Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat Dec 28, 2024 8:40 am
Ant and Randle had one give and go play where Ant threw it to Randle in the mid-post area on the left side, with everyone else cleared out to the other side, then Ant made a cut to the basket and Randle found him for an easy layup. This simply does not happen enough. It's one of the very rare times where I've seen synergy between Ant and Randle where Ant is the beneficiary. More of that please!
I think the spacing issue isn't just one player's fault. It's the fact that we start a frontcourt trio that isn't respected for their outside shots: Rudy, Randle, and Jaden. Obviously Randle and Jaden can hit 3s from time to time, but defenses seem generally OK with it and therefore continue to crowd the paint.
We can't field a contending-level offense with those three on the floor together. Now add a diminished Mike Conley to the mix and there is almost nothing a coach can do to make that offense hum.
Agreed! An argument can be made that DDV and NAW could replace Conley and Jaden in the starting lineup!
I almost half expect Conley to approach Finch and tell him he should come off the bench, ala Terrell Brandon...
If you don't believe in Ant, does that mean he could come out of nowhere then?
I still think everyone is dismissing Randle way too easily as ANT's partner in crime. His embracing a playmaking role is impressing me. He helps replace SloMo's playmaking, and also adds an outside shot. He can get you a tough inside basket ala KAT, without the stray voltage and excess offensive fouls. I have seen signs of defensive improvement, and if being on a defensive minded team can help that improvement blossom, he will be the PF we have been looking for.
That's kind of the theme of my (too many) posts this morning...four consecutive triple double watch games has me hopefully thinking Ju might be finally figuring out how to play with these new guys. He could be the answer at PF, but more importantly, he needs to be out there for every minute Ant is not. That still leaves 24 minutes or so that he and Ant need to show they can be effective, but in all fairness, that pairing has a positive 2.6 net rating this year...and seems to be improving. With Naz only hitting 30% of his threes this month, I'm off the "start Naz at PF" train...let's make this lineup work, but also give Ju some minutes with 4 bench players who love to run the court.
I actually mostly like what I've seen from Julius. A lot is made of how he needs time to percolate when he has the ball but I find him to be decisive with the ball and what he wants to do, much more than Karl IMO. The passing is what Finch wants and it's easy to see why he likes him. I'm anticipating that the team will find their groove eventually, I just hope it won't take until year 2 like with Rudy.
I've just been grumpy because I didn't want the team to take a step back. Hopefully their will be a 2 or 3 step jump coming.
I agree with Q. I’ll add that it’s too soon to conclude definitively that Ant can’t be the #1 player on a championship contender. The Wolves were a true contender last season and he was our best player. Even the best players are flawed. Ant’s flaws didn’t suddenly catch up with his this season. The difference is that the team around Ant isn’t as good and doesn’t fit him as well. We have Randle instead of KAT, we don’t have Slo Mo and we don’t have the same Mike Conley. In any event, as Q noted, we can build around Ant as our best player by far right now and still hunt for a better player to be out #1 alongside Ant. Meanwhile, I can still see Ant being our best player as a title contender. He can be our Jason Tatum, but we need to find him a Jaylen Brown.
Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown don't run out of gas in the playoffs from burning the candle at both ends. Show me the maturity (highly unlikely to happen) and I'll agree he can be the #1 on a contender.
Anthony Edwards has averaged 24.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 5 games in Conference Finals on 43/41/75 splits
Jayson Tatum has averaged 24.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 31 games in Conference Finals on 46/30/87 splits
Jaylen Brown has averaged 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 36 games in Conference Finals on 48/35/71 splits
Pretty similar
Being able to stay with Kyrie Irving doesn't matter? And are you trying to tell me he was good in the conference finals?
Did you watch the games?
If TC decided to trade Jaden, I have a hard time seeing many options that would for sure be upgrades. Jaden is the type of player that a team would package with someone else for an upgrade. As we know, he can't be combined with another player unless you can make 2 separate trades, so it is extremely limiting.
The Wolves could trade him straight up for De'Andre Hunter but does that move the needle for either team? The one trade that sort of popped for me was Jaden for Malik Monk.
Sacramento has a need for a defensive cornerstone and the Wolves could use Monk's skillset however, it would be nice if DDV could just give the team more of that type of juice. Having both could really open up the floor for the offense.
I really loathe the idea of losing Jaden's defensive ability, though. It may be best in the long run.
Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown don't run out of gas in the playoffs from burning the candle at both ends. Show me the maturity (highly unlikely to happen) and I'll agree he can be the #1 on a contender.
Anthony Edwards has averaged 24.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 5 games in Conference Finals on 43/41/75 splits
Jayson Tatum has averaged 24.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 31 games in Conference Finals on 46/30/87 splits
Jaylen Brown has averaged 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 36 games in Conference Finals on 48/35/71 splits
Pretty similar
Being able to stay with Kyrie Irving doesn't matter? And are you trying to tell me he was good in the conference finals?
Did you watch the games?
Being able to stay with Kyrie Irving doesn't matter? And are you trying to tell me he was good in the conference finals?
Did you watch the games?
Yes. I watched the games
Who won?
This was also Tatum's 5th or so Conference Finals. If Ant is in that many conference finals, we should check back in. I think we'd be pretty pleased. I don't believe Tatum was getting golden reviews the times they lost to Cleveland or Miami.
This was also Tatum's 5th or so Conference Finals. If Ant is in that many conference finals, we should check back in. I think we'd be pretty pleased. I don't believe Tatum was getting golden reviews the times they lost to Cleveland or Miami.
I don't believe Ant will play in even 3 conference finals unless he is a #2.
This was also Tatum's 5th or so Conference Finals. If Ant is in that many conference finals, we should check back in. I think we'd be pretty pleased. I don't believe Tatum was getting golden reviews the times they lost to Cleveland or Miami.
I don't believe Ant will play in even 3 conference finals unless he is a #2.
I know, but you haven't said that he will qualify for coming out of nowhere if he is actually successful.
This was also Tatum's 5th or so Conference Finals. If Ant is in that many conference finals, we should check back in. I think we'd be pretty pleased. I don't believe Tatum was getting golden reviews the times they lost to Cleveland or Miami.
I don't believe Ant will play in even 3 conference finals unless he is a #2.
I did some calculations and considering how Conley, Jaden and DDV have shot the ball. We'd be a top 5 offense if they were just playing up to their standards. Now I do think it is expected to have a guy or two struggle but I think our guys are abnormally bad and for a long stretch. Even Naz hasn't been up to his par either. I think he's a 40% 3P shooter with the great looks he gets.
Half the team has been in a slump to start the season. That is just not normal.
I think we could see a switch flipped. Simply guys getting hot, even back to their norms or we make a trade and open up time for young guys who could perform.
