I have noticed a lot of vitriol recently spouted at the lightening rod that has become Rudy Gay. Why is that? Is he not a useful NBA player? Does he not possess skills that we, as fans of this team, crave? Rudy is a great player who I would want on my team (though ideally on a contract more in line with the role he SHOULD play on a team).
To me the real problem is coaching. All those who say that Rudy needs to give up the ball more and play with his team mates more, chuck less, etc... All of these end with Rudy's decision on the court, but it starts with coaches and their philosophy or vision of basketball. Rudy's tendencies on the court can be corrected. It may not be easy, but playing time and play calling are ways to get a players attention.
When Casey says that he "trusts Rudy to make the right decision", he is yielding his control of the team to a player who has not shown that he can make the right decision. Rudy is not Lebron. You can't just put him on the floor and expect perfection (or close to it). He needs to be coached. Its kinda like this recent (decades-long) trend of "free-range" parenting. Parents prefer to be friends with their kids, instead of parents to their kids, and then wonder where behavoiral problems and lack of discipline come from. Kids, students, players need to be led and taught. Casey needs to coach this team, and get them to play according to his philosophy. That might mean that Rudy becomes a role player instead of the main guy (which I would prefer). Whatever it is, Casey needs to take control of this team, and stop just putting players out there and expect chaos to spontaneously find order and intention.
I'm not saying that Casey isn't that guy. He hasn't been that guy recently though that's for sure. He needs to take control of this team and lead them. Teach them. And that means holding the players accountable. If he can't, then MU needs to recognize the deficiencies and make a change.
So please, don't boo Rudy. Don't boo any of our players for that matter. They are not the problem. They are the product of their environment.
To me the real problem is coaching. All those who say that Rudy needs to give up the ball more and play with his team mates more, chuck less, etc... All of these end with Rudy's decision on the court, but it starts with coaches and their philosophy or vision of basketball. Rudy's tendencies on the court can be corrected. It may not be easy, but playing time and play calling are ways to get a players attention.
When Casey says that he "trusts Rudy to make the right decision", he is yielding his control of the team to a player who has not shown that he can make the right decision. Rudy is not Lebron. You can't just put him on the floor and expect perfection (or close to it). He needs to be coached. Its kinda like this recent (decades-long) trend of "free-range" parenting. Parents prefer to be friends with their kids, instead of parents to their kids, and then wonder where behavoiral problems and lack of discipline come from. Kids, students, players need to be led and taught. Casey needs to coach this team, and get them to play according to his philosophy. That might mean that Rudy becomes a role player instead of the main guy (which I would prefer). Whatever it is, Casey needs to take control of this team, and stop just putting players out there and expect chaos to spontaneously find order and intention.
I'm not saying that Casey isn't that guy. He hasn't been that guy recently though that's for sure. He needs to take control of this team and lead them. Teach them. And that means holding the players accountable. If he can't, then MU needs to recognize the deficiencies and make a change.
So please, don't boo Rudy. Don't boo any of our players for that matter. They are not the problem. They are the product of their environment.
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