12-19-2023, 03:40 PM
(12-19-2023, 03:18 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: I haven't listened to this podcast yet but I have been thinking about this. I think Kyrie and Luka are givens to close games. Lively is a given too...although a little risky to count on a 19 year old for playoff rounds, but he has earned that spot. For the rest, I am sure we will see a rotating cast of characters. I really like how Exum has been playing and think he should be given a lot of opportunity to close games. But sometimes it may be Jones Jr or Josh Green. Hardaway too, but I really want the wings to be plus defenders when Luka and Kyrie are healthy.
My issue is whether it is Exum, Green or Jones at the 3, it just feels like Grant Williams makes that lineup to small. Maybe this is recency bias over his past few weeks, but I am thinking this is one of the reasons Maxi is so important. I have not liked Maxi's play this year at all and he has been hurt for a large part of the season. But he does provide defense, size and a solid open three point shooter. I am sure Grant will close some games, but I wonder if a healthy Maxi could be a better closing fit. Just being asked to spread the floor and take wide open threes when available, provide some size inside, and to be able to guard bigger wings. I just hope that Maxi is still possible.
If Derrick and Exum can maintain decent shooting, its hard to argue not having both in. Along with Lively they are our best defenders. Jones is already regressing towards his recent average and Exum is still a very small sample, but even with average shooting they are probably best options. I don't think a Lively/DJJ/Luka/Exum/Kyrie lineup will be too small in the playoffs. In a very small sample (22 minutes) that group is +71.