younggunsmn wrote:Loaf_of_bread wrote:Klomp wrote:This probably fits better here:
It feels like we are stuck in the middle between two identities. We are trying to infuse more offense, while at the same time trying to hold onto that defensive identity that helped bring us to the Western Conference Finals. I'm honestly not sure we can do both, I think before long we will have to choose one or the other.
It's especially interesting because the two young cornerstones Edwards and McDaniels can lean either way.
But largely, the rest of the team is divided between the two identities.
Defense, Halfcourt: Gobert, Conley, Alexander-Walker, Ingles, Dozier
Offense, Tempo: Randle, Reid, Dillingham, DiVincenzo, Miller, Shannon, Garza
Honestly, I'm kind of at the point where I would not oppose dropping Gobert's minutes to only play with Conley. In the other minutes, just fly around and push tempo with the young guys! I doubt it happens, but I wouldn't mind. I think the problems really stand out the more we try to mix the two identities together.
Success last year surprised everyone. Our defensive prowess and length was the reason for it.
Suggesting limiting Rudy's time on the court just may be the worst take I can think one could make.
The problem with this team is freaking Julius randle thinking he has to get his buckets. Dude watches stat lines all game...if he is at 6 points midway into the 2nd quarter he knows he isn't on pace with his 20 whatever points, and will press the issue instead of letting the game come to him/playing smart bb. Lazy, lazy, lazy defender.
We would be playing better bb if the guy was injured.
Guy doesn't box out/horrible rebounder.
Plays as if he's 6'3"
Rudy Gobert has basically refused to come off of his man to play help defense in the paint all season long, and when he does he still does not effect the shot 8 times out of 10.
He spent the whole Toronto game not a single arm length away from Poeltl because for all his accolades he still can't figure out how to play both the ballhandler and the pass with like a 10 foot wingspan.
When your entire scheme is centered around one guy altering shots and protecting the rim, and that guy is not doing his job, you might as well call it a season.
Julius Randle sucks. I get it. But so does Rudy this year, and when he's on the court our two best offensive players, whose primary strengths are attacking the basket, are facing a clogged paint 100% of the time.
Your 30+ minute guys HAVE to be 2 way players to win in this league. That's just the way it is.
You can live with one guy who isnt super skilled offensively as long as he's efficient (and aware of his limitations).
Maybe one of those guys on the court at any time.
You CAN"T live with someone who is a sieve defensively.
We finally got KAT to the point where he was acceptable defensively, after years of trying.
First when we changed to a high wall scheme, and again when we put him at the 4 next to a rim protecting big.
All that work to make our plus plus offensive guy a neutral defender, and then TC just had to go blow it up and start over trying to pet project a VASTLY worse defender.
I once again refer you to the howls and growls video I posted above. Our defense is **** without Rudy. You can say that is just because he is a big body. But, I think the more plausible answer is that Rudy does in fact have an impact, and the scheme/team is failing him, rather than the other way around. Dane Moore talked about this in his pod, and was 100% correct when pointing out that Rudy was leaving the paint to do scheme work against Toronto, and nobody rotated to cover the paint. They make him look bad, which combined with all the hate he gets makes Rudy mad. Then they shut him out of the offense (for better or worse,) and his offensive numbers go down too. It doesn’t help that the 3 best guys at passing to Rudy last year were Karl, (traded) Kyle (sign and traded,) and Mike (37 years old and a shell of what he was last year.) Rudy is being made to look really bad and it is detrimental to his mental health and the teams chemistry/performance.
