GT: CHA @ MEM, 8:00 10/30

[Diop]

Huge win!! Let's go, this defense is good I think with MKG and Dwight

This is the weird thing with mkg, you get frustrated with his offence and think about trading him, then we win games like this and think nah. What he contributes we would never get back in a trade

[catch20two]

Lamb deserve a lil more props or better yet some legit praise for his play.

He’s averaging 17 points on 46% shooting (36% on 3pters) , 4 rebounds, and 3 assist as a starter so far.

[yosemiteben]

Kemba finally getting that all star treatment, I love it.

Read on Twitter

That is a crazy stat.

[316Hornets]

This move by Frank should be his bread and butter. He's so long and lanky it's like he has 8 arms.

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=21231844

[Benjamin Linus]

Getting Batum back is going to be huge for the second unit. I'd find a way to make sure he plays just about all of the second unit minutes (minus garbage time) and still get some run with the starters. Batum led the team in assists last season, so let him run the offense with Monk playing off the ball more often. I think he's is the versatile, playmaking, veteran, talent injection this bench needs. I mean, that second unit would be STACKED

PG: Monk
SG: Batum
SF: Bacon/Graham
PF: Frank
C: Cody

[yosemiteben]

I think you guys are way underselling how helpful MCW could be to Monk's game.

[catch20two]

I think you guys are way underselling how helpful MCW could be to Monk's game.

Nope. I think you’re overselling how good MCW can be point blank period to anyone’s game. He’s played for 2 teams that were high on his potential that had legit playoff hopes in Milwaukee and Chicago. Both stops he was Defaulted Debbie Downer with negative nets whenever he stepped into the game.

[UNCNYC]

By the end of the season our second unit could be as good as our first

[yosemiteben]

I think you guys are way underselling how helpful MCW could be to Monk's game.

Nope. I think you’re overselling how good MCW can be point blank period to anyone’s game. He’s played for 2 teams that were high on his potential that had legit playoff hopes in Milwaukee and Chicago. Both stops he was Defaulted Debbie Downer with negative nets whenever he stepped into the game.

CHI and MIL may have had playoff hopes but they were both legit bad teams with incompetent GMs and MCW wasn't the only or main problem with those teams.

I feel like the negative projecting about MCW is pretty similar to folks being worried about Dwight. We have a perfect role for him on a talented team with a coach that knows how to get guys comfortable with their roles. He'll be fine.

[bravor]

I totally agree. The guy has not played a single minute, and he would already be trash (almost). He has not been signed to record triple double, his role is pretty much defined, rather limited and certainly not out of reach : provide defense at guard (esp. when MKG is on the bench or plagued by fouls), organize bench offense (how could it be worst than with both Monk & Stone?), score from what the opponent's defense allows him to. Pretty much a "chalmers" role (since we just played Memphis).

i will be worried if he does not defend the way he is supposed to. Because this is where his role is the most important as when everyone will be back, there will be enough players to set up the offense.

A good defensive tweener would fill the last real weakness of this team (big, smart and mobile body to limit athletic freaks ala LBJ, Anthony & co).

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I would also rather Monk play out of position and get minutes rather than not play at all only only play what minutes were available at SG. I'm assuming that he is actually learning from the experience and that some sub-optimal play now will pay dividends down the road for him.

The biggest risk with MCW is if he's lost a step and isn't able to defend well as bravor mentions above.

It's going to be interesting to see how minutes get carved up once Nic and MCW are back.

[yosemiteben]

Completely agree that if MCW can't be a plus defender at both guard spots we may as well cut him. His value is hugely dependent on his defense being there.

[Mystical Apples]

i just watched 3 minutes Monk and Dacon 1 on 3 or 4... man, can't believe a Clifford team allows that

What, not a fan of .79 offensive efficiency?

I kid, I kid. At this point I'm not sure clean, unassisted looks are much worse than trying to enter offense and failing with live TOV's and late shot clock attempts. Hard to blame them though....they're in uncomfortable roles and resorting to what's comfortable in order to avoid pressured mistakes.

[UNCNYC]

I love the team now, not sure if or how MCW will be of help. If we do decide to give him minutes I guess we wont be playing Monk at all. I would rather stick with Monk and that Bacon funk

[yosemiteben]

If we do decide to give him minutes I guess we wont be playing Monk at all.

Explain that logic to me.

[Hornet Mania]

Just got done watching the game, wow, what a gutsy comeback! Very appropriate for it to happen at the Grindhouse. I nearly started fast-forwarding in the 3rd quarter, but the bench really turned things around after that terrible first half.

-Kemba is amazing
-Monk's confidence is unshakeable, I love that. The consistency will come
-Cody played like a man possessed
-Is Dwight/Zeller secretly the best C rotation in the East?
-Dwight didn't have a big game, but Gasol is a matchup nightmare for him. The first big who could drag him out to the line and yet not get punished by Dwight down low or bullied on the offensive boards

Overall, incredible effort on the second night of a back-to-back. The team looked very professional, very organized, even in the 2nd and 3rd when the jumpers weren't falling the shots we were getting were consistently solid. Refs let Memphis rough our guys up and they maintained composure, couple techs aside. Nights like these make you think we can be pretty good by year's end.

(Uncontainable homer reaction: WE BEAT THE BEST TEAM IN THE EAST*, THEN THE BEST TEAM IN THE WEST** ON A BACK TO BACK! WE'RE COMING FOR THE 1 SEED)

*Technically, at the time. Very technically.
**Slightly less technically

[UNCNYC]

If we do decide to give him minutes I guess we wont be playing Monk at all.

Explain that logic to me.

Well you start with A and then B and then well C - Hahaha just teasing a dook fan. But what I meant by that is that when Batum comes back we will use him as SG and SF and if we use MCW he will take up minutes at the backup PG spot so we would probably not use Monk much if that happens