Air Allnite met with the point guards…
Air Allnite: “Cerri, Farley, my problem is you guys have a good game here or there, but never string a few together. We need somebody to TAKE the position. Cerri, increase your shooting range. Farley, Cerri’s just a tick better than you everywhere else it matters for a point guard; step your game up. No one is running away with the job. We want one of you to grab the ball and run with it. You guys are handing the ball to each other instead of running with it. McCain, you need to find a role on this team that gives you a chance. It might be at point guard, it might not. You need to figure out who you are and what you do, then do that. You have a lot of tools but you need a lot of work. Just go out, do the work, and play your basketball game.”
...as Michael Richards met with the wings…
Michael Richards: “Shooter, work your defense and your ability to finish inside. You can handle either guard spot. You might be best as a full time 3rd guard in a 3 guard rotation. We need you to up your game and show us how good you can be on both ends. Get that defense where we want it to be. Mantas, your ball skills have to improve. You also have to finish at the rim. You do a lot of things that this team needs. Now we need you to show us what YOU want to be known for. Rolland, you have to up your game. It’s time to start putting things together and making opponents respect you. Hatfield, I’ve been begging to get my hands on you. You have the skill set to be a force at small forward. We’re gonna get you better shooting, inside and out. If you become the small forward, great. If you don’t, we’ve just made you that much better as a big. It’s a no lose for us and for you. You are playable at three positions. Your job is to get better so we can use you as a match up weapon all over the court.”
...and Byron Helm with the bigs.
Byron Helm: “Koncki, we gotta work on your footwork, that range and passing. Those turnovers have to come down. No two ways about it. MacNeur, we’re gonna work on your footwork and your range. You and Koncki are going to be some kind of force to deal with. Pemwieser, you’re the best pure shooter of the bigs and worst inside player. We’re gonna work on that footwork and passing of yours, and we’re gonna get that inside game up to the level of Josh. You put in that work, and I guarantee you this will be the best big man group in the league.”
Meanwhile, in the GM office, Pio Reina and Roberto Gurgone discuss things. “Pio,” Roberto asked, “what do you have cooking? I smell those gears grinding.”
“It’s time to play a bit in the lab. Only playing 5 tonight. Letting the kid McCain have the point, Farley at the two, Reynolds the three, Hatfield the four, and Pemwieser the middle.” Pio knew that was not anything lab worthy buw wanted to get a reaction.
Roberto reacted. “Nothing about that is lab worthy at all. That’s just the bare minimum we can roll out and we should still win.”
“So put on your evaluation hat. Defensively, the point guard is playing power forward, the two guard is playing the point, the small forward is at power forward, the power forward is at the two guard, and only the center remains defensively at his position.” Pio was sure Roberto would pick it up. He did.
“So you want to see what McCain can do, evaluate Hatfield’s versatility, see if Pemwieser dominates, and watch Farley and Reynolds to see what they do. We roll out the big guns if there’s a game three, and we still have a scrimmage to play with for evaluations. Air is gonna hate this.”
Pio laughed. “Air hates everything that isn’t his idea.”