Simmons - New Column Bashing Doc, Sam, Big 3

[crownsy]

i am on the record of wanting House to play in this series (although i think it was more important on the road than at home), but it is not because i think Sam is a huge detriment to the team. i just think that House is the better matchup for this series.

he actually is an ideal matchup for Gibson IMO. and finding the right "matchups" is one of the key factors in winning in the playoffs...

Winsomme,

Why do you think House is the ideal matchup for Gibson?

I think this is the single best series matchup wise that Sam Cassell is going to get in the playoffs.

He's playing against two point guards that aren't good penetrators and who don't take advantage of Sammy's lack of footspeed. He's played solid defense for the majority of this series. Gibson has been held down by Sammy in the first three games, well below Gibson's normal impact. On the other end both are small enough for Sammy to post them and Sam's tricks have worked well against both also. This is as good as it's going to get for Sam and he's done well with it.

if thats true, sam's in worse trouble than i though, because delonte and gibson beat him to whatever spot they wanted in game 4 for the most part. Sam's legs are just to old for our defenses quick rotations, and i think it contributes to his shooting woes.

[Who]

i am on the record of wanting House to play in this series (although i think it was more important on the road than at home), but it is not because i think Sam is a huge detriment to the team. i just think that House is the better matchup for this series.

he actually is an ideal matchup for Gibson IMO. and finding the right "matchups" is one of the key factors in winning in the playoffs...

Winsomme,

Why do you think House is the ideal matchup for Gibson?

I think this is the single best series matchup wise that Sam Cassell is going to get in the playoffs.

He's playing against two point guards that aren't good penetrators and who don't take advantage of Sammy's lack of footspeed. He's played solid defense for the majority of this series. Gibson has been held down by Sammy in the first three games, well below Gibson's normal impact. On the other end both are small enough for Sammy to post them and Sam's tricks have worked well against both also. This is as good as it's going to get for Sam and he's done well with it.

if thats true, sam's in worse trouble than i though, because delonte and gibson beat him to whatever spot they wanted in game 4 for the most part. Sam's legs are just to old for our defenses quick rotations, and i think it contributes to his shooting woes.

Game four was bad defense from Sam. He was much better in the three prior games though, especially the first two.

Gibson is normally the point guard Sam is matched up with. Gibson has 12 points in the first three games, he played 65 minutes. The series prior he scored 12ppg in 29mpg. Sam has done a good job with Danny.

Sam's defense is his biggest flaw but he's been pretty good for most of this series. The other day in the fourth quarter, he wasn't, Danny beat him a couple of times.

[teddykgb]

and those weren't the easiest shots, you have to credit Gibson a bit for drilling some 3 pointers, they were huge shots in a money situation, and he executed.

[EJPLAYA]

If you think that Sam can help this team, the best possible thing to do would be to sit him this entire game and bring House in for all of his minutes. Sam will get the message that if he doesn't give 100% effort in being a team player and playing within the offense as the PG running the team that he won't play. House will get the opportunity to go out and show why he should get the minutes. If he doesn't then Sam will come back in and play a more complete game. If he does, then maybe you realize that he shouldn't have ever been pulled out of the rotation.

The gist of his article as it relates to the rotation, is that you don't take a team that is dominating everyone and insert a guy in that we all KNEW wasn't the type of player to fit into this system and expect good things to happen. We had a well oiled machine and threw a wrench into it. Bill was 100% correct with this thought.

[teddykgb]

Nobody was calling this a well oiled machine when Eddie couldn't get the ball across half court against Detroit.  Everyone was falling over themselves (and somewhat correctly) to point out that we needed PG help in the playoffs.  Sam has been huge in a few games, and he's been detrimental in others, which is the definition of a role player.  Doc has to be able to take the pulse and use him when appropriate, and get him out of there when he isn't getting it done.  All this other stuff is just noise.  Sam is no longer an NBA superstar, but he can be a great asset when he's hitting, and we have to try to use that appropriately. 

[winsomme]

i am on the record of wanting House to play in this series (although i think it was more important on the road than at home), but it is not because i think Sam is a huge detriment to the team. i just think that House is the better matchup for this series.

he actually is an ideal matchup for Gibson IMO. and finding the right "matchups" is one of the key factors in winning in the playoffs...

Winsomme,

Why do you think House is the ideal matchup for Gibson?

I think this is the single best series matchup wise that Sam Cassell is going to get in the playoffs.

He's playing against two point guards that aren't good penetrators and who don't take advantage of Sammy's lack of footspeed. He's played solid defense for the majority of this series. Gibson has been held down by Sammy in the first three games, well below Gibson's normal impact. On the other end both are small enough for Sammy to post them and Sam's tricks have worked well against both also. This is as good as it's going to get for Sam and he's done well with it.

i think we are going to see a lot more of Gibson tonight and he is going to be running constantly while he is out there.

in game 4, i thought we started to see Sam's footspeed being a problem as he wasn't able to stay with their shooters as they moved off screens.

i think House will be able to better stay with a guy like Gibson tonight as they try to get him open shots, and i also think that House will be able to run Gibson around the same way that Gibson is trying to do to us.

i just think overall that CLE wants to slow the pace of the game down and our best chance to speed things up is to have House in the backup minutes...

like i said though, i think this was more important in CLE than here in BOS where the crowd will hopefully help us keep the pace fast and energized....

but i would still like to see House tonight...

as far as Sam in the future, i think he would be huge in a DET series and against the Spurs if it ever got to that....but we obviously shouldn't be looking that far ahead because we are fighting for our playoff lives right now..

[Cooldude5t5]

I agree with him tearing apart Doc's rotations. I still had some confidence in Doc until I saw that line-up to start the 4th Quarter. What the hell is Big Baby doing out there in a close game? Those were his first minutes of the game. And I hate Cassell no need to sign him, PJ Brown is actually doing his job, Cassell could learn to be a team player from his fellow vet.

[Smitty]

Teddy,

Anyone watching the games HAS to notice how our offense grinds to a halt with Sammy running the point.  Sam has an atrocious 4.27 Efficiency Rating for the playoffs, despite getting consistent minutes.  He has been absolutely and unquestionably horrible!!!

Smitty

[ktw7]

Re: Sam Cassell

Playoff numbers

6.2 pts 1.5 assists 1.1 rebs  AND 34.7% shooting. Not to mention mediocre defense.

Does anyone out there want to say eddie house would be doing worse overall (defense and offense) ?

[Smitty]

Teddy,

Sam is shooting 25.8% for the Cleveland series and 34.7% for the playoffs.  Did I mention that he is ONLY averaging 1.5 assists for the playoffs??

You should have to earn your playoff minutes and Sam has NOT done that.  He has earned himself a spot on the bench waving a white towel.

Smitty

[Atzar]

Cassell is immensely effective when he pushes the offense.  In Game 2, the bench erupted and trashed the Cav's reserves.  They were the reason we ended up winning that one fairly comfortably.  I think the main reason that happened is because Cassell was doing his best Rondo impression - pushing the pace and passing to the open man.  I'd like to see that side of him come back for the remainder of the playoffs because when that Cassell shows up, he's an excellent point guard and the entire team is better because of it.

[gustusias]

Relax. they will win tonight. This team is solid.

[paintitgreen]

I'll start by saying I am not a fan of Eddie House playing point guard and I like the Cassell signing a lot. I agree with Teddy - without Sam Cassell, we don't win Game 1 and I don't know if we have the 2nd quarter run in Game 2 that turned the game around. For that reason alone, I think it's ridiculous to say "he's earned a spot on the bench waving a white towel." He's played more of a role in winning games in this series than Ray Allen (who was a non-factor in Game 1 and roughly equal to Sam in Game 2) or Rajon Rondo (who I love but has essentially been a non-factor throughout this series, until, of course, Monday, when he started playing well and Doc decided to pull him for the first half of the fourth quarter). There is a need for Sam Cassell.

That said, I do agree that when his shot does not appear to be on, like it wasn't on Monday, we should switch it up and go with House. I don't think he'd hurt us as much in this series with his ballhandling weakness as he would against, say, Detroit. We should have done that in the 3rd quarter of Game 4, given House a shot with a few minutes left in the quarter to give Rondo a spell. If House looked efficient, you give him another minute or two to start the fourth and bring Rondo back. It didn't seem like a difficult read of the game.

And maybe Sam just has trouble on the road and we don't rely on him in those games. That doesn't mean he should be benched entirely, since he's been important for us in our wins. 

I don't understand what Doc is doing with substituation patterns generally, this is just one of the examples. Our players are inconsistent, our coach is in over his head, we need the home court to carry us tonight.

[D Dub]

I love that Simmons has the stones to call out KG.  God knows no one in the locker room does..

Fine, fine, I'll step up. Is this almost over? I promised TNT that I'd give them three minutes before the game to talk about how much winning means to me. You know, as long as I can win without going within 10 feet of the basket in close games.

So true...

[PlayRyanGomes]

The fact that Cassell has only learned 4 plays of the C's offense is clear evidence that he only cares about playing on national tv and is not committed to this team or winning.  He's been on the team for about 2.5 months.  Learning 4 sets is inexcusable.  The notion that this team owes playoff victories to Cassell is laughable.  Sorry if I don't kiss his feet for making 2 consecutive shots in the 2nd quarter of game 2 but I've seen Eddie House do that countless times throughout the regular season.  Cassell has played like a selfish gunner whose main concern is getting his.  Following the games he sings his own praises about how playoff basketball is his time.  He cannot and/or does not run the offense, pass, rebound, defend, and he's shooting 34.7% in the playoffs (29.4% from 3).  It's time to for Doc to take off his Sam Cassell Houston Rockets Jersey and play the superior option at back up point.  Edward House.