question:
Rip Hamilton has always seemed like a bit of a bully at the off guard, meaning he throws a lot of elbows, hip and chest bumps, arms always flying all over the place, a very physical 2 guard.
I watched Doc put Bradley, Lee and Barbosa on him. He was able to shoot pretty easily over them once he got his position. And to be honest, as tough as I do think those three players are, Rip was just bigger and stronger than them and just beat them up basically. Finally Doc put Rondo on him and because Rondo is such a "nasty", scrappy little guy it was a little more effective but not much.
My question and first thought if I were coaching was the first time I see some player on another team giving my guys "the business" I'm immediately sending someone bigger and stronger in to kick the crap out of that player.
So, why not put Pierce on Hamilton immediately, put Green at SF, who is actually a better match for Deng, size wise.
I didn't see it once. Pierce can certainly beat the crap out of Hamilton defensively and Pierce also always struggles against Deng's length. The logical move to me then was get Deng off Pierce and get Pierce on Hamilton.
I would have put Pierce on Hamilton defensively and also posted Pierce on him offensively. Basically I would have immediately started beating Rip up on both ends of the court.
Never saw that once... Thoughts?
2. Just the rebounding. I watched a Jimmy Butler literally walk past (from the top of the key) Rondo, Bass and another player, get the offensive rebound and put in a layup.
A shot goes up and so many times these guys just turn around and look at the rim without putting a body on anyone. No one.
I get rotations and guys being out of place, but I've also watched Avery Bradley on multiple occasions being out of place but boxing out Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, any number of big guys, with success once the ball goes up. He may not get the board but those big men aren't either because they';d literally have to crawl over Bradley's back to get it.
Rebounding is largely about boxing out and being willing to lay a body on guys.
Sully doesn't get boards "mostly" because he's 6'9" and 260. It's "mostly" because he lays a body on guys, big time. Whoever is near him gets hit when the ball goes up.
I watch these games and it's absolutely mind boggling to me. They just turn around and stare at the rim when the ball goes up. How many times does someone have to walk by you, get the rebound and put the layup in before you start boxing out?
Are these guys morons or just amazingly undisciplined and/or lazy?
Thoughts?