Good stuff here. I can’t prescribe to deductive reasoning that since the still very young MCBride could be better than Grimes, and Grimes rookie year was similar to Donovans, that we stand pat.
A McBride community will not influence his play or Thibs affections for him. A community of circle jerk love is not constructive conversation if you think he needs to still improve and reject the commentary that speaks to it. I have not read any “bashing” of him here, just that he is offensively not complete. The notion is “If he played more he would be so much better but thibs is thwarting his progress?”
My take is when a player does advance, most often he needed to learn it then practice it before he executes in live games. Just an opinion. So if you have a community would that be a “We love Deuce and Thibs is standing between him and success”? Lol……..
IQ is not nearly as athletic/fast/powerful as Donovan in my opinion. I like IQ, I don’t see the upside as much as some others. He is succeeded and doing so above and beyond his draft status. He is is traded to Utah he could be a nice stat guy on a shitty team.
RJ got fed the developmental time we wished for IQ, Obi and Deuce? I’m not saying we tanked, but RJ got fed and it might have caused us some games. He had some good “winning” moments in games that did matter. That’s how one should develop. Tanking in the age of flatter lotto odds is not a good idea. And yes, OBI, Grimes, Deuce and IQ all got bigger roles. Was it by design? No, the team faltered and injuries matter. But plan B was all that.
My take is extend RJ because if we get Donovan, and with Brunson in place he won’t have that kind of touches next season and I don’t want him playing for contract.
Which leads me to Randle and why he was frustrated. If the team was in a developmental mode last year given some injuries and the focus was on getting EF in synch, and elevating RJ, then Randles issue was either feeling like he was demoted or if wired properly hated not being able to win as they did the year before. Armed with his contract we can take out the monetary thing. He has his deal. We never read he was a bad locker room guy or wanted out. He wanted “We here” and “we weren’t”?
Just a guess as much as any. Fact is “he still here” for now. In retrospect we saw Mook Morris light it up when given touches but it was a nice run in his career. I think the elements of Randle at that moment in time, with that line up, in empty arena, with new coach, with low expectations, and the chemistry of Bullock and even ELf all worked. Can one really say Bullock was the missing key when Elf was a big part of that teams chemistry? That he was on Dallas that did great in playoffs confirm something that the Atlanta series showed?
COYT Thibs “We here” season was on paper great because of the 4 seed but ATL demonstrated its flaws. We failed to execute a fix last year. Fire the coach? FO? Or keep on trying?
Or keep playing deuce and the other kids over the next few years? It’s a nice thought, but really if they don’t pan out you have other big ass issues.
Some media says we paid the price to get those picks and need to come up with something. Media can’t get anyone excited about punting or kicking the can down the road. It’s too easy to get nasty on that stuff.
Good chess players, are steps ahead. Great Chess players see paths to victory but considers the counter moves that are not in our control. They can play a long long ass game, or go for a victory with consequences if not achieved.
WE just don’t know the game Leon and Company are playing do we? Him and Ainge are sitting at the table in a match. Both see a path to winning. Fans things its about the transaction. It’s far more that that. Both have different definitions and paths with varied timelines. Both run entertainment companies as well.
Ainge has an Allstate game and will the basketball world will be in Utah talking about what he is doing. At the same time its all about raising ratings over the next few years and keeping the seats full. Same for Leon. Can you do it while Duece is 22 and learning, IQ, OBI and Simms? Fan favorites. Or go with a mix of proven talent and rising stars.
