pie
Joe Wolf Towel Boy
Posts: 352
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Post by pie on Oct 27, 2024 18:01:56 GMT -5
Christian Braun = All-Star I predict Braun will be the first ever all-star teammate Jokic has. NT has been going downhill it’s not even funny anymore Braun has played well in the first 2 games |
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Post by GBG on Oct 27, 2024 18:09:13 GMT -5
Christian Braun = All-Star I predict Braun will be the first ever all-star teammate Jokic has. NT has been going downhill it’s not even funny anymore Then don’t read it. I agree there are some odd posts here these days, but most people here are sincere and smart Nuggets fans. |
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Post by Coach Sticky on Oct 28, 2024 3:42:19 GMT -5
lol
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Post by scooter on Oct 28, 2024 11:03:43 GMT -5
I think Naji's issues are the same one's Saric is having. While Saric is playing an undersized 5, he's basically being asked to post up and rebound against guys bigger then him. When has Naji and Saric (I've watched him in previous seasons) looked good when they can space. We use them in those situations never in our bench unit. It's why Huff has looked good away from Denver. He's basically playing out on perimeter and making shots when they pass him the ball. I'd be fine with that for Naji or Saric, but we don't use them that way. We use them like they're Deandre Jordan or Myles Plumlee, when there skillset is much different than that. So for me this comes down to coaching and optimizing your talent. We need to match our schemes to our personnel, not the other way around. Secondly, and they finally did it second half yesterday, but why were they switching with Saric. We don't do that with the starters, and so why do it with the bench. When we get to the playoffs, if those guys play in the playoffs they need to know how to hedge and recover or recover and rotate. It doesn't make sense, nor is it what's best for Saric defensively. They'd be better off playing Naji w/ Saric IF Naji 3 point shooting is real. That would give more size to 2nd unit and put us in a better spot defensively. Playing PWat at the 4 and then Strawther at the 3 puts everyone up a position from there natural position and kills our rebounding. Then playing Murray who's been a traffic cone defensively playing with the 2nd unit is as much a disaster defensively as Saric is. The team’s problem in its two games so far isn’t defense (or size), it’s offense. Nnaji looked better in the preseason than Saric has looked in any games so far with the Nuggets. I cannot say that would translate to real games, but I wonder if it’s worth a shot. Saric looks slow as molasses and that’s a bad fit on bench groups that feature the likes of Westbrook, Strawther and Watson. Since the summer, we thought his value would come in being able to emulate what Jokic does, but that doesn’t have the same value — or maybe any value — playing with Westbrook who is not a P&R PG and doesn’t want screeners moving themselves and their defenders into the path between him and the paint. Westbrook needs to play with guys who can spot up for catch and shoot opportunities, cut for lobs/layups, and crash the offensive boards. I’m not claiming that Nnaji is great at these things (or anything really) but I do wonder if he’s better than Saric. And Nnaji is definitely a more mobile defender, which might help bench groups have a more disruptive defense. |
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Post by nuggetshipster on Oct 28, 2024 11:10:40 GMT -5
NT has been going downhill it’s not even funny anymore Then don’t read it. I agree there are some odd posts here these days, but most people here are sincere and smart Nuggets fans. Sincere and smart isnt the two words i would have chosen lol |
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Post by nuggetshipster on Oct 28, 2024 11:12:03 GMT -5
I think Naji's issues are the same one's Saric is having. While Saric is playing an undersized 5, he's basically being asked to post up and rebound against guys bigger then him. When has Naji and Saric (I've watched him in previous seasons) looked good when they can space. We use them in those situations never in our bench unit. It's why Huff has looked good away from Denver. He's basically playing out on perimeter and making shots when they pass him the ball. I'd be fine with that for Naji or Saric, but we don't use them that way. We use them like they're Deandre Jordan or Myles Plumlee, when there skillset is much different than that. So for me this comes down to coaching and optimizing your talent. We need to match our schemes to our personnel, not the other way around. Secondly, and they finally did it second half yesterday, but why were they switching with Saric. We don't do that with the starters, and so why do it with the bench. When we get to the playoffs, if those guys play in the playoffs they need to know how to hedge and recover or recover and rotate. It doesn't make sense, nor is it what's best for Saric defensively. They'd be better off playing Naji w/ Saric IF Naji 3 point shooting is real. That would give more size to 2nd unit and put us in a better spot defensively. Playing PWat at the 4 and then Strawther at the 3 puts everyone up a position from there natural position and kills our rebounding. Then playing Murray who's been a traffic cone defensively playing with the 2nd unit is as much a disaster defensively as Saric is. The team’s problem in its two games so far isn’t defense (or size), it’s offense. Nnaji looked better in the preseason than Saric has looked in any games so far with the Nuggets. I cannot say that would translate to real games, but I wonder if it’s worth a shot. Saric looks slow as molasses and that’s a bad fit on bench groups that feature the likes of Westbrook, Strawther and Watson. Since the summer, we thought his value would come in being able to emulate what Jokic does, but that doesn’t have the same value — or maybe any value — playing with Westbrook who is not a P&R PG and doesn’t want screeners moving themselves and their defenders into the path between him and the paint. Westbrook needs to play with guys who can spot up for catch and shoot opportunities, cut for lobs/layups, and crash the offensive boards. I’m not claiming that Nnaji is great at these things (or anything really) but I do wonder if he’s better than Saric. And Nnaji is definitely a more mobile defender, which might help bench groups have a more disruptive defense. Nnaji wouldnt even get minutes for Croatia. No cap. |
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Post by scooter on Oct 28, 2024 11:46:42 GMT -5
FIBA basketball is different. The court is a little smaller and the three point line is shorter and the game is shorter and officiating is different. Don’t underestimate the extent to which that adds up to different. Saric has experience playing that game and with the Croatian guys while Nnaji doesn’t, so sure. I’m sure Croatian basketball is like Serbian in that it’s very system oriented. That doesn’t convince me regarding their respective values playing with these particular players on the Nuggets. Based on what I’ve seen so far, its difficult for me to imagine Saric being effective playing with Westbrook, Watson and Strawther, guys who are very much NOT system oriented players.
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Post by famicommander on Oct 28, 2024 11:58:05 GMT -5
Zeke is a preseason all star every year. I'm fine if we bench Saric short term and put Zeke in but in the long term Saric has to be the guy if we're doing anything this season. Zeke's ball skill will always hurt us in the long run.
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Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 28, 2024 11:59:59 GMT -5
I think Naji's issues are the same one's Saric is having. While Saric is playing an undersized 5, he's basically being asked to post up and rebound against guys bigger then him. When has Naji and Saric (I've watched him in previous seasons) looked good when they can space. We use them in those situations never in our bench unit. It's why Huff has looked good away from Denver. He's basically playing out on perimeter and making shots when they pass him the ball. I'd be fine with that for Naji or Saric, but we don't use them that way. We use them like they're Deandre Jordan or Myles Plumlee, when there skillset is much different than that. So for me this comes down to coaching and optimizing your talent. We need to match our schemes to our personnel, not the other way around. Secondly, and they finally did it second half yesterday, but why were they switching with Saric. We don't do that with the starters, and so why do it with the bench. When we get to the playoffs, if those guys play in the playoffs they need to know how to hedge and recover or recover and rotate. It doesn't make sense, nor is it what's best for Saric defensively. They'd be better off playing Naji w/ Saric IF Naji 3 point shooting is real. That would give more size to 2nd unit and put us in a better spot defensively. Playing PWat at the 4 and then Strawther at the 3 puts everyone up a position from there natural position and kills our rebounding. Then playing Murray who's been a traffic cone defensively playing with the 2nd unit is as much a disaster defensively as Saric is. The team’s problem in its two games so far isn’t defense (or size), it’s offense. Nnaji looked better in the preseason than Saric has looked in any games so far with the Nuggets. I cannot say that would translate to real games, but I wonder if it’s worth a shot. Saric looks slow as molasses and that’s a bad fit on bench groups that feature the likes of Westbrook, Strawther and Watson. Since the summer, we thought his value would come in being able to emulate what Jokic does, but that doesn’t have the same value — or maybe any value — playing with Westbrook who is not a P&R PG and doesn’t want screeners moving themselves and their defenders into the path between him and the paint. Westbrook needs to play with guys who can spot up for catch and shoot opportunities, cut for lobs/layups, and crash the offensive boards. I’m not claiming that Nnaji is great at these things (or anything really) but I do wonder if he’s better than Saric. And Nnaji is definitely a more mobile defender, which might help bench groups have a more disruptive defense. Nnaji looked good in preseason when he played as a forward and spaced out on the perimeter. He doesn't look good doing the same things they have Saric doing. This seems like a continual issue with the coaching staff. Hartenstein, Huff, Nnaji, and now Saric. I don't think they know how to use their backup bigs. |
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Post by famicommander on Oct 28, 2024 12:02:19 GMT -5
The team’s problem in its two games so far isn’t defense (or size), it’s offense. Nnaji looked better in the preseason than Saric has looked in any games so far with the Nuggets. I cannot say that would translate to real games, but I wonder if it’s worth a shot. Saric looks slow as molasses and that’s a bad fit on bench groups that feature the likes of Westbrook, Strawther and Watson. Since the summer, we thought his value would come in being able to emulate what Jokic does, but that doesn’t have the same value — or maybe any value — playing with Westbrook who is not a P&R PG and doesn’t want screeners moving themselves and their defenders into the path between him and the paint. Westbrook needs to play with guys who can spot up for catch and shoot opportunities, cut for lobs/layups, and crash the offensive boards. I’m not claiming that Nnaji is great at these things (or anything really) but I do wonder if he’s better than Saric. And Nnaji is definitely a more mobile defender, which might help bench groups have a more disruptive defense. Nnaji looked good in preseason when he played as a forward and spaced out on the perimeter. He doesn't look good doing the same things they have Saric doing. This seems like a continual issue with the coaching staff. Hartenstein, Huff, Nnaji, and now Saric. I don't think they know how to use their backup bigs. Once again... Nnaji has looked good at preseason every single year. It's because he was mostly not playing against NBA players. There is a massive regular season sample size that says if we play Zeke as a forward his ball skills will hurt us more than anything he does helps us. |
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Post by LotharBraunBrownBryant on Oct 28, 2024 12:03:32 GMT -5
being Jokic's backup seems to be one of the hardest jobs in all of basketball. I don't know how much of that is on coaches and how much of that is just that teammates learn to play one way and have trouble adjusting to playing another way for a backup who isn't Jokicesque.
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Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 28, 2024 12:08:06 GMT -5
Zeke is a preseason all star every year. I'm fine if we bench Saric short term and put Zeke in but in the long term Saric has to be the guy if we're doing anything this season. Zeke's ball skill will always hurt us in the long run. Zeke is very limited as you have pointed out. But if you're going to maximize him, you have to play him at the 4 and space, and then he's somewhat switchable on D. That's about it. Asking him be a screen and roll guy or a guy finishing in the dunker spot just isn't good for him. |
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Post by famicommander on Oct 28, 2024 12:09:18 GMT -5
being Jokic's backup seems to be one of the hardest jobs in all of basketball. I don't know how much of that is on coaches and how much of that is just that teammates learn to play one way and have trouble adjusting to playing another way for a backup who isn't Jokicesque. Either that or we mostly just keep trying washed, terrible, or undersized guys there. Gordon does a fine job, Plumlee was serviceable. There were red flags all over the place about Saric, Zeke has buttered stumps where his hands should be and he's too small, Jordan is ancient, Cousins (who played decently) was ancient and a personality issue, Thomas Bryant has only been a full time rotation player for one season in his whole career. Our mentality seems to be that we can put any a****** in that spot and it keeps not working. |
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Post by famicommander on Oct 28, 2024 12:10:34 GMT -5
Zeke is a preseason all star every year. I'm fine if we bench Saric short term and put Zeke in but in the long term Saric has to be the guy if we're doing anything this season. Zeke's ball skill will always hurt us in the long run. Zeke is very limited as you have pointed out. But if you're going to maximize him, you have to play him at the 4 and space, and then he's somewhat switchable on D. That's about it. Asking him be a screen and roll guy or a guy finishing in the dunker spot just isn't good for him. He doesn't have an NBA forward's ball skills. He. Doesn't. Have. The. Ball. Skills. |
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Post by scooter on Oct 28, 2024 14:15:37 GMT -5
Zeke is a preseason all star every year. I'm fine if we bench Saric short term and put Zeke in but in the long term Saric has to be the guy if we're doing anything this season. Zeke's ball skill will always hurt us in the long run. Zeke is very limited as you have pointed out. But if you're going to maximize him, you have to play him at the 4 and space, and then he's somewhat switchable on D. That's about it. Asking him be a screen and roll guy or a guy finishing in the dunker spot just isn't good for him. I’ve never been a Nnaji guy and I understand his limitations. At the same time, he is just 23 and his NBA PT has been sporadic for one reason or another and it’s possible he’s a bit better and the regular season competition/expectations are modest. I don’t think Westbrook wants to play pick and roll or pick and pop. He mostly doesn’t need the screening and doesn’t want defenders hedging on him and forcing him away from the paint unless he wants to create contact with them and try to draw fouls. He wants to just go one on one and attack the paint. If Nnaji’s shot is still looking good in practice, he can spot up. And while he’s not a great lob threat, he’s better than Saric. And his footspeed is better for crashing the offensive boards or for getting back on D. Based on what we’ve seen and who we have coming off the bench, I just think it might be a better option. Last year, the slow paced bench groups revolving around Reggie would have been better with Saric. Saric + Westbrook/Watson/Strawther seems like oil and water to me. |
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Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 28, 2024 14:25:42 GMT -5
Adam Mares with some breakdowns of MPJ absolutely abysmal defense vs. LAC. x.com/Adam_Mares/status/1850970563185160359This all fits with the notes i took last night re-watching the game. Julian in at 5:48 1st Q - Julian bumps Zubac, AG doesn't rotate over from corner. Not on Strawther. - Jokic switched out on Harden gets 3 hit over him. - Julian split second late on rotation under basket. Should if helped up higher 4:46 called for foul. Weak call. - Julian O Rebound putback - 4:14 Murray doesn't rotate far enough over. - DJJ tough shot over AG - Russ in at 2:50 - Julian good transition drive barely miss. - Saric in at 2:35 - 2:29 MPJ late on rotation. LAC layup. - Julian drive wide open MPJ 3 pointer that he clanks - PWat concedes Saric to be switched onto Harden. Horrible decision. Harden drive and layup. PWat then doesn't help over on drive. - 0:54 PWat settles for jumper over Harden who's not guarding him. - 0:42 miscue between MPJ and Strawther. Looks more like MPJ mistake he leaves Harden on brush screen before Straw can get there. Straw playing to far off man. He needs to be up tighter. Deep deep 3. - 0:12 |Russ fouls Harden weak call. 2nd Quarter- start of 2nd quarter Murray already got hands on knees. - 11:22 Russ drive and fouled. - 11:06 Saric in good help then closes out on 3 by DJJ. - 10:58 Russ drives and blows layup. Saric rebounds but to far underneath basket shouldn't of forced outback - 10:40 Russ gives up O reb cause he doesn't box out. - MPJ mosses transition 3. - Murray again doesn't help over from backside corner MPJ fouls. - 9:51 pick m pop with Saric and Murray. Russ n MPJ spaced PWat in dunker. Murry nails jumper. - 9:35 PWat good poa D with steal. - 9:27 again Saric screen for Murray - He rolls this time and PWat in dunker on same side as Russ. No spacing on this play. - MPJ doesn't secure rebound kickoff 3. - MPJ another missed open 3 off of Murray drive kick Russ extra pass to MPJ. - 8:30 Saric switched onto KPJ good d and contest. - 8:16 russ drives and forces it 1 on 3. 8:14 AG/Braun/ Straw in at 8:14 no spacing lineup. - Saric post up, russ man backs off Russ shoots AG o rebound he takes contested kid range and misses. - 7:50 Saric AG switch and Zubac bullies Saric. - Jok back in at 7:37 down 11 - Russ drive Nad kick AG misses 3. AG Braun Russ lineup makes no sense. - 6:45 russ cuts off Jok post up and misses lay up. Good action though. - 6:39 Poorctransition d by Jok. - Starters back in MPJ is awful in this stret,ch. - 6:14 MPJ again misses corner rotation onto Zubac. - 5:09 MPJ drive into traffic = TO - 5:06 transition D is atrocious. MPJ ends up guarding air. Murray gets screens by Zubac, JOk guarding DJJ in corner cause of transition and no one guards Zubac. Layup by Powell. Murray poor fighting over or under screen. - Malone rage TO. Starters go on run. |
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