Comments on: Clippers vs Spurs Player Grades

By: Goons 1

Goons 1 — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 22:25:13 +0000

To Kawhis credit, he was being doubled & trapped everytime.. Would I have preferred he take more shots, yes but I can’t be a hypocrite when I just criticized him for trying to do too much against Phoenix

Giving Serge & Zu D’s is being generous! Pat Pat was ok & got a C from me

Lou gets a C- for taking a few questionable calls late especially that 3 with zero rhythm

Good to finally see some zone! Wasn’t always great but you can’t become great if you don’t play/practice it during games

By: TheGreatestShowman

TheGreatestShowman — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 18:02:34 +0000

They really are but going back to Lucas’ point, we clearly built the roster assuming Mann (or Fi/Oturu) would be at least serviceable. Mann at minimum has to be aggressive out there.

By: ksihoo

ksihoo — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 17:16:18 +0000

The Spurs are in the masterclass of finding draft hidden gems. The Clippers, well…

By: Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:46:32 +0000

I would rather see Kabengele get some minutes at the 4 before seeing another 4 guard line up.

By: TheGreatestShowman

TheGreatestShowman — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:42:26 +0000

Watching the Spurs young wings fly around aggressively made me look at Terrance like, WTF, dude, that should be you.

By: TheGreatestShowman

TheGreatestShowman — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:40:52 +0000

Good point and another reason to bring Mook off the bench. Any 2nd unit advantage is nullified by having so many non-factors on both sides of the ball that defenses can just key in on Lou.

By: Thretch

Thretch — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 15:42:42 +0000

My disappointment with this game: isn’t the Spurs 2nd unit defense vulnerable too? Can’t a second unit with Lou and Luke wreak havoc on them as well? The bench stints should be an offensive bonanza for both teams.. advantage: nobody.

If LAC can’t find a way to score against the bench of a lower tier NBA team, then this is worrisome.

By: jbugs

jbugs — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 15:39:21 +0000

I would at least want to try starting Zu again. He fit so well with the starters last year and it’s not like they can’t use his efficient scoring, rebounding and superior D. His chemistry with Leonard last year was the best we had, and I feel like he could be even more valuable with Ty as the coach and Batum facilitating increased ball movement. The bench D already stinks, so I dont know how much adding ibaka to that line up would hurt.

By: jbugs

jbugs — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 15:36:34 +0000

Batum should definitely stick with the starters at this point. He’s definitely not the teams 3rd player, but the fact that he might look like he is is a symptom of his great chemistry with that line up.

MM does not share the same chemistry. While he doesn’t necessarily do harm to the starting line up, what he brings to the table would be just as valuable (and potentially more valuable) playing with the bench.

As far as locker room considerations go, MM already got paid like he’s a star. If the team needs to walk on egg shells around him, we’ve got bigger problems to worry about as he is not the ideal fit for this team and he’s tied up for a ton of money for 4 years. His defense, rebounding, and scoring could look way better coming off the bench. I would hope he would realize how much this would help the team.

By: ksihoo

ksihoo — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 14:54:12 +0000

FO did amazing job replacing Harrell&JMG with Ibaka&Batum which is a clear upgrade (and hopefully will be a real difference maker comes playoffs time) but went very conservative besides.

Drafting Oturu could never help for this year. Re-signing 2Pat and Reggie look, as you said, more like a chemistry-building move rather then basketball quality improvement, as both are on a decline (as is Lou Williams unfortunatelly, too). They also do not offer what was clearly needed (a solid backup playmaker who can play D and a defesive big)

Exchanging Shamet for Kennard and extending him to a big long-term deal looks also very suspicious and risky. Kennard so far is missing excatly what Shamet was missing last year – confidence.

With Morris being now absent for 2 weeks and counting with a “knee soreness” (I believe that this injury-related communication from the FO is also direspecting to fans) after signing this ridiculous contract, the load management practice and Zu looking like lost in the woods with the second unit, we look very thin for the RS and there is only FO to blame. Just don’t blame the Lakers for having easy path to the finals once again – they simply know how to take care of their business. Apparently, we don’t.

Imagine Beverley and/or Ibaka missing significant time (which is not very unlikely). Who are we going to play extended PG and C minutes? Reggie and 2Pat, I guess.