Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

[ballsohard]

Re: Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

2011 eagles didn't have problems with huge egos....they had the worst coaching in the whole NFL starting with Andy Reid's passing the ball 70 percent of the time getting vick banged up and at the same time ignoring the most explosive running back in the league, mccoy.

Defense, they had castillo who was learning on the job,misused asomugha and had no talent at all in the linebacking and safety positions.

??? The Eagles were 5th in the league in rushing yards. Sure, they were 12th in the league in attempts with 450, but that was only 19 behind the Dolphins who were 6th in attempts. Conversely, they were 13th in the league in passing attempts with 554, and 9th in passing yards. Obviously, that's a 55% - 45% split. So Andy's playcalling was much more balanced this year, and I find it hard to believe he was the problem.

[23]

Re: Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

Ummm

NBA Forum

[NINJAK2]

Re: Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

Yeah but too bad they let Reggie push off to get that shot off too or the series would've been shorter.. but that Pacers team was scary good

LOL I agree 23 but you may not want to bring up getting away with "push offs" .

[NINJAK2]

Re: Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

The 04 Lakers failed because Malone and Payton didn't know what five on five ball was all about. They could post up and play screen/roll but making the precision cuts and passes were beyond their abilities. And because those guys had no idea, why would Kobe and Shaq go through with the Triangle?

Come on man. Karl Malone and Payton can't make precision passes? LOL. Payton is the one who made that perfect pass to Fisher to escape San Antonio with a win in the playoffs that year, otherwise they are probably watching the finals on their couch that year. Kobe/Shaq also raved about Karl's passing before he went down with injury and tried to play through it. IMO that Pistons team played FOR each other and the Lakers simply played WITH each other..There is a difference. That series really shifted when they got to Detroit and Shaq really had it going in game 3 or 4 and Kobe started jacking bad shots and not feeding the beast. There were moments he was actually looking off Shaq. That's when Kobe's ego really killed any chance of those two being successful together after that. Also Brown flat out out-coached Phil that series imo.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

Come on man. Karl Malone and Payton can't make precision passes? LOL. Payton is the one who made that perfect pass to Fisher to escape San Antonio with a win in the playoffs that year, otherwise they are probably watching the finals on their couch that year. Kobe/Shaq also raved about Karl's passing before he went down with injury and tried to play through it. IMO that Pistons team played FOR each other and the Lakers simply played WITH each other..There is a difference. That series really shifted when they got to Detroit and Shaq really had it going in game 3 or 4 and Kobe started jacking bad shots and not feeding the beast. There were moments he was actually looking off Shaq. That's when Kobe's ego really killed any chance of those two being successful together after that. Also Brown flat out out-coached Phil that series imo.

They couldn't make the simple reverse and set up passes on time that the Triangle demands. Payton wanted to post up five or six times a game and run some low screen/rolls. Malone was spoon-fed by Stockton for years. Overrated ballplayers. So thats two of the starters, who have no idea whats going on. That gave Kobe an easy excuse to abort the Triangle.

I totally agree with you on the Finals. Kobe went one against the world. Larry Brown superbly coached the Pistons and they were hungrier and more cohesive.

[23]

Re: Interesting take from Bill Simmons on the 1998 ECF

and to be fair they left GP wide open on that pass...nobody guarded him, he had free course to pass it in to anybody he wanted, and that shot is still suspect.