prime1time wrote:nate33 wrote:prime1time wrote:That's true but Rui started. And so did Bonga. More so, for all intents and purposes, this guy is not a rookie. He played 59 games last year. IMO, he's too talented to keep on the bench. I look forward to seeing him on the court.
Rui started because he had no other options. Bertans can't log starter's minutes at PF.
Bonga started, but he wasn't a rookie.
I don't think Avdija will be better defensively than Bonga, and that's what the starting lineup needs more than anything else. Usually rookies are awful defensively.
We will see. It's tough to project European players. I think it's going to be tough to keep Advija on the bench. And Bonga is so limited offensively. His ceiling is a 3 and D guy. I also think he lacks basketball awareness.
Ha, then I'd say the writer of that sentence lacks basketball awareness. Awareness he has, what Bonga lacks is athleticism and offensive aggressiveness, confidence in his shot. He shoots a nice ball when he is open, but has a slow release and doesn't try when guarded despite his height advantage. I think he is still a bit tentative at NBA 3pt distance vs FIBA range. I also think some of what looks like tentative play is a difference in Euro vs NBA team play. He looks like he is deferring and making a pass instead of calling his own number, but in Euro play that ball would pop around until it found the open player. He's just being a good teammate. In the NBA sometimes the better play is to attack attack attack. That's on coaching.
Still, Nate hit it, he has defensive awareness, he was the best team defender on the team without exception. Otherwise he is a good complementary player, nice handle and passing, makes smart cuts on backdoor attacks when ignored, reads the team well, and hits a wide open three when he pulls the trigger. He was the youngest player on the team last year, but has had experience in german pro teams since he was 16. All Bonga needs is confidence in his outside shot so he's willing to fire it when it hits his hands. He may look like he is moving underwater at times, but his length and awareness make up for his lack of quick twitch speed. He is in the right place most of the time. If his catch and shoot 3 has improved then I would not doubt he will start.
Deni will play, we will see him out there, but it will take a little bit for him to adjust to the speed of the NBA, and yeah rookies are defensive liabilities. Opposing stars attack them, refs give them no benefit of the whistle. Deni was starved for minutes in Euro play. Didn't start. It's unlikely he displaces the player who had the teams 2nd best +/- last year in Bonga. With Brooks especially who likes to make rookies earn their place on the floor. Give Deni time, his game awareness will come. I personally think he will work better testing out what he can and cannot do in a 2nd line with Troy catching him on cuts and Bertans spacing the floor, and against back ups and starters who are headed to the bench.
