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MDA out, what now?
Source: Forbes
Six turnovers in 22 minutes in game one of post-MDA play.
D’Antoni’s offensive system is unique in the NBA. It encourages fast breaks and quick shot making, literally encouraging players to shoot in seven seconds or less. This high-octane basketball is perfectly suited to a point guard who can see the floor and make quick decisions. A point guard like Jeremy Lin.
In Phoenix, the synergy between D’Antoni’s system and Steve Nash’s skill set earned Nash back-to-back MVP awards. Lin seemed poised to become the East Coast answer to Nash. Now all that seems very much in doubt.
In a more conventional offense, the point guard is called upon to beat his man off the dribble in a one-on-one (or isolation) situation and penetrate to the basket for a pass or a shot. This requires foot speed and leaping ability, as well as mercurial ball handling. Nash was lacking in those departments, and Lin may be even more limited in those areas Lin may be a quick study, but you simply can’t teach the foot speed of a Chris Paul or the rock-solid handle of a Deron Williams.
When D’Antoni left Phoenix to come to New York, Nash’s productivity declined–his scoring average dropped by two points, and he had two fewer assists per 48 minutes–he and suffered similar drop-offs in other statistical categories. He went from being a superstar to just a star. Remember that Nash was a 34-year old veteran, who had previously functioned, if not flourished, in more conventional offense. Look for a much more serious decline from Lin, whose career as a starter isn’t yet 20 games old.
What does the future hold for Lin? When asked to run a more conventional offense on other teams, his performance couldn’t earn him a roster spot, much less a starting job. He’s slow afoot by NBA standards and prone to turnovers and the team’s new system will undoubtedly require Lin to handle the ball under pressure, while creating his own shots. It’s not clear who the Knicks coach will be, but it’s a virtual guarantee that he won’t be running an offense like D’Antoni’s.
In Phoenix, the synergy between D’Antoni’s system and Steve Nash’s skill set earned Nash back-to-back MVP awards. Lin seemed poised to become the East Coast answer to Nash. Now all that seems very much in doubt.
In a more conventional offense, the point guard is called upon to beat his man off the dribble in a one-on-one (or isolation) situation and penetrate to the basket for a pass or a shot. This requires foot speed and leaping ability, as well as mercurial ball handling. Nash was lacking in those departments, and Lin may be even more limited in those areas Lin may be a quick study, but you simply can’t teach the foot speed of a Chris Paul or the rock-solid handle of a Deron Williams.
When D’Antoni left Phoenix to come to New York, Nash’s productivity declined–his scoring average dropped by two points, and he had two fewer assists per 48 minutes–he and suffered similar drop-offs in other statistical categories. He went from being a superstar to just a star. Remember that Nash was a 34-year old veteran, who had previously functioned, if not flourished, in more conventional offense. Look for a much more serious decline from Lin, whose career as a starter isn’t yet 20 games old.
What does the future hold for Lin? When asked to run a more conventional offense on other teams, his performance couldn’t earn him a roster spot, much less a starting job. He’s slow afoot by NBA standards and prone to turnovers and the team’s new system will undoubtedly require Lin to handle the ball under pressure, while creating his own shots. It’s not clear who the Knicks coach will be, but it’s a virtual guarantee that he won’t be running an offense like D’Antoni’s.
Six turnovers in 22 minutes in game one of post-MDA play.
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