2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[KillerLeft]

For the most part, Kleber handled the toughest defensive assignment. KP just didn't seem to make much of a defensive impact.

KP DID play better help defense (with some exceptions) and when he was matched up with Vuc in the post, those WERE the most effective defensive possessions against Vuc all night. I agree that Kleber played him more often (due to Vuc's versatility) but not really all that successfully. 

I actually thought Kleber/KP played more connected than I have seen them all season, being on the same page with helping, picking guys up in transition, etc. There were exceptions, of course.

Most notably, with this being a RUNNING game (OMG was the pace of the thing fast) I was more than excited to see KP KEEP UP. 

I have no issues with Carlisle publicly pointing out that KP is making progress with his conditioning and defensive effort, even if he's placing the results on a little too high of a pedestal, perhaps. KP might just need a little of that right now. Encouragement is good, and we know Carlisle isn't afraid to use the stick, so I'm sure he's gone to that tactic some over the last couple of months, too. 

Offensively, I couldn't care less - UNTIL THE DEFENSE IS CONSISTENTLY THIS GOOD. Having said that, most of his shots, though misses, were shots I'd want him to take.