Embarrassingly Bad

I watched the entirety of last night's game capitvated by the huge
gulf between Detroit and San Jose. It was almost as if watching one
of those old, staged games between the Harlem Globetrotters and the
Washington Generals. Each move of Detroit (the "Trotters") a
picturesque play, exceuted with fluid grace. Each effort of San Jose
(the "Generals") almost like a parody of the game, executed in
varying degrees of ineptitude. Really, like watching professionals
play some small-town pick-up squad, who, although perhaps talented in
the raw, had never been taught to play a cohesive team game.

The Sharks were so bad, so ineffectual, that it's hard to talk about
almost any aspect of the game. I mean you wouldn't dissect the play
of your local high school if they got to play an exhibition against a
pro team, right? That the Sharks got three goals was more a testament
to Detroit's boredom and momentary sloppy play than any asserted
effort by the Sharks. One came away with the feeling that Detroit
could have scored ten goals, fifteen, if that's what it took to
dispatch the Sharks. They just toyed with them all night.

Folks, there is one large problem, now, perhaps, joined by another.
First, RW just doesn't have them ready or mentally fit to play the
games, especially against any more elite teams. Their feet just don't
touch the ice expecting to win, and it shows. Second, this team, as
consituted, just isn't that good. There are far too many hackers out
there, who just take up space, and the handful of players that were
supposed to blossom, just don't have the heart or guts to play a
tough, physical game, which is the only substitute they might have for
the kind of talent and finesse displayed by Detroit, representing what
true talent (and good coaching) looks like.

That the Sharks overall record and standing in the league is as high
as it is is really some kind or miracle, in a way, and wholly
dependent on the past airtight defense. Now, that that's gotten
suddenly porous, they look downright pitiful. (I might insert here
that the goals piling up are less Nabby's fault then a complete
breakdown of the team's game. He's been hung out to dry, not getting
beaten on soft goals.)

One could go on and on lamenting, but I'll close. There's no sense
trying to find individual points. The whole perpetual inconsistency
and lost-in-space style of the team's play suggests that major changes
are needed, not a study of fine points in game films. They look like
an organization that's clueless to any avenue of escape from repeating
the same errors endlessly and unwilling to make any changes to find it.

Whenever the Sharks play Detroit you see how far away they are from
being a cup contender and what they need to do to become one.


On 2008-01-20 05:13:00 -0800, tack <thetacker RemoveThis @gmail.com> said:

> I watched the entirety of last night's game capitvated by the huge
> gulf between Detroit and San Jose. It was almost as if watching one
> of those old, staged games between the Harlem Globetrotters and the
> Washington Generals. Each move of Detroit (the "Trotters") a
> picturesque play, exceuted with fluid grace. Each effort of San Jose
> (the "Generals") almost like a parody of the game, executed in
> varying degrees of ineptitude. Really, like watching professionals
> play some small-town pick-up squad, who, although perhaps talented in
> the raw, had never been taught to play a cohesive team game.
>
> The Sharks were so bad, so ineffectual, that it's hard to talk about
> almost any aspect of the game. I mean you wouldn't dissect the play
> of your local high school if they got to play an exhibition against a
> pro team, right? That the Sharks got three goals was more a testament
> to Detroit's boredom and momentary sloppy play than any asserted
> effort by the Sharks. One came away with the feeling that Detroit
> could have scored ten goals, fifteen, if that's what it took to
> dispatch the Sharks. They just toyed with them all night.
>
> Folks, there is one large problem, now, perhaps, joined by another.
> First, RW just doesn't have them ready or mentally fit to play the
> games, especially against any more elite teams. Their feet just don't
> touch the ice expecting to win, and it shows. Second, this team, as
> consituted, just isn't that good. There are far too many hackers out
> there, who just take up space, and the handful of players that were
> supposed to blossom, just don't have the heart or guts to play a
> tough, physical game, which is the only substitute they might have for
> the kind of talent and finesse displayed by Detroit, representing what
> true talent (and good coaching) looks like.
>
> That the Sharks overall record and standing in the league is as high
> as it is is really some kind or miracle, in a way, and wholly
> dependent on the past airtight defense. Now, that that's gotten
> suddenly porous, they look downright pitiful. (I might insert here
> that the goals piling up are less Nabby's fault then a complete
> breakdown of the team's game. He's been hung out to dry, not getting
> beaten on soft goals.)
>
> One could go on and on lamenting, but I'll close. There's no sense
> trying to find individual points. The whole perpetual inconsistency
> and lost-in-space style of the team's play suggests that major changes
> are needed, not a study of fine points in game films. They look like
> an organization that's clueless to any avenue of escape from repeating
> the same errors endlessly and unwilling to make any changes to find it.