GT #5: Chicago Bulls @ Washington Wizards 12/31

Eli Babak · Post #1 » by **Eli Babak** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:44 am

My turn to try. Wiz stink and they don't know how to win anymore. Bulls is not a good team but somehow Wiz is even worse. I guess they'll lose this one too and then go unbeaten in 2021.

WallToWall · Post #2 » by **WallToWall** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 4:55 pm

Must win game... and we're 5 games into the season.

SUPERBALLMAN · Post #3 » by **SUPERBALLMAN** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:37 pm

Hachimura is back!!

Ok so our frontcourt looks more legit.... Avdija, Hachimura, Bryant. A young group with talent and upside, it is key for these 3 to gel, if they take advantage of this opportunity this could be our frontcourt for years to come.

Now we can establish a true cohesive 2nd unit with Neto, Troy Brown Jr, Bonga, Bertans, Lopez.

Ish, Robinson, Mathews, Gil, Wagner provide further depth as needed.

This should be what we establish as a rotation IMO. Ish pushed down to 3rd PG, a dependable vet you can count on and know what he'll give you, will be needed as 2nd string when Westbrook rests on back to backs. But Neto has earned the chance to move ahead of him in rotation.

Mathews I like alot, but has been injury prone, and we need to see what Troy Brown Jr can do in a more consistent role. Mathews should get some opportunities as minutes open at SG or SF with any injuries, foul trouble, fatigue, or just need some offense/3pt shooting inserted into the lineup. Wagner also should see decent PT as the 3rd center should there be injuries, foul trouble, fatigue with Bryant or Lopez.

Robinson and Gil are basically emergency only.

NatP4 · Post #4 » by **NatP4** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:40 pm

Ish is our 6th man.

Post #5 » by **nate33** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:51 pm

We are undefeated with Hachimura in the lineup.

tontoz · Post #6 » by **tontoz** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:54 pm

If they go to the 3 pg lineup with Rui back it might be time to stop watching.

Meliorus · Post #7 » by **Meliorus** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:02 pm

I expect Matthews to start getting minutes.

prime1time · Post #8 » by **prime1time** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:14 pm

If you listen to Brooks logic it's hard to see the 3 guard lineup going anywhere. One of Beal and Westbrook on the court at all times. Ish is the first guard off the bench and he wants to play Neto. We didn't play 3 guards because we had to, we played 3 guards because Brooks thought it was a good lineup.

So much uncertainty with this team. And especially now that Rui is back. All I'll say is that it's too early to fairly evaluate this team. So lets give it some time. IMO Brooks is just throwing together different combinations and waiting for something to stick. I want to see shot allocation with Rui back. Who's going to shoot less so Rui can get his attempts? In addition, does Rui settle for midrange jumpers or attack the rim? I want to see Westbrook and Rui's chemistry. I'd go so far as to say, I want Rui's minutes to align with Westbrooks, and I want Brooks to use Rui as a small-ball 5. That's an easy way to increase shooting with Rui.

I'd love to see Westbrook, Matthews, Advija, Bertans and Rui for example. We really don't need a 2nd pg out there with Westbrook. Give Westbrook the ball, PnR with Rui and attack downhill. Kick it out to shooters if defenders help. Brooks is trying to get too cute imo. When Beal is out, run the offense through Westbrook and give him shooters.

J-Ves · Post #9 » by **J-Ves** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:26 pm

I’m not a huge Hachimura guy, but any change is welcome at this point

Post #10 » by **nate33** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:35 pm

J-Ves wrote:I’m not a huge Hachimura guy, but any change is welcome at this point

Presumably, Brooks has been playing multiple point guards because he thinks the team needs more offense. At the very least, Hachimura is perceived as a guy who can score. That should hopefully suppress Brooks' fetish for playing multiple PG's.

Post #11 » by **nate33** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:37 pm

Meliorus wrote:I expect Matthews to start getting minutes.

I doubt it.

When Brooks feels under pressure, his instinct is to tighten the rotation and play more vets. The last thing he'll do is go deeper into his bench and play a guy with 227 career minutes under his belt.

NatP4 · Post #12 » by **NatP4** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:44 pm

Bonga DNP, calling it

verbal8 · Post #13 » by **verbal8** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:50 am

WallToWall wrote:Must win game... and we're 5 games into the season.

If they can't win this game, it is pretty hard to see a path to the play-offs.

SUPERBALLMAN · Post #14 » by **SUPERBALLMAN** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 3:26 am

NatP4 wrote:Bonga DNP, calling it

ducler · Post #15 » by **ducler** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:38 pm

Read on Twitter

NatP4 · Post #16 » by **NatP4** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:44 pm

5ET start time? What the hell

NatP4 · Post #17 » by **NatP4** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:46 pm

I think they win. Hachimura back will basically force Brooks to play a different rotation. The question is about the energy level. The team looked like it had quit on Brooks last game, and Chicago has enough good players to beat you if you don’t play hard.

tontoz · Post #18 » by **tontoz** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:54 pm

NatP4 wrote:5ET start time? What the hell

New Year's eve.

Frichuela · Post #19 » by **Frichuela** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:31 pm

So disappointed with the horrendous start to this season to the point when I am starting to give up. My head is already telling me is best to trade Beal by this deadline when we go could get good value.

The problem is (as always) the Wiz owner and front office, who are unlikely to be proactive. I dread another season where we end up 9-10th in the East, and both clowns are satisfied because we reached the “play-in” tournament. Then we lose Beal for nothing...or trade him for peanuts at next season’s deadline.

Anyhow...we’ll see which bizarre line-ups Brooks play today. Man, he is so bad...

2Fluffy4U · Post #20 » by **2Fluffy4U** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:33 pm

As an Israeli following-up on Deni's progress.. 5ET start time is Midnight here..I Can't complain.. it usually is 2am so this time I might actually sleep afterwards.. Now that I think about it.. Israeli statisticians would self implode if tonight is a W.
Dani's first NBA W was on 2020? 2021?