Miami game

[murdoch@exo.com (Hank Murdoch)]

Despite the loss, there was some good as well as bad in the Miami game.
First of all, it it wasn't nearly as bad as last night against the Knicks.
The bad news : neither Dana Barros nor Chauncey Billups nor Dee Brown are
ready to lead the team as point guards.  That's not all that terrible
actually - considering that they're learning a new system - and especially
in Billups case being a rookie.

It looks like two or three of the players have at least a bit of a clue as
to how to play the system.  The one playing it best against Miami, I
thought, was Bowen.  He actually seems to know where to be and when to pass
etc. under this system.  Considering he isn't a former Pitino player at
Kentucky, that's impressive.  He also had the play of the game (or season so
far) in a tremendous come from way behind block of a clear Miami breakaway
for a layup.  Great effort and good hands in making the block and not fouling.

Other players who showed a little idea of what to do in this system against
Miami were McCarty, Mercer, and to some degree Knight.

McCarty, Bowen, and Mercer seemed to be the only ones who had much appetite
for slashing to the basket - while most of the rest of the offense consisted
of Barros (or Billups) going back and forth and holding the ball at the
perimiter while their teamates wore themselves out making cuts that Barros
or Billups ignored until the shot clock was almost expired.

There was an interview with Jo Jo White during the game where he commented
on the side-to-side play of the guards by saying "there are no baskets on
the sidelines".

That may be why for the last few minutes of the game, Pitino put Bowen in as
point guard !   He actually made a nice pass to a cutting Mercer for a
basket (and foul shot).  Later he got a pass and drove the baseline and got
some freethrows out of it and then forced a turnover out of bounds on the
Heat.  He's not likely a future point guard, but if Barros or Brown or
Billups would make an occasional pass quickly (rather than holding on to the
ball until the pass opportunity is gone) - or use their speed etc. the way
Bowen does, we wouldn't be hurting at the point.  Walker and even Knight are
better at hitting their teamates in motion with a pass than the current
points are.  Hopefully, it's the kind of thing that can be learned, and
again, I agree that Billups in particular should be given a lot of time to
learn.

Other good stuff :
Mercer was impressive again.  Seems surprisingly cool and poised for only a
few games as a pro.  If he keeps developing off his current play, there
won't be any question (as at draft time) as to whether he can get his shot
as a pro etc.
Even Pervis played pretty well at times while he was in.

All in all, not too discouraging considering that they are a very young team
learning a new system and coming off a bad loss the night before.

Hank M.