Did Rasheed Infect the Team with "Lazy"?

[moiso]

Well, I warned many times about adding Sheed, for personality and chemistry issues, and for potentially having one too many older players on the team....

Thing is, I still have no real proof that he is the reason the C's are losing....I know for sure that he isn't the sole reason.  But never underestimate intangibles, in which department Sheed comes up close to zero.

Still, if we are healthy, I can't imagine he won't do some good in the playoffs.  However, I've reached the point where I don't want him even taking the 3's that are in the flow of the offense...I want him taking zero threes...that's right, zero.  Time to play him exclusively at center and leave him down low all the time, spacing be [dang]ed...adjust the lineup accordingly...

We lack fire...and even an injured Powe would have provided a few sparkles of fire from the bench.  These things we call teams are fragile things....in the physical sense and beyond.

I agree on the three point thing.  And the license to do whatever he pleases is crazy.  I'm sure Rondo or Baby would get reprimanded if they took 5 3's every game.  It's time to face the fact that Rasheed can't shoot from long distance anymore.  How much more evidence do we need?  Two and a half more years of evidence?  I hope not.

[jasail]

i haven't read this entire thread yet, so i apologize if this has been already said.  but double shame on the other players if they embraced laziness because of rasheed, rather than pushing rasheed to embrace ubuntu.  if that is the case you cannot blame rasheed, he is what he is, but you really have to question the professionalism and leadership of the veterans.

that would be disgraceful and weak-spirited if they let one colleague influence the way they have approached their job throughout their careers. 

if that is the case though, you'd also have to put a fair amount of the blame on Doc's shoulders.  if he saw a player having that effect on the team, you may try motivating him and if that doesn't work you limit his role and thus his impact.

[footey]

Early in the first half of the Nets' game, Sheed is jogging back on defense. He sees his man, Brook Lopez, sprinting toward the hoop, but makes no effort to catch him. Sure enough, a couple of seconds later, a crisp pass is deliverd to Lopez for an uncontested score.

That scene would never have happened in the 07/08 year. Or if it did, KG would go ballistic on the culprit. Ballistic.  There was not one player who got on Sheed for his non-chalance.  not even KG.

To me, this epitomizes the heart of the problem with this team. I am not blaming it all on Sheed.  I have noticed that Perk is not nearly as intense on defense as he used to be.  It seems as if KG has lost his leadership role on D, where he is free to chew guys out for not getting back, not hustling, etc. Part of that is because he has been unable, physically, to lead by example. The last couple of games he may be getting back to a point physically where he can again feel empowered to take control of the defense.

This team needs a daily kick in the butt from KG if it is going to win again.

[BballTim]

Early in the first half of the Nets' game, Sheed is jogging back on defense. He sees his man, Brook Lopez, sprinting toward the hoop, but makes no effort to catch him. Sure enough, a couple of seconds later, a crisp pass is deliverd to Lopez for an uncontested score.

That scene would never have happened in the 07/08 year. Or if it did, KG would go ballistic on the culprit. Ballistic.  There was not one player who got on Sheed for his non-chalance.  not even KG.

   If it's the play I'm thinking of, Sheed wasn't jogging up the court, he was putting out the effort but he was just slower than Lopez. Not amazing given their ages.

[Chris]

The team was infected with "Lazy" last year as well.  The difference was, Pierce and Allen had more in the tank.

I also think the growth of the young guys (Perk and Rondo), has had a negative affect on the chemistry of this team as well, since they have not seemed able to meld their more developed games into the system very well. 

But ultimately, while I don't think Sheed has helped anything, the seeds for these problems had already been planted long before Sheed was here.

[greg_kite]

Sheed is not the problem.  Even with his faults I think everyone must agree that he's a HUGE upgrade from Mikki Moore or Patrick O'Bryant as the backup center.

One difference I've noticed during this funk that is different from even the beginning of the season is that we can't score in the paint.  Even when KG, Perk and Sheed are posting up, if they don't get their shots blocked they are just flat out missing.

This team has become a jump shooting team.  And when the shots aren't falling the team is losing.

[BballTim]

I also think the growth of the young guys (Perk and Rondo), has had a negative affect on the chemistry of this team as well, since they have not seemed able to meld their more developed games into the system very well. 

  This is true, but I think Rondo's game took a leap in December and they haven't had Rondo and a healthy PP and a (somewhat) healthy KG on the court for more than a few games at a time. They need to play together to develop that chemistry.

[Chris]

Sheed is not the problem.  Even with his faults I think everyone must agree that he's a HUGE upgrade from Mikki Moore or Patrick O'Bryant as the backup center.

One difference I've noticed during this funk that is different from even the beginning of the season is that we can't score in the paint.  Even when KG, Perk and Sheed are posting up, if they don't get their shots blocked they are just flat out missing.

This team has become a jump shooting team.  And when the shots aren't falling the team is losing.

Well, I think a huge part of the problem is that KG and Wallace have not had a lot of room to work in the post against good teams...at least in the second half of games.  And that is because our shooting really has not been very good.  

This team has always used its shooting to open up the post, and vice versa.  However, this year, other than the first few weeks of the season, they have not had more than one shooter hot at a time.  And when you have only one shooter who can hit, it makes it MUCH easier for defenses to key on them, and then to crowd the paint, making it tough for the big men in the post, or maybe more importantly, for Rondo driving.

If this team wants to have any success in the playoffs, the key is going to be getting Pierce and Ray healthy, and hot at the exact same time.  That would open up the post, and make it VERY hard for any team to defend.  Right now, they are downright easy to defend.

[arctic 3.0]

looking at this team i see one thing missing. leon powe.
last year he was the guy who stepped up to fill in for the loss of posey. whether he was taking a charge, battling 1 on 4 for a rebound or punishing the opposing defense with an in your face dunk, powe was the x factor that teams had a hard time neutralizing. after he went down baby filled in ok, but could not and does not play with the ferocity that made leon so valuable.
we replaced him with sheed, a taller,more well rounded vet who may bring lots to the table but not what the team is starving for. when was the last time either baby or sheed slid into the lane take a charge? how about second chance points off the offensive glass? whats more demoralizing than playing 24 seconds of good d, resulting in a missed shot, only to see leon gather the rebound and throw down an emphatic dunk. kid has KG fire and a bruisers game. we can't replace that with baby's more polished O or even 1000 sheeds. 

[Chris]

I also think the growth of the young guys (Perk and Rondo), has had a negative affect on the chemistry of this team as well, since they have not seemed able to meld their more developed games into the system very well. 

  This is true, but I think Rondo's game took a leap in December and they haven't had Rondo and a healthy PP and a (somewhat) healthy KG on the court for more than a few games at a time. They need to play together to develop that chemistry.

Agreed.  I would add an effective Ray as well (see my last post).  For Rondo to be effective in the second half of games against good teams, they need to be able to spread the floor.  If Ray, Pierce, and KG are not all hitting their shots, then they all suffer from it.

This does not change the fact that this team absolutely has been cruising/bored/couldn't care less for way too many games this year (and last year)...but the reason they don't have the ability to overcome their lack of intensity, like they did in their run at the beginning of last year, is because they haven't been at full strength.

[Who]

Sheed is not the problem.  Even with his faults I think everyone must agree that he's a HUGE upgrade from Mikki Moore or Patrick O'Bryant as the backup center.

One difference I've noticed during this funk that is different from even the beginning of the season is that we can't score in the paint.  Even when KG, Perk and Sheed are posting up, if they don't get their shots blocked they are just flat out missing.

This team has become a jump shooting team.  And when the shots aren't falling the team is losing.

Well, I think a huge part of the problem is that KG and Wallace have not had a lot of room to work in the post against good teams...at least in the second half of games.  And that is because our shooting really has not been very good.  

This team has always used its shooting to open up the post, and vice versa.  However, this year, other than the first few weeks of the season, they have not had more than one shooter hot at a time.  And when you have only one shooter who can hit, it makes it MUCH easier for defenses to key on them, and then to crowd the paint, making it tough for the big men in the post, or maybe more importantly, for Rondo driving.

If this team wants to have any success in the playoffs, the key is going to be getting Pierce and Ray healthy, and hot at the exact same time.  That would open up the post, and make it VERY hard for any team to defend.  Right now, they are downright easy to defend.

I agree that three point shooting has been a major problem for this team this season ... 38% shooting on 19 attempts per game down to 34% shooting on 17.9 attempts per game. ... I think the loss of that weapon has deceased the offense's level of versatility. Ability to score in different ways at a high level.

But I disagree, on it stopping Garnett + Sheed from going into the low post and being effective. I think that's solely about their mentality, their willingness to go down there and fight in the post. I don't think it has had any effect on their post play.

[j804]

looking at this team i see one thing missing. leon powe.
last year he was the guy who stepped up to fill in for the loss of posey. whether he was taking a charge, battling 1 on 4 for a rebound or punishing the opposing defense with an in your face dunk, powe was the x factor that teams had a hard time neutralizing. after he went down baby filled in ok, but could not and does not play with the ferocity that made leon so valuable.
we replaced him with sheed, a taller,more well rounded vet who may bring lots to the table but not what the team is starving for. when was the last time either baby or sheed slid into the lane take a charge? how about second chance points off the offensive glass? whats more demoralizing than playing 24 seconds of good d, resulting in a missed shot, only to see leon gather the rebound and throw down an emphatic dunk. kid has KG fire and a bruisers game. we can't replace that with baby's more polished O or even 1000 sheeds. 

Baby goes to take charges all the time....and would people already just forget about Posey/Powe???!! Its ridiculous powe as of now and this year would have done zero for this team

[Chris]

Sheed is not the problem.  Even with his faults I think everyone must agree that he's a HUGE upgrade from Mikki Moore or Patrick O'Bryant as the backup center.

One difference I've noticed during this funk that is different from even the beginning of the season is that we can't score in the paint.  Even when KG, Perk and Sheed are posting up, if they don't get their shots blocked they are just flat out missing.

This team has become a jump shooting team.  And when the shots aren't falling the team is losing.

Well, I think a huge part of the problem is that KG and Wallace have not had a lot of room to work in the post against good teams...at least in the second half of games.  And that is because our shooting really has not been very good.  

This team has always used its shooting to open up the post, and vice versa.  However, this year, other than the first few weeks of the season, they have not had more than one shooter hot at a time.  And when you have only one shooter who can hit, it makes it MUCH easier for defenses to key on them, and then to crowd the paint, making it tough for the big men in the post, or maybe more importantly, for Rondo driving.

If this team wants to have any success in the playoffs, the key is going to be getting Pierce and Ray healthy, and hot at the exact same time.  That would open up the post, and make it VERY hard for any team to defend.  Right now, they are downright easy to defend.

I agree that three point shooting has been a major problem for this team this season ... 38% shooting on 19 attempts per game down to 34% shooting on 17.9 attempts per game. ... I think the loss of that weapon has deceased the offense's level of versatility. Ability to score in different ways at a high level.

But I disagree, on it stopping Garnett + Sheed from going into the low post and being effective. I think that's solely about their mentality, their willingness to go down there and fight in the post. I don't think it has had any effect on their post play.

I think at times you are right.  Especially in the games where the team is cruising (which admittedly has been most of them this season).  But I absolutely think that is the problem in games like the Cavs game last week.  They were killing in the post early in the game, but the Cavs simply took it away later in the game, because the C's only had one shooter they needed to respect on the perimeter.

[arctic 3.0]

looking at this team i see one thing missing. leon powe.
last year he was the guy who stepped up to fill in for the loss of posey. whether he was taking a charge, battling 1 on 4 for a rebound or punishing the opposing defense with an in your face dunk, powe was the x factor that teams had a hard time neutralizing. after he went down baby filled in ok, but could not and does not play with the ferocity that made leon so valuable.
we replaced him with sheed, a taller,more well rounded vet who may bring lots to the table but not what the team is starving for. when was the last time either baby or sheed slid into the lane take a charge? how about second chance points off the offensive glass? whats more demoralizing than playing 24 seconds of good d, resulting in a missed shot, only to see leon gather the rebound and throw down an emphatic dunk. kid has KG fire and a bruisers game. we can't replace that with baby's more polished O or even 1000 sheeds. 

Baby goes to take charges all the time....and would people already just forget about Posey/Powe???!! Its ridiculous powe as of now and this year would have done zero for this team

obviously he would have done nothing while injured. but do you really think that if we resigned powe and he came back from his injury in the same time frame as he is with cleveland, he would do nothing for this teams chances? that his infusion of hustle, rebounds and fire would have little effect on our prospects?

i think he would be a welcome addition to the squad.

also, i've not been harping on the loss powe/posey. i mention him to bring a different perspective to the question of whether the sheed signing was a mistake. and given that we signed sheed the same offseason as we chose not to sign leon it seems to me to be a valid comment.

[PLamb]

looking at this team i see one thing missing. leon powe.
last year he was the guy who stepped up to fill in for the loss of posey. whether he was taking a charge, battling 1 on 4 for a rebound or punishing the opposing defense with an in your face dunk, powe was the x factor that teams had a hard time neutralizing. after he went down baby filled in ok, but could not and does not play with the ferocity that made leon so valuable.
we replaced him with sheed, a taller,more well rounded vet who may bring lots to the table but not what the team is starving for. when was the last time either baby or sheed slid into the lane take a charge? how about second chance points off the offensive glass? whats more demoralizing than playing 24 seconds of good d, resulting in a missed shot, only to see leon gather the rebound and throw down an emphatic dunk. kid has KG fire and a bruisers game. we can't replace that with baby's more polished O or even 1000 sheeds. 

Baby goes to take charges all the time....and would people already just forget about Posey/Powe???!! Its ridiculous powe as of now and this year would have done zero for this team

obviously he would have done nothing while injured. but do you really think that if we resigned powe and he came back from his injury in the same time frame as he is with cleveland, he would do nothing for this teams chances? that his infusion of hustle, rebounds and fire would have little effect on our prospects?

i think he would be a welcome addition to the squad.

also, i've not been harping on the loss powe/posey. i mention him to bring a different perspective to the question of whether the sheed signing was a mistake. and given that we signed sheed the same offseason as we chose not to sign leon it seems to me to be a valid comment.

Would he really give us any more than Baby or Wallace currently are giving us

Would he effect this team's inability to take care of the ball or shoot better from outside or make the starters not give up huge leads or have the second team go long stretches without scoring

I doubt it

Leon didn't look like he was any better than Sheldon Williams in that comeback game against us

Maybe he looked better in the next game he played but, come on, even if he were to return at his peak effectiveness and efficiency he EVER played at, he would be a drop in the well of what this team needs to fix itself