GT #54: Nets @ Bullets 7:30 PM (TNT/980 AM) [2/10/22]

[nate33]

Anthony Gill is a really good role player

Yeah, he's a smart player on offense. Sets good screens, knows when to roll, and can knock down a 3 if left open. Defensively, he's not so good. He can switch out onto forwards without too much difficulty, but he's terrible at protecting the rim. He made some real bad fouls down the stretch going for weak charges because he can't block shots.

Peep his raptor rating when you have a chance. He’s going to hurt the tank if he plays

121 total minutes played, much of it garbage time. His RAPTOR rating is utterly meaningless in a sample size that small.

[badinage]

A few more words on the way they played tonight …

I realize I may be in the minority here when I say this but …

I can live with not being great; I can live with being a 40ish win team for a bit. Of course, I’d love to know that there’s hope; and that that hope is legit; that we’ve got pieces who can develop and really root for.

But what I *cannot* live with is ugly basketball.

If they play a beautiful brand of ball — if there’s movement, and flow, and pace, and cutting — I can live with all the rest for a while.

[doclinkin]

That was so enjoyable!

At times they reminded me of the Warriors. Swirling motion offense with lots of cutting. Guys fighting hard. No walking it up and doing dribble hand off with 12 seconds left on the clock.

And you saw the way they played hard and loose and with joy. It’s been missing for weeks and weeks.

I think with the Zinger they’re poised to play a very Euro brand of ball. Which will benefit Deni for sure. I also think it’s what Unseld Jr. wants. And what would benefit a number of other players as well — Kuz and Neto and Kispert. I loved seeing Kispert flying around tonight and cutting hard.

It's what Tommy wants for sure. We have a low ego bunch who play a very Euro style brand of ball. Unselfish ball and player motion. Read and react instantly instead of slow motion. Here we can use our depth and size to advantage. If Porzingis regains his 37% shooting from 3 then we have two stretch 5's and a mob of mobile active athletic 6'9" players who can cut and pass.

I mean. The best offseason result would probably be to sign and trade Beal for future assets. But if we do retain Beal, he's not a terrible fit. As long as he goes back to being a team player and not a diva that demands the ball.

[smoothSeph]

Honest question. If this group (without Beal and KP) can play above .500 ball and win their way into the playoffs, what is the need to tank? Is the hope that we find someone better than Kuzma, Deni, Rui, Kispert, Gafford in the 6-10 range? Because we're already too good for the top 4.

In a fully healthy situation I get it. But if these guys can get there without their 2 stars (Beal/KP), they aren't the problem.

[gambitx777]

Good team win!

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Good for them.

I can live with an occasional win, even though we need to tank.

Agreed. A nationally televised win is what some of these young guys need for confidence.

[DCZards]

Honest question. If this group (without Beal and KP) can play above .500 ball and win their way into the playoffs, what is the need to tank? Is the hope that we find someone better than Kuzma, Deni, Rui, Kispert, Gafford in the 6-10 range? Because we're already too good for the top 4.

In a fully healthy situation I get it. But if these guys can get there without their 2 stars (Beal/KP), they aren't the problem.

Yes, good win tonight but against a depleted Nets team. This group isn’t going to beat many good teams. I doubt that we play .500 plus ball the rest of the way.

But love the effort, smarts and ball sharing tonight. Those things alone will result in some surprising wins during the balance of the season.

Need to get Cory going though. He’s struggling from 3 again after finding his groove about a month ago.

Free Cassius!

[Doug_Blew]

kuzma 1 for 1 in triple dubs since being named the starting point forward.

[nate33]

Honest question. If this group (without Beal and KP) can play above .500 ball and win their way into the playoffs, what is the need to tank? Is the hope that we find someone better than Kuzma, Deni, Rui, Kispert, Gafford in the 6-10 range? Because we're already too good for the top 4.

In a fully healthy situation I get it. But if these guys can get there without their 2 stars (Beal/KP), they aren't the problem.

Let's not get too carried away. The Nets are a terrible team right now. They we're on a nine-game losing streak before tonight's game.

And I'm sure opposing coaches will pretty soon figure out a way to take advantage of our lack of point guards. We're not going to play 500 ball from here on out.

[smoothSeph]

Honest question. If this group (without Beal and KP) can play above .500 ball and win their way into the playoffs, what is the need to tank? Is the hope that we find someone better than Kuzma, Deni, Rui, Kispert, Gafford in the 6-10 range? Because we're already too good for the top 4.

In a fully healthy situation I get it. But if these guys can get there without their 2 stars (Beal/KP), they aren't the problem.

Let's not get too carried away. The Nets are a terrible team right now. They we're on a nine-game losing streak before tonight's game.

And I'm sure opposing coaches will pretty soon figure out a way to take advantage of our lack of point guards. We're not going to play 500 ball from here on out.

I don’t personally think it will happen either I’m just raising the possibility.

But a lot of that 10-3 talent is still here, with roles more defined I wouldn’t be surprised if they went on a little run.

[WallStar]

My untrained eyes think Winston has what it takes. The guy deserves a chance. Once he figures it out, he'll be a mainstay in any lineup.

[FAH1223]

My untrained eyes think Winston has what it takes. The guy deserves a chance. Once he figures it out, he'll be a mainstay in any lineup.

I totally forgot we still had him.

[WallStar]

My untrained eyes think Winston has what it takes. The guy deserves a chance. Once he figures it out, he'll be a mainstay in any lineup.

I totally forgot we still had him.

I didn't catch the game today, but watched the highlights. The kid has floor presence and a gear to him. #FreeWinston

[FAH1223]

Watch on YouTube

[queridiculo]

Not having to watch Dinwiddie, what a delight.

[CobraCommander]

A few more words on the way they played tonight …

I realize I may be in the minority here when I say this but …

I can live with not being great; I can live with being a 40ish win team for a bit. Of course, I’d love to know that there’s hope; and that that hope is legit; that we’ve got pieces who can develop and really root for.

But what I *cannot* live with is ugly basketball.

If they play a beautiful brand of ball — if there’s movement, and flow, and pace, and cutting — I can live with all the rest for a while.

[Ruzious]

Anthony Gill is a really good role player

Yeah, he's a smart player on offense. Sets good screens, knows when to roll, and can knock down a 3 if left open. Defensively, he's not so good. He can switch out onto forwards without too much difficulty, but he's terrible at protecting the rim. He made some real bad fouls down the stretch going for weak charges because he can't block shots.

It's hard for me to get past his 5.9 fouls per 36 minutes. Not a fan.

[CobraCommander]

Not having to watch Dinwiddie, what a delight.

I’m happy for Trez but I hate to see that man leave.

Like Nat has pointed out Kuz a wild card. I would have moved Bryant over Trez if they sign Beal.

Would have loved to see Beal, deni Kuz, KP and Trez start a game at least once

[DCZards]

Not having to watch Dinwiddie, what a delight.

I’m happy for Trez but I hate to see that man leave.

Like Nat has pointed out Kuz a wild card. I would have moved Bryant over Trez if they sign Beal.

Would have loved to see Beal, deni Kuz, KP and Trez start a game at least once

Kuz may be a “wild card” but he’s been the Zards most dependable and consistent player. Might be time to acknowledge that this is a very different Kuz than the one we saw in LA.

His oncourt leadership has been good for youngins’ like Deni and Rui.

[nate33]

His oncourt leadership has been good for youngins’
like Deni and Rui.

This is an underrated point. I thought it was pretty significant that they announced that everybody was up for trade consideration except Kuzma (and Beal).