Pleased enough to get time even if all but one PG on the roster is not injured?
On a serious note, Use these last few games to get his mistakes out of the way now. We will need him for the playoffs. Don't keep him on the bench then throw him into the playoffs if we get injured then have him fail because he does not have the experience.
While we are forcing Thibs to make obvious decisions we need to force the FO to also make one. Time to sign TJ and stop playing with bench Cheerleader PJ. We don't have the roster to waste a spot on him.
Marcus Smart on the bench with Deuce could be a pairing.
For a team that lacks creaters you can't keep your only other one after Brunson on the Bench. You live with whatever mistakes he has because he will improve and he will make others on the team better because they are put where they feel comfortable as finishers rather than creaters.
When everyone but the coach sees an elite passer on the bench who can create easy opportunities and lighten the load, it’s an obvious indictment. Just like when Burks should’ve played in the playoffs or McBride during the season. Stupidity isn’t an excuse—he’s running players into the ground year after year without making simple adjustments. Last year, the front office gave him two starting-level teams; this year, we have no depth. So not being creative, hurts the starters in a myriad of ways. It’s the regular season, you can get away with trying different looks.
The worst defender in the NBA was able to do this?
Kolek was definitely hunting open shots for Mikal. Mikal must have been able to get 14-16 pts in the 2nd quarter without taking a dribble bc of simple set ups by Kolek when he was in a spot where he could shoot in rhythm
He really needs to come out of his shell.
Should also give some credit to Cam. 7 assists vs only 1 turnover and a huge 3 pt shot to stop the run and several big 3s in the first quarter to open up the lead.
To me the obvious difference here is we played 2 pt guards who gave us 48 mins with 15 assists vs 1 turnover. Deuce is a really good player, but he isnt a PG. Even if Jalen is out I'd start Cam and play Kolek behind him. Play Deuce at the 2 and take mins off Josh, Mikal and OG please. Deuce can play 28-30 mins even without starting at PG while each wing gets 32-35 mins.
I think "the oh my god Thibs is a unflexible moron for not playing Kolek till he absolutely had to" reaction is overblown. Kolek is only a PG and is the third PG behind Jalen (your best player who you need out there for 36) and Cam (like it our not, our 2nd best bench player and a potential momentum shifter). Kolek has benefited from running the offense in the Gleague. Was probably the best way for him to get the right reps to play the type of game he needs to play at this level. This is a great chance for him to prove his readiness. Chances are he is the primary backup PG next year as we can only fill the bench with veteran min type deals.
Kolek clealy has chops and potential for elite passing. He has the craftiness to score and a decent 3 pt shot, but he needs the confidence at the NBA level. Teams will need to respect his ability to put pressure on the D.
VDesai wrote:33 pt lead has been cut to 9 because we are playing like losers
The wizards came back with their second unit it was 4 point game with 9 minutes left. What does their coach do? Put in their all their starters who couldn’t guard a fire hydrant
VDesai wrote:Should also give some credit to Cam. 7 assists vs only 1 turnover and a huge 3 pt shot to stop the run and several big 3s in the first quarter to open up the lead. To me the obvious difference here is we played 2 pt guards who gave us 48 mins with 15 assists vs 1 turnover. Deuce is a really good player, but he isnt a PG. Even if Jalen is out I'd start Cam and play Kolek behind him. Play Deuce at the 2 and take mins off Josh, Mikal and OG please. Deuce can play 28-30 mins even without starting at PG while each wing gets 32-35 mins.
I think "the oh my god Thibs is a unflexible moron for not playing Kolek till he absolutely had to" reaction is overblown. Kolek is only a PG and is the third PG behind Jalen (your best player who you need out there for 36) and Cam (like it our not, our 2nd best bench player and a potential momentum shifter). Kolek has benefited from running the offense in the Gleague. Was probably the best way for him to get the right reps to play the type of game he needs to play at this level. This is a great chance for him to prove his readiness. Chances are he is the primary backup PG next year as we can only fill the bench with veteran min type deals.
Kolek clealy has chops and potential for elite passing. He has the craftiness to score and a decent 3 pt shot, but he needs the confidence at the NBA level. Teams will need to respect his ability to put pressure on the D.
Can played very well and Kolek has very intriguing potential. He looked like Mark Price out there and if he ends up being half as good as Price that’s a steal for us
Philc1 wrote:VDesai wrote:33 pt lead has been cut to 9 because we are playing like losers
The wizards came back with their second unit it was 4 point game with 9 minutes left. What does their coach do? Put in their all their starters who couldn’t guard a fire hydrant
I couldn’t believe it when he pulled Smarts and Holmes out. The Wizards coach definitely did the Knicks a favor
Swishfm3 wrote:Philc1 wrote:VDesai wrote:33 pt lead has been cut to 9 because we are playing like losers
The wizards came back with their second unit it was 4 point game with 9 minutes left. What does their coach do? Put in their all their starters who couldn’t guard a fire hydrant
I couldn’t believe it when he pulled Smarts and Holmes out. The Wizards coach definitely did the Knicks a favor
Kudos to both PG's! I thought both played a great game. Loved how Payne started the game and he hit that huge 3 to kill the Wizard's momentum when they went on that crazy run to cut the lead down to 4. And Kolek did an exceptional job as a floor general in the second quarter. He plays like an old school true PG. And that And1 layup was really nice! I think he has a chance to be a really good player for us but does need to get stronger and better on defense.
Looks like Deuce is gonna be out for a few games so we're going to get a chance to see how both Payne and Kolek a lot more.
Maybe I'm an old fart but I really hated Beauchamp throwing it off the backboard to himself for a dunk under a minute left when the game was legit over. That's not how you earn minutes! Respect the opponent kid! Maybe I'm drastic but I'd cut him today after that.
NBA really needs to tinker with their CBA cause a vets like Smart and Middleton should not be rotting on a bench for a team like the Wizard's. We could use both of them here right now!
Im sure Thibs not gonna be happy with Beauchamp for that. To bad he is a decent size wing, young and good athleticism. Would be great if he could be some bench depth for us next year.
VDesai wrote:Whats it gonna take for them to give 48 mins of consistent effort? The 3rd quarter into the early 4th was a disaster.Bridges getting 24 in the 1st half and no FGs and 3 pts in the 2nd. Where did he go? Turnover machine in the 2nd half too.
KAT also not asserting himself. Was taken out of the game by Richaun Holmes. Didnt box out. Dominated Sarr after we got back up double digits.
Hart missing layups. Seems physically off still.
OG the only starter I wont criticize, but he got into foul trouble early or would have had a bigger game. Unreal 4th quarter defensive sequence.
One of the elements that the team is missing is an Alpha personality who is also a top dog performer. Jalen, KAT are not soft but they are also not alpha on court personalities. Neither are OG and Mikal. Hart is near there but not quite psycho enough or just the right type of leader, he fades in and out himself and his goofy side comes out too much.
iHart would have been close enough. Randle had the psycho part down but not the leadership part and he fell apart himself way too often, and parts of his personality were negative pulls on leadership.
I’d guess that’s the role of Cam from an energy standpoint and PJ from a personality standpoint.
Jalen has the ability to grow into it and this is his first year after sharing that responsibility with Randle and being in the shadow of Doncic before that. It’ll take him at least 1-3 years to get there, just as it did with Dirk.
I’d guess KAT will never get there, he is a Robin personality and that’s where he is most comfortable.
You need a bit of psycho in one of your leaders. Jalen learned to be a closer this year, psycho is his next step from a leadership standpoint.
Team is a little too nice to each other. Jalen is a great leader, but the one thing no one does is get in a teammates face if they miss an assignment or are dogging it. I think the chemistry is good but lacking an accountability element and thats why they don't hold up against the great teams. I just dont understand how Mikal could have a 2nd quarter like that and not make one more shot in the game and only take like 4 more. Insane. Who is that on? Ive rarely seen a player who was hot like that not get the ball again - because they tend to demand the ball in those scenarios.
Martin btw I think DiVo is the type of player your talking about. He could go cold, but he was never gonna stop coming at you and I think his swagger rubbed off on others.
VDesai wrote:Martin btw I think DiVo is the type of player your talking about. He could go cold, but he was never gonna stop coming at you and I think his swagger rubbed off on others.
Agreed. He and iHart had it in them insofar as we fans can tell.
Important elements for a team.
martin wrote:VDesai wrote:Martin btw I think DiVo is the type of player your talking about. He could go cold, but he was never gonna stop coming at you and I think his swagger rubbed off on others.
Agreed. He and iHart had it in them insofar as we fans can tell.
Important elements for a team.
But also perhaps not good enough to get to the championship level if it only comes from your secondary performer guys.
It needs to also come from one of your top performers. Because there will be lots and lots of games Divo and iHart types don’t have it from a performance standpoint and you need someone with cachet, cachet with the refs or media or in locker room at key moments.
