04-16-2021, 10:18 AM
(04-16-2021, 07:03 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: FWIW, I went back and looked at games where he hasn't finished the game (other than blow outs). He's not been benched for the entire quarter before, but I found four times where he's missed the last half of the 4th since the TDL.
3/27 NO (L): No Luka that night. JRich replaced by THJ
4/2 NY (W): All starters played. JRich replaced by Brunson
4/5 UTH (W): No KP that night. JRich/Melli starters replaced by THJ and Brunson
4/7 HOU (L): No KP that night. JRich/Melli starters replaced by THJ and Brunson
So, it seems to me Carlisle for the most part has been looking for more "O" when he does this. We were either missing one of our stars or having a tough time generating offense (NY and Memphis). Maybe the pursuits of Fournier and N. Powell and the landing of Redick were designed to help here. We've tended to think of those guys supplementing the bench, but the last time any of those guys contracts came up someone decided to pay all of them more than Miami paid JRich. In other words, Fournier may have pushed JRich to the bench.
Who knows what this means for the off-season. Would they prefer two guys filling the off guard role (one with a defensive reputation and one who is a knock down shooter). Or, can they fill the spot with one guy. It will also be interesting to see how the various pairings go for the rest of the season. We know Hard/Rich hasn't been great. What about Hard/Dick and Rich/Dick? How might it work if Dick is in, but neither Hard nor Rich?
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
There's a joke in there - Like, what do the Mavs get when they play all three?