CoolBreeze's 2 Things I Didn't Like Tonight Plus 1

[Coolbreeze44]

Yes, we are grossly short handed, but I would have liked to think we could win this game tonight. But I got over it in about a minute. I'm more mad that I had the Wolves +4.5 and they fell short of covering. But I'm continuing with my stance that wins and losses are secondary this season. I would never advocate tanking, but adding one more high lottery pick to this team can only help. Without further adieu, here is tonight's 2 + 1:

1) One thing I look forward to every game is watching the maturation of our young guys. Unfortunately Andrew got in foul trouble tonight and it cost him some playing time. And the way he got some of the fouls was just really unfortunate. The first one he picked up because Zach turned the ball over and he was the last line of defense. On the third one he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not sure the 4th one was even a foul. So we were denied seeing what he would have done after a nice start. His rhythm was interrupted and he never seemed to get it back. Too bad.

2) If Bennett is going to shoot 21 footers, he might as well just step behind the line. I know this has been beaten to death on this forum, but it's just silly to give up the extra point whenever he makes one. It was nice to see him crash the boards a little better in the 2nd half. I hope he can expand his game so he's not just a stretch 4. He has more tools than that.

Plus 1 - I would agree with what was stated in the game thread: Shabazz got a little too full of himself in the 4th quarter. We missed some easy baskets because he wouldn't give the ball up. But when the dust settles on this rebuild, Shabazz is going to be really valuable as the 6th man. It is the perfect role for him. And he will be one of the best in the league at it. If you want him to start, I don't think you are really seeing the true value of him. Think of how perfect he would have been when Kevin Love went to the bench. Our offense would have had a go to guy while Kevin got his rest. And he will eventually be perfect when Andrew goes to the bench. Patience guys, the experience these guys are getting right now is going to pay off big time.


And that's CoolBreeze's 2 things I didn't like tonight plus 1

[thedoper]

Yes, we are grossly short handed, but I would have liked to think we could win this game tonight. But I got over it in about a minute. I'm more mad that I had the Wolves +4.5 and they fell short of covering. But I'm continuing with my stance that wins and losses are secondary this season. I would never advocate tanking, but adding one more high lottery pick to this team can only help. Without further adieu, here is tonight's 2 + 1:

1) One thing I look forward to every game is watching the maturation of our young guys. Unfortunately Andrew got in foul trouble tonight and it cost him some playing time. And the way he got some of the fouls was just really unfortunate. The first one he picked up because Zach turned the ball over and he was the last line of defense. On the third one he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not sure the 4th one was even a foul. So we were denied seeing what he would have done after a nice start. His rhythm was interrupted and he never seemed to get it back. Too bad.

2) If Bennett is going to shoot 21 footers, he might as well just step behind the line. I know this has been beaten to death on this forum, but it's just silly to give up the extra point whenever he makes one. It was nice to see him crash the boards a little better in the 2nd half. I hope he can expand his game so he's not just a stretch 4. He has more tools than that.

Plus 1 - I would agree with what was stated in the game thread: Shabazz got a little too full of himself in the 4th quarter. We missed some easy baskets because he wouldn't give the ball up. But when the dust settles on this rebuild, Shabazz is going to be really valuable as the 6th man. It is the perfect role for him. And he will be one of the best in the league at it. If you want him to start, I don't think you are really seeing the true value of him. Think of how perfect he would have been when Kevin Love went to the bench. Our offense would have had a go to guy while Kevin got his rest. And he will eventually be perfect when Andrew goes to the bench. Patience guys, the experience these guys are getting right now is going to pay off big time.


And that's CoolBreeze's 2 things I didn't like tonight plus 1

I'm fine with Bazz as the 6th man as long as him and Wiggins end up getting more run together. I think so much becomes possible with those two learning to play off of eachother. Their fire and athleticism could really disrupt a game.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think Bazz is playing the perfect role for him right now. Let him come off the bench and go crazy trying to score. He doesn't do enough to impact the game defensively or from a team game standpoint which is why he shouldn't be finishing games yet. This is the role I saw for him coming out of college and he is doing it well. If he can add some defensive tools and ball movement to his game he could earn time at the end of games, but we need more than just scorers on the court at the end of games. You also have to make stops down the stretch and he doesn't help with that effort well enough yet. I think he is going to be a solid 6th man which is an important player on any team trying to make the playoffs moving forward. I think eventually if Lavine and Bazz become at least acceptable defenders we could see a Lavine/Bazz/Wiggins rotation at the 2/3 which seems pretty well balanced to me. They each bring something to the table that will be able to help this team win in the future.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Agree on Bennett. The guy shows flashes of what he could become with a couple of nice defensive plays and crashing the offensive glass. But then he gets just flat out lazy at times, setting weak screens and hardly moving after setting them or easily getting outfought for a defensive rebound. And of course there are the long 2's and contested fade-aways. The dude is big, strong, and athletic. He should be the James Harden of PFs, meaning he's either dropping 3's or getting to the rim and drawing fouls. I don't mind him taking 20-footers if they are totally unguarded, but it should not be his "go to" shot.

[AbeVigodaLive]

1. I'd like to amend the classification of Muhammad as 6th man to "legit scorer off the bench." Scoring remains the one thing that he can do above average... or more precisely... not poorly. With a 6th man, that guy is expected to get serious run (25 - 30 minutes?) every night. On a "good" team, I don't know if Muhammad will deserve that just because he can score in very specific ways.

2. Still no idea what to make of Anthony Bennett. I don't see him as a starter in this league. We'll see if he can evolve into a good rotation guy. (It won't be as a 21-foot-shooting big though.)

[thedoper]

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles-lakers/post/_/id/40621/kobe-bryant-rises-up-before-falling-away?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Kobe on Wiggins:

"Yeah, it was a strange feeling, because I remember being Andrew Wiggins," Bryant said. "I remember playing against Michael my first year. To be here tonight and to play against him, seeing the baby face and the little footwork or little technique things that he's going to be much sharper at as time goes on -- it was like looking at a reflection of myself 19 years ago. It was pretty cool."

I guess Kobe recognizes he needs to improve his handle yet he doesn't seem worried about his potential. Pretty cool compliment from an egotistical maniac.

[TAFKASP]

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles-lakers/post/_/id/40621/kobe-bryant-rises-up-before-falling-away?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Kobe on Wiggins:

"Yeah, it was a strange feeling, because I remember being Andrew Wiggins," Bryant said. "I remember playing against Michael my first year. To be here tonight and to play against him, seeing the baby face and the little footwork or little technique things that he's going to be much sharper at as time goes on -- it was like looking at a reflection of myself 19 years ago. It was pretty cool."

I guess Kobe recognizes he needs to improve his handle yet he doesn't seem worried about his potential. Pretty cool compliment from an egotistical maniac.

The older Kobe gets the more down to earth he has become. I'm still no fan, but I don't despise him anymore!

[worldK]

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles-lakers/post/_/id/40621/kobe-bryant-rises-up-before-falling-away?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Kobe on Wiggins:

"Yeah, it was a strange feeling, because I remember being Andrew Wiggins," Bryant said. "I remember playing against Michael my first year. To be here tonight and to play against him, seeing the baby face and the little footwork or little technique things that he's going to be much sharper at as time goes on -- it was like looking at a reflection of myself 19 years ago. It was pretty cool."

I guess Kobe recognizes he needs to improve his handle yet he doesn't seem worried about his potential. Pretty cool compliment from an egotistical maniac.

Nice hearing that. Kobe wanted to guard wiggins the 2 times they have met. That speaks of how he thinks of wiggins.

[AbeVigodaLive]

A cynic could say that Kobe is mailing it in on defense so much in the past couple of seasons, he was simply looking to take it easy vs. a rookie with a pretty one-dimensional game.