I get what Ed's saying. You do the same thing 10 times, it's hardly surprising to be expected to do it again for the 11th.
But there's also the saying that you play like you practice. Since, well, forever, Nate has started the season thinking he had Brandon Roy at SG, so the offense has to run in a way that fits Roy's style.
When Roy broke down last year midseason, the team was scrambling to find an identity. Sure, Andre was the driver of the offense, but Aldridge and Batum had never experienced playing uptempo (or even moderate tempo) NBA basketball. I'm guessing Nate was too busy keeping the ship afloat to seriously consider changing the playing style.
As for why Nate never ran in Seattle, I always used to think it was because he just didn't run. But remember, it was his first coaching job. You fuck that up and you don't get another one. Maybe his conservative approach reflected what was best for Nate's own career path--don't make waives, let your star carry you, don't rely overmuch on PG's like Luke Ridnour to make fast break decisions. One year he had a pretty reliable Brent Barry to run the offense and they were 15th in pace. Barry left, Ridnour got back the starting job, and the pace dropped to 27th again.
*shrug* Maybe people, including coaches, can change. Nate's been part of the National team. He saw what a little razzle-dazzle can do to solidify a squad (and maybe help a trio of superstars bond). He's got job security. And maybe even he has been wondering a little what it'd be like to coach a moderate-tempo team for once. It's got to get old being know for the most plodding offense in the league, even for a guy like Nate.
Maybe Nate sees this season as a clean slate. If he's ever going to have another team that's 15th instead of 30th in pace, this is the time to do it.
