02-04-2024, 11:16 AM
(02-04-2024, 11:07 AM)surfpuckmd Wrote: I think our biggest issue as a team is that several of the 3 and D role players we have in our rotation are actually below-average to poor defensive players. Grant Williams was supposed to be a plus defender but has been a liability on defense. Signing a 6'5" guy with limited lateral agility to be our starting PF was not a winning move.
I was a huge Josh Green proponent this offseason and expected he would become our 3rd-best player this season. His offense is improving but he still doesn't know what the hell to do on defense most of the time. Lots of wasted energy and poor decisions. I'm not clear if it's just poor coaching or if Josh is just a low-IQ player. I hope he improves with a new coach next season.
I think Kleber is done. It's great that he hit some shots last night but he's been bad since his return. His EPM is -6.6 in his minutes this season. That's one of the worst in the NBA especially for a non-rookie. I understand EPM has limitations in low minutes but it's a good demonstration of what's happened when he's on the court. Not much good has happened for us since he returned.
I think our core 3 of Luka, Kyrie and Lively is really good if all 3 are available. Unfortunately, when we're missing two of those guys, we're not gonna win many games. Our best opportunity to improve is to upgrade our role players. I would be frustrated if I were Luka as well because he carried the team last night.
Josh Green...
I thought someone on here broke down tape like a month ago about our bad defense...and the commentary was that Josh was doing the right thing but it was someone else making mistakes and Josh having to help cover for them. Same breakdown suggested that one of the major defensive scheme flaws we have is using Green to basically run all over the place...as if he is the one they are relying on to rotate and save the defense. I dont know how true that is. We get abused in the paint which isnt Josh.
I do agree though...he seems to waste a lot of energy. I have commented before that unless he learns to slow down and conserve energy and use it wisely...he wont be able to be effective for more than 25 minutes a game. He is so disruptive with fresh legs, though.