There is no bigger fan of Tom Thibodeau than Jeff Van Gundy. None. Zero. Not his parents. Not his best friends. No one.
So when Van Gundy, who was calling the national broadcast of this game for ESPN, made multiple references to the need for New York to change its starting lineup, at one point calling the decision to stick with the current five-man grouping "the definition of insanity," you know things have gotten bad.
Afraid so.
And no one loves Julius more than Thibs, but the coach appears to have hitched his wagon to a falling star. And Thibs remains committed to the notion of Julius as a kick out facilitator, rather than has a brute low post option.
The defensive stratgagem, initiated by Hawks' coach Nate McMillan in last year's playoffs, seems to have been much imitated league, and Thibs' response seems to this observer, as great a fan of Thibs and Julius as JVG to TT, inflexible.
Waiting for the doubles to kick in, and tasking Julius to kick out, IS NOT WORKING.
Of course, OF COURSE, not having a point guard does not help.
I have great affection for Kemba, but he is giving us nothing.
I respect Burks, and he is a willing passer, but again, not a PG.
And Thibs stubbornly sticks to the Julius kick out to stationary targets, instead of initiating motion and cutters and attacking the paint with multiple cutters.
As someone pointed out in one of last night's broadcasts, the Heat had a very specific startegy for bringing the doubles on JR, and for denying the Knicks driving lanes and keeping them out of the paint, making us live and die by the three.
It hurts me to see Julius overthinking things, passing up close range shots in favor of kick outs, often in mid-glide, leading, predictably, to turnovers, and keeping him from attaining any sort of rhythm and confidence.
Finally, McBride is raw, and he has been struggling with his shot, but he is every inch the dog Grimes is on D, and, again, as someone pointed out, in limited minutes, has posted a 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
And while I know this is not a tenable option...
Toppin-Reddish-Grimes-Quickley-McBride
Or
Sims-Toppin-Reddish-Grimes-Quickley
Or
Robinson-Randle-RJ-Grimes-Quickley
Or
WHO THE FUCK KNOWS
But as presently constituted, and given Thibs stubborn--to put it politely--refusal to go with the pups and empower their energy with meaningful minutes, we are trending towards the draft lottery, and a trade deadline fire sale, if such options even exist.
Absent Derrick Rose, our starting unit is sleepwalking, save perhaps for RJ. And even he, he of the clanged free throws, well, not a good look.
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