(04-30-2024, 12:53 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I just don’t understand how people are watching this offense and reaching the conclusion that DeMar DeRozan is a fix.
The reason Luka is not playing as well as he did two years ago is that the spacing is a shell of what it was back then. That is partly due to the fact that the current system doesn’t care about spacing, which sucks, but it is also just because there are literally no good shooters in the rotation outside of Kleber and Hardaway, who is hurt right now and would probably be in a slump still, even if healthy.
Don’t get me wrong – I am enjoying this new, athletic, defensive-minded roster. But, it is the year 2024 and your ball handlers need the option to shoot or drive. There just isn’t space to drive into right now for Luka, and DeRozan would make that worse, not better. I struggle to think of a worse fit for this team than DeMar DeRozan.
Our problem is not just spacing related. It´s moreso an issue of the players being scared to shoot, having no ability to create off the dribble. The opponents simply have no respect for them and they can focus on Luka/Kyrie, cause we cannot play them off the ball, since literally nobody else on this team can dribble a basketball, let alone run an offense.
DeRozan is a great ballhandler, unlike many of the 3pt options we will surely discuss shortly. Basically what you need is a former star, willing to sacrifice and play a role (think Bosh, Love, Gordon), but still know what it means to be the man. Luka and Kyrie are great shooters. Why can´t they defer for stretches of the game and be the spot up shooters. You think the defense can play off Luka and Kyrie, like they do for Washington, DJJ, Kleber or Green, when DeRozan is cooking in the midrange?