RookieStar wrote:pepe1991 wrote:JoshuaPotter wrote:
But isn't that part of the plan? Like if Black or Suggs or anyone is "open" then they shoot. If they aren't open, then in theory Paolo or Franz are likely able to get a favorable high percentage shot.
Like I am one of "the guys" saying lacking a 3rd option on offense is costing us a lot of games. Yet having this duplicity in skill set helps and doesn't hurt.
It's still all theory. In playoffs those players won't see that many wide open looks, and what happends to our spacing if they get covered?
This is why making playoffs this year is so important. We need that test to see how we stack agianst defense that gameplans against our gameplan. Where in regular season you meet bunch of random teams with portion of players skipping games, including your own ones.
And guard play is very important. You can really count on finger of your one hand all nba teams that won a title without star guards. Even somebody as good as Lebron couldn't won a title until he matched himself with D Wade, later Kyrie.
I dunno... granted they are face of the NBA even after 50 years from now BUT Jokic won without a star guard( I cant consider Murray a star ) LBJ won with Caruso , GA won with only Jrue who isnt really a star... then past decade we had TD and Admiral winning with Derek Fisher???
Im not sure but as long as your main piece is handling the job as your guard, you can get away with it.
Murray plays like superstar in playoffs.
This are his
career playoff numbers: 25 ppg, 6 apg, 5 rpg .47% FG, 40% for 3, 59% TS, 5,8 PRM. Closest player to those (playoff ) numbers - 27-6-5- /45% FG-40% for 3 -- Steph Curry.
You also had series before finals where Murray averaged 32,5 ppg, 6,5 rpg, 5,3 apg and 2,8 steals against Lakers. His ability to kick into another gear in playoffs is real thing.
Lakers team in 2020 had two players who were top 7-at-worst players on planet Earth.
Giannis won title with Middelton and Jrue and Lopez. Basically 4 out of 5 starters were allstar players at some point of their careers,with 3 out of 4 being in their prime. I belive that year Jrue led all players in assists per game in playoffs.
Also if you look at Bucks starting 5, both Jrue and Middelton are "guards" ( Tucker PF, Giannis SF/PF, Lopez C), and both are allstar players. Not to mention that on title team, Middelton averaged 23-7-5.
then past decade we had TD and Admiral winning with Derek Fisher
In 1999 Duncan & Admiral won with Elliott. Elliott was allstar player ( albet SF). It's worth pointing out that in 1996, Elliott was one of 2 playres who averaged +20 ppg +5 apg + 2 apg and actually could shoot from distance (more than 1 three per game made, more than 30% accuracy). With other guy being that guy named Michael.
And Admiral and Elliott won 59 games in 1996, combined for 45 games in 1997- got Duncan, Elliott gets hurt and misses playoffs in 1998- they win title in 1999.
And on top of that if you look at 1999 in particular, when Spurs won a title, in playoffs you have legends like John Stockton averaging 11 ppg, 8,4 apg, Jason Kidd 15-10 and yet Spurs PG Avery Johnson is putting 12,5 ppg- 7,4 apg.
Once again, whole Spurs thing is bit overblown with Duncan & Admiral, you simply have to take in considiration that Admiral, Elliott & Johnson had 59-23 record few years before Duncan was even drafted. It's like adding Victor on, Memphis team and going all the way next year, but Victor isn't that green, but well prepared and plays like not-a -rookie from day one because he spent several years at college.
So yea, you may not need allstar guard to win a title, if you can find roster of 3 to 4 allstars or find 2 out of top 8 players.
But what's easier really?
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon
