|
|
Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 29, 2024 10:17:07 GMT -5
2nd Quarter Notes
2nd Quarter
Porter Staggers w/ 2nd unit to start 2nd QT
11:16 Russ/PWat Brush screen into Porter backdoor. Russ with bad pass TO to Porter. Again Russ not good on these multiple read looks. Thought he would be better at this part of the game.
11:03 PWat transition drive, doesn’t score. IF he can’t make outside shots he’s got to finish these drives better. Not an easy shot but he’s long and needs to look at going off of two feet more. These bumps off of 1 foot throw off his skinny frame and he misses short typically.
10:55 Good possession defensively all-around. Good PWat POA defense on Barnes who misses fadeaway jumper with good PWat contest. This is what PWat is typically good at.
10:40 Saric gets blocked in post .Just a horrible post up.
10:37 Horrible Transition defense on Russ’s part. He’s last man back, gambles for steal and gives up lay-up. Russ has not been good 1st half so far.
10:20 Another Russ Saric PnR - I question why this is our main offense with bench unit and why we don’t run more for Strawther, but let’s look at this. Saric rolls to basket and has 3 guys around him, and Russ forces the pass. Now Saric scrums for ball and gets it then smokes the lay-up, but this was horrible on Saric and Russ’s parts. Saric for just smoking it, and Russ for even making the pass. He had both MPJ and Straw open for thees but tries to force it inside.
Poor transition leads to MPJ foul on other end. Our transition D is trash. Russ, PWat, MPJ especially get lost. I understand the Strawther defensive concerns, but he at least is generally in right spot, he fouls too much, but at least isn’t dumb.
10:00 MPJ Saric Pick n’ Pop MPJ gets dunk. The Pick n’ Pop makes way more sense with Saric and opens up court more.
9:43 Russ stands and watches on helpside and gets dunked on.
9:28 Saric hub at elbow. MPJ backdoors, I’ve watched this play now 4 times, and I can’t tell if it was a bad pass (it actually looks solid) MPJ has stone hands and can’t catch. I’ll put this play on both of em. Have to be better.
9:22 Saric good contest at rim on Barrett. Straw and PWat don’t rebound, give up 2nd chance. Nuggs down 38-32.
AG in for Saric. Lineup now Russ, Murray, Straw, PWat, AG
8:40 Russ with transition drive and score. This is what Russ is best at.
8:00 Scottie Barnes Torches PWat two possession in a row. First on a turnaround jump, then just blows by him. I’m struggling to see what PWat is bringing to this team. Defensive miscues, and an Offensive Black hole. I’m willing to give it 8-10 more games, but I’m also willing to bench him for Vlatko.
7:43 Jok back in down 3 42-39.
6:27 Nuggs transition attempt taken away by fan on the floor LOL!!!
6:17 Murray blows a lay-up on a drive. Complete inability to finish lay-ups unless he has clean lane to rim is a problem. Even finish in Regulation let him finish on opposite side unopposed. He can’t finish OVER anyone.
6:08 Murray feel down and takes 9 seconds to get up and get down court and we give up a 3 because of it. Now down 47-41.
5:42 Jok with great contest and gets a block. When he gives great effort Jok is a + + defender.
5:15 DEN in drop coverage and Murray poorly fights around screen and we give up floater. Drop coverage with Jok/Murray is a struggle. Murray just doesn’t make the screen at all hard for the offense and his guy always comes off clean.
4:55 AG with another TO. After he blows a post-up in traffic. AG not finishing in traffic very well. This has been another issue for the team. Need more from him in this area.
4:43 Murray gets blown by. I’ve seen some of the talking heads say Murray defense was better this game. I’m not seeing it. His defense at least in 1st half has not been good.
4:30 AG gets a charge trying to bully ball the guy. Again his post-up game has been off.
DEN is complaining and gives up lay-up to Dick on other end. Braun gets caught on screen (his screen navigation is definitely his weakest part of his defense) MPJ Doesn’t help at all and we give up lay-up.
2:52 Barnes is a stud. Hits tough post-up fadeaway over Braun who plays pretty good D.
2:33 Murray misses wide open mid=range jumper.
2:09 Miscue between AG and Murray on hand-off TOR gets wide open 3. TOR up 58-49. Start
1:09 Braun an absolute stud in transition. Quickly turning into one of my fav players on team!
0:33 Barnes still a stud. Scores on post up over Murray. Barnes reminds me a lot of ANT. High upside with him!
0:14 JOK and Murray Pick and Roll. Murray gets to rim, AG in Dunker, Jok rolls, AND Porter cuts. Horrible spacing on this play! Not sure why MPJ cuts into paint here.
|
|
|
|
Post by voodoo on Oct 29, 2024 10:32:03 GMT -5
Was Saric just benched because he played terrible? No comments made post game? My guess would be: hell yes |
|
|
|
Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 29, 2024 10:43:40 GMT -5
3rd Quarter
11:10 Murray again in the 2-man game gets screen and goes baseline. Jok re-screens and Jamal gets wide-open elbow jumper, which he clanks. MPJ and Murray can’t get better looks then they been getting.
10:44 You know MPJ is bad defensively when he can’t keep Grady Dick in front of him who drives by on a closeout, and then finishes right over Murray the second traffic cone.
10:20 Grady dick misses 3 on great AG contest. Murray doesn’t box out, RJ Barrett gets rebound Murray then doesn’t closeout, TOR 3!! Murray can’t play worse can he?
9:09 Murray and MPJ are two worst defenders. They miscue a simple pindown and both take the screen and leave Dick wide-open for 3.
7:35 Barnes bullies AG down low, TOR up 15 75-60.
6:40 Very good offense with a new wrinkle. Jok/Braun handoff at top of key. Braun downhill on left side lane. Kickout to AG for wide-open 3. AG needs to keep taking these. His shot has looked smoother, we need him to become this kind of player.
5:35 Strawther gets transition 3. His shot has been very smooth this year. Love that he played 20+ minutes. I honestly think he needs to get up to 25 mpg this year.
4:28 Murray drives and gets blocked.
4:08 First real big mistake by Strawther defensively. He lets his man get behind him and to the basket and misses the backdoor cut and lay-up.
3:46 PWat smokes a dunk. Like it’s comical the mistakes this team makes. We should of won this game by 10+ by just cutting out the stupid stuff.
Russ in at 3:22
1:32 Russ to PWat in transition .Good offense. PWat did something positive!
0:28 RJ Barrett drives good contest by PWat and Strawther. Defense the last 2 minutes was improved. LIneup: Jok, PWat, Straw, Braun, Russ. THis lineup is intriguing. Which means Murray, AG, MPJ, ?? w/out Jok need to be able to give good minutes!
0:14 PWat great pass to Jok on post up.
0:00 88-83 TOR
|
|
|
|
Post by GBG on Oct 29, 2024 10:48:39 GMT -5
Was Saric just benched because he played terrible? No comments made post game? My guess would be: hell yes Watch Saric play 20+ minutes tonight. Malone didn’t “bench” so much as he decided to get a win and save him for the b2b, unlike what he did with the starters. Out of necessity, Saric will see lots of PT tonight because of the b2b, and because of what Malone said in postgame presser, when he made it clear Saric needs to keep playing through this. |
|
|
|
Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 29, 2024 11:32:44 GMT -5
4th Quarter and OT
Russ starts off quarter with a flagrant foul. Russ being Russ.
11:15 I feel like a broken clock. MPJ late on rotation ends ups fouling under the basket.
11:02 PWat’s best play of the game. Comes all way from FT to corner to block a 3 point shooter on a closeout.
10:51 Russ iso’s for whole possession to work his way to mid-range fadeaway which he hits. He makes it but horrible offense IMO.
10:40 Great defensive possession. Multiple switches. PWat contests, AG DREB.
10:30 Straw called for same charge that Braun was called for. Horrible call IMO.
9:58 Russ with another all ISO possession clanks the jumper. Still bad offense.
9:32 MPJ with ISO step-back long 2. I know we score but this isn’t an efficient shot.
8:08 Jok gets OREB off of Russ missed 3, behind back pass to AG who gets fouled, wish AG could of powered through for AND 1.
7:44 Russ fouls Dick on 3 pt shot. Boneheaded play.
7:22 Refs were not good tonight. Between the bogus charge calles. They also miss a clear goaltending on TOR when Jok flips up a shot.
7:13 Murray again late on closeout Dick hits 3.
7:02 MPJ w/ his best offensive play of night. Attacks a close in straight lien drive dunks and gets fouled. Clanks the FT. LOL
6:50 MPJ abused on backdoor cuts all night. Gives up another. For lay-up.
6:27 Brauns best drive of night comes off multiple dribble moves to get downhill. Love his game right now.
6:12 Braun cuts and gets fouled. Again playing at a high level.
6:04 Great play by TOR they’ve run this a few times this game. Dick fakes likes he’s 2nd screen on ball screen w/ Peoltl for Barnes. Dick then cuts to opposite wing. Braun has already switched off of Dick on the ball handler. Which means AG is late to closeout. Dick hits 3. In a playoff series we probably cover this better. Braun probably needs to stick with Dick longer, and Jok switches or hedges on screen with AG.
5:05 Good ballmovement out of 2-man game. Murray to Jok out to MPJ who swings back to Murray in Corner for wide open 3. CLANK!! We just can’t shoot.
4:57 Murray again blocked in traffic. He needs to just quit shooting these.
Bad transition D give up Dunk
4:22 Braun AG perfect defense on handoff AG w/ steal.
4:16 Braun gets blocked. This begins a comedy of errors in which we leave points on the board that would of blown this game wide open.
2:57 good D by AG, Barnes dribbles off of foot.
Jok misses 3 on nice action w/ Braun setting ball screen for him. MPJ rebounds misses put back, gets own rebound and then stonehands gets stripped. MPJ WEAK!!
2:34 2ND BIG ERROR - Braun gets steal out to Jokic full court pass to MPJ ball out of bounds. This should of been a lay-up. (4 Pts we should of had now).
2:04 Braun w/ huge 3 pointer from top of key!
Murray beginning to hobble on sprained ankle. Curious if he plays tonight!?!?
1:18 Jok keeps punishing Peoltl.
1:09 Good D by Braun forces his man to step OOB..
0:24 DEN puts Russ in for MPJ gets stop and then Barnes gets elbow to head, We have 5 on 4 other way. Murray finds Russ for lay-up down 2.
Play the foul game and TOR misses some FT’s.
Murray baseline drive for lay-up for OT.
OT
4:44 Jok continues to punish Peoltl down low.
4:04 Mitchell blocks Jamal (Liked 3rd or 4th time this has happened) Murray gets his ow rebound putback and foul. Murray makes FT’s DEN up 119-116
3:49 Jok hits 3rd 3. DEN up 122-16
3:30 CB w/ great defense gets block DEN Gets REB.
3:10 Murray misses another mid-range.
2:24 JOK horrible contest. DEN still up 124-118
2:14 Jok misses sort. He looks gassed at this point.
2:00 Poor transition D gives up penetration, kickout and swing Mitchell hits 3, TOR down 124-121.
1:39 Murray w/ another horrible drive, saved by AG on tip-in.
1:22 MPJ on skates, Barrett blows by him 126-123
0:55 Best defensive play by Murray as he contests Dick on his transitin lay-up and saves the points.
0:32 Mitchell jumps into JOk on drive. Gets Jok for the foul. Makes both FT’s 127-125
0:08 CB misses corner 3. Good look, but then contests on transition TOR 3.
DEN wins 127-125
|
|
|
|
Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 29, 2024 11:46:29 GMT -5
PLAYER GRADES
Jokic - A
- Won us this game
- Been getting lots of deflections
- Dominant down low vs. Poeltl in this game.
- Still shooting the 3 very well. This is a huge addition if we can get our other guys going.
- Defensively wasn't bad wasn't great. Getting deflections and rebounding. Still doesn't always contest shots to the best of his abilities.
Braun - A
- Been attacking rim both R and L very well, also finishing ambidextrously as well.
- Called for a charges that should of been a D foul IMO.
- Defense for most part was phenomenal. Still could be better navigating screens, and there were a few plays that were more scheme stuff that he got caught on.
- Great production through 3 games, and great production last night.
Strawther - B
- Great floater game
- Might be best post entry passer. Much better then MPJ or Murray.
- D wasn't great, but there were others who were much were imo.
- Continues to scorch from 3. Now shooting 64% FG% and 67% 3PT%
- Was a willing rebounder
Murray - D
- Only reason not an F was him hitting the shot to go to overtime, other than that he didn't give us much.
- Good defensive effort in 1st quarter, but then it fell off a cliff.
- Doesn't navigate screens well, and gets blown by alot. Late on rotations from corner.
- Couldn't by a basket all game. Just horrific production from our "2nd" best player.
AG - B
- Struggling defensively early
- Has made 3’s in back to back games. AG getting to 1.5 3’s made per game would be huge offensively. Especially if he can do it on 35+% shooting. I don’t expect him to be great, but we need the production.
- Was good defensively by 2nd half.
- Best game of the seasons so far.
- 50% FG 100% from 3.
PWat - F
- Effort is good, but a lot of defensive lapses to go with poor shooting.
- Not finishing drives. When that is his strength, that’s a problem. It’s one thing not to be able to shoot it’s another to be an offensive black hole.
- Can't shoot, doesn't look comfortable shooting.
- Really bringing nothing to table outside of a few ISO defensive stops and a closeout in 3rd to 4th quarter.
Russ - F
- Some talking heads thought he played well defensively. He did alright when with starters, but I saw multiple defensive lapses.
- Poor Poor shot selection.
- Doesn't look comfortable making reads, unless it's just going downhill and pitching out to 3 point shooter.
- Multiple possessions of ISO for an entire possession where he ends it with him taking a shot.
MPJ - F
- Wasn't as bad as game vs. LAC but wasn't much better.
- Still has stonehands.
- Horrible off the ball defensively. Loses his man constantly, late to rotate. He is the worst off-ball player on team, and it's not close.
- No confidence in his shot. As he continues to be a zero offensively.
Saric - F
- Worst game of season.
- I thought others on 2nd unit were worse defensively, but he isn't helping matters at all, alot of it is physical. He's an undersized 5, who can't jump.
- Was a zero on offense, and continutes to struggle to find his rhythm.
|
|
|
|
Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 29, 2024 12:00:10 GMT -5
If I were to rank the reasons for why we're struggling they would be in this order.
1.) Jamal Murray - We are not a good team when he is this inefficient. We already don't have a lot of ballhandlers as is so he's extra important that he cant put pressure on defense to help role players out. He's done none of that, and has been a scarecrow on defense. ON top of this thinking was that he was going to take more 3's this year and not only is his shot not falling he's not looking for his 3. Only shooting 4.3 attempts per game. His shooting splits right now are: 36/39/100
2.) MPJ - Has been our worst defender on this team by far. Can't guard on closeouts and can't cover off the ball. He's late on rotations and loses his man on backside constantly. We already lack good 3 point shooting, expectation was that MPJ came into season beefed up and ready for extra load. Well he has failed to deliver. He is mentally destroyed right now and turning down open 3's. His shooting splits right now are: 35/20/75
.
.
.
.
.
3.) Russ - I'm still hopeful with Russ, I do think he can bring stuff to the team we lack, but was probably too hopeful that he'd be able to play to his strengths more, that hasn't happened. He seems unable to limit his bad shots, and I was willing to live with that, but his finishing around the rim is worse than what I thought it would be. He also is horrible off ball defender.
4.) PWat - Been an absolute zero offensively and defensively. Similar to MPJ he has so many miscues though sometimes he will make up for it with his athleticism, he's not finished drives well, and he can't shoot.
5.) Saric - Not played well, no chemistry between him and Russ. Has looked tentative offensively, and shows no confidence right now. Defensively he's not great, but I actually think he generally is in the right spot, but doesn't have the athleticism to make a different on drives.
6.) AG - Was encouraged after last nights game. He seemed to produce more playing backup 5. I know others have said it's not good for him, but it may be our best bet. Playing AG at the 5 with a bench lineup of: Russ, Straw, PWat, MPJ/VLatko, AG. Still need him to be more aggressive. Part of his issue is that we need more creation and need him to be more aggressive both driving and shooting, and I think that will take time.
Those are the 6 individual issues faced by team.
Some team thoughts
- finding right balance of shooting and defense at times is on Malone and Booth. Malone has to be better with rotations, Booth not good enough as we are definitely a shooter short on this team.
- Team defense - While our DRTG has been solid, we've been late on a lot of rotations and that has hurt us.
-
|
|
|
|
Post by LotharBraunBrownBryant on Oct 29, 2024 12:17:26 GMT -5
I appreciate the breakdowns and player grades.
|
|
|
|
Post by voodoo on Oct 29, 2024 12:29:37 GMT -5
Saric can't stay in front of his own shadow
|
|
|
|
Post by famicommander on Oct 29, 2024 12:31:33 GMT -5
Saric played himself completely out of the rotation in Golden State last year and nobody saw that as a red flag.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Oct 29, 2024 12:55:33 GMT -5
Saric played himself completely out of the rotation in Golden State last year and nobody saw that as a red flag. Calvin is clueless dude. It's as simple as that. Honestly if you're bringing in a Russell Westbrook wouldn't the most logical answer be to bring in a rim rolling big? |
|
|
|
Post by famicommander on Oct 29, 2024 12:57:01 GMT -5
Saric played himself completely out of the rotation in Golden State last year and nobody saw that as a red flag. Calvin is clueless dude. It's as simple as that. Honestly if you're bringing in a Russell Westbrook wouldn't the most logical answer be to bring in a rim rolling big? Bringing in Westbrook at all was a mistake. We know for a fact that Malone can't resist playing two point guards at the same time and we know for a fact that Russ is historically bad when anyone tries to play him next to another point guard. |
|
|
|
Post by aussie on Oct 29, 2024 13:04:30 GMT -5
Calvin is clueless dude. It's as simple as that. Honestly if you're bringing in a Russell Westbrook wouldn't the most logical answer be to bring in a rim rolling big? Bringing in Westbrook at all was a mistake. We know for a fact that Malone can't resist playing two point guards at the same time and we know for a fact that Russ is historically bad when anyone tries to play him next to another point guard. As I said, we have $14m tied up in unplayable backups to the best player in the world. It will be a repeat of last season where he gets no rest and is completely gassed in game 7 of the second round. We somehow need to find the a serviceable backup to Jokic or we’re fu*ked. |
|
|
|
Post by famicommander on Oct 29, 2024 13:07:04 GMT -5
Bringing in Westbrook at all was a mistake. We know for a fact that Malone can't resist playing two point guards at the same time and we know for a fact that Russ is historically bad when anyone tries to play him next to another point guard. As I said, we have $14m tied up in unplayable backups to the best player in the world. It will be a repeat of last season where he gets no rest and is completely gassed in game 7 of the second round. We somehow need to find the a serviceable backup to Jokic or we’re fu*ked. We had one for free and now he's in Memphis because we wanted to go with PJ Hall. |
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Oct 29, 2024 13:31:49 GMT -5
As I said, we have $14m tied up in unplayable backups to the best player in the world. It will be a repeat of last season where he gets no rest and is completely gassed in game 7 of the second round. We somehow need to find the a serviceable backup to Jokic or we’re fu*ked. We had one for free and now he's in Memphis because we wanted to go with PJ Hall. How the f**k does Huff never get a real chance at minutes though considering who was playing backup C last year? It's just ridiculous. |
|
|
|
Post by GBG on Oct 29, 2024 13:33:15 GMT -5
Bringing in Westbrook at all was a mistake. We know for a fact that Malone can't resist playing two point guards at the same time and we know for a fact that Russ is historically bad when anyone tries to play him next to another point guard. As I said, we have $14m tied up in unplayable backups to the best player in the world. It will be a repeat of last season where he gets no rest and is completely gassed in game 7 of the second round. We somehow need to find the a serviceable backup to Jokic or we’re fu*ked. He won’t be gassed in the second round because we won’t reach it, as currently constructed. In bold predictions thread, I said we’d be 5th seed and eliminated in first round. |
|
|
|
Post by famicommander on Oct 29, 2024 13:35:07 GMT -5
We had one for free and now he's in Memphis because we wanted to go with PJ Hall. How the f**k does Huff never get a real chance at minutes though considering who was playing backup C last year? It's just ridiculous. You're preaching to the choir, man. I said in December of last year that he had earned a look just based on his G-League play and Zeke and DJ being awful. He played more minutes in 7 games with the Wizards two years ago (and he shot 60/50/94 in those minutes) than he did in 20 games for us last year. He only attempted nine 3s last year despite being a 39% shooter in the G-League, a 50% shooter in the NBA the year prior, and a 39% shooter in the G-League the year prior. |
|
|
|
Post by aussie on Oct 29, 2024 13:36:20 GMT -5
As I said, we have $14m tied up in unplayable backups to the best player in the world. It will be a repeat of last season where he gets no rest and is completely gassed in game 7 of the second round. We somehow need to find the a serviceable backup to Jokic or we’re fu*ked. He won’t be gassed in the second round because we won’t reach it, as currently constructed. In bold predictions thread, I said we’d be 5th seed and eliminated in first round. I tend to agree. Gassed in game 4 of a first round sweep where we’re the ones swept |
|
|
|
Post by GBG on Oct 29, 2024 13:40:29 GMT -5
He won’t be gassed in the second round because we won’t reach it, as currently constructed. In bold predictions thread, I said we’d be 5th seed and eliminated in first round. I tend to agree. Gassed in game 4 of a first round sweep where we’re the ones swept Nah. Jokic is too great to give up that easily. I predicted we lose in game 7. |
|
|
|
Post by wizardofcozz on Oct 29, 2024 13:41:54 GMT -5
Saric played himself completely out of the rotation in Golden State last year and nobody saw that as a red flag. Calvin is clueless dude. It's as simple as that. Honestly if you're bringing in a Russell Westbrook wouldn't the most logical answer be to bring in a rim rolling big? MPJ for Bogi and Capella?? |
|
