Re: What a Difference a Year Makes - Backcourt Edition
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 3:34 pm
Celo wrote:Clyde_Style wrote:I seriously think McBride gets a lot of burn this season. He looked too good not to.
McBride will play. I think he is going to be really good and has the tenacity to push through obstacles and grab himself some time when either Rose or Kemba need time off.
I’m relishing the thought of McBride in the backcourt and Mitch under the basket anchoring a blistering defense.
To me, at least for now, Mcbride's a player who needs to play next to Kemba or Rose, not when one of them is missing time. Why? Because he doesn't offer enough playmaking and/or rim pressure, so he wouldn't be able to play to his strengths. Only realistic way would be if RJ takes the next step in that regard, that would make McBride a reliable option as PG on paper at least.
I've said it before, to me Rookie McBride will be a situational player. Crucial defensive possessions, if we want to exhaust the opposing PG because Deuce is hounding him for 94 feet or whatever, you name it.
But there's nothing wrong with that. Give him as much run in the G-League as possible. Make him have the ball in his hands, set a threshold regarding drives to hoop he needs to reach on a game to game basis and see, if there's some untapped potential. Because right now, we have to many of those guys who aren't primary ballhandlers and therefore playing them together may not be a good idea. For example the sl backcourt of IQ and Deuce, I don't see them sharing the floor together at all this season except for garbage time maybe.[/quote]
I agree with you guys. I think IQ is going to hold down those backup SG minutes behind RJ and Thibs isn't going to "mess with the rotation", while McBride winds up grabbing the PG minutes when Kemba or Rose rest/get hurt.
McBride has an "it" factor. He's physical, wants to play defense, is good at it, and has a more well rounded offensive game than IQ. So, IQ's edge would be "superior PG play" over McBride, and he doesn't have that. IQ is "ok" at PG in small doses. I'm not saying McBride is way better at PG than IQ, not at all, but just enough where combined with the other two, I think he gets the nod. Also, Thibs wanting to maintain rotations is a factor, not a putdown on IQ.
I think Grimes will be good as well, but his path is taking minutes from Burks, or Burks getting hurt, which will also probably happen, since Burks tends to miss games in his career.