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November
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Bullets Prep For Philly As Cheaney Searches For Answers
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The Bullets preparations for the 76ers may have gotten a little easier with the word that Allen Iverson and his injured shoulder will not be returning to the lineup in time to take on the Bullets. Iverson would have been a fun player to watch, but it makes the defensive assignments for the Bullets much easier. As it is, Muresan is still questionable with the flu, and Rod Strickland is still sick.As for the other issue, who has kidnapped Calbert Cheaney? He's been playing solid defense, but his offense has basically disappeared. He rarely even seems to be looking ot shoot. In fact, it's a question on all Bullets fans lips, hence it got a J.A. Adande article in the Washington Post.
The article says many things, mostly the obvious stuff. I'd like to go further to say that Cheaney seems to have lost all confidence in his knowledge of executing the offense. An extremely telling stat is that he has only 9 assists through 10 games. IOW, when he touches the ball and doesn't have a shot, he's not setting up some other shooter on the team. That's bad.
I see too much of Calbert dribbling into the lane without knowing what he will do next. Sometimes, he pulls up for a jumper, though it's almost always contested. He also drives into a lane, goes under the basket, decides he doesn't have a shot and doesn't want to draw a foul, then dribbles back outside and hands it off to someone else to deal with. He even takes a pass off his motion, takes a couple dribbles, then decides he doesn't have a shot and returns the ball to the outside to reset the offense.
It makes no sense. Cheaney has to demand the ball, and then he has to do something with it. If he continues to do nothing with it, then he won't get the looks from his teammates, and he's done offensively. And I don't think this is what the Bullets want.
To get Cheaney involved, I would run a couple of plays that are variations on the two-man game.
Both of these plays work to Cheaney's strengths (although I do believe that Cheaney isn't a good passer off the dribble, which I think is more confidence based). Also, I'd bring Cheaney off the bench with a 3-point threat or two the guard positions (Whitney, Jackson, Murray). It also allows the Bullets to have a 3-point threat on the floor with their starting lineup and helps spread the floor better. Then, Cheaney can use his penetration abilities against the opponents reserves.
- First, let him and Rod run the pick-and-roll. Except Cheaney can have the option of rolling to the basket to draw a foul or dish to one of the big ment, or he can fade from the pick and take the pass for a medium range jumper.
- The other play I'd run is with Webber or Howard, with Cheaney running off a couple picks, then a rub-curl around Webber/Howard, who holds the ball. If Cheaney is open, drop the pass to Cheaney and let him decide what to do with the ball--drive, dish back to the open passer, dish to a weak-side player as the help defense comes.
I believe Cheaney has talent. But if this continues more than a week or two, then Cheaney's career as a Bullet is finished. I think he can do well elsewhere, but will he fit in with the Bullets? Hard to say, though my doubts get stronger by the game.
wtf 22 November 1996
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Sonics Boom, Bullets Bust In Double Overtime Thriller | Bullets Down 76ers On National TV |
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