NETS VS PACERS 8PM EST YES

[OfficialRef]

Claxton is not a winning player. Highly emotional and immature. Last night his outburst against Haliburton cost the team the game.. right when Durant got hot.

Every half decent center bullies him in the paint. Hes decent at switches but that doesn't matter when the opposing team just gets the rebound.

He doesn't really set the tone defensively and on the boards besides in spurts. The team needs to sell high on him and package him with Joe and Cam Thomas along with a pick to get a stretch 5 and a 2 way player above 6'6.

[sashaturiaf]

There are 2 reasons for this loss-Vaughn's rotations and KD privatizing the game. There is a too big of a disbalance between the first and second unit, both offensively and defensively. Vaughn needs to make some adjustments.

Except for what I understand "privatizing" to convey, I'm pretty much of a similar opinion.

I believe that KD cannot come off the floor with this current team. It's seemed the same regardless of how much he's shooting or scoring. Hopefully when we add TJ to Kyrie and Ben this can change in the near future. I was surprised in the Toronto game to see that JV actually adjusted the substitution pattern starting the fourth quarter after the second quarter disaster. But it might have seemed better only because Kyrie went ballistic. In any event, with KD out to start the second, we lost 13 points in three minutes. This has happened to some degree in almost every game. Last night we lost 8 points immediately but recouped somewhat and it wound up only a four point loss for the 2d quarter. In the fourth quarter we went from a six point lead to a 3 point deficit in three minutes, and had to return KD early. For some reason Kyrie, our only other threat, was out at the same time.

I've somewhat questioned JV's hockey substitutions. I do not believe our bench players have been good enough to put in en masse. And I think we have paid for going too small and we definitely need another center. But I do not discount the possibility that no one fears this team when KD is off the floor. And the fact that, when he is, one or two more defenders are then freed to concentrate on stopping everyone else.

We're so reliant on KD because this team just doesn't have enough size at the wing positions, especially when we're playing so small in the backcourt. KD is so good and versatile that he conceals a lot of our flaws. That stretch to start the 4th where we had to play Markieff at the 3 gave the Pacers their run which we never recovered from. Almost every NBA team has an assortment of 6'6-6'9 guys with athleticism that they can throw out there, whereas we have pretty much Yuta and Ben and that's it. Yuta being back will help a lot, and I think TJ Warren coming back will also help, at the very least Joe won't see the court anymore.


For people grouping Patty together with Joe, Patty is at least hitting his 3s and this is with very little playing time in order to get in rhythm. If Patty hits 2 or 3 of the wide open ones Joe bricked yesterday the game changes. Patty does have size issues on D but it's not like Joe is stopping anyone, and Patty also brings an off the dribble midrange game and a nice 2 man game with Ben.

[ChuckS]

We're so reliant on KD because this team just doesn't have enough size at the wing positions, especially when we're playing so small in the backcourt. KD is so good and versatile that he conceals a lot of our flaws. That stretch to start the 4th where we had to play Markieff at the 3 gave the Pacers their run which we never recovered from. Almost every NBA team has an assortment of 6'6-6'9 guys with athleticism that they can throw out there, whereas we have pretty much Yuta and Ben and that's it. Yuta being back will help a lot, and I think TJ Warren coming back will also help, at the very least Joe won't see the court anymore.


For people grouping Patty together with Joe, Patty is at least hitting his 3s and this is with very little playing time in order to get in rhythm. If Patty hits 2 or 3 of the wide open ones Joe bricked yesterday the game changes. Patty does have size issues on D but it's not like Joe is stopping anyone, and Patty also brings an off the dribble midrange game and a nice 2 man game with Ben.

I totally agree with -- everything. ...great analysis. I'm glad you brought up Patty. I was a little disappointed at first that he was only getting one or two threes a game. I loved those spurts he used to have with the Spurs. But as you pointed out, he gets too little playing time for that. He still has one of the fastest releases I have ever seen. And he still plays like a 20 year old. Everything is faster when he is in the game. Because of his size he can be shot over, and it's compounded by the way we switch. But, I think, of our three bench shooters, he best keeps his man in front of him, and he never leaves him to unnecessarily double someone fifteen feet away. I admit to not checking it often, but when I do he always seems to have one of the best plus/minus stats of our three bench shooters. I'm just not sure if this means his defense is better than we might assume because of his size.

Having said all that, I have no problem playing a larger backup point guard if it shores up our defense. I just hope that there will still be a place for Patty. I just like watching the guy.

I've been critical of our bench in a few posts recently. I want to make sure I did not suggest that Curry was not a critical part of this team. I just have not believed that playing two small shooters, and one who is bigger but failing lately, together, was smart. Seth is a clutch performer who can give us those three point flurries of exceptionalism. However, the Pacers game reinforced my belief that he should be on the court with a good defensive guard. After KD brought us to within four (OK five with his technical), their exceptional scoring back court destroyed us. If I recall correctly, Ben was still on the bench until it was too late.

[MrDollarBills]

Patty's offense isn't the issue, it's his defense.

Joe, Seth, and Patty are horrible defensively and it hurts to have two of them on the floor at the same time especially with Kyrie.

Sumner and Yuta when he is back needs to play, and Vaughn probably needs to stick with only playing one of them in the rotation

[sashaturiaf]

We're so reliant on KD because this team just doesn't have enough size at the wing positions, especially when we're playing so small in the backcourt. KD is so good and versatile that he conceals a lot of our flaws. That stretch to start the 4th where we had to play Markieff at the 3 gave the Pacers their run which we never recovered from. Almost every NBA team has an assortment of 6'6-6'9 guys with athleticism that they can throw out there, whereas we have pretty much Yuta and Ben and that's it. Yuta being back will help a lot, and I think TJ Warren coming back will also help, at the very least Joe won't see the court anymore.


For people grouping Patty together with Joe, Patty is at least hitting his 3s and this is with very little playing time in order to get in rhythm. If Patty hits 2 or 3 of the wide open ones Joe bricked yesterday the game changes. Patty does have size issues on D but it's not like Joe is stopping anyone, and Patty also brings an off the dribble midrange game and a nice 2 man game with Ben.

I totally agree with -- everything. ...great analysis. I'm glad you brought up Patty. I was a little disappointed at first that he was only getting one or two threes a game. I loved those spurts he used to have with the Spurs. But as you pointed out, he gets too little playing time for that. He still has one of the fastest releases I have ever seen. And he still plays like a 20 year old. Everything is faster when he is in the game. Because of his size he can be shot over, and it's compounded by the way we switch. But, I think, of our three bench shooters, he best keeps his man in front of him, and he never leaves him to unnecessarily double someone fifteen feet away. I admit to not checking it often, but when I do he always seems to have one of the best plus/minus stats of our three bench shooters. I'm just not sure if this means his defense is better than we might assume because of his size.

Having said all that, I have no problem playing a larger backup point guard if it shores up our defense. I just hope that there will still be a place for Patty. I just like watching the guy.

I've been critical of our bench in a few posts recently. I want to make sure I did not suggest that Curry was not a critical part of this team. I just have not believed that playing two small shooters, and one who is bigger but failing lately, together, was smart. Seth is a clutch performer who can give us those three point flurries of exceptionalism. However, the Pacers game reinforced my belief that he should be on the court with a good defensive guard. After KD brought us to within four (OK five with his technical), their exceptional scoring back court destroyed us. If I recall correctly, Ben was still on the bench until it was too late.

Patty fan here too. When he first entered the league he was actually more known for his defense than his offense, a bit like grand theft Alvarado in today's league where he would pick you up and hound you full court with his quickness. He's still got the quick feet but not the stamina to play that type of D for 82 games at his advanced age.

Still he can keep guys in front of him and force them to make a shot over him, and that isn't the worst outcome against a lot of bench players. I'd take that over what Joe is giving us at the moment, especially since Joe's shot is shot.

[ChuckS]

We're so reliant on KD because this team just doesn't have enough size at the wing positions, especially when we're playing so small in the backcourt. KD is so good and versatile that he conceals a lot of our flaws. That stretch to start the 4th where we had to play Markieff at the 3 gave the Pacers their run which we never recovered from. Almost every NBA team has an assortment of 6'6-6'9 guys with athleticism that they can throw out there, whereas we have pretty much Yuta and Ben and that's it. Yuta being back will help a lot, and I think TJ Warren coming back will also help, at the very least Joe won't see the court anymore.


For people grouping Patty together with Joe, Patty is at least hitting his 3s and this is with very little playing time in order to get in rhythm. If Patty hits 2 or 3 of the wide open ones Joe bricked yesterday the game changes. Patty does have size issues on D but it's not like Joe is stopping anyone, and Patty also brings an off the dribble midrange game and a nice 2 man game with Ben.

I totally agree with -- everything. ...great analysis. I'm glad you brought up Patty. I was a little disappointed at first that he was only getting one or two threes a game. I loved those spurts he used to have with the Spurs. But as you pointed out, he gets too little playing time for that. He still has one of the fastest releases I have ever seen. And he still plays like a 20 year old. Everything is faster when he is in the game. Because of his size he can be shot over, and it's compounded by the way we switch. But, I think, of our three bench shooters, he best keeps his man in front of him, and he never leaves him to unnecessarily double someone fifteen feet away. I admit to not checking it often, but when I do he always seems to have one of the best plus/minus stats of our three bench shooters. I'm just not sure if this means his defense is better than we might assume because of his size.

Having said all that, I have no problem playing a larger backup point guard if it shores up our defense. I just hope that there will still be a place for Patty. I just like watching the guy.

I've been critical of our bench in a few posts recently. I want to make sure I did not suggest that Curry was not a critical part of this team. I just have not believed that playing two small shooters, and one who is bigger but failing lately, together, was smart. Seth is a clutch performer who can give us those three point flurries of exceptionalism. However, the Pacers game reinforced my belief that he should be on the court with a good defensive guard. After KD brought us to within four (OK five with his technical), their exceptional scoring back court destroyed us. If I recall correctly, Ben was still on the bench until it was too late.

Patty fan here too. When he first entered the league he was actually more known for his defense than his offense, a bit like grand theft Alvarado in today's league where he would pick you up and hound you full court with his quickness. He's still got the quick feet but not the stamina to play that type of D for 82 games at his advanced age.

Still he can keep guys in front of him and force them to make a shot over him, and that isn't the worst outcome against a lot of bench players. I'd take that over what Joe is giving us at the moment, especially since Joe's shot is shot.

I hate to detract from basketball, and I've already dated myself. But I've been a pushover for Aussies since Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, and Evonne Goolagong were dominating tennis. I felt unloyal in those Davis Cup Matches, and tormented, because I didn't want anyone to lose. It's easy now because their best player is a jerk. But Patty and Ben make up for that.