06-05-2021, 09:53 AM
A couple of thoughts...
Apparently Zubac isn't allowed on the floor at the same time as Luka any more. I thought it interesting that Rondo only got 10 minutes (-6) after killing us earlier in the series.
Last time, Boban was net negative, but the other big combos worked. This time Boban was +5 and +5 with KP. Maxi/Dwight was +3 in very limited minutes. For some reason someone decided Willie/Maxi was a good idea. Both were -13 individually and the pairing was -11.
More opposites...DFS, who's on-court contribution has been stellar, was -8. Brunson, who hasn't been a positive contributor, was +9. We actually survived the minutes Luka sat (+1) and were -8 when he was in. We were +3 when KP and Luka were in together.
We need an answer for Zubac. We know he's coming in when Luka sits and need someone willing/able to keep him off the boards (too bad the TDL has passed).
We need an answer for Reggie Jackson. If we are going to concede 20 points on 100% shooting from behind the arc, then put Brunson in so at least we have more ways to score. Or, if we don't want to conceded 20 points on 100% shooting from three, put Green or JRich in his grill. We are basically playing one on five offensively with everyone helping on Luka. Does it really matter that someone might cheat off of a non-offensive player like Green (as opposed to cheating off of a non offensive player like...everyone else)? OK, THJ is making them pay for cheating off of him. But, that is it. At least Green has that sneaky cut game and Brunson can create something for himself.
Maxi looked cooked in the fourth. KP sat too long. We have to have a third guy offensively (assuming Luka and THJ have good games). Brunson isn't getting the minutes to be that guy. It is theoretically possible DFS, Maxi or Powell pull off something way out of character. But, the easier path is to find a way to make KP more than a decoy. That is the counter we have left if we are willing to trust him.
We really do need one more guy to run out there with KP/DFS/THJ and Luka and right now none of the guys we have are ideal. The lineup where Maxi is the fifth guy has worked (+10), but Maxi has to guard Leonard in those lineups and LAC has figured that one out. The lineup where Powell is the fifth guy worked great for the 11 minutes we tried it (mostly in one game). Other than Brunson at 4 total minutes and JRich at 3 total minutes, we don't have any other positive lineups with our main four guys. Landing Crowder (which would have required a multi-year) or taking a flyer on Batum would have made a huge difference right now. Finney is our highest rated guy in D-Rating in the playoffs. He's ranked 146th out of everyone who has played at least 20 minutes in the playoffs. That isn't an indictment of Finney. We are playing a really good offense and are poorly equipped to stop them with what we have.
Apparently Zubac isn't allowed on the floor at the same time as Luka any more. I thought it interesting that Rondo only got 10 minutes (-6) after killing us earlier in the series.
Last time, Boban was net negative, but the other big combos worked. This time Boban was +5 and +5 with KP. Maxi/Dwight was +3 in very limited minutes. For some reason someone decided Willie/Maxi was a good idea. Both were -13 individually and the pairing was -11.
More opposites...DFS, who's on-court contribution has been stellar, was -8. Brunson, who hasn't been a positive contributor, was +9. We actually survived the minutes Luka sat (+1) and were -8 when he was in. We were +3 when KP and Luka were in together.
We need an answer for Zubac. We know he's coming in when Luka sits and need someone willing/able to keep him off the boards (too bad the TDL has passed).
We need an answer for Reggie Jackson. If we are going to concede 20 points on 100% shooting from behind the arc, then put Brunson in so at least we have more ways to score. Or, if we don't want to conceded 20 points on 100% shooting from three, put Green or JRich in his grill. We are basically playing one on five offensively with everyone helping on Luka. Does it really matter that someone might cheat off of a non-offensive player like Green (as opposed to cheating off of a non offensive player like...everyone else)? OK, THJ is making them pay for cheating off of him. But, that is it. At least Green has that sneaky cut game and Brunson can create something for himself.
Maxi looked cooked in the fourth. KP sat too long. We have to have a third guy offensively (assuming Luka and THJ have good games). Brunson isn't getting the minutes to be that guy. It is theoretically possible DFS, Maxi or Powell pull off something way out of character. But, the easier path is to find a way to make KP more than a decoy. That is the counter we have left if we are willing to trust him.
We really do need one more guy to run out there with KP/DFS/THJ and Luka and right now none of the guys we have are ideal. The lineup where Maxi is the fifth guy has worked (+10), but Maxi has to guard Leonard in those lineups and LAC has figured that one out. The lineup where Powell is the fifth guy worked great for the 11 minutes we tried it (mostly in one game). Other than Brunson at 4 total minutes and JRich at 3 total minutes, we don't have any other positive lineups with our main four guys. Landing Crowder (which would have required a multi-year) or taking a flyer on Batum would have made a huge difference right now. Finney is our highest rated guy in D-Rating in the playoffs. He's ranked 146th out of everyone who has played at least 20 minutes in the playoffs. That isn't an indictment of Finney. We are playing a really good offense and are poorly equipped to stop them with what we have.