(01-26-2021, 04:41 PM)Jason Terry Wrote: I’ve been thinking this same thing over the last 1.5 weeks. And i think it’s Luka vs everyone else........ certain comments make more sense. It was the comments he made to Carlisle at the end of that Bucks game that made me first think so.
All the players and even the coaching staff i believe walk on egg shells at times. It’s causing the players to press when they get on the court. Hence the chemistry and shot making issues. Not Rick or anyone else can control him. When everyones saying you’re the best player in the world, then you get a free pass to say and do whatever you want.
Obviously this is speculation and whatever it is hasn’t been made public, but this would make the most sense.........I mean KP looks straight up scared and nervous when he’s interviewed post game. Rick looked like he was crying after one of the games.
We can’t forget that this is a kid. How rational were we at 21?........this is a GOOD thing though. Much better to have a star like this than one that doesn’t have that inner drive/fight/competitiveness
Your theory really fascinated me. Then I checked the postgame interviews. All the story points to the major and most important issue, that causes everything not working even defense, is that the ball didnt flow in 1st quarter. Even on questions regarding defense and why the slow start. RC answer is ball movement in 1st quarter. This is also the issue that was discussed at half time it seems. This was the root for all the issues in the locker room. RC mentioned that the team chemistry was not working in the start of this game and individual stats did not matter.
Simply, I had to figure out who was stalling the ball movement. Re-watched carefully the entire 1st quarter. Because this had the answer for the topic above, and who was to blame for this.
Luka: Had almost a perfect 1st quarter. Passing the ball, setting up teammates, not rushing through his reads. He had two quick shots only entire quarter, and on one of them he was quiet open. So I would say only one time in this quarter that he made a mistake. Thats it, otherwise played to perfection, and in fact one of his best quarters ever, he had ton of assists and great reads and would have had more if WCS could capitalise. Hence, I can say based on this, I am not all all sold on the theory that it is Luka that is the one being discussed by RC in half time. JJ looked extremely happy with Luka at end of 1st quarter at game breaks.
THJ: Made one rushed 3 point attempt early at the shot clock.
KP: Made 5 or 6 rushed shots. Need to go back and recount exact number. Way early in the shot clock. On none of them being open. Most of them did not go in. Even Harp mentioned that KP was rushing through his shots. It is the usual KP receiving the ball from Luka, and instead of making the ball flow to the next guy, he makes the immediate shot.
I am now 100% convinced that the discussion in the half time was about KP.
And we need to be scared about this definitely. Also about his step that he has lost post injury, he is not the same defender for sure. But, I do hope and think, this will return. The ball movement, I think/hope they have sorted this out. Need to watch 3rd/4th quarter and see if there is a pattern if KP stopped doing these rushed attempts early in shot clock, with a defender on him well positioned.
Also, bear in mind, that upon KP's return we started play bad. Yes we lost the 3 main pieces of our team, 3 starters that play D, but KP also came back, and the bad results after his return also needs to be taken into account, and his effort and level of play, and the stalling of ball movement, probably had the coach and teammates reacting in this game at half time.