LivingLegend wrote:Nice win - thanks to Jalen, Josh, OG, I-Hart and Donte despite some lazy/crazy plays

Concerns coming out of this one ——

- Bogey didn’t play in 2nd (I don’t think and was holding that wrist in 1st half)
- Mitch played 20 minutes, barely dented the box score and was invisible guarding screen/roll,or the basket
- I long for more Precious
- we are so reliant on Jalen with the ball and Josh/Donte sometimes careless with the rock
- in hindsight wish we’d found a more legit ball handler at the deadline (RIP “Put him in the trunk” Burks

I am not saying I wouldn't welcome a 2nd ball handler but I don't think we need one when JB is on the floor. If a team blitzes they are giving up an advantage. You don't need a second ball handler to create one. Be properly spaced, take the CnS 3 when open, move the ball faster than rotations, and drive downhill if you have a 4 on 3. Guys like Hart, DDV, Deuce, I-Hart, and OG are good enough with the ball to do these things.

Rookie wrote:Precious - dnp
Bogdanovic - 9 min

Deuce has made it into the circle of trust.

I still think Bogy can help this team. I'd like to see his standard me 14-20. I don't think Precious should see the floor moving forward unless we are searching and I don't think we should ever be searching with him at the 4.

DLeethal wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:Nice win - thanks to Jalen, Josh, OG, I-Hart and Donte despite some lazy/crazy plays

Concerns coming out of this one ——

- Bogey didn’t play in 2nd (I don’t think and was holding that wrist in 1st half)
- Mitch played 20 minutes, barely dented the box score and was invisible guarding screen/roll,or the basket
- I long for more Precious
- we are so reliant on Jalen with the ball and Josh/Donte sometimes careless with the rock
- in hindsight wish we’d found a more legit ball handler at the deadline (RIP “Put him in the trunk” Burks

I’ll add with Precious instead of Mitch we miss some rim protection but we add a legit wing defender to contain penetration and switch high/screen roll.

Hope Mitch body wakes up fast but if he’s a dud hope Thibs throws the Precious switch

Let's see what we do in different matchups. CHI dominated the boards on us in the first matchup. Thibs most likely had a game plan to keep size on them and stuck to it even when Drummond went out.

Also, like Bogey, I think it's important to get Mitch into a groove. He needs reps. I think Mitch is going to have a long leash to work himself back into game shape.

100%. Didn't even see this yet and just posted same.

martin wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Surprised the Precious lost his minutes so quickly. Would love some insight into that logic.

Pure guess: Mostly to give Mitch and Bogey more minutes. Thibs and team already knows what is has with Precious but the other 2 guys haven't yet found their groove and they need to for the playoffs.

Agree but also OG. He's played 35 mins last two games after 28 his first game back. He's pretty much our 4 man now that Julius is out and Hart is still playing 40+ mpg at the 3.

martin wrote:OG is really good at spacing and finding spacing. I just love the way he moves into gaps

And this isn't a dig on RJ or Grimes (and perhaps even IQ to a lesser degree) but I don't think either of those guys knew how to relocate like OG and DDV do. It's the same with Mitch versus iHart. Mostly an experience thing. Makes it a thousand times easier for Brunson.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/BenRitholtzNBA/status/1778047424914718766

Yea that is why he made such an impact immediately. We were sorely lacking that kind of high IQ off-ball player in the starting lineup, and couple it with elite defense at a position of need, it was a perfect fit.

I would argue that DDV brings the same thing, in a different way, at the 2 spot. He doesn't just stand and wait he finds open space and moves to the passing angles and will shoot the 3 from anywhere around the arc as opposed to just "his spots". With ball dominant guys you NEED guys who can find gaps. It's why our offense looks fluid AF now despite remaining iso heavy. iHart another guy who finds gaps on the interior and sprays it back around.

DLeethal wrote:Also just want to show some love to DDV for banging that half court heave after the Bulls kind of embarrassed us with those B2B threes to cut it to 3 before halftime. That was a pretty big moment to pour water on any good feelings they had going into halftime.

fishmike wrote:Brunson... dear god. 45pts/8assist and ONE turnover.

I love how prepared this squad is. Seems like whatever BS the other team runs at us and Brunson we are always ready. They blitz, double, run extra guys at him and the result is DD dropping 30, Josh getting triple doubles and IHart hitting every shot every time he gets the ball.

I am not for one minute of the belief that we are better without Randle, but I surely believe some players have benefitted and improved because of his absence. I think DD, Josh, Isiah and McBride all got shots and opportunities they dont see w/ Randle on the floor and I think we are a better team for it. With Brunson being who he is, Randle coming back as the 2nd option and this squad of 2 way guys this looks a lot like a 60 win team next year with reasonable health

Good clip here that speaks to your post, about 40 seconds in specifically.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/OldManAndThree/status/1777799897619845589

fishmike wrote:Brunson... dear god. 45pts/8assist and ONE turnover.

I love how prepared this squad is. Seems like whatever BS the other team runs at us and Brunson we are always ready. They blitz, double, run extra guys at him and the result is DD dropping 30, Josh getting triple doubles and IHart hitting every shot every time he gets the ball.

I am not for one minute of the belief that we are better without Randle, but I surely believe some players have benefitted and improved because of his absence. I think DD, Josh, Isiah and McBride all got shots and opportunities they dont see w/ Randle on the floor and I think we are a better team for it. With Brunson being who he is, Randle coming back as the 2nd option and this squad of 2 way guys this looks a lot like a 60 win team next year with reasonable health

I was about to start a topic on this.

Without Randle, RJ, IQ... Brunson has had all the responsibility of handling ball (give or take). And with injury comes opportunity and that begets the brilliance. He passed the test IMHO and is on cusp of Super Star level. Gonna have dominant performances in playoffs and then watch out next year, especially with healthy OG, Mitch, iHart, Randle.

Same deal with DDV replacing Grimes in lineup. And iHart for Mitch. McBride filled in starting lineup when OG went down. And let us not forget that Mitch dominated Cleveland's bigs all by himself last year and everyone else at the beginning of this season before injury.

They all passed their tests. Well, Bogey and Burks need to go back to summer school

DLeethal wrote:

fishmike wrote:Brunson... dear god. 45pts/8assist and ONE turnover.

I love how prepared this squad is. Seems like whatever BS the other team runs at us and Brunson we are always ready. They blitz, double, run extra guys at him and the result is DD dropping 30, Josh getting triple doubles and IHart hitting every shot every time he gets the ball.

I am not for one minute of the belief that we are better without Randle, but I surely believe some players have benefitted and improved because of his absence. I think DD, Josh, Isiah and McBride all got shots and opportunities they dont see w/ Randle on the floor and I think we are a better team for it. With Brunson being who he is, Randle coming back as the 2nd option and this squad of 2 way guys this looks a lot like a 60 win team next year with reasonable health

Good clip here that speaks to your post, about 40 seconds in specifically.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/OldManAndThree/status/1777799897619845589

Anyway yeah.. between the game plan or 3rd qtr adjustments we are ready and its just so damn refreshing. God I dont miss seeing stuff like what the Bucks are dealing with.

Really feels like we got a squad, a star, a FO with a brain and head coach that just lets his guys be themselves (so long as they are playing D and not turning the phucking ball over)

fishmike wrote:

Rookie wrote:

fishmike wrote:Brunson... dear god. 45pts/8assist and ONE turnover.

I love how prepared this squad is. Seems like whatever BS the other team runs at us and Brunson we are always ready. They blitz, double, run extra guys at him and the result is DD dropping 30, Josh getting triple doubles and IHart hitting every shot every time he gets the ball.

I am not for one minute of the belief that we are better without Randle, but I surely believe some players have benefitted and improved because of his absence. I think DD, Josh, Isiah and McBride all got shots and opportunities they dont see w/ Randle on the floor and I think we are a better team for it. With Brunson being who he is, Randle coming back as the 2nd option and this squad of 2 way guys this looks a lot like a 60 win team next year with reasonable health

Geez...last season we could barely in bound the ball in crunch time without turning it over. What a freaking difference to this season. I can't wait to see what tweeks we make to the team in the summer. But first! Let's win some playoff games. Randle is missed but this is a high IQ squad without him. The ball and player movement makes teams play defense and it wears them down. I rarely see us playing ISO ball since Randle got injured. Love the dude but he makes the offense very predictable when he calls for the ball and then starts banging 1 on 5 while everyone else is standing around watching. He also rests on Defense. OG and Hart never rest...even when they sleep

we play ISO on every possession. Literally the whole thing is built around getting Brunson being guarded by 1 guy in space with someone to pass it too.

Also look at how Randle was playing after the OG trade. That's really the style to focus on. Whole team got better

Yeah I guess you're right. Randle is missed. Just not the bonehead stuff