04-12-2021, 09:43 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-12-2021, 09:45 AM by StepBackJay.)
(04-12-2021, 08:59 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: The issue with that is you have no one to guard the point of attack. Defensively, San Antonio uses DeRozan very much the same as we use Luka. They hide him on stretch bigs and stationary shooters. He spends much more time on PF’s and SF’s than he does on SG’s and especially PG’s.
I think he is a reasonable target in free agency (I like how they put it on the podcast “after Dallas misses out on their primary target”). He qualifies as a third star, but, he does create defensive issues. If you are what you defend, then an 8 man rotation with DD would be two centers, Maxi/DFS/DD covering the SF/PF minutes with some help from a larger 9th man type and Luka/Brunson and someone covering the PG/SG minutes. That “someone” has to defend the point of attack and probably has to start.
Right so you have J Rich there and can bring him back. He is our guy right now or you try to replace him with someone better. You are shifting back towards more offense in one sense obv because DeRozan would start but I like to think of him as a THJ upgrade. THJ plays 28 mpg, gives you good shooting (albeit up and down), questionable defense, pretty good FTA, energy. DR is overall a much better player even when you account for lack of outside shooting. Yes you are starting him at 34 mpg instead of bringing him off the bench but I think it could work.
Speaking of defensive, who was Luka working over last night? Was he trying to switch onto DeRozan to wear him out? From what I saw he was mostly bullying Murray on the block. DR had a -5 +/- last night which makes me think that stat is a completely worthless metric. DR was the main reason the Spurs won that game.