Pelicans Want to be the Bucks

The formula Gentry and co are trying to win with does exist. Just looking over a few things with the Bucks--

2nd in pace
2nd in def rating
2nd in off rating
3rd in three pt attempts/game (Pelicans are 5th)
20th in three pt % (Pelicans are 4th)
2nd in TS % (Pelicans are 12th)
5th in FT attempts/game
4th in Rebound % (Pelicans are 20th)
2nd in defensive rebound % (Pelicans are also 20th)

Basically, it is possible to play at a high pace yet also have a good defense. And its not like they do it playing small ball since they've got 7'0" 280 lb Brook Lopez out there at 27 mins/game running up and down the floor, and he's only missed 2 games so far.

So also basically, it looks like the main difference is they've got a Giannis and the Pelicans do not. They attempt about 26 free throws/game, and Giannis accounts for 42% of those attempts alone.

And lastly basically, there are qualitative difference since they have a more veteran team. They aren't going to step out of bounds or launch 5 consecutive threes when they need a bucket, even though they shoot more threes throughout a game (and make fewer) than the Pelicans do.

So Gentry's vision isn't impossible, but a coach has to get a team to execute. Part of that is to stop putting the ball into certain players hands who we KNOW cannot execute plays well.

I think another huge issue with it is order of operations.

Mike Budenholzer is a good coach. He coaches this style because he has Giannis, and this is the best way to optimise Giannis' offensive skills while minimising his weaknesses; getting him moving, going downhill, scoring in transition, and surrounding him with shooting and space in the half-court works because of Giannis' skillset. He has a star player, and has tailored his system to accommodate and maximise that player.

Gentry's done the opposite. He has a system, and he's trying to force a personnel who simply cannot execute it on a high level into that system, regardless of their skills and abilities. He arrived with this system in mind, and he has not stopped trying to make it happen, regardless of whether our roster has had Tim Frazer, Dante Cunningham, Terrence Jones, Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, Tony Allen, Rajon Rondo, etc etc. Just anyone and everyone forced into this one-size-fits-almost-nobody box.

He's got his priorities completely out of whack. He doesn't know how to coach a roster; he knows how to run a particular system, and if you don't have the personnel to run that system, his reaction is just run it anyway and lose 50 games because oh well.

lol

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Originally Posted by luckyman

So also basically, it looks like the main difference is they've got a Giannis and the Pelicans do not.

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Yeah I’d say that’s a pretty big difference.

Basically, our only hope is for Zion to be every bit as good as Giannis right out the gate.

And Giannis wasn't even as good as Giannis right out the gate.

They’re not trying to be the Bucks. Going into the season the team thought that they were going to be a defensive juggernaut who struggles to score 100 point every night. They didn’t anticipate being this effective on offense. Whatever they thought prior to the season is definitely not what they are today. Its pure coincidence.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I think another huge issue with it is order of operations.

Mike Budenholzer is a good coach. He coaches this style because he has Giannis, and this is the best way to optimise Giannis' offensive skills while minimising his weaknesses; getting him moving, going downhill, scoring in transition, and surrounding him with shooting and space in the half-court works because of Giannis' skillset. He has a star player, and has tailored his system to accommodate and maximise that player.

Gentry's done the opposite. He has a system, and he's trying to force a personnel who simply cannot execute it on a high level into that system, regardless of their skills and abilities. He arrived with this system in mind, and he has not stopped trying to make it happen, regardless of whether our roster has had Tim Frazer, Dante Cunningham, Terrence Jones, Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, Tony Allen, Rajon Rondo, etc etc. Just anyone and everyone forced into this one-size-fits-almost-nobody box.

He's got his priorities completely out of whack. He doesn't know how to coach a roster; he knows how to run a particular system, and if you don't have the personnel to run that system, his reaction is just run it anyway and lose 50 games because oh well.

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This. Which is fine if a HC and GM/PBO come in with the same understanding and philosophy towards drafting and signing players. I don't think our front office and coaching staff have that symbiotic relationship.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I think another huge issue with it is order of operations.

Mike Budenholzer is a good coach. He coaches this style because he has Giannis, and this is the best way to optimise Giannis' offensive skills while minimising his weaknesses; getting him moving, going downhill, scoring in transition, and surrounding him with shooting and space in the half-court works because of Giannis' skillset. He has a star player, and has tailored his system to accommodate and maximise that player.

Gentry's done the opposite. He has a system, and he's trying to force a personnel who simply cannot execute it on a high level into that system, regardless of their skills and abilities. He arrived with this system in mind, and he has not stopped trying to make it happen, regardless of whether our roster has had Tim Frazer, Dante Cunningham, Terrence Jones, Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, Tony Allen, Rajon Rondo, etc etc. Just anyone and everyone forced into this one-size-fits-almost-nobody box.

He's got his priorities completely out of whack. He doesn't know how to coach a roster; he knows how to run a particular system, and if you don't have the personnel to run that system, his reaction is just run it anyway and lose 50 games because oh well.

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In addition, he has even said that the players aren’t doing what he is asking.... It’s like it doesn’t even cross his mind that they may not be capable of it. The one kid who has the potential to be a “Gentry PG” has gotten taken out if the lineup for a snail.

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Originally Posted by Snarly

They’re not trying to be the Bucks. Going into the season the team thought that they were going to be a defensive juggernaut who struggles to score 100 point every night. They didn’t anticipate being this effective on offense. Whatever they thought prior to the season is definitely not what they are today. Its pure coincidence.

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The Pelicans thought they would be a defensive juggernaut and struggle to score 100?

If you are talking about the Pelicans, thats not true at all. Gentry and the players repeatedly said they thought scoring wouldn't be a problem.

Matter of fact, they said the lines I hate hearing during training camp, which the offense "would take care of itself" while they concentrate on defense.

I mean...yea.

The league and how good teams are logically comes down to STAR players and their impact.

Giannis has really to me had 3 seasons to season and bake in his current style that has formed his teams identity(moving parts or not). I don’t think this is all coach Bud. The year they loss to the Celtics in the first round, anyone could see they were on the brink of busting out as a team the following year.

Let’s wait to see how we are once Zion comes back. Based on what I’ve seen, his offensive gravity is so high because of how good he is around the rim that a lot of our players will start seeing more set shot looks. Those Lonzo drives now has a dunk man you have to box out on.

Understand the Bucks defense is good bc of Giannis defense, but also his offense. With his efg%, teams have to extra choosey about the shots they take against the Bucks to match Giannis’ points per possession. The fear of not matching with a team who has a player who shoots 80% within 3 ft of the basket and takes almost half of the attempts there is real.

That’s why I’m not stressing about what’s going on right now. We are in a win win situation this entire season. If we make the playoffs, great. Ahead of the “season and bake” curve. If we don’t, great! Lottery pick. Keep stacking.