01-15-2023, 01:34 PM
(01-15-2023, 01:09 PM)mvossman Wrote: That seven game win streak is almost entirely due to playing against bottom feeding tanking teams, and a lot of those wins were due to Luka having historic 50 point games. Before the injuries, this team had some maddening losses to bad teams, but they had one of the best records against good teams in the league. Since the injuries they are getting trucked by any good team they play. This team has been significantly worse since the injuries by any metric you look at, and a 7 game win streak against a bunch of turds does not change that.
There surely must be a reason why Luka made a historic run, in particular only playing along Wood and SD in the starting lineup for the first continuous stretch like that. Does it maybe have to do that he saw single teams mostly (Luka)? Because double teaming didnt work in that lineup. Double teams wont work for any team when Luka is surrounded by offensive skill players. Players that dont only shoot but use the space to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket as well and also able to pass.
This is no coincidence. It is due to Wood and SD being on the floor along with Luka. It is also no coincidence we won those games. We have met many bottom teams earlier in season and not winning, when Luka was surrounded by the 3&D players that you refer to. So there is your evidence. Luka was doubled, the offense didnt convert, and on other end the defense was not able to get back in transition, and then the 3&D guys are of no use at all.
We wont win without able to play offensive basketball. We wont be able to play D without being able to play well offensively.
We need multiple skill offensive players around Luka. They will destroy any team that even considers doubling Luka. Hence, they wont double. No matter if bottom of top team. It means we will score points. It means we will get back on D and nobody will be left behind in transition. It means that everyone will be more fresh on the defensive side of ball. Again illustrated by last season as we had great D "despite" having Brunson and Luka in the lineup, which completely were mislabelled as bad defensively.
Many other great offensive players are likewise wrongly mislabeld as bad defensive players. Not all. But one needs to look at the context in where they played.