Amazing and telling the quotes from last night's game:

KP:

“I think we came out way better than the first game against the Heat [Wednesday],” Porzingis said. “They kind of punked us the first game. We came out with a different mentality, playing strong, defense the whole game and offensively we shared the ball. It was the defense that made us win the game.”

Lee:

We competed the whole game

Baker:

Everyone was playing together

Hornacek:

Defense was played for 48 minutes

Melo:

“Honestly I don’t know my role at this point,”

This squad is a long way away from being a good team but there are some pieces that work and others that do not.

I honestly can't wait til he actually does it.

Seems like it's a lot easier to say that over and over again than to actually do it.

I really really would love it if he could go out and get the players he keeps saying he will.

Time to do it. $30M in cap space again, for the third off-season in a row. 3 draft picks, one of which is a top ten selection. Let's do it.

Also have to remember that many of these players have very little NBA experience and haven't played this much yet in their brief careers. They need more time to get adjusted to each other and this level of play. This is all part of the process for these guys.

Love KP and Willy when they can stay home and not have to constantly be out of position. Loved the execution on both ends. Loved Jeff going smaller. Love Baker's toughness. Love how Sasha stays ready. Love Randle staying within himself and not forcing things. Love Holiday's overall game. Love how CLee was being a leader and talking to the guys when they messed up.

fishmike wrote:Last night you start Sasha/Lee/Baker 3 guys who came out and set the tone defensively. Suddenly Willy/KP dont look so horrific.

Amazing and telling the quotes from last night's game:

KP:

“I think we came out way better than the first game against the Heat [Wednesday],” Porzingis said. “They kind of punked us the first game. We came out with a different mentality, playing strong, defense the whole game and offensively we shared the ball. It was the defense that made us win the game.”

Lee:

We competed the whole game

Baker:

Everyone was playing together

Hornacek:

Defense was played for 48 minutes

Melo:

“Honestly I don’t know my role at this point,”

This squad is a long way away from being a good team but there are some pieces that work and others that do not.

CLASSIC!! As your the first to make fun of Briggs for knee jerk threads. Yes the yoots had great energy. What did Miami shoot from 3 though? What stretch 4's does Miami have? Fact of the matter is, as bad as they shot we almost lost the game if not for Dragic missing layup. Your right though, Was good to see the efforr level. But kinda Funny how your celebrating a meaningless win. As your a tank guy. Lets keep this lineup for next few years the same as last night. Will love how quickly people turn on them. Baker, all of a sudden is starting grade. Smh. But don't worry, I will save this thread for next year when the yoots are getting mauled without true talent.

Most smart posters know that Rose and Melo need to go. Other smart posters know that Phil needs to go. Really smart posters know all 3 should go but only one has a NTC that the president have him. Smh.

Anway, KP and Willy are young and still need to put in work. I am still not sure if the best thing going forward would be to split them up so both can be the 5 when they play.

fishmike wrote:Last night you start Sasha/Lee/Baker 3 guys who came out and set the tone defensively. Suddenly Willy/KP dont look so horrific.

Amazing and telling the quotes from last night's game:

KP:

“I think we came out way better than the first game against the Heat [Wednesday],” Porzingis said. “They kind of punked us the first game. We came out with a different mentality, playing strong, defense the whole game and offensively we shared the ball. It was the defense that made us win the game.”

Lee:

We competed the whole game

Baker:

Everyone was playing together

Hornacek:

Defense was played for 48 minutes

Melo:

“Honestly I don’t know my role at this point,”

This squad is a long way away from being a good team but there are some pieces that work and others that do not.

I loved everything I saw last night but one thing remains, Willy had a long way to go defensively. Pretty much clueless in many situations. Defensive rebounding as well. Now he's a euro rookie against guys bigger and more athletic than he's ever seen, so a learning curve is to be expected.

nixluva wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:This is similar to the threads that were made when the team won when Melo was playing the 4 and KP was out or the threads when Rose was out and BJ started, or the ones after a win when K.P. was at the 5 and Melo was at the 4. It all means nothing. A few years ago when the Sixers were super duper bad they even managed to win games. It happens in the NBA especially when two bad teams play each other twice within a week.

Most smart posters know that Rose and Melo need to go. Other smart posters know that Phil needs to go. Really smart posters know all 3 should go but only one has a NTC that the president have him. Smh.

Anway, KP and Willy are young and still need to put in work. I am still not sure if the best thing going forward would be to split them up so both can be the 5 when they play.

I'm not really concerned about Phil. I know he knows what it takes to win and he's not had much success getting the kind of talent he needs in Free Agency nor any success convincing guys like Melo and Rose to PASS THE DAMN BALL! Still I think his basic concepts are right.

I think KP and Willy are good together when surrounded by mobile defenders. I don't see any serious problems but I do think we need more athletic ability at guard and wing spots. KP and Willy starting should be fine.

First of all there is zero evidence that shows Phil knows what it takes to win as Team President so how do you know.

Starting Willy and KP may be fine but it might not lead to greatness. The more I see KP playing with a 5 the more I see how many opportunities he misses as the high PnR big. He could be getting 4 - 8 pts easy points at the basket at the 5. Also, separating them gives each unit a potential star to run the offense through assuming both of them can improve.

yellowboy90 wrote:

nixluva wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:This is similar to the threads that were made when the team won when Melo was playing the 4 and KP was out or the threads when Rose was out and BJ started, or the ones after a win when K.P. was at the 5 and Melo was at the 4. It all means nothing. A few years ago when the Sixers were super duper bad they even managed to win games. It happens in the NBA especially when two bad teams play each other twice within a week.

Most smart posters know that Rose and Melo need to go. Other smart posters know that Phil needs to go. Really smart posters know all 3 should go but only one has a NTC that the president have him. Smh.

Anway, KP and Willy are young and still need to put in work. I am still not sure if the best thing going forward would be to split them up so both can be the 5 when they play.

I'm not really concerned about Phil. I know he knows what it takes to win and he's not had much success getting the kind of talent he needs in Free Agency nor any success convincing guys like Melo and Rose to PASS THE DAMN BALL! Still I think his basic concepts are right.

I think KP and Willy are good together when surrounded by mobile defenders. I don't see any serious problems but I do think we need more athletic ability at guard and wing spots. KP and Willy starting should be fine.

First of all there is zero evidence that shows Phil knows what it takes to win as Team President so how do you know.

Starting Willy and KP may be fine but it might not lead to greatness. The more I see KP playing with a 5 the more I see how many opportunities he misses as the high PnR big. He could be getting 4 - 8 pts easy points at the basket at the 5. Also, separating them gives each unit a potential star to run the offense through assuming both of them can improve.

I'm POSITIVE that Phil does understand what is needed to win PERIOD. Now what have his options been to actually get the best players??? Show me the players he had a legit shot of adding given the situation he inherited. We all watched the last 2 offseasons and there weren't a lot of great options.

Now drafting and developing is probably the best option left. Hopefully we can add another STUD this summer. Keep developing role players. Then when it's the right time add a key FA!

Obviously KP and Willy will spend time on the floor without each other. That's just logical use of talent in a typical rotation. I see them playing well together as they complement each other and have good chemistry that should only get better. I'd like to add a different type of big. A really athletic PF/C that hits the boards.

mendoza1906 wrote:Neither Willy or KP can guard or close out the perimeter! I think the best thing is for Willy to lose weight and become a 4. They can switch positions on defense and offense. For example on offense KP will play PF and Willy will play C and on defense KP will play C and Willy will play PF.

I think they will eventually be fairly interchangeable as they mature. We should look to add an athletic and long PF to the mix who is more quick and agile than either KP or Willy. Someone like Nigel Hayes.

Zebo13 wrote:

fishmike wrote:Last night you start Sasha/Lee/Baker 3 guys who came out and set the tone defensively. Suddenly Willy/KP dont look so horrific.

Amazing and telling the quotes from last night's game:

KP:

“I think we came out way better than the first game against the Heat [Wednesday],” Porzingis said. “They kind of punked us the first game. We came out with a different mentality, playing strong, defense the whole game and offensively we shared the ball. It was the defense that made us win the game.”

Lee:

We competed the whole game

Baker:

Everyone was playing together

Hornacek:

Defense was played for 48 minutes

Melo:

“Honestly I don’t know my role at this point,”

This squad is a long way away from being a good team but there are some pieces that work and others that do not.

I loved everything I saw last night but one thing remains, Willy had a long way to go defensively. Pretty much clueless in many situations. Defensive rebounding as well. Now he's a euro rookie against guys bigger and more athletic than he's ever seen, so a learning curve is to be expected.