[外電] Point guards failing to impress
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16630949.htm
Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman didn't hesitate when asked what happened
after Monday night's 105-77 blowout loss to Houston.
"Our guard play was atrocious," he said. "We had no direction."
It doesn't make sense to Wittman, who has emphasized to his point guards that
they need to take more initiative calling plays and setting up the offense.
But he didn't get what he wanted from starter Mike James or reserve Randy
Foye against Houston.
Wittman estimated the Wolves committed seven turnovers in their first 12 or
13 possessions to start the game. Officially, the Wolves were credited with
five turnovers in the first quarter, all in the first seven minutes.
"My belief is in this league, in high school, in college, I don't care what
level, if you've got good guard play, you've got a shot," Wittman said.
"We're not getting any (good point guard) play right now. No direction. Maybe
this is going to have to be a team where we walk the ball up every possession
and I have to call every play. Maybe that's what I'm going to have to do.
I've got to figure that out."
James apparently didn't agree after the game that this loss should be pinned
on the point guards.
"You know what, somebody's got to be the scapegoat in anything," he said. "It
is what it is. That's how he feels."
The Wolves play a two-point guard system in which the two split playing time
fairly evenly. It wouldn't necessarily be that way if Wittman received what
he's looking for from either point guard more consistently.
Wittman said the opportunity is there for James or Foye to assert himself and
garner more playing time. But the issue is that neither has run the offense
as well as Wittman would like since he became coach last month.
It's up to them to take more initiative and to always have two or three plays
in their heads that the Wolves can execute according to the situation,
Wittman said.
Said Kevin Garnett following the Rockets loss: "We've got to get in the sets,
man. That's what I'm talking about. We have no consistency running the sets.
It was one of those nights when it was just all messed up."
James and Foye said earlier in the day that they understand what Wittman
wants of them. Foye said Wittman's expectations are a bit higher than under
the previous regime.
"A lot of times, he'll get caught up in calling plays and I just follow his
commands," James said. "So if that's what he wants, that's what we do. That's
an even better situation."
James said he feels comfortable running the offense.
"I know where my buttons are, my four-wheel drive, my all-wheel drive,
windshield wipers, wiper fluid, everything," he said.
Foye is a rookie, and although he's more than halfway through his first
season, his adjustment might be more understandable.
"He just wants us to get into sets a little quicker and distribute the ball,"
Foye said of Wittman.
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