• The starting unit does not work (and I said so before). It was evident in the pre-season.DJJ is not a strong perimeter defender against guards. Using your SF as a POA defender throws your rotations/switches out of whack. If you care that much about perimeter defense, put an actual perimeter defender in the lineup (Chris Dunn).
• The whole point of trading a productive player like Norm (who had a great game for Miami) was to get an upgrade at the #4 to help Zu with weak side rebounding and move Kawhi to the #3. If I were the FO and Ballmer, my message to Ty Lue would be simple: ‘Move Collins into the starting lineup and stop f’ing around. We look unserious.’
• Kawhi Leonard – got shredded by Markannen. Lauri looked like the far better player. He had real gravity. Kawhi didn’t. Move Kawhi to the #3 or watch this season go down the tubes. We needed Collins on Markannen.
• Coach Lue and Staff – They’ve been terrible. You don’t have ’15 or 20′ games to figure things out in the West. You just don’t. If anyone watched what Wemby did last night that padawan is a full on Jedi Knight. I really do think a coaching change would shock this team into realizing its potential.
• Zu: Looked good. Could’ve carried this team if Collins had been next to him.
• Aspiration – I know everyone has been dismissive of the Aspiration allegations. I have not been dismissive. I do think it’s a serious matter b/c it’s hard to explain why a Clipper owner put money into a failing business and then Kawhi magically gets paid for doing nothing. Kawhi doesn’t care the way you need your leader to care.It permeates the entire organization. He made a mockery of the NBA salary cap rules and put his boss in an embarrassing situation and has delivered little for this franchise.
• ‘It’s one game’: except that it’s not. That loss already looms large in terms of playoff positioning. Let’s not kid ourselves. These guys are going to have to get a lot better in a very short period of time. If they’re a middling team by Dec 15, just blow the whole thing up.

Also, GIVE ZU THE BALL! Get the big boy up to 14+ attempts a game.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25261575-pablo-torre-says-bill-belichick-jordon-hudson-hot-mic-video-similar-unc-dynamic

Beal looked terrific, especially playing with an intelligent big like Zubac. He moved without the ball well and used his screens very effectively to get off the midrange shots. He should be in the starting lineup playing with Zu.

YCN and Sanders really jumped off the page in terms of their growth as players from summer league. Yannick looked like a legit big who can throw in a few wrinkles with his handle and ability to step outside of the box. His passing and cutting were pretty good too. From a talent level standpoint, he looks better than a lot of our backup centers (save Hartenstein) in the Ballmer era. Kobe Sanders really surprised me. In summer league, the game looked too big and fast for him, but last night he looked like a real pro, attacking defenders who’ve played actual NBA games, driving with good finishing touch at the rim, and a good eye for spotting YCN and other cutters. He also got back on defense, boxed out well, and looked way more comfortable on an NBA floor than I had expected.

I also thought that Miller was solid and Kobe Brown brought energy (even if ragged at times).

Given the clear talent improvement we have on this roster vs last year, James Harden is going to have to adjust his game a bit. I think he understands that, but he should not be looking to dribble it out of the backcourt as much, especially against pressure, when a pass up the floor to a talented player like Beal, Kawhi, Zu is available. He’s going to get a lot more 3 ball opportunities of the catch and shoot and step back variety and he has to hit those at a good percentage. There’s not going to be as much ground and pound dribble drive basketball to get to the FT line that eats the shot clock.

Kawhi, too, needs to adjust his game. These 2 have to move the ball and play ping-pong basketball; pass-cut; give-go; take the screen, attack the matchup in movement. It will be less wear and tear on their bodies and great efficiency. We can beat the OKCs and Denvers of the world with that type of basketball. The talent and depth are there.