Mikkeman wrote:I too think that many bigs would be good fit next to Towns. Problem is that since our current future starting five has two pretty bad three point shooters in Rubio and Wiggins, we need other big to have at least some range to maintain the offense efficiency level seen in the end of this season.
I think offensively Bjelica might be pretty perfect fit to line-up of Rubio, Lavine, Wiggins and Towns. Since there is already three big scorers, I think that line-up doesn't need fourth high usage player. Bjelica would have range to draw also other opponent big outside of paint to open it for Wiggins' drives. He also doesn't typically try to do too much and moves the ball effectively. Both attributes that would improve our offense.
Problem is that he gets pushed too much in defense and got way too many fouls. If Thibbs can improve his defense enough, I would like to see him getting more minutes with our four best players even if he would be still coming from bench.
The post-all star game Belly is a very good fit next to KAT, especially if Thibs goes out and gets a solid SF defender like Deng. If those last 15-20 games were not a mirage, I think we could have our answer at PF...IF. Yes, the fouling is an issue, but to the best of my knowledge, he didn't have a reputation as a fouler in Europe. He clearly had a difficult time adjusting to the referees in the NBA, but he is a savvy player, and I see no reason he can't change his style of play to avoid fouls if Thibs needs him for 30+ minutes per game.
I just don't see it. I love Bjelly when he's on his game and think he could be an absolute bargain in the next couple of years as a nice stretch 4 off the bench. But think about some of the athletic and physical specimens he'd have to face night in and night out as a starting 4. I just don't think he's cut out for it.
Mikkeman wrote:I too think that many bigs would be good fit next to Towns. Problem is that since our current future starting five has two pretty bad three point shooters in Rubio and Wiggins, we need other big to have at least some range to maintain the offense efficiency level seen in the end of this season.
I think offensively Bjelica might be pretty perfect fit to line-up of Rubio, Lavine, Wiggins and Towns. Since there is already three big scorers, I think that line-up doesn't need fourth high usage player. Bjelica would have range to draw also other opponent big outside of paint to open it for Wiggins' drives. He also doesn't typically try to do too much and moves the ball effectively. Both attributes that would improve our offense.
Problem is that he gets pushed too much in defense and got way too many fouls. If Thibbs can improve his defense enough, I would like to see him getting more minutes with our four best players even if he would be still coming from bench.
The post-all star game Belly is a very good fit next to KAT, especially if Thibs goes out and gets a solid SF defender like Deng. If those last 15-20 games were not a mirage, I think we could have our answer at PF...IF. Yes, the fouling is an issue, but to the best of my knowledge, he didn't have a reputation as a fouler in Europe. He clearly had a difficult time adjusting to the referees in the NBA, but he is a savvy player, and I see no reason he can't change his style of play to avoid fouls if Thibs needs him for 30+ minutes per game.
I just don't see it. I love Bjelly when he's on his game and think he could be an absolute bargain in the next couple of years as a nice stretch 4 off the bench. But think about some of the athletic and physical specimens he'd have to face night in and night out as a starting 4. I just don't think he's cut out for it.
I agree with this take. I think he is a nice player that needs to be protected a little bit by not having to start and go up against starters 30mpg. I think he can be effective against those guys for maybe half those minutes but the whole time? I don't think it's going to work. He could prove me wrong and that would be great. There have been plenty of effective players throughout history in the same situation where coming off the bench most of the time benefited them and the team. Bjelica's abilities happen to be a nice fit for that role and are a need for this team. Let's hope he looks more like the effective player he was early in the season and down the stretch. I'm feeling optimistic.
Gorgui is a much better option than Belly is at the 4. He's durable and has improved every year in the league. Sometimes the guy you're looking for is the guy you already have.
I think Giorgi is the weak link in starting lineup and he is better coming off the bench. It would be awesome if belly leap frogges him. I like the complete package he might provide.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I think Giorgi is the weak link in starting lineup and he is better coming off the bench. It would be awesome if belly leap frogges him. I like the complete package he might provide.
The overall per 36 numbers are very similar and Belly was on a terrible bench unit. I think Belly is a better offensive player than Dieng and Dieng is a better defensive player. It's close. If Belly stays as a 40% 3pt shooter putting him in the starting lineup would make us the second most potent offense in the NBA with 4 shooters around Ricky and wide open driving space for Ricky, Zach and Wiggins.
khans2k5 wrote:Belly's post all-star break numbers per 36
14.8/8.7/2.9/0.7/0.9 on 57/48/88 splits
Dieng per 36 post all-star
13.7/8.7/2.4/1.9/1.5 on 53/36/84 splits.
The overall per 36 numbers are very similar and Belly was on a terrible bench unit. I think Belly is a better offensive player than Dieng and Dieng is a better defensive player. It's close. If Belly stays as a 40% 3pt shooter putting him in the starting lineup would make us the second most potent offense in the NBA with 4 shooters around Ricky and wide open driving space for Ricky, Zach and Wiggins.
I really like Gorgui, I think he's a very good all around player. Ideally, we can find a big who can start over Gorgui, but guys that good are not THAT easy to find so we should be patient and not make a mistake.
I also have hope for Bjelica, but he needs to prove he can help the team win better than Gorgui and he hasn't done that yet. The best way for Bjelica to do that is on the offensive end because that's where his strengths are. That's why I'd rather see him play off the bench when he can be a higher offensive priority. In fact with his passing, I'd happily try to run some offense through him. This makes more sense for Bjelica, rather than playing him as a starter when we'd be asking him to mainly provide defense against starting-calibur PFs, and he's not a great defender.
Bjelica is a good fit for our team as a whole because of his three point shooting, and Towns' versatility (in this case his defense) help us absorb Bjelica's weaker defense. Gorgui, though, has proven himself to be the better partner for Towns so far. I would definitely be happy to see more Bjelica more of an offensive focal-point off the bench, and I'd actually be a little curious to see if Gorgui can stretch his range out to 3 pointers a bit.
I'll say it again I'm team Dieng and Bjelica being part of or maybe a significant portion of solution together. They are both complimentary players. They both have a certain uniqueness to their game. They are both older young vet guys that need to improve to be that part of the solution and there is some legit optimism for both guys to do just that. Both guys have question marks but they are also guys that have skills sets that can make them useful as Brit calls Dieng a "Grease and glue" guy. Both have passing as a strength. Both guys have very nice length for the PF position. Both guys can stretch the floor in their way. They are reasons why you don't HAVE to get a PF at #5 or HAVE to sell out to get an upgrade at PF in FA. Upgrading is a good idea and I am not against it but not absolutely vital at this point. Another option (at least a Brandon Bass Jon Leuer Cole Aldridge type) at some point will be needed but I think Dieng and Belly guys can be part of the solution this year. They have some complimentary skills as well as Dieng can play more post oriented guys and Bjelica can Match up with perimeter guys. I'm wanting to see how things pan out. One thing Dieng has going for him over Bjelica is staying on the court. Bjelica if I remember right has had a little bit of an injury history from playing internationally. It's not horrifically troublesome but it's enough to mention.
monsterpile wrote:I'll say it again I'm team Dieng and Bjelica being part of or maybe a significant portion of solution together. They are both complimentary players. They both have a certain uniqueness to their game. They are both older young vet guys that need to improve to be that part of the solution and there is some legit optimism for both guys to do just that. Both guys have question marks but they are also guys that have skills sets that can make them useful as Brit calls Dieng a "Grease and glue" guy. Both have passing as a strength. Both guys have very nice length for the PF position. Both guys can stretch the floor in their way. They are reasons why you don't HAVE to get a PF at #5 or HAVE to sell out to get an upgrade at PF in FA. Upgrading is a good idea and I am not against it but not absolutely vital at this point. Another option (at least a Brandon Bass Jon Leuer Cole Aldridge type) at some point will be needed but I think Dieng and Belly guys can be part of the solution this year. They have some complimentary skills as well as Dieng can play more post oriented guys and Bjelica can Match up with perimeter guys. I'm wanting to see how things pan out. One thing Dieng has going for him over Bjelica is staying on the court. Bjelica if I remember right has had a little bit of an injury history from playing internationally. It's not horrifically troublesome but it's enough to mention.
Both are bench players? Don't mind either of them but I'd like to see a legit stater next to Towns. They may get there one day but I don't see either of them as a legit stater in the league. Bench depth yes.
