mkot wrote:Ssj16 wrote:
More and more, im jumping on the "take a look at the coach" bandwagon.
When there's limitation on the roster, he's going to try a lot of things to win games so I don't think it's fair to put everything on the coach without looking at the GM first. That said, I always have question on his sub patterns, Murray + bench (and most of the time with at least 2 non-shooters) for the non-Jokic minutes has been a disaster for years and he keeps doing it. He can't at least give him another starter/shooter say MPJ to at least give him more space to work the offense? Insane. And Murray hasn't been good until recently, AG is also dealing with some injury and hasn't been playing to his standard, so the fact that they are still above 500 is kinda a miracle to me.
Anyway I digress, I like most people said here believe changes are needed, but I hope to god that they don't panic trade away any of their starter. Murray's struggle is well known, but if you look at his numbers in October and November or first 20 games, 17ppg is on par with his career average. Now I do believe he is definitely battling but in the last 3 games he is averaging 24ppg 45/47/88 shooting splits and 6 assists and 2 steals, still a bit uneven in game but he is definitely trending up and looks more confidence in hunting for his shots. Aaron Gordon is still ramping up after dealing with some injuries early in the season, his numbers doesn't look too bad but if you look at his defensive advanced stats they are all down compare to his previous Nuggets years. He needs to play better and I think he is capable and he will. Jokic had put up a all-time stinker triple double vs the Kings and then another stinker 30+ points game vs the Blazers, I've watched him enough to know he will have nights like that he looks totally disinterested. That said his touches around the rim are a little off, his overall shooting % inside the arc is down from previous years too. He is shooting over double team more due to poor spacing and struggling from some of his teammates, so that's where the "get the man more help" comes from.
The problem though is not their starters, their bench has too many unplaying players.
Vlatko Cancar - he shouldn't even be resigned after looking horrible in the Olympic qualifier post ACL tear. I understand he is there for Jokic as they are close friends so fine.
Zeke Nnaji - disaster waiting to happen every time he steps on the court
Julian Strawther - consistently a negative player. Since Christian Braun is in the starting lineup to fill KCP's job he is their next guy up playing 20mpg
vs Blazers lost by 2 -17
vs Kings won by 1 -11
vs Hawks won by 30 -2
vs Lakers won by 25 -12
vs Heat won by 13 -12
vs Wolves lost by 3 -13
If you are a liability on defense, you can't be also a liability on offense but that's who he is. For a suppose shooter off the bench, he is too inconsistent. Right now the game is too fast for him, everything is rush. He does have a nice floater game he always rush that. Maybe he will figure it out but right now he is hot and cold and mostly cold, and getting hunted on defense.
I think playing him more than Watson is crazy, so that's on Malone.
Dario Saric - he is injured now but if he can't figure out and crack the rotation that's another dead weight on their bench.
DeAndre Jordan is getting minutes because of their entire frontcourt on the bench is either injured or unplayable. Jokic is playing career high 37mpg
They need to try package these guys for whatever and look into the FA market, find something, find someone that Malone can play. Forget about getting a backup C to play Jokic's role when he is off the court, find someone that can supplement Murray's 2nd unit for 10mpg for example. Get a high motor young athlete that plays hard on both ends, it's out there. Heck, re-sign Justin Holidays, he looks more playable than Julian Strawther right now.
They need moves on the margin, not a shake up
