I personally don't think that this is about Fields or inserting another player into his position...I really think that this is a chemistry thing. We are nothing like the team we were last year out of the gate, because I don't think everyone has settled into their role yet.
AB thinks he is supposed to be the top scorer, clearly, Demar also thinks he should be the top scorer. The two of them have zero chemistry (probably because they both dribble with their heads down) and define themselves by their offense. They remind me of when Carmelo and Iverson were both on Denver. One play would be run for one, they one for the other...
You throw an Alpha like Lowry into this, and I can see how Fields just does not see how he fits in. We do not play a team game offensively on every possession, so when he tries to contribute offensively it looks stupid and out of place.
At the same time, he's expected to come in and guard the other team's best player (who gets a nice rest on the defensive side of the ball).
Either AB or DD has to be put on the bench to go against the opposing team's second unit. Have the offense run through Lowry, JV and one of those guys. Get some ball movement going, and you'll see that Fields will be fine.
I give it five more games until I form an opinion of the man and his contract. Slumps happen, learning to deal with pressure happens...this is starting to get a bit ridiculous though. I'm not even expecting much from the guy.
Good D, 8 - 10ppg 4 - 6 boards - 3 - 5 assists. He is the 5th option in the starting line after all
All of that done efficiently I might add
BC's not letting either of them come off the bench. If they're on the bench it means that every single NBA journalist was right and that these guys are overpaid bench guys. We can't be having that.
Let them start, give them all the shots, they'll put up at least 15 a night and BC can justify his signings, don't worry about winning the game, that's not what we're here for.
I don't think that argument works as well with supposed "glue guys". Fields was supposed to be the active cutter on the offence who could hit the occassional corner trey. The arguement might hold a bit if his scoring was low but he was hitting his limited shots, but right now the dude flat out can't shoot. I saw him shoot free throws in Halifax like he was Javale McGee or something (barely touched rim, mostly back-board and 1 air-ball) and I haven't seen him do anything to change that perception.
The fact is, Fields should have known his role coming in was to be the 4th option on offence (behind Bargs, DD and Lowry- in no order) and ahead of JV barely, but what was largely expected out of him was active defence and occassional shooting. Missing lay-ups is just the hilight that people see, but right now the dude flat out can't shoot the ball.
Go Raps Go
In Casey We Trust
"The idea isn't to block every shot, the idea is to make your opponent think you might" - Bill Russell
Where did the "glue guy" talk really come from? That's what I'm wondering. Is it media fabricated?
your pal,
ebrian
Nice post well put.
Huge dilema for BC and DC because they are so invested in him and yet he is hurting the team BIG. Once they yank him from the starting lineup he is unlikely to go back AND then the barrage of criticism directed at BC won't just be disgruntled fans it will be ESPN types like Steven A (hole) Smith.
The really tragic thing is Landry is such a likeable guy and there seems like less and less hope that he will ever reach the heights of that rookie season... which is bizarre.
"I may be wrong ... but I doubt it"
Come back zinc (aka James Johnson). Come back!
Am I the only one not overly upset about this? He's an active defender and he hustles. I think a lot of the issue is how he's used. On offense he should not be spotting up, not until he proves he can make a shot, he should crash the glass hard on every play instead. We know he's a decent rebounder so until his shot starts falling there is no reason we should not have him crashing every play and making chaos. Maybe this would help him get over his shooting slump by letting get involved in the game more.
"When Life gives you lemons, you clone those Lemons to make super lemons!"
-Scudworth
I need to see him score a jump shot. He hasnt hit ONE all season.
It's getting pretty bad at this point. Kleiza is actually easily our best wing and if you were going on merit alone he would probably end up starting and playing 30 minutes. That's not good...
It is really going to be a tough test mentally for Fields. He's a guy who has lived a charmed life so-far...
Now he's going to feel the full wrath of Raptors fans who, thanks to BC, have a special hatred for players with bad contracts.
Hey Landry... can you deal with a nation's scorn for three years???
The sad reality is, if/when a change happens, it will only take so long before we turn on the next guy. Kleiza has had ample opportunity in Toronto to be the starter over the years, and simply doesn't deliver. Anderson seems like a real nice guy, but was a D-League scrub signing who worked hard to get a roster spot. Ross is a rookie and shouldn't be slated to start just because he was a lottery pick.
All of our SF options are flawed and all will struggle. so best case scenario for this year is to platoon the role based on match-up and hope that Ross can develop enough to seize the role.
Go Raps Go
In Casey We Trust
"The idea isn't to block every shot, the idea is to make your opponent think you might" - Bill Russell
Maybe Fields was given instructions to allow the tank to be blamed on him, let derozan bargs and lowry get their numbers, tank the season, blame it on fields. Fields gets paid, we get a high draft pick, fans arent so quick to want to dismantle the core.
its brilliant.
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