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Originally Posted by RoddneyThaRippa
I was with you mostly until I came across the part I bolded.
Why would you want Iverson off the ball? You don't want him off the ball, as he is the most dangerous player in the league with the ball in his hands. I've said this before: his shot selection is pristine. The guy makes a concerted effort each and every night to get shots within the 15 foot range. He breaks defenders down on a consistent basis. Yeah, the turnovers need to cut down. Sometimes he just tries to do too much or just doesn't value the ball enough. But Iverson is not an off the ball player, because he absolutely wreaks havoc on the defense.
And let's be honest - the Nuggets don't have a lot of perimeter scoring options. I'd be all for getting Nene 12-15 shots a game, but that is something Karl has to stress. He needs to tell Iverson to get Nene the ball. Otherwise, Iverson and Carmelo will continue to dominate the possessions, which I really have no problem with. .
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ideally the nuggets want to fast break and take the ball all the way to the rim. thats something we can all agree on. what i'm talking about is, after the fast break... and the secondary fast break. once the defense recovers and the nuggets are forced to go into a half court set.
thats all i'm talking about. i'm not saying Iverson needs to move to the two guard and not bring the ball up... not penetrate and cause that havoc.
this is all i'm saying.........
option number one in a half court set. i hate to bring up the knicks or allan houston... i'm not suggested the nuggets slow things down. i'm just saying every team... even the best fast break team in the league.... has to have a half court set that works to be a contender.
option one in that set should be hit melo in the low high or mid post. thats all i'm saying. the nuggets found him in the third quarter several times.
melo was leathal. he proved why he is the best offensive weapon in the league. he drilled jumpers. even made alley oop passes over the top to camby from the post. In that half court situation, Melo is the best option. The lakers pretty much let him work one on one. and as we all know you cant do that. kobe couldnt handle him. odom got blown by.
this isnt a knock on AI. but its those situations where I suggesting he play off melo. he really hasnt ever played off anyone before. you can say he never had the opportunity. and thats fine, but I'd like to see him expand his game to work with melo out of the post.
find melo in the post. find an open spot on the wing. move without the ball. run off a screen. cut into the lane. the when melo has the ball in the post and people move.... i've seen good things happen.
really i'm not faulting AI here. i'm pointing a george karl. if karl works the ball to melo, and we see melo make the kind of decisions he made last night. two things will happen. half court set FG percentage will go up. the nuggets will have less inconsistency, less droughts. and it will help them get back on defense. it doesnt solve their defensive woes. but it helps.
i'm going to have to disagree about AI. he is a havoc creator and he really has impressed in many ways. but if he is going to be a complete offensive force he needs to learn to play with Melo. And that does include being able to work without the ball if and when needed. you cant have the ball all the time.... so when you dont.... you need to find a way to score without it.
AI Smith and Blake should get open looks off of Melo's post play. if they cut to the basket like camby.... if they move.... t hey will be rewarded. just dont be stagnant.... if you dont have the ball. set screens make a move, do something.