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March 18, 2005

Rest Radmanovic and get him healthy for the playoffs

When the shots fall the individual is satisfied and is more likely to pass the ball having had the ego fed. When the shots don't fall the ball moves less, the effort to get people open reduces since the confidence in the shot falling isn't there (no payoff for the pick setter either). The reaction last year and earlier this year when the shots didn't fall was to pass too much to the point where the ball would end up in the hands of somebody who can't shoot with the clock winding down.

Broken guys are forcing shots or healthy guys that can't shoot are taking shots they shouldn't. What are the possible and impossible solutions?

Sign everybody, nope, too late for that.

Run plays to take different shots that you haven't been taking all year? Not a wholesale solution for a temporary situation.

Get healthy? How's that?

Play a guy who's only proven skill (using the term proven lightly) is that they can shoot the ball. Only play him in limited minutes and only have him perform the part of the plays that he can do (a role).

Why is that? As Nate McMillan has said, he wants guys to have a role and stay in their role even when there is an injury to another position. He doesn't want guys playing out of position, well, playing them in position but out of their role creates the same problem.

Put somebody on the IL and bring Wilkins in. Let him play 5 minutes a game, not much more, maybe even less. He comes in, he plays the role of shooter and then he steps off.

Why him? Murray is a scorer and not a shooter, other players have roles already.

When Ray steps off the floor put in somebody that makes the rest of the players stay in their roles for 5 minutes even if that player doesn't have all of the skills required to replace Ray. It forces the rest of the team to behave, stay in the same role, rebounders rebound, picks setters set picks, passers pass, when Ray steps back on the floor the only real change is that you have a significantly better player in the role of shooter. Until Radmanovic is healthy enough to regain his shooting form I would pass the ball to Wilkins for a few games and live with the results, they can't be much worse then what Radmanovic is doing. Maybe it is but the rest of the team will perform the roles they are used to doing.


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