Comments on: Clippers vs. Raptors Game Recap: A Missed Opportunity

By: Lucas Hann

Lucas Hann — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:47:14 +0000

The problem, moreso than sitting Serge, was sitting Serge and Winslow. Serge grabbed a team-best 25% of available defensive boards when he was on the floor last night. The defensive rebounding wasn’t as good with Justise, but he still grabbed 21% of available boards, representing a small drop-off that was offset by his significantly better offensive contributions (132.4 ORTG w/ Winslow on vs 94.4 ORTG w/ Ibaka on).

The problem is that to close the game, Shaw went with Morris/Coffey. I get it–he played the 5 best guys he had last night. And I get not playing Serge, who was probably our worst player last night. But I think, with the benefit of hindsight, that you probably need Justise to be one of the forwards and take your pick of one of the other 5 to sit (I would have been fine sitting Luke and sticking w/ Coffey).

I mentioned Serge grabbed 25% of available DREBs while Justise grabbed 21%. Marcus only grabbed 11% and Amir grabbed just 3%. I suspect that Terance, Morris, Winslow, and Reggie w/ 1/2 of Kennard/Coffey probably gets you into “bad DREB lineup that can offset that with other strengths” territory instead of “fatally bad DREB lineup” territory.

By: Luna Rider

Luna Rider — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:38:10 +0000

Serge was rebounding well, Shaw’s rotations were great before the 4th. Wouldn’t be surprised if Lue texted Shaw and told him to play the small lineup.

By: Lucas Hann

Lucas Hann — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:31:45 +0000

Yeah, it’s definitely pick your poison–I just think that staying small was a totally defensible decision given how the game had gone up to that point. Maybe he puts Serge back in, he fumbles the ball and gets burnt on defense a few times, and we’re going “why did he put the worst player in the game back in to close?”

I don’t think there was a clear better option, either path would have been justifiable, and ultimately it comes down way more to the lack of available personnel than the decisions made with the personnel Shaw had at his disposal.

By: osamu6238

osamu6238 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 11:56:42 +0000

it normally is probably a tough choice, but given how well Coffey looked this game and how bad Serge looked, I don’t think it was particularly close.

Do you just put in the 6’10” guy and assume that solves the rebounding issue, no matter how bad he’s playing? or do you just hope your 6’9″ guy is big enough to grab the ball when it’s available.

By: osamu6238

osamu6238 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 11:32:07 +0000

Halfway through the 4th I thought to myself that whoever loses this game is going to feel very disappointed. Clips felt like the underdog with Siakam and VanVleet back in the fold for them, so it was impressive they kept it close the whole game (mostly by way of great 3-pt shooting). Unfortunately in the 4th they shot “only” 3/9 from 3, and couldn’t get a stop/rebound on the other end.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 09:03:19 +0000

Also, if we can get Coffey & Keon to become rotational players in these tough periods. That’s win for me.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 08:54:24 +0000

Happy New Year everyone. 🙂

By: dhpat

dhpat — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 07:15:25 +0000

Isn’t it pick your lesser evil? Serge’s miscues vs. lack of rebounding when going small. Still we fought. If we keep fighting, we can try to stay .500 until we get more guys back.

By: Lucas Hann

Lucas Hann — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 05:21:18 +0000

think the issue was moreso that Serge was individually awful in this game

By: chogokin

chogokin — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 05:10:34 +0000

Yea I was also surprised Serge didn’t get more minutes, but in fairness to Shaw and co., he didn’t look good out there and Justise played better than I think most of us would’ve expected.