How to Use Gerald Wallace

[LameR]

So, I was at the game tonight, and was a little surprised that he didn't play a whole lot initially (although he did get some decent minutes). I started watching how we used him, especially in the second half, and realized that he pretty much just hangs out at the three point line, and for four possessions in a row he didn't even move or touch the ball. With a guy like Wallace, he's gotta be cutting. He doesn't NEED the ball a ton, but he has talent, and he's not being put in positions to use it. This isn't so much complaining as an observation, and hoping that as he gets used to the offense, Nate redoes the offense a bit to put him in a position to contribute. Toward the end of the game, we did look for him a few times, which was good to see.

 

[McNicholicious]

I noticed this too. A guy like wallace is good at taking the ball to the basket. He needs the ball in his hands at times and needs to cut towards the basket. He isn't Rudy where he just hangs out at the 3 point line a shoots 3s all game. Once he is more comfortable with the offense, I think we will start integrating him into everything better.

 

[Rhal]

I don't like to see Wallace at the 3 line. He isn't that great of a shooter, McMillan hasn't had a SF like Wallace before so I hope it is just him not knowing how to use him yet. If by the end of the season he is still just sitting at the 3 line i'm gonna go hang myself.

 

[LameR]

I just feel bad for him kinda. Going from being the man to standing around bored at the three point line when you have all kinds of ability. Hope he is patient with it.

 

[RoyToy]

The way he's being used is a damn shame. And he needs to start.

This guy is too good of player to sit as much as he does and be used like Dante Cunningham was.

Nate needs to get over his fetish of using a hybrid 4. It's nice for stretches but not all the time.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nate is trying to make him into Batum, and it's not working.

 

[MIXUM]

Wallace on blazers....

Awkward

 

[Drttimmy]

Maybe it's still too early to tell, but he doesn't seem a very effective hybrid 4. I was apprehensive about this after reading some Charlotte fans criticize his use as a 4, and unfortunately that seems to be his only role with this team as its currently constructed. I'm not really sure playing him with Camby and Aldridge would be any more effective either, since we dont have guards that can keep defenses from sagging. I think his best moments will be if/when other teams go small and the pace picks up. That's spot duty though.

 

[alex42083]

He seems to be the Andre Miller of SFs for Nate. Nate tried to make Andre into playing Blakey's way at first, until he became who he is now. It'll just be a matter of time before they know how to utilize Gerald's strengths.

 

[Natebishop3]

I just think we need to be patient and let the guy find his niche. It's only been... 3 games?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I just think we need to be patient and let the guy find his niche. It's only been... 3 games?

4..

 

[Natebishop3]

4..

Oh... nevermind.... 4 games and he still isn't comfortable? Terrible. Cut the guy.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Oh... nevermind.... 4 games and he still isn't comfortable? Terrible. Cut the guy.

I know you are being sarcastic, but I don't even think it's his fault. First of all, he should be starting. Secondly, he should not be standing around the 3 point line for most of the time.

 

[Natebishop3]

I know you are being sarcastic, but I don't even think it's his fault. First of all, he should be starting. Secondly, he should not be standing around the 3 point line for most of the time.

And both of those decisions are from.... who?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Gerald's gotta know that his new role is to stand in the corner and wait for the swing pass. This is what we do! It's called "playing the right way."

 

[Natebishop3]

Gerald's gotta know that his new role is to stand in the corner and wait for the swing pass. This is what we do! It's called "playing the right way."

That's not very scrappy.

 

[Nikolokolus]

That's not very scrappy.

Guys just have to knock down shots. That's all there is to it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Guys just have to knock down shots. That's all there is to it.

And scrap... don't forget about scrapping.

 

[Nikolokolus]

And knocking down shots ... gotta knock down shots.

 

[Natebishop3]

And knocking down shots ... gotta knock down shots.

Can you scrap WHILE knocking down shots?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wallace can start at SF if you all think it is necessary. But he is still the back up PF as well. There is no-one else. I don't recall Dante taking many 3's or standing in the corner, he often cut to the basket. So i don't see the current similarities.

Wallace's role on the offense end will evolve.

 

[julius]

How to use Gerald Wallace?

Do the opposite of what McMillan is doing.

 

[STOMP]

Wallace can start at SF if you all think it is necessary. But he is still the back up PF as well. There is no-one else. I don't recall Dante taking many 3's or standing in the corner, he often cut to the basket. So i don't see the current similarities.

Wallace's role on the offense end will evolve.

exactly. The next best option for backup PF minutes is Batum and they rightfully prefer to keep him defending guards and wings because of his lack of bulk. Offensively the Cunningham comparison seems pretty apt, GW just needs to find a comfort level with his new team/teammates playing off the ball

STOMP

 

[ppilot]

Interesting quote from Wallace ""I worked so hard to be a starter in this league that I’m looking forward to (getting back to) that.’’ "

I really hope this doesn't turn into another Dre situation.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Interesting quote from Wallace ""I worked so hard to be a starter in this league that I’m looking forward to (getting back to) that.’’ "

I really hope this doesn't turn into another Dre situation.

Nate was going to start him against Sacramento until Rudy got sick. So I doubt it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Interesting quote from Wallace ""I worked so hard to be a starter in this league that I’m looking forward to (getting back to) that.’’ "

I really hope this doesn't turn into another Dre situation.

I think it's a common feeling amongst veterans who are still in their prime. The guy was an All-Star last year. First team All-NBA defense. Those kinds of guys paid their dues. They deserve to start. I realize that Nic has a lot of potential, and he's playing pretty good ball this year, but he's young and he take take another year or two off the bench.

 

[Public Defender]

Is it so hard for small forwards to generate offense by crashing the offensive boards? What about players who can find the open space to receive a pass, after teammates like Andre Miller or LaMarcus Aldridge attract more than one defender?

I thought that Gerald Wallace was the kind of player who "didn't need plays run for him"?

I don't mean to let McMillan off the hook - he should find better ways to use his newest player, but does anyone think Nate is telling Wallace to nail his feet to the three-point line and stay there? I don't.

 

[anonymous gambler]

I agree that it's well past time to start Wallace- he's just better than Batum. I also think that Wallace's placement at the three point line is part of the spacing planned by our coach- it isn't Wallace's idea to do that.

But it's been 4 games, let's see what Nate does with a little more time.

 

[maxiep]

I just think we need to be patient and let the guy find his niche. It's only been... 3 games?

This.

 

[BBert]

Nate is trying to make him into Batum, and it's not working.

Nate's trying to make Batum into James Jones, and it isn't working. He wanted Martell to be James Jones, too. That didn't work either. Ime Udoka worked OK, relatively speaking, as the Pre-Jones. Babbitt might be our next James Jones, in a couple of years. Gerald Wallace is no James Jones. Face it: As pumped as I was to acquire Gerald Wallace, as others have argued before me, Nate's offense may not necessarily be the best fit for G-3. Come on McMillan: Prove me wrong!