Road to a Championship start here, 2022 Draft.

[Whole Truth]

Naji +20
Jose +15
Nance +3
Jonas +1
Herb +1
Murphy -4
CJ -6
Zion -10

What do Naji & Jose bring to the table ? defensive pressure & aggression.

[Whole Truth]

Credit where credit is due, great 2nd half for CJ.

Still stand by what I've been saying thought. Jonas on court 4th Q with Herb, Naji & Jose defensive comp held the Heat with Butler & Bam playing to 12 points all the way to the 3 min mark with Green utilizing him as an offensive threat to establish the post. This is how Pels have dominated the Clippers over the last 3 years with Jonas starting. (9-2) in 11 games .. Herb & Hart or Herb & Daniels perimeter compensation helps keep his post presence on court. Jonas has a team high 121 offensive rating if he can be compensated for & not be ignored..

Problem is with Zion, BI & CJ starting along side Jonas, the defensive comp is not there & he will get run off court in a favorable matchup against Zubac if Pels happen to meet the Clips ..

Rough game for Zion... -3 in a 23pt win. Taking Zion off court, Heat could not effectively zone the rest of the team.

Credit where credit is due. Good adjustments from Green.

[Whole Truth]

Jose +27
Naji +26
Herb +24

I don't need to say anything else. 3 perimeter defenders topped the team in +/- impact. Tell me more about the centre position. Bam the ultimate small ball 5 didn't run Jonas off court ..

The team that controls the perimeter, controls the post.

[Whole Truth]

After the success in the Heat game, Pels fans are now calling for Jonas to come off the bench so he can be utilized more offensively. lol

Jonas had 4 FGA's where he normally averages 9. CJ had 21 FGA's where he normally averages 15. Jonas was effective because he wasn't ignored as a post threat. CJ was effective because he was more of a primary option with ZIon playing only 26 mins & BI out. The 5 man lineups show Jonas going to the bench for Nance doesn't rectify the issue.

Here's the thing, these posters are half right. The 2 issues are offensive overlap & defensive compensation. They're wrong in who should be going to the bench.

Here's the flaw in Jonas going to the bench over CJ. Jonas is 60% efficiency on 9 FGA's a game, he's low usage who doesn't require pounding the ball to be effective for an efficient 15pts. CJ is 45% efficiency on 15 FGA's high usage. So who do you think affects the usage of Zion & BI if that's your core offensively ?

Starters with Nance are not more effective because Pels are playing 4 on 5 in lesser efficiency. Nance is effective with Zion volume efficiency, Murphy's spacing, Naji & Jose defensive pressure & ability to hit an open 3.

Pels fans are shocked that playing 4 on 5 with Jonas, Daniels is better offensively than playing 4 on 5 with Nance, CJ lol. If Jonas is 9 FGA's on 60% efficiency, & CJ is 15 FGA's on 45% efficiency & both Nance & Daniels average 5 FGA''s. why the **** would anyone think turning 45% FGA's to 60% efficiency would be worse. Then when you factor defensively. Zion has the best 2 man pairing with Daniels & the worse 2 man pairing with CJ, not because of their ability to space the floor but their ability to defend the perimeter. With Jonas & Daniels your taking more efficient shots, closing defensive possession with elite rebounding & pressuring with elite perimeter compensation with Herb roaming +20 100 mins, which is better than cleanup of poorer efficiency, Herb as the primary defender & Nance struggling to close possession -1 100 mins

When Daniels was starting, the team was short up to 4 rotation players during the toughest stretch of games to date. 5 games lost within 2 possessions, where if they had one threat off the bench be it Murphy or CJ, they probably go 9-0 (Denver 2x, Mavs 2x, Wolves 2x, Kings 2x, Clippers, Utah 2x, Bulls, 3 road B2B's, with CJ out). Which is why I laugh at people bringing up the win/loss record with, without, CJ.

Not one game did the Pels get blown out because there was better defensive compensation with Daniels when the shots weren't falling & the fact defense can be played in offensive efficiency.

[Whole Truth]

I want to credit Pistons fans for showing up. You couldn't pay me to watch that.

Watching the refs help Pistons run up the score shows how much control they have over games. From a 10pt 1st Q to 91 pts over 3 Q's. LMAO. Most won't notice it but they got a lot of momentum calls & non calls.

1-12 shooting, hope Murphy got that out of his system heading into the next stretch of games. 11 empty possessions is a potential 66pts for & against.

Nice bounce back game for Zion, 36pts on 14 shots, is volume efficiency. Needed that to offset Murphy's performance.

Hawkins looked out of rhythm.

Pistons making 100pts still has me laughing at the officiating in this game. There was a full body of space between Metu & Jonas with no contact when he bricked a shot for FT's, lol. If Pels had lost, doubt I'd be laughing at this BS .. At least it made the game watchable for the faithful spenders in the crowd.

Pels were 30 of 47 in the paint. 11-34 from 3, 31 FT's
Pistons were 21 of 38 in the paint, 11-41 from 3, 32 FT's

Pels +13 in the paint, -1 in FT's. I need a Laker fan to tell me style of play is why Lakers always get a good whistle LMAO.

[Whole Truth]

CJ shoots 1-10 from the field for the half, not game. while OKC pick on him defensively. Green as a result, pulls Jonas at the 3 min mark of the 2nd Q due to that inefficiency, down 4, for Nance's defense. Pels proceed to give up a 40pt Ql. lol

Just maybe, maybe.... you sat the wrong player.

Down 16 at the half..

I expect Nance will start the 3rd. We need stops ... lol

[Whole Truth]

Fans, coaches, players & even OKC homer announcers saw the carry, down 3. That ignored play led to the game tying 3 & momentum shift.

Are you really going to live & die by how hot & cold CJ runs.

[Whole Truth]

OKC's coach turned CJ into an inefficient chucker. He shot 8-24 on the night, 33%

Along with 2 TO's, that's 18 empty possessions, a potential 108 points for & against for Pels to make up. Play faster, work harder, not be more efficient.

Both Jonas & Zion are efficient players that need to play in efficiency & defensive compensation. Zion shot 10-17 for 29 points. CJ's 23pts came on 24 shots. Combine Zion's volume efficiency with CJ's volume inefficiency. You have 18-41 shooting, 44% not so efficient anymore. You effectively reduced Zion's 58% efficiency on the night to 44% making up for CJ's inefficient volume.

Green said he needed to play faster as reason to why Jonas was taken off court. CJ was 1-10 with Jonas on court 10% on volume (10 shots), in Jonas 11 minutes & you wander why I keep saying CJ will be the reason Jonas is run off court under Green.

CJ finally, briefly, stopped bricking shots & it led to the comeback run 3rd Q. I'm shocked, not coming up empty lead to a run, not just getting stops.

Naji +15 off the bench. Not going to lie, I rather have Naji's grit than CJ's inefficient scoring. Pels had to make up 18 empty possessions for CJ to get hot for 8 makes & that's why Jonas was riding bench. Not the BS excuse given.

Imagine getting benched because someone else is playing like ****.

Saddest part is Green thought the player who shot 33% for the game on 24 shots, was his best option. Same 30% on volume he shot for the Suns series & MF's still talking about how you can't play Jonas in that inefficiency, ya, no ****.

[Whole Truth]

Split CJ's 24 shots among Zion & Jonas 60% efficiency, they coming up with more than 23 pts.

Nance is the 4 on 5 defensive compensation for CJ shooting 8-24, 30%. (Nance was 4 & 2 in 33 mins)

Daniels is the 4 on 5 defensive compensation for Jonas & Zion shooting, 60%, (Jonas was 6 & 6 in 11 mins on 4 FGA's)

That's why with Nance & CJ the starters are -1 in net rating where Jonas & Daniels are +20. 45% efficiency vs 60% efficiency.

Green does this in the PO's, expect an early exit.

I'm done, good luck NO's

[Whole Truth]

The last 2 games against real competition. CJ is (17-48) 35% on volume. Just like the Suns series.. That's 216 potential points for & against the defense has to make up for in the last 2. That's why Nance was playing with the Pels struggling to score & why Jonas will get rum off the court, even in favorable matchups.

Imagine being 7-13 for 17 pts & 10 rebs in 23 minutes & getting benched because CJ's (9-24) has to be on court.

First half - CJ (6-14) 42% = Jonas (7-13) 17 & 10
Second half - CJ (3-15) 20% = Jonas run off court (Naji, Murphy & CJ started the 3rd 0-7, that was it for Jonas)

Here's what's funny about these decisions to bench Jonas for Nance's defense.

Pels gave up 45pts first half, scored 61 with Jonas getting the majority of his minutes.
Pels gave up 55pts 2nd half, scored 46 with Jonas benched after 3 mins, as in the Thunder game.

The difference in halves is not defense but offensive efficiency. Get all the stops you want, you still have to put the ball in the basket. The more efficient you do that the less stops required ...

Zion (9-15) 28pts & Jonas (7-13) 17pts were a combined (16-28) 45pts. Scoring almost half the teams total points on 28 shots at 57%. From the 91 possessions total, the rest of the team were (20-63) 31% for 62pts. It took the rest of the team 35 FGA's to be +17 to Zion & Jonas' combined efficiency.

CJ (9-24) 25pts & Murphy ((4-13) 15pts, were a combined (13-37) 35%. The reason Nance was in over Jonas.

Problem is with the team shooting 25% from 3, CJ 37% on high volume/usage & Nance man playing off him to help zone Zion. The decision to play Nance for more stops... resulted in a Bucks 55-46 2nd half because Pels couldn't effectively put the ball in the basket.

[Whole Truth]

CJ fans claim Pels can't play 4 on 5 with Daniels elite perimeter defense lol. What are Pels doing with Nance when they have to clean up CJ's high usage inefficiency ? Last 2 games, CJ had a combined 33 empty possessions on 48 FGA's. Neither Jonas or Nance should be blamed for that inefficiency.

How's your math ?

Pels shot (8-32) 25% from 3 & Bucks sagged off of Nance as they would Daniels. Yet in poor spacing, Zion & Jonas combined for 45pts on (16-28) shooting, 57% efficiency. Nearly half the teams total points on 28 shots.

CJ (9-24) had 25pts on 37% efficiency.
Jonas (7-13) had 17 & 10 in 23 mins on 54% efficiency

Considering the team plays 4 on 5 with either Nance or Daniels. Who do you sub to compensate for defensively ?

Now I know Daniels was not available for this game but come PO's there will be favorable matchups for Jonas & Green is going to take him off the court to compensate for CJ' shooting 35% on volume like the last 2 games & the entire Suns series, 5 games.

Jonas - Zion - BI - Herb - Daniels 4 on 5 = +20, 100mins (ZIon & Jonas 24 FGA's 60%, BI 15 FGA's 45%)
CJ - Zion - BI - Herb - Nance 4 on 5 = -1, 100mins (CJ & BI, 30 FGA's 45%, Zion 15 FGA's 60%)

The difference is offensive efficiency.

[Whole Truth]

Liked that you tried Daniels with Jonas to start the 2nd, they got stops. Problem with it, CJ, Hawkins & Naji is not Zion, BI & Herb. None on the court could draw enough attention to play 4 on 5 with Daniels. The 3 times the ball made it to post, Daniels got 2 wide open 3's which he missed & Jonas got the ball late in the shot clock for a rushed attempt.

Instead of tweaking, whole sale changes.

[Whole Truth]

Don't let the run discourage. Tweak the lineup.

[Whole Truth]

What entertains me is if you started the 3rd like this with Jonas, he wouldn't have been coming back out of timeout..

[Whole Truth]

AD pretty much covered it. 1st Q Pels played full of confidence. Rest of the game, rattled after a rough start to the 2nd Q. No real recovery of momentum.

Ultimately it wouldn't have made a difference in this game but you see the importance of leaving free points on the line.

Boston 11-12 FT's, Pels 11-18 FT's. For 7 free points left on the line in a 12 pt loss.

CJ (6-8) 75% first Q, Pels (37-28)
CJ (4-15) 26%, rest of the game
CJ (10-23) 43% for the game

The magic # in efficiency is 30 shots at 60%. CJ & Murphy combined for 33 shots at 39%. Zion & Jonas (10-23) 41%

Pels had 86 possessions to Celtics 82 & held the Celtics top rated offense to 104 pts, defense wasn't the issue ..

[Whole Truth]

Watching the Daniels lineup last night. I want to talk about player skillsets, rotational balance & matchups.

As you know I've been harping on playing Daniels with the starters for a while now. That's Jonas, Zion, BI & Herb.

Jonas, a is a 3 level scoring post threat who can create gaps in a defense
Zion, a volume efficient scorer who can penetrate a wall of defenders, a playmaker with defensive gravity.
BI is a 3 level mid range threat, a playmaker with length & defensive gravity
Herb is an elite defender with range & secondary ball handling, playmaking skills

This starting lineup has 3 threats that require defensive gravity, it has 2 PG facilitators that can create for themselves & others, It has 2, 3 level scorers that requires double teams perimeter to post, 2 secondary ball handlers & 2 elite perimeter defenders to compliment the lineups scoring efficiency..

Why did Daniels struggle last night with - Jonas, Naji, Hawkins, CJ

CJ is a scorer, who can occasionally find an open man.
Naji is a gritty defender, who can push pace & hit an open 3
Hawkins is a shooter, struggling rookie due to inconsistent minutes.

Lets forget the experimental lineup had no chemistry against the best offensive/defensive team in the league. With no Zion, BI to create & shift the defense the 3 shooters Naji, CJ & Hawkins had no open looks. Boston sagging off of Daniels meant an easy double of Jonas so his post gravity & kickouts was negated by Daniels being the outlet & no creation for either Naji or Hawkins. All Boston had to do was Double Jonas with Daniels man & stick Jrue on CJ the lone "creator" not facilitator on court. Dead in the water,

I liked that you tried to put Daniels on court with Jonas but the balance & matchups with this mix of skillsets weren't good.

Big difference playing Jonas & Daniels 4 on 5 with Zion, BI, Herb than Naji, Hawkins, CJ. There's no playmaking & defensive gravity on court. With Jrue on CJ, he didn't require a double to be held in check. That left the only other threat being doubled in the post by Daniels man. It resulted in Daniels getting 2 open shots but that's what Boston wanted. With Zion & BI on court, they can't just stick Jrue arguable the best 2 way player in the league on the lone creator.

[Whole Truth]

So many things I could say about last nights performance but I want to be as direct as possible. Right to the core issue. Starting CJ & perimeter defense.

Suns have 3 perimeter threats. Pels start Herb as the lone perimeter defender. Suns proceed to hit 11 of 14 3's to sink the game in the first Q. For me an expected result as I have been saying. Booker puts up another easy 50 & as a result of the Suns controlling the perimeter scoring, Nurkic (5-11), has a solid night against Green toggling between Jonas, Nance & Zion at the 5 because he wanted to keep CJ's "35% efficiency" on court. The game doesn't change for the better until Daniels is subbed as last resort down 24. NOT an ELITE RIM PROTECTOR but an ELITE PERIMETER DEFENDER changed the complexion of this game, why? because Suns have 3 perimeter threats, not one, for Herb to control & the post does not control the perimeter, adequate ball pressure does.

Core issue, Pels can't start Daniels perimeter defense because we need CJ's 15pts, 3TO's on 17 shots. 35% efficiency "spacing" despite Suns having 3 players camped ... The same efficiency he shot the entire Suns series, here yet again. As a result of this inefficiency & lack of perimeter defense, Jonas is run off court in what should be a favorable matchup, Nance is ineffective on the boards & Zion at the 5 kind of worked because it allowed Daniels to be on court with Herb, while having to play CJ, who's 4th Q bricks, poor decisions & 2 TO's sunk any chance of a comeback.

Suns rained 3's regardless of Jonas being on court or not. Griffin should know this. The Cavs team that beat the prime Warriors had the worst post defense of any PO team in that championship run with Love stretching the floor at the 5 for Lebron. They traded 2's for 3's. Jonas & Nance can hit open 3's at an effective rate but neither are effective volume threats for Zion who has no diversity to his game other than attacking the rim. Griffen's Cavs blue print failure, Lebron shoots 3's, Zion does not. Difference between teams living with 2 40% 3pt shooting centers taking open looks to camp 3 players & not.

Nurkic had 11 FT's while being allowed to camp in the lane where Suns got away with 3 in the key violations all game. The league & Suns know where their weakness is & they got help controlling the paint. Green taking that Jonas matchup off Nurkic because he can't control the perimeter with CJ is why this team will go nowhere fast.

When did the game change for the better, taking out Jonas, Nance or playing ZIon at the 5 ?. No it's when you finally decided to play an elite on ball defender in Daniels who was guarding at times 2 players on the perimeter. Which is why, he was the only Pel +10 in what would have been an easy blow out without him. Pels didn't get control of the 3pt line till that decision was made. There's literal pages of me explaining this result.

Straight up. If you don't start Herb & Daniels against a team like this, you're not going to win.

[Whole Truth]

1st Q Suns 46 - 28, down 24, Daniels was subbed in, Pels cut the lead to 18 to close the Q.

Rest of game due to the decision to play Daniels

2nd Q Suns 28 - 26
3rd Q Pels 36 - 29
4th Q Pels 21 - 21

Pels + 5 in the following 3Q's.

Daniels only Pel +10.

If after this game where you watch 3 players sit in the key with CJ's spacing on court & don't realize the difference in this game was Daniels ball pressure, IDK what else to say.

[Whole Truth]

Pop quiz, why do the Suns struggle to beat the Spurs ?

Answer, they're weak in the middle & Wemby is the lowly Spurs best player. It's how they matchup & utilize that matchup.

Why do Pels struggle to beat the Suns ?

By trying to matchup Durant, Booker, Beal with CJ, which is & was a losing strategy Booker putting up 50pts 3 straight games against this matchup decision. Herb as the lone defender stands no chance to contain their 3 perimeter threats.

The Mavs game early in the season with CJ out that Borrego coached. He successfully contained Kyrie & Luke with Herb & Daniels, which resulted in a win. So I know, you know, it works.

I'm assuming politics. Max salary & loyalty to veteran most likely playing a factor in these IMO poor matchup decisions.



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[Pipp33]

1st Q Suns 46 - 28, down 24, Daniels was subbed in, Pels cut the lead to 18 to close the Q.

Rest of game due to the decision to play Daniels

2nd Q Suns 28 - 26
3rd Q Pels 36 - 29
4th Q Pels 21 - 21

Pels + 5 in the following 3Q's.

Daniels only Pel +10.

If after this game where you watch 3 players sit in the key with CJ's spacing on court & don't realize the difference in this game was Daniels ball pressure, IDK what else to say.

Couldn't agree more.

Pels biggest issue is what to do with CJ, as IMO, he does not fit how they should be playing (need to also address the C spot)