It just blows my mind that Wiggins and Shabazz aren't the starting wings

[BloopOracle]

They are perfect together for fuck's sake

[TAFKASP]

[60WinTim]

Here's some hope...

Jon Krawczynski ?@APkrawczynski 18m18 minutes ago
Sam Mitchell seems pretty set on a starting 5 of Rubio-Wiggins-Prince-KG-KAT heading into season. Says he can see changing SF occationsally

[thedoper]

I am very disappointed in Sam.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

Wiggs and Bazz have proven to play well together, but maybe even more than that it is the combination of Rubio/Wiggs/Bazz.

To be effective Rubio needs the ball in his hands. Bazz and Wiggs aren't elite ball handlers and need the ball delivered to them. Wiggs plays smooth and ice cold, Bazz plays hot headed and aggressive, together they are a nice compliment. Both Wiggs and Bazz are deadly in the open court where Rubio is at his best delivering the ball. Rubio needs shooters around him and both Wiggs and Bazz are improving in that area (Wiggins three ball tonight looked different than last season: quicker and smoother).

These three overall compliment each other nicely, and I say the more minutes they play together the better. Now I would not be upset if Zach takes the next step and earns the starter role, or if we go back to the vet Martin, or even stick with Prince (just kidding, I hate that idea), but for now Sam should stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room (aka Rambis) and go with the combination that is producing the best results. No need to overthink it!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

That Rubio-Wiggins-Muhammad-Dieng-Towns lineup looked like our best lineup so far in preseason, which is interesting. Not only was it good offensively, but the defense is what won us that game. The rotations were quicker than you'd think by just looking at the names.

Mitchell no doubt will use that as a late-game, five-man unit option.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

That Rubio-Wiggins-Muhammad-Dieng-Towns lineup looked like our best lineup so far in preseason, which is interesting. Not only was it good offensively, but the defense is what won us that game. The rotations were quicker than you'd think by just looking at the names.

Mitchell no doubt will use that as a late-game, five-man unit option.

Depends on who the PF is for the other team. Despite his age, KG is probably still a better defender in space than Gorgs.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

They are perfect together for fuck's sake

Well, as they say, it's who plays at the end of games, not who starts. They were both out there.

Prince and KG both played 16 minutes. I don't see either topping 20 very often if at all during the regular season, especially Prince, whose impact on defense is so-so.

I think Mitchell just wants to start off the 1st and 3rd quarters with Towns and Wiggins swaddled by a blanket of veterans (how do you like that analogy!?). I've come to accept the decision at this point. He's going to the bench quickly.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

That Rubio-Wiggins-Muhammad-Dieng-Towns lineup looked like our best lineup so far in preseason, which is interesting. Not only was it good offensively, but the defense is what won us that game. The rotations were quicker than you'd think by just looking at the names.

Mitchell no doubt will use that as a late-game, five-man unit option.

Depends on who the PF is for the other team. Despite his age, KG is probably still a better defender in space than Gorgs.

It is surprising to me, but there is no question that this is a true statement. KG's smarts and intensity on defense are unsurpassed by anyone on the team, and he is still surprisingly quick on the perimeter and on PnR's. You wonder how long he can keep it up.

But it was really fun to watch that Rubio-Wig-Bazz-G-KAT lineup close out the game. I agree, though, that Sam will likely have KG in there at game end if healthy against conventional PF's. Last night Sam paired KAT and Gorgui to match up with Kidd's pairings of some combo of Monroe, Plumlee and O'Brien.

I know it's only been one successful game, but here's why I like Sam's lineup to start the game and second half...it makes a defensive statement, and at least last night, that statement carried throughout the game regardless of who was on the court. Bazz, KMart and Zach were all at least adequate on defense, and that's saying a lot. The other thing I like is having scoring machines Martin and Bazzy coming in against the opponent's reserves. Let our defensive stoppers grind it out against the other team's starters, and then let Martin/Bazzy et al work their offensive magic against backups. Not to mention their occasional defensive lapses aren't as damaging against reserves. It's fun how the entire nature of the game changes when Sam goes to his bench...almost like watching an entirely different basketball game!

Again, it's just one game, but I feel a lot better after last night's game.

[Carlos Danger]

That Rubio-Wiggins-Muhammad-Dieng-Towns lineup looked like our best lineup so far in preseason, which is interesting. Not only was it good offensively, but the defense is what won us that game. The rotations were quicker than you'd think by just looking at the names.

Mitchell no doubt will use that as a late-game, five-man unit option.

This was mentioned in the other thread too. That group really looked good - especially on defense as you noted. It starts with the guards stopping penetration and then everyone else doing their job. Rubio was fantastic on defense last night.