Small ball will not work

sleestak33 · Post #1 » by **sleestak33** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:18 pm

As we all saw in the regular season when Donovan tries to match lineups against teams like the Warriors and Rockets it's a compelte disaster and simply won't work because you have guys like Roberson and Grant out there too long who offer nothing offensively and it turns the game into a scoring contest which OKC simply can't compete in with all of the defensive one way players they have. OKC was completely dominated by the Warriors playing smallball and really the games against the Rockets weren't that competitive although OKC managed to make a late run in a few of those games to make them look close. To beat the Rockets they're going to have to absolutely pound the ball down low to Adams, Kanter and Gibson and dramatically increase their minutes (specifically Kanter who needs to get 33-35 minutes) and just play solid perimeter defense to limit the 3s that Houston makes. It's really that simple but Donovan has proven that he simply won't go that route. If Donovan plays 10-11 guys like he's been doing OKC has no chance and he needs to limit the rotation to 8 or 9 guys. I'm predicting Houston in 6 games because our coach just doesn't get it. If he does what I'm saying OKC will win this series in 6 or 7.

Pillendreher · Post #2 » by **Pillendreher** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:26 pm

There are two reasons small-ball hasn't really worked for us this season:

1) We lack additional wing defenders on the bench. It would work better if we had Waiters still coming off the bench because he could at least use his body to defend opposing wings. Abrines is still too weak.

2) We lack the stretch 4 that can defend. Grant isn't such a player. He has shot the 3 ball nicely, but on very low volume.

InTheSabonus · Post #3 » by **InTheSabonus** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:42 pm

Problem is traditional ball isn't exactly working on account of Adams' awful defensive form. I think against the Rockets we really, really, need to see some Taj at center, but I don't think we've even seen that once. And knowing Billy he'll probably keep on randomly benching Taj after half time anyway.

But I really don't want to see Kanter/Adams at the same time against Houston. That's the main thing.

Bergmaniac · Post #4 » by **Bergmaniac** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 2:02 pm

Grant at the 4 has worked extremely well for you in the clutch, the stats of the lineups with him in the clutch have been ridiculous. 39.0 net rating, 89.6 DRTG.

Pillendreher · Post #5 » by **Pillendreher** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 2:18 pm

Bergmaniac wrote:Grant at the 4 has worked extremely well for you in the clutch, the stats of the lineups with him in the clutch have been ridiculous. 39.0 net rating, 89.6 DRTG.

Where do you get that lineup data from?

Re Grant as a 4: In over 700 minutes, we have a 110 DRtG with him there iirc. We can't defend, no matter who's next to him.

Bergmaniac · Post #6 » by **Bergmaniac** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 2:22 pm

http://stats.nba.com/players/clutch-advanced/#!?sort=NET_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2016-17&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TeamID=1610612760

Pillendreher · Post #7 » by **Pillendreher** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 2:28 pm

Bergmaniac wrote:http://stats.nba.com/players/clutch-advanced/#!?sort=NET_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2016-17&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TeamID=1610612760

But you can't look for complete lineups, right?

sleestak33 · Post #8 » by **sleestak33** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 3:53 pm

Bergmaniac wrote:Grant at the 4 has worked extremely well for you in the clutch, the stats of the lineups with him in the clutch have been ridiculous. 39.0 net rating, 89.6 DRTG.

Grant has been a huge disappointment averaging 5.5 pts. and 2.6 rbds. in about 20 minutes per game since to OKC. He is basically a slightly better version of Roberson and is almost a complete non scoring threat and they obviously should have kept Ilyasova who is a much better overall player and who they could really have used this year and also in the playoffs since the team is so offensively challenged. The more guys like Roberson and Grant play the less chance OKC has in this series.

Pillendreher · Post #9 » by **Pillendreher** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 4:00 pm

sleestak33 wrote:
Bergmaniac wrote:Grant at the 4 has worked extremely well for you in the clutch, the stats of the lineups with him in the clutch have been ridiculous. 39.0 net rating, 89.6 DRTG.

Grant has been a huge disappointment averaging 5.5 pts. and 2.6 rbds. in about 20 minutes per game since to OKC. He is basically a slightly better version of Roberson and is almost a complete non scoring threat and they obviously should have kept Ilyasova who is a much better overall player and who they could really have used this year and also in the playoffs since the team is so offensively challenged. The more guys like Roberson and Grant play the less chance OKC has in this series.

Grant is a way worse basketball player than Robes. Grant doesn't do anything well, whereas Robes is one of the Top 5 wing defenders in this league and at least can dribble without falling on his ass.

oken · Post #10 » by **oken** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 5:59 pm

Pillendreher wrote:There are two reasons small-ball hasn't really worked for us this season:

1) We lack additional wing defenders on the bench. It would work better if we had Waiters still coming off the bench because he could at least use his body to defend opposing wings.

Ahh.. maybe Miami can waive him as they are eliminated from playoffs so we can claim him off the waivers

Post #11 » by **Dadouv47** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 6:05 pm

We have to hope that Adams/Kanter (and Taj) could hurt more houston's bigs than during our previous meetings this year. It's supposed to be a great match up for us. Adams and Kanter against Capela and Nene, but somehow Nene is playing so well and is a very bad match up for Adams (probably because he's very physical as well)

Adams played a little bit better last games of the regular season. Hope it's a good sign...

Pillendreher · Post #12 » by **Pillendreher** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 6:22 pm

Dadouv47 wrote:We have to hope that Adams/Kanter (and Taj) could hurt more houston's bigs than during our previous meetings this year. It's supposed to be a great match up for us. Adams and Kanter against Capela and Nene, but somehow Nene is playing so well and is a very bad match up for Adams (probably because he's very physical as well)

Adams played a little bit better last games of the regular season. Hope it's a good sign...

It would be very helpful if we could actually impose our will on them, not the other way around. Have them try to fight for rebounds, not shoot you off the floor.

oken · Post #13 » by **oken** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:22 pm

They are old but not showing it too much. They are playing above their averages in games played per season. This may be a reason for their late season regression. let's just hope that D'Antoni's No Rest for the Whacked strategy will backfire and they will be exhausted for the playoffs.