Team Chemistry
by NYCCats on Feb 10, 2010 8:34 AM EST
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This question has been growing in my mind over the last few games: Does this team like each other?
Yes, I'm sure certain players are friends and get along great. The question is more as a collective whole. Witness DeMarcus jumping down Darius's throat towards the end of the Alabama game. And at the end, it looked like DeMarcus and Wall were going at it (but I could be wrong). All of that, however, could be dismissed as mere heat of the moment stuff.
What really prompted the question is the continual lack of "help up." I have noticed (anecdotally), that when one of our players hits the deck, no one really goes to give them a hand up. Sure, if someone is standing there, they may offer a hand. But no one comes running over, unlike other teams who are seemingly more cohesive. Last night, there were multiple instances where an Alabama player or the ref actually helped our guy up. Perhaps I am just seeing things, but I can't help noticing it - it's like everyone out there is on his own little island.
Of course, even if true, that prompts the question: Does it even matter?
Am I off-base here? I don't live in Lex-town, so I don't get any opportunity to witness any day-to-day interactions / news reports, so perhaps someone can provide a better perspective.
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I think they were just mad at how bad they were playing
And Miller deserves to get yelled at. He has turned into a ghost on the floor.
First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
They were terribly
frustrated at the lack of calls against bama’s physical play. They were mugged all night long and you could see them looking at the refs constantly to plea their case. Being at the game, I didn’t see the apparent conflicts between the UK players but I think they were just angry at the way the whole game went. I’ll take an ugly W over a pretty L anyday.
The yelling, I believe is nothing more than a team not performing as well as it knows it can, and feeling a little frustrated
after a rough game, AND during. Wall needs to be able to get in guys faces and call them on it when they are not performing, it is part and parcel of the job as point guard. Cuz is tired of feeling like he is alone out there I think. And I also believe he is reading too much press. Everyone has been down on him for not passing out of the post more often. Last night, he did it too much, and Bama did not have the foul trouble that other teams have had against us down inside.
They just need to go back into practice and make adjustments. And if we were going to have a hard game, I would rather it be one like Bama where we can overcome it. The guys tend to bounce back really well after a struggle the next game. I would like to see that be the case on Saturday night.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Miller has the "i'm afraid to make a mistake" syndrome
It absolutely kills a BBall player, as it is a reflexive game based on confidence. You must have no memory and no conscience.
"all the way"
I've noticed the same thing
I don’t know about this team having any better or worse chemistry than most, but I too have noticed players not helping their teammates up when they’re on the deck, even when they’re standing right next to them. I hope its only a case of your typical, self-absorbed nineteen year old not seeing any farther out than two feet in front of their nose, but it is a bit bizarre.
To be honest, I noticed it too.
My dad also texted me at the end of the game to say the same thing. As a team, they just don’t seem a close knit as they did a few weeks ago.
The help-up thing is something I’ve noticed a lot lately. The new guys almost never help their teammates up. Patterson always does, and also seems to be the only one slapping backs to congratulate teammates, etc. When they get PT, Stevenson and Harris are also good about helping guys up and congratulating good plays.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--O.W.
Also consider though
that Demarcus then patted Darius on the back to encourage him as well. I definitely agree that this was a “we’re better than this” moment. Darius in particular is capable of being a spectacular player. I’m sure it’s tough with so many other superbly talented individuals around you. It probably becomes easier to become complacent about your own performance level. I’m not making excuses for Darius, though. All of these guys should at least be able to bring a strong effort to the court every game. I understand that your shot won’t always be there, but pretty much every other element of the game is a matter of effort. I don’t question this team’s chemistry though. I do believe they like each other and support each other fully. This was just a bad night for them. Thankfully they came away with the win. Let’s just hope they learn another good lesson from the experience.
I think you guys are blind
No offense, but seriously you must be watching different games than I’m watching. What do I see? A team that is tired. I see plenty of congrats going out…just not the jumping out of their skin kind, and I think that is by design. Seems to be more of a workman like, professional attitude – “Take care of Business” if you will.
The yelling? I don’t see anger What I see is fire and leadership.
Hey now...
I did allude to the fact that Demarcus patted Darius on the back afterwards. I definitely think you’re right that this team is taking a more business-like approach since the USC loss. And sometimes ugly games are good for you in the bigger picture. These guys know they are now in the home stretch of the regular season and that it’s time to get more serious. I really did not feel that Big Cuz was simply getting after Darius. As I said, I think it really was more of a "we’re better than this" or a “let’s pick it up” moment. And let’s be honest, Darius was virtually invisible last night. But I do believe these guys are a TEAM and that they do enjoy playing together and will continue to support each other to the end. Even if that means getting after each other a bit when necessary. Tough love in other words. And I don’t mind that.
It'a impossible for any of us sitting at home to know
what’s going on inside this team or any team for that matter. Anyone who watches sports sees things that make you scratch your head and wonder what might be going on between players and coaches.
That said….it’s one thing to see an isolated event and wonder but it’s quite another to see a pattern over time. I agree with several…..not picking up a teammate once is nothing but a pattern is more than “workman like or professional”. Anyone who’s played a team sport at any level knows how you act when you like your teammates and how you act when you don’t.
We can speculate all we want about what’s going on but in my opinion, there’s not much doubt that something is. Bottom line…..Cal is used to dealing with 18-19 year olds with BIG egos. I trust him to fix this or make it go away. Go Cats!!
You can't fix "stupid"!
Impossible to Tell I Agree
I saw that moment when Cousins was getting loud with Miller. What can’t be know from afar is was Cuz simply trying to fire Miller up? I think maybe he wanted the ball in the post and Miller did not feed him. Anyway, there just is no way of knowing what the team is thinking except I agree with others in this post. The refs simply ate the whistle in this game and it was frustrating the bigs.
Maybe
in the last few games but before the loss I saw guys cheering each other on. I saw them reallly having fun.
Team Chemistry
Anyway Nice Topic.
I think chemistry and desire to win for one another is all this team needs to have a great shot and accomplishing all their goals. I believe there is no doubt that they are the team with the most raw talent. What other team is starting at least 4 NBA players ( 3 possible lotery picks) with other NBA-likely players coming off the bench? Now is simply a question of realizing potential. They must do that as a team. I wish I knew what was going on in practice an outside the lines. I do know it is nice to see Bledsoe and Cousins (and earlier Wall) at the women’s game. And this has be a really fun time to be a Wildcat.
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