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Saturday, January 12, 2008
Tech, Swiss cheese similar in some ways
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey, sorry to be away so long. Combination of the holidays a little, a tremendous amount of time spent with my ill mother, and a new laptop which took more than a week to equip with the proper log-on to get back here. Long story, huh?
Tech is not good at basketball. Tech could and should be better at basketball.
On the one hand, I can’t explain the problem(s) definitively. But if you’re willing to read a little philosophy, here it is: average chemistry, below-average point guard play, fuzzy understanding of roles (that may be changing from time to time, possibly explaining poor understanding), too few players willing to step into a void of leadership, and the fact that the leaders the Jackets have (Jeremis Smith and Anthony Morrow), are not typical of those more commonly cast into the role.
That last one is a big-minded concept mostly for another day. This is catching up on a general level.
Don’t misunderstand. I think very highly of Jeremis and Anthony. They’re both going to be very successful. But they’re not Mario West, even if more talented. And that doesn’t mean they’ll land in the NBA, like Mario, because this is not that simple.
There are missing ingredients beyond the ability to shoot, pass, etc. This team lacks sufficient connectivity. Their chemistry problems do not have anything to do with the way they get along. There are many players of similar personality, perhaps not enough of a mix. Who’s grumpy? Who gets bleeping hacked when they lose? Mario was that man last year. Jeremis is into it, works his tail off, and all that, but I don’t think he has Mario’s ability to make teammates feel guilty for not matching.
Mario had that ability in part because of his unique path. He walked on, and busted his #%^ to get where he was. That earned a different kind of respect.
This team misses Mario. And Javaris. And Thad Young wouldn’t hurt, either.
But the Jackets should still be better than 7-8 by about, oh, three or four wins.
Bet they give North Carolina Hades Wednesday, though. Seriously.
Matt
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