As Conley fell off a cliff for most of the year (looked OK in the playoffs at times), his deterioration was a major blow. Ant couldn't fill the shoes and do everything on offense, especially after Ju's game went into the dungeon.
I agree that a vet PG makes sense. I keep mentioning Kyrie if you can get him, otherwise budget version of. But we can't go into next year asking Ant to carry that much load again. We need another playmaker/scorer besides him.
I'm not gonna rehash our previous discussions we just don't see eye to eye on some of this stuff and that completely fine, but what I keep coming back to with the whole point guard thing and what I keep having a hard time with is: I don't see how they can get that player next to Ant. I just don't.
Maybe Kyrie can be that and I understand the appeal, but even with him, how long will that even be for? Two year tops?
This may not fill a lot of people with hope but the only real path forward is that Ant has to be the adult on the court. He has to run the game plan and be an extension of the coach and be a better play maker. Yes, even if he does that you still need a better ball handler next to him than Jaden, Ayo, or TJ but they're just not going to force their way into getting a real point guard cause there's barely any of them left in the league.
Ant has to do it, thats the only way this thing really unlocks in my opinion and maybe that just not possible but I don't see how they get somebody on the team who can be that running mate I just don't.
Can someone please give me a good reason for how I'm wrong? I'd really like to be lol
Can that really work with Finch? All year he's said the players (himself probably included) don't listen to Finch. Don't follow the coaching or game plans. Or is he singling out Ju for instance? I don't think it's only Ju because Finch has wanted Ant to play quicker for years, yet he doesn't want to learn that skill. He wants to play slow and ISO, do his own thing, he even ignores Finchies plays all the time. They really don't see eye to eye on the court.
The more I keep thinking about it the more convinced I am that Finch is a goner. When your best player says we don't listen to coach, it's a done deal.
I don't know, I really don't.
I think Finch is a very good coach maybe even great one but the consistency with the game plan issues and all of that is alarming. Either the message isn't getting through or the game plan just isn't very good so the players don't see how it can work.
Look if there's a suitable fit next to Ant that can run the offense then I'd love for that to happen, but then Ant had to commit to greatness both ways.
I think the biggest point in favor of explaining why the lead guard experiment was such a failure and why it could be less of failure going forward is that it wasn't the plan for the entire off-season. Conley was supposed to be the starting PG and then at the absolute last second the changed. I have to think part of the reason it changed was because of an overestimation by Finch in Randle's ability to run offense.
Can an off-season with a plan in place and better preparation lead to better point Ant result? I hope so
The last minute decision to force "lead guard" onto ANT is an interesting topic. Obviously, it had not been Finch's original plan. I wonder if TC isn't ultimately responsible for pushing Finch into the change. We know TC thinks the world of ANT's potential. So, it would not surprise me if something like that happened.
But, if nothing else, it adds a data point to what ANT is and is not capable of. I guess we have an "interesting" offseason coming up, where "status quo" ain't happening!
Can an off-season with a plan in place and better preparation lead to better point Ant result? I hope so
Don't think that's happening Aussie. Did you listen to Finch's exit interview? He alluded to getting Ant off the ball more and saying that Ant is a "hard-wired" scorer. That doesn't mean he never brings the ball up or initiates the offense, but I think it will be a lot less than what he did this past season.
I do think he needs to work on his floor game and passing this offseason either way. We've had discussions on here before on how one goes about practicing passing and floor vision and whether it's really something a player can improve on via offseason drills. It's a lot different than refining shot making from different parts of the floor.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 5:38 pm
The last minute decision to force "lead guard" onto ANT is an interesting topic. Obviously, it had not been Finch's original plan. I wonder if TC isn't ultimately responsible for pushing Finch into the change. We know TC thinks the world of ANT's potential. So, it would not surprise me if something like that happened.
But, if nothing else, it adds a data point to what ANT is and is not capable of. I guess we have an "interesting" offseason coming up, where "status quo" ain't happening!
It will be interesting indeed. I expect some major changes with Ant being perhaps the only player that's safe, with Jaden in the "pretty safe" category.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 5:38 pm
The last minute decision to force "lead guard" onto ANT is an interesting topic. Obviously, it had not been Finch's original plan. I wonder if TC isn't ultimately responsible for pushing Finch into the change. We know TC thinks the world of ANT's potential. So, it would not surprise me if something like that happened.
But, if nothing else, it adds a data point to what ANT is and is not capable of. I guess we have an "interesting" offseason coming up, where "status quo" ain't happening!
It will be interesting indeed. I expect some major changes with Ant being perhaps the only player that's safe, with Jaden in the "pretty safe" category.
The thing is, I am only anticipating ONE major move: swapping out Randle (and Donte for salary filler?) for an ANT running mate that has more juice than Ayo. Other than that, I expect mostly status quo, including re-signing Ayo and bringing back Mike and SloMo. A few other odds and ends will be needed: the draft, decisions on Bones, Clark and Phillips, and possibly converting Rocco.
Can an off-season with a plan in place and better preparation lead to better point Ant result? I hope so
Don't think that's happening Aussie. Did you listen to Finch's exit interview? He alluded to getting Ant off the ball more and saying that Ant is a "hard-wired" scorer. That doesn't mean he never brings the ball up or initiates the offense, but I think it will be a lot less than what he did this past season.
I do think he needs to work on his floor game and passing this offseason either way. We've had discussions on here before on how one goes about practicing passing and floor vision and whether it's really something a player can improve on via offseason drills. It's a lot different than refining shot making from different parts of the floor.
I didn't see or hear that, thanks, I think you would be right then.
Well I hope he's ready to become a great defender all the time then
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 5:38 pm
The last minute decision to force "lead guard" onto ANT is an interesting topic. Obviously, it had not been Finch's original plan. I wonder if TC isn't ultimately responsible for pushing Finch into the change. We know TC thinks the world of ANT's potential. So, it would not surprise me if something like that happened.
But, if nothing else, it adds a data point to what ANT is and is not capable of. I guess we have an "interesting" offseason coming up, where "status quo" ain't happening!
It will be interesting indeed. I expect some major changes with Ant being perhaps the only player that's safe, with Jaden in the "pretty safe" category.
The thing is, I am only anticipating ONE major move: swapping out Randle (and Donte for salary filler?) for an ANT running mate that has more juice than Ayo. Other than that, I expect mostly status quo, including re-signing Ayo and bringing back Mike and SloMo. A few other odds and ends will be needed: the draft, decisions on Bones, Clark and Phillips, and possibly converting Rocco.
You're usually more right about these things than I am, but I'm not sure Randle + an injured DDV gets you something much better than Ayo. Rudy or Jaden may need to be put on the table.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 5:38 pm
The last minute decision to force "lead guard" onto ANT is an interesting topic. Obviously, it had not been Finch's original plan. I wonder if TC isn't ultimately responsible for pushing Finch into the change. We know TC thinks the world of ANT's potential. So, it would not surprise me if something like that happened.
But, if nothing else, it adds a data point to what ANT is and is not capable of. I guess we have an "interesting" offseason coming up, where "status quo" ain't happening!
It will be interesting indeed. I expect some major changes with Ant being perhaps the only player that's safe, with Jaden in the "pretty safe" category.
The thing is, I am only anticipating ONE major move: swapping out Randle (and Donte for salary filler?) for an ANT running mate that has more juice than Ayo. Other than that, I expect mostly status quo, including re-signing Ayo and bringing back Mike and SloMo. A few other odds and ends will be needed: the draft, decisions on Bones, Clark and Phillips, and possibly converting Rocco.
It is suppose to be the best point guard draft in a long time. Around 12 point guards could go in the first round. I'm not sure if Tim/Finch want to try their hand in the draft again for an immediate need after Rob.
Ok so where does the point guard of the future conversation start?
I'm guessing it's not at all possible, but I suppose Austin Reeves is technically an option. Personally I think he's overrated and I'd hate to bring in another suspect defender. He's disappeared in two playoffs runs now which isn't a great look for a guy who cashes his checks by being a tough shot maker.
Ja Morant is gonna get a lot of chatter so we might as well bring him up. If you told me he was gonna be healthy all year, Ant would give confident effort on defense all year, moved Randle, moved Rudy, and got a center that wouldn't clog the paint while still being a good rim protector.... I wouldn't hate it, but I guess that tells you all you need to know about what I think about this option and that doesn't even touch the fact he's probably toxic.
Kyrie Irving. I guess it makes sense, but I worry about his health, his age, and what he bring to the locker room
Suggs. I don't know his game super well other than being a really good defender which I like. Statically he does look like a point guard so there's that.
I'm not touching Ball
What's left? VanFleet?
Jamal Shead?
There's no doubt they should draft a point guard, but that doesn't solve anything for 26'
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 9:15 pm
Ok so where does the point guard of the future conversation start?
I'm guessing it's not at all possible, but I suppose Austin Reeves is technically an option. Personally I think he's overrated and I'd hate to bring in another suspect defender. He's disappeared in two playoffs runs now which isn't a great look for a guy who cashes his checks by being a tough shot maker.
Ja Morant is gonna get a lot of chatter so we might as well bring him up. If you told me he was gonna be healthy all year, Ant would give confident effort on defense all year, moved Randle, moved Rudy, and got a center that wouldn't clog the paint while still being a good rim protector.... I wouldn't hate it, but I guess that tells you all you need to know about what I think about this option and that doesn't even touch the fact he's probably toxic.
Kyrie Irving. I guess it makes sense, but I worry about his health, his age, and what he bring to the locker room
Suggs. I don't know his game super well other than being a really good defender which I like. Statically he does look like a point guard so there's that.
I'm not touching Ball
What's left? VanFleet?
Jamal Shead?
There's no doubt they should draft a point guard, but that doesn't solve anything for 26'
So what's the real solution for a point guard?
Maybe it is Ayo if he dedicates himself to setting up others next year. OKC's top assister is SGA at just 6.6 per game, OKC whole team only averages 25.8 assists per game which is lower than what we averaged at 26.1 assists per game. The Wolves were right in the middle of the pact with those 26.1 assists per game with Atlanta averaging the most at 30.1 per game. Maybe whoever we get for Randle or Rudy or whatever move we make is someone that can assist a little bit as well and it's a team effort where everyone gets several assists each.
