esqtvd wrote:RingColluder wrote:esqtvd wrote:
We have no idea what we've got. Beverley has been in and out since January. We had just plugged Morris in for Batum when Ibaka went down. Now we've dumped Lou Williams-who ran the second team--for a guy [Rondo] who hasn't even practiced yet. We look like a pickup team again. We have one youngster [Mann] who is thriving on the chaos and another who is totally lost unless you spoonfeed him his shots.
And Kawhi seems exhausted and PG's foot is in constant pain. Otherwise, things are going great.
Looking like another season where we don't get a full squad to practice together at all for the entire season. There's just so many issues that aren't being covered by the mainstream with this team.
And did anyone ask Ty Lue if Mann is starting next game or not? Reggie cannot be starting with this particular group. I think Ty Lue is waiting hoping for Bev/Rondo to come be the starter and doesn't want Mann w that job, but he deserves it.
Mann is earning 20+ minutes, which is all that matters. As I said above, he's thriving on the chaos. I'm not sure where he'll fit in when things get more organized and deliberate. More, um, professional. This is a fire drill.
Our best plus/minus lineup is still KL-PG-Ibaka-Batum-Beverley. Jackson-for-Beverley is statistically the same.
Getting Marcus and Zu going was the reason for the shuffle. With Lou gone, we are starting over with Rondo running the show. Ty admits he has no plan. We might be in worse shape than last year--the team and rotations had jelled when the COVID hit in March. This year the only thing we DO know works is the starting 5--if they are even the starting 5 anymore.
Blowing it up by throwing a starting lineup of Marcus, Mann and Zu out there with KL and PG makes no sense to me. What we need to do is find the CLOSING 5 and work backwards from there. I have no idea if Mann will be part of it. I'd guess KL-PG-Ibaka-Rondo and either Bev or Batum depending on matchups, and Marcus for Ibaka if we go small. I don't know if Zu and especially Mann are ready for Prime Time. Right now they're doing well in the dog days of the regular season but playoff crunchtime is a whole different animal.
I think in chaos or without it, Mann has looked phenomenal. He's playing with the exact same fire and mindset he had last year only now his offensive game has improved tremendously both attacking the basket and from 3. He would thrive in a system with Rondo but his skillset is way too similar to Bev. I really would consider starting him, but doesn't seem like Lue views him like that. A very Doc move sadly with the whole "young player" thing when we gotta win a ring now.
Ty admitted he had no plan? WTF. I'm getting slightly concerned we got scammed by the Hawks and Rondo won't be playing at all or at most like 12 minutes a game. Hopefully he's just devising a master plan but I'd love to see him in action against the Lakers Sunday. And yes, we definitely are in way worse shape than last year.
I think it's clear our closing 5 will most likely include Mann going forward. I'm fine with not starting him, PROVIDED Bev/Rondo are inactive. If this is our same rotation for the Lakers, Trailblaer, Suns game, TMann has to start. Reggie just ain't it especially w PG on the floor who I guess is more of a scorer than Batum or whoever else. Reggie's another guy who would be very helpful w Rondo who is his polar opposite skillset wise.
Ibaka hasn't been closing as many games as Batum before his injury, no? Same with Morris, seems like Ibaka would start and then not close games in a manner like Bev. I feel more comfortable w Mann than any of Zu, Reggie, Bev, Kennard, etc in a closing situation. All he needs is the opportunity. The man is going 6-7, 7-8 and helping tremendously on the boards with Kawhi. To me he's looked better than Bev all season. I understand Bev is scrappy or whatever (but clearly not in his prime), but already Mann looks more refined and dynamic to me.
Bottom line is as long as Ibaka, and company continue to be out we have to try something new. Do not like this lineup at all as it is currently, and the only guys I trust to run the PG position are Mann, Rondo and Bev. I do not want Reggie or Paul George being a PG whatsoever on this team, they are both awful at it as we see every single game. PG would have had 4 TO's that led to easy baskets instead of 2 without 2 lucky bounces. He can't be holding the ball for 75% of games whenever he plays, it is not a winning formula whatsoever.