imagump1313 wrote:GREY 1769 wrote:Ok. I sure see it today with DeMar, gump!
Just like with Murray, I really dont want to be right with DeRozan. We talked about this about a month ago with him. It doesn't take him long to prove exactly why I don't like him.
Murray is proving me wrong more and more and I'm happy about that.
Luka has shown some potential the last few games so hopefully I'm wrong about him also.
Like I keep saying, I don't think this is a playoff team. Sure we have won a few games and looked good doing it, but we have some really damning losses.
This one, the 2 Memphis games, the last Thunder game before this one, Minnesota, Houston, New Orleans. Those were all bunny games that we just gave away to bad teams. I get it, pandemic year, young team. You are gonna throw out some stinkers. Even if we just went 4-3 in these horrible losses we might actually look like a playoff team but i simply do not see it.
Well I'm glad that Luka is showing out well, especially on D, and that DJ is showing better in your eyes, too.
I think despite his faults, DeMar is important for us at this stage of our collective development. He's still the best at getting the ball to so many other players when he's at his best, and at his best he's still the best in getting our O going when it gets stagnant with some patented moves - and yes, that includes getting to the foul line.
We're about 10 games better than we were last season at this point so I think that's a big improvement. And we're right in the thick of a playoff hunt despite using LMA as a starter for the first close to half of the season. He's been in and out of the line-up, so we've had to adjust on the fly and we've done well to stay competitive.
We're also been without Derrick in the starting group (or the line-up at all) for much of the season. We've had the very successful bubble line-up for only a small number of games (maybe three or four tops?), and collectively going back to the bubble that line-up was scorching hot for us. In Derrick's place we've had Lonnie who's been maddeningly inconsistent on both ends with the starting opportunity.
Even with all the line-up upheavals and most recently being without half our team for five games due to Covid and injuries, we're still managing to remain competitive and be in the playoff hunt. So I think we actually are a playoff team, and one that can surprise opponents with our depth. What we need is what we haven't had - roster stability. Pop's rolled out different line-ups to try to find the right combinations with who we've got, and Luka and Keita along with a resurgent Trey have been very pleasant surprises. Add those guys to returning Devin, Derrick, and Rudy and LMA and Lonnie coming off the bench, and we suddenly have a lot of depth in a lot of positions.
I want our bubble line-up to get some consistent minutes together and for our bench to continue to gel (with the new guys in). Given their success versus a lot of good teams I think we're going to continue to fight and show well for the playoffs. And our depth will help us through a tough second half schedule, too. Some better two-way starting talent and consistency is key.
