Coaching

[Dave in Green]

..... I recall shaking my head a little at the beginning of the 2nd half against Buffalo when Tree started at center to open the half (with 3 fouls even). I figured this was probably KD sending a message to Zeke that he needed to step it up. After all, Zeke was not playing a very aggressive game up to that point. Sure enough, before long Tree gets his 4th foul and I'm thinking to myself "KD, you just paid a dear price for picking this as a teaching moment for Zeke". .....

KD clearly stated in the post-game interview that he knew that Buffalo would go straight at Zeke to open the 2nd half, and that he was concerned about Zeke getting into foul trouble. In KD's own words, he started Tree in place of Zeke to prevent Zeke from getting into foul trouble and not being available late in the game. Sure enough, Buffalo went right at Zeke's replacement -- Tree -- and got him in foul trouble instead of Zeke. As it turned out, having Zeke available at the end of the game didn't help.

I thought it was a smart call by KD when he made it, and I still think it was a smart call even though it ended up not making a difference in the game result.

[johnnyzip84]

I recall looking at the scoreboard towards the end of the 1st half of the UB game and seeing Zeke with only 1 foul. This ESPN play-py-play confirms that Zeke indeed only had 1 foul at the half. Who would bench a starter with ONE FOUL for the beginning of the 2nd half to merely protect him from foul trouble????? I didn't hear KD's explanation, but I think it's far more plausible that he simply didn't feel the need to make public his dissatisfaction with Zeke's play that night and used the "potential foul trouble" as an excuse. And if so, I applaud him for that.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Who would bench a starter with ONE FOUL for the beginning of the 2nd half to merely protect him from foul trouble?????

Awaiting a response to this question....should be a doosie.