re: What does Vasquez have to do to maximise his productivity

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Ok, it appears clear now that we are more than likely to be stuck with Vasquez as our starting PG for most of the season. That is just a reality whether we like it or not. We also know that there is no way he will become any faster or athletic. So what can Vasquez do to improve? And what can the team and Monty do to maximise his productivity:

Vasquez: 1. He has to improve his shooting. He is not taking many crazy shots as he used to, but very often he get clear looks, or even good penetrations where he passes the defender and then misses an easy jumper or flouter. He has got to get better at that.

2. 3 point shooting. He has taken less 3s this year, and his percentage is lower. If he manage to get to 35% and 1 to 2 3s per game that could help us.

3 learn to hang in there on a bad game. When he has a bad night, he tends to take more shots to try and compensate. Everyone has bad nights; he should just concentrate on passing the ball on those nights and trust his team to do the offensive damage.

4 Post up against shorter PG. I really think he should do this more often. Every time he does it is a basket or he gets free shots.

The team: I think it will be crucial for us to get our big guys to convert both the open midrange shots of the pick and roll from Vasquez, and more importantly the passes under the basket. In the last 3 games there have been way too many situations when Vasquez gets Lopez or smith under the basket and they have missed easy shots, or try to do too much with the ball. These are plays by the book that we cannot afford to miss. Monty:

Monty loves having a system and sticking to it, and I really admire him for that. With a well oil system a consistent rotation comes along. I think all that is great, but you also have to take what you are given when you are given it. Vasquez will not have a game like last every night, nor every second night, when he is inspired and the shots are coming in but the game is still close, I really think Monty should let him stay and run the offence as long as possible. If we had Gordon, it would be a different history, but as it is now, we should take every good run we can get.

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