What this team badly needs (and misses) is the guy who can lead/carry them when Luka isn't playing. That can mean a game like last night, where Luka's out -- but it also is vital when Luka sits, and even when Luka is playing (so he doesn't have to be pulling all the weight possession after possession). There's really no one to lead this team when Luka isn't on the floor with the ball.
Brunson wanted to be Luka, I get that. That couldn't happen here. But he became a GREAT complement to Luka, which makes LUKA better (as well as the whole team), and until they find a replacement, it's likely to be really hard. And it might take way longer than we like. Heck, it took them almost 4 seasons for Brunson to turn into that guy.
I know we need a C and a 2-way wing and more. But I keep coming back to what I felt in the summer. I think the games keep showing us that the Brunson replacement is the biggest hole on this roster, and finding another Brunson somehow is their quickest route to raising their ceiling.
Brunson wanted to be Luka, I get that. That couldn't happen here. But he became a GREAT complement to Luka, which makes LUKA better (as well as the whole team), and until they find a replacement, it's likely to be really hard. And it might take way longer than we like. Heck, it took them almost 4 seasons for Brunson to turn into that guy.
I know we need a C and a 2-way wing and more. But I keep coming back to what I felt in the summer. I think the games keep showing us that the Brunson replacement is the biggest hole on this roster, and finding another Brunson somehow is their quickest route to raising their ceiling.