|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 17, 2022 12:13:57 GMT -5
Sure we can hope for internal improvement from our bench of DWhite, GWill, Pritch, Hauser and Nesmith. Maybe Brad will graft in good free agents.
But at the end of games, it'll be the starting 5 who will be on the court trying to close (or steal) the game.
So, is Rob-Al-Tatum-JB-Smart good enough?
With 2 minutes left in the 4th, are you confident they'll do the right things and win the game?
|
|
|
Post by jmost on Jun 17, 2022 14:00:26 GMT -5
Right now, no, they're not good enough. I went back and looked at our scores since mid-January. Unless I missed something, we won ONE game by three points or less in that time. I don't see any evidence that we can come through in close late game situations. And a lot of evidence that we can't score at the end of games when the D ramps up.
Either we need major internal improvement, an addition to the roster, or a new offensive system.
I'd like to see us put Rob in the high post and let him play a Jokic type role. Not all the time, but for variety. I think Rob is a terrific passer. Maybe the best on the team. He sees things quickly and rarely forces a pass or throws it away, something you can't say for Smart, Brown or Tatum. He's become a very good FT shooter. No reason that can't extend out a few feet and make him a threat from up top and make teams guard him. Right now he so rarely shoots outside the lane that teams sag way off him. That would open up the lane some for JB and JT.
But I still think we need a floor general.
|
|
|
Post by runrondo on Jun 17, 2022 16:54:29 GMT -5
I'm assuming Rob's injury had some to do with it - but, I'm also shocked we don't utilize his passing more within the offense. Likewise, I can't wait for him to get comfortable shooting in-game as that would open up his possibilities (even though it'd drop his FG % that consists of lob dunks).
I think this lineup could do it - if you could move Smart to the 6th man and get a "real" PG - so just repeating what jmost said. Who that is? I'm not sure, but someone who has that IQ that can set guys up to be in the right places and adapt to a game.
Obviously, Al will also become a concern with age. However, we got him for at least one more year and he should be up to the task as he showed this playoffs.
|
|
|
Post by eja117 on Jun 18, 2022 18:07:39 GMT -5
Basically I think we do have a championship starting 5.....if they're healthy. Which is why I think it's imperative to keep Rob Will and Al's minutes to a minimum the whole season before ramping them up 3 weeks before the playoffs.
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 18, 2022 18:47:37 GMT -5
Basically I think we do have a championship starting 5.....if they're healthy. Which is why I think it's imperative to keep Rob Will and Al's minutes to a minimum the whole season before ramping them up 3 weeks before the playoffs. I've been opening ip to the idea of making Al the starting 5 and Rob being his backup and rotating them frequently. That would mean either getting a really good PF, or moving Tatum there and getting a really good 3.
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 18, 2022 19:53:44 GMT -5
Ok, say that we're running back our starting 5 next year.
What kind of players do we need to add to our bench?
|
|
|
Post by freshnthehouse on Jun 19, 2022 1:06:51 GMT -5
If it isn't, it's dang close. That said, outside of tatum i dont think anyone is untouchable.
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Jun 19, 2022 11:22:34 GMT -5
Yes. The starting 5 is great. Frankly, the bench was not good enough and the starters had to play way too many minutes. Ex: game [HASH]6, the bench was awful, IME lost faith and played the starters into the ground.
|
|