The last 10 seconds was a snapshot of what FO and coaching staff visualized when they traded for Mikal and KAT for that matter. Brunson with the clutch basket with proper spacing and Mikal with a clutch defensive stop to seal it.
I’m not going to pretend like I watched a ton of Suns games when Bridges was there (saw a bunch of playoff games during their finals run) or nyets games when he was there (only watched him when they played the Knicks), but based on what I’ve seen for the dozen games in the orange and blue, Bridges does not look to be a shut-down defender. He seems more like a disruptor and is more comfortable off the ball where he can get in the passing lanes for deflections and steals, or guarding smaller guards where his length can bother their shots (see his defense on Dame and the game saving block last night). I think Mikal will be opportunistic on the defensive end and the hope is that he will make these plays when we need them most like last night.
The defensive end has been a struggle, but we are tied for 13th, in the league defensively. With the spacing and even more of an emphasis on the 3 pt shot, scoring is up across the league. It’s a long season and we definitely need to tighten up, defensively. When adding new players to a team, most people figure the chemistry issues are mainly on the offensive end, but defensively, it can be just as difficult. Players need to get used to new schemes, coaches trying to figure out which dchemes work best with new personel, communication with each other, etc. But in the meantime, if we can figure out a way to get key stops and or make key defensive plays in crunch time, the vision will be a little less blurry.
I have not watched Mikal much but my impression was that he is a better POA defender than off ball disruptor but I could be wrong.
martin wrote:I have not watched Mikal much but my impression was that he is a better POA defender than off ball disruptor but I could be wrong.
Normally. Mikal’s footwork is kind of wonky at POA lately. Not sure if he is just trying too hard for the steal instead of staying in front of his man. But I also think he is used to picking the ball up off the inbound and not at half court. Not saying it should be different, but might be worth letting him get to work sooner, find his groove.
EwingsGlass wrote:martin wrote:I have not watched Mikal much but my impression was that he is a better POA defender than off ball disruptor but I could be wrong.
Normally. Mikal’s footwork is kind of wonky at POA lately. Not sure if he is just trying too hard for the steal instead of staying in front of his man. But I also think he is used to picking the ball up off the inbound and not at half court. Not saying it should be different, but might be worth letting him get to work sooner, find his groove.
Yeah, but they can't afford the foul risk right now.
EwingsGlass wrote:martin wrote:I have not watched Mikal much but my impression was that he is a better POA defender than off ball disruptor but I could be wrong.
Normally. Mikal’s footwork is kind of wonky at POA lately. Not sure if he is just trying too hard for the steal instead of staying in front of his man. But I also think he is used to picking the ball up off the inbound and not at half court. Not saying it should be different, but might be worth letting him get to work sooner, find his groove.
When Mikal is at the POA, he has been having trouble fighing over the picks. When we are in drop-coverage with Mikal at the POA, point guards that have a really good float-game has compromised us a few times. I will give Thibs and the coaching staff credit for switching up the defensive croverages in the Chicago go. Instead of running exclusive drop, there were times with Towns would hedge (semi-trap) with Mikal which forced the ball handler to pick up the ball, before Towns scrambled back to pick up the open man.
Hopefully, the game saving block will propel Mikal to go on a nice run
Another part of the vision: Mid range space for others
martin wrote:OG part of the O vision
He should work on his handles
martin wrote:Another part of the vision: Mid range space for others
This is good. Seems like bridges is strictly a corner 3pt shooter, so if he has the space to maneuver in the midrange, it opens plenty of opportunities for him to be an offensive weapon we need him to be.
Knixkik wrote:martin wrote:Another part of the vision: Mid range space for others
This is good. Seems like bridges is strictly a corner 3pt shooter, so if he has the space to maneuver in the midrange, it opens plenty of opportunities for him to be an offensive weapon we need him to be.
Should Thibs tell him to completely remove above the break threes from his shot diet and just focus on the corners?
BigDaddyG wrote:Knixkik wrote:martin wrote:Another part of the vision: Mid range space for others
This is good. Seems like bridges is strictly a corner 3pt shooter, so if he has the space to maneuver in the midrange, it opens plenty of opportunities for him to be an offensive weapon we need him to be.
Should Thibs tell him to completely remove above the break threes from his shot diet and just focus on the corners?
He is coming up 2 feet short on any 3 pt shots not in the corner. I don't think he was this bad on the Nets - feel like it had to do with the form tinkering.
Not blurry.. we are #3 in the league offense. Best part is like the above I think we start seeing a scenario where KAT is a true #1 with Brunson being the closer. I think this offense only gets better and its currently NBA elite. We could easily be 10-4... no excuses, but for me all the pieces are there. Also it's not that Precious is so much the key, rather that he and Mitch are essentially the muscle and we could use some of that now. KAT/OG are great and tanks but after that it's super sketchy
VDesai wrote:BigDaddyG wrote:Knixkik wrote:martin wrote:Another part of the vision: Mid range space for others
This is good. Seems like bridges is strictly a corner 3pt shooter, so if he has the space to maneuver in the midrange, it opens plenty of opportunities for him to be an offensive weapon we need him to be.
Should Thibs tell him to completely remove above the break threes from his shot diet and just focus on the corners?
He is coming up 2 feet short on any 3 pt shots not in the corner. I don't think he was this bad on the Nets - feel like it had to do with the form tinkering.
Yeah, it's weird. But it's a shot he doesn't have to take. KAT can take enough above the break threes for the entire team. Wouldn't mind seeing more Bridges post ups tho.
Yes, tell him to only shoot inside the free throw rectangle, his efficiency would rise. With a few exceptions like a low shot clock and wide-open. But even wide open, those shots seem to fall 1 foot short and his jump/arc are flat during release.
BigDaddyG wrote:Knixkik wrote:martin wrote:Another part of the vision: Mid range space for others
This is good. Seems like bridges is strictly a corner 3pt shooter, so if he has the space to maneuver in the midrange, it opens plenty of opportunities for him to be an offensive weapon we need him to be.
Should Thibs tell him to completely remove above the break threes from his shot diet and just focus on the corners?
By December we should have Deuce and Precious back. Mitch will probably start practicing with the team by then. There’s a very strong chance that we go on our usual Dec-January 10+ games winning streak explosion.
I’m at peace with this being a 4 year experiment. I think the FO knew by making a last second trade before training camp, depleting our depth, that it might be a rocky start to a long play. We may need a full year of chemistry and bench development to hit our stride.
martin wrote:OG part of the O vision
OG has benefitted from this new look offense mmore than anyone. The spacing and attention Towns and Brunson are getting has allowed OG to slash to the basket for easy dunks. I love how how smart and unselfish this team is. All of the starters understand the art of cutting to the basket, especially when their teammate picks up his dribble....and all of them have really good vision and anticipation to hist cutters in stride....
