GT: WIZ @ BUGS, 7:00 Wed., 11/25

[fatlever]

I'm greatly impressed with Clifford adapting to the game by giving Frank all of Hawes minutes. Glorious.

Although Frank is still raw he is better than Hawes especially defensively. Frank needs to shoot more jumpers. I know we say this every game but all of his shots are either 3's or at the rim. Put him at the top of the key. Frank is a lethal shooter and probably one of the best on the team, so us not utilizing that seems like a terrible waste.

Sadly, Frank didn't do a whole lot tonight to make that move look justified. He was rather invisible, even though he was moving the ball and contesting on defense. I hope Cliff gives him a few more chances before he goes back to Hawes. Or was this just a one time thing due to matchups among the bench units?

I don't think that's the entire equation. As far as Frank's play he did well defensively. Plus when Frank plays with that 3rd quarter unit he's guard dependent and those guys got extra sticky for awhile. But the equation for Clifford isn't just Hawes v Frank (which Frank wins anyways). It's how that effects everything else:

Option A: Hawes at C, Cody only at PF, Marv at PF and SF, Frank is 10th man in the rotation getting sporadic minutes

Option B: Cody at C, Frank at PF, Marvin at PF, Lamb at SG and SF

The second option Cody at center (upgrade), Frank at PF (upgrade over the clogged toilet with Cody, Kemba, Al), Marv stays at PF where he is more effective and saves his legs, and Lamb gets more minutes. Oh, and Hawes is on the bench in a 9 man rotation.

I think we all agree that we prefer Frank over Hawes for exactly the reasons you mentioned, Cody at center, Frank at PF, more spacing and a true rim runner setting picks for the guards. Just saying that Frank didn't exactly do wonders with his minutes tonight and I hope that doesn't give Clifford hesitation to go back to Hawes. I suspect Frank/Hawes will come down to matchups and game flow more than anything going forward - at least for the next month or so. I don't think Cliff is ready to remove Hawes alltogether from the rotation.

[Mystical Apples]

I don't think Cliff is really comfortable with how he wants to use Frank yet, and its effecting Frank as well.

He just doesn't know where to be and it shows. Sometimes we want him playing stretch 5, other times we need him to seal down low and be a better passing Al. We're not sure, and being a rookie, he's not sure.

Its only November though

Yeah I think it's the coaching staff and team as much as Frank, and that's a good thing but it'll take time. In the last 4-5 games they've pushed the envelope asking him to determine the offensive flow on the second unit, allowing the guards to play off the defensive movement he creates. Frank has a series of decisions to make including side to side, read the Pop or Roll, dive on switches, then post or clear to space for the handler. Or at any time cut it off and start the process over.

Cody, Al, Marvin, and Hawes don't have the same assignments and the guards aren't sure how to read things yet. If anything it seems the guards are breaking things off and ultimately just decide to put their heads down and plow ahead.

[Braggins]

Was this game on NBATV or something? Its blacked out for me on league pass...

[TinmanZBoy]

Was this game on NBATV or something? Its blacked out for me on league pass...

you live in DC area

[Dancingpanda]

Sadly, Frank didn't do a whole lot tonight to make that move look justified. He was rather invisible, even though he was moving the ball and contesting on defense. I hope Cliff gives him a few more chances before he goes back to Hawes. Or was this just a one time thing due to matchups among the bench units?

I don't think that's the entire equation. As far as Frank's play he did well defensively. Plus when Frank plays with that 3rd quarter unit he's guard dependent and those guys got extra sticky for awhile. But the equation for Clifford isn't just Hawes v Frank (which Frank wins anyways). It's how that effects everything else:

Option A: Hawes at C, Cody only at PF, Marv at PF and SF, Frank is 10th man in the rotation getting sporadic minutes

Option B: Cody at C, Frank at PF, Marvin at PF, Lamb at SG and SF

The second option Cody at center (upgrade), Frank at PF (upgrade over the clogged toilet with Cody, Kemba, Al), Marv stays at PF where he is more effective and saves his legs, and Lamb gets more minutes. Oh, and Hawes is on the bench in a 9 man rotation.

I think we all agree that we prefer Frank over Hawes for exactly the reasons you mentioned, Cody at center, Frank at PF, more spacing and a true rim runner setting picks for the guards. Just saying that Frank didn't exactly do wonders with his minutes tonight and I hope that doesn't give Clifford hesitation to go back to Hawes. I suspect Frank/Hawes will come down to matchups and game flow more than anything going forward - at least for the next month or so. I don't think Cliff is ready to remove Hawes alltogether from the rotation.

While I would agree Frank didn't do anything amazing like drop 20 points or anything, I would have to say he did exactly what he was supposed to do, and he did it well.

Out side of that his hedgeing on the pick and rolls is what turned the tide for our D. Before Neal, Beal, and Wall were all able to penetrate and hit open threes because of the screens set by their bigs. Kemba, pj, lin, and lamb had trouble getting around Washingtons big body's. Frank was able to slow down their offense and he was quick enough to swich back to his big.

I'm starting to really like this kid lmao

[Braggins]

Was this game on NBATV or something? Its blacked out for me on league pass...

you live in DC area

Nope

[Benjamin Linus]

Didn't catch the game last night, went to see Circa Survive instead.

Definitely nice to get a win over a divisional playoff team. Also nice to see Spencer DNP-CD'd.

[HornetJail]

Didn't catch the game last night, went to see Circa Survive instead.

Definitely nice to get a win over a divisional playoff team. Also nice to see Spencer DNP-CD'd.

Side note: Steve Clifford is Circa Survive's drummer

I bet that was a pretty nice show