• RandAlThor@lemmy.caM
      1·
      8 months ago

      Nurse is going down his list of priorities for 6ers season: slow starts to season, check with Colorado training camp. Beat the bogeys of the playoffs - check off Celtics. He is having less than adequate defensive roster play more than adequate defense. Both Tatum and Brown were stopped and that’s not an easy feat. Nurse built that 10 point lead and managed it to the end game.

      Tatum the First team All-NBA MVP candidate did NOT show up in this game. Much of the game he played like an irrelevant role player, entirely disinterested in making an effort on the offensive end, disengaged from being discouraged by Philly’s defense. Joe M. didn’t come up with adequate solutions to this issue, despite this being a close game throughout. He was hoping he can win against a rival without production from Brown nor Tatum. I don’t think that’s ever worked.

      • rezz@lemmy.worldOPM
        1·
        8 months ago

        Mazzulla ain’t it. I’ve said this since last season. They’re going nowhere with him at the helm. I seriously think his anti-emotional disposition will never work. Basketball is a passionate game. He lacks passion. So he cannot inspire.

        I feel the same about Darvin Ham for the Lakers. I like Ham a lot more as a person, but his unfortunate life I think has also led him to closeted/inauthentic seeming passion, and thus it doesn’t translate down to players.

        Contrast him to Ime for the Rockets and Daigneault for the Thunder, respectively. Guys just buy in so hard to them as coaches, them as trustworthy, them as passionate, them as on their side.

        It takes high level X-and-O’s and high level empathetic passion, to win in this league.

        • RandAlThor@lemmy.caM
          1·
          8 months ago

          I agree. We saw Joe Mazzulla struggle in the playoffs. Agree with last sentence. It’s rare to find that though. Nurse is crap relating to people. I think that’s why Raptors hired Adrian Griffin as assistant head coach to balance him out when they were there. AG is infinitely more likeable and relatable.

    • RandAlThor@lemmy.caM
      1·
      8 months ago

      Raptors are a bad match up for Mavs. OG can slow down Luka, they have forwards whom Mavs have no personnel answer for. If Mavs can’t come up with a defensive answer for the paint they aren’t going far in Western conference.

      Ben Taylor did all he can to help Dallas, or any opposing team of Raptors, as usual. There was one ridiculous sequence where referees gave the ball to Dallas, back to Raptors (stepping on the line during inbound) , then back to Dallas (questionable screen call) in a space of 5 seconds with 3 consecutive calls.

      Raptors fanbase needs to cool their excitement after one win. They’re still a play-in team without consistent shooting, and without consistent bench play or depth.