Game Thread | Game #15 | Hornets @ Cavs | Nov. 18, 2022

[Ohioplayer00]

The Bulls are crashing and burning.

I'd take Alex Caruso easily.

He's not having a good season, and he doesn't fill the SF hole, but he still would be an upgrade over Okoro and Osman.

No send Cedi, LaVert, Okoro, Windler and a couple of second rounders to them for DeRosen

 

[Alec]

Bulls are one of the worst pseudo contenders in recent memory. Hate the idea behind that team.

 

[LeQuit]

We have THIRD worst bench squad in the league(third,Karl) with over 60 million dollars in salary combined!Thats the worst bench in NBA in terms of price/productivity. For just barely over 20 pts/per game for the bench we could get players that will cost us at least half cheaper with no problem,but thats not Altman’s best side,assuming he was missing math classes in the school regularly.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Yeah, there was some clutch shooting by Garland and even LeVert and Stevens made a couple of huge plays in the clutch. The second overtime was impressive as the Cavs just broke their backs and beat them 12-2. I'm sure the Hornets were exhausted but holding any team to 2 points over 5 minutes is impressive.

The problem right now is four guys are providing 85% of the production. We're getting very little from Love, Cedi, Okoro, Lopez, Stevens, LeVert, and Neto. Wade is out with a knee infection. It was enough to squeak past a 4-12 team at home, but the Big Four are going to need a lot more help than they're getting.

I don’t know if we are getting “very little” from those guys! It’s just that except for LaVert the other guys are “situational” players who you can only play in certain game situations because of their limitations! But JBB’s lack of in game adjustments puts them in those type of situations!

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Well, we knew we were going to have a top scoring backcourt. The question was how their ball-dominance would impact the rest of the lineup, and how they'd work out defensively.

We don't yet have positive answers to either question.

 

[mds]

Well, we knew we were going to have a top scoring backcourt. The question was how their ball-dominance would impact the rest of the lineup, and how they'd work out defensively.

We don't yet have positive answers to either question.

True, though they both seem to have the ability to set up the bigs. We really need someone who can score off the bench.

 

[Peacedog]

I thought I heard a couple of days ago (maybe it was at the start of the Warriors game, so a week ago?) that our bench had the best cumulative net rating of any bench in the league. Gotta be careful not to draw any conclusions based on one bad game (ok, they also sucked against the Bucks, so two bad games), especially when two of our best bench players (Wade and Rubio) are out.

That said, LeVert and Okoro need to play better. Much better. And more consistency from Osman would be nice.

 

[Peacedog]

We have THIRD worst bench squad in the league(third,Karl) with over 60 million dollars in salary combined!Thats the worst bench in NBA in terms of price/productivity. For just barely over 20 pts/per game for the bench we could get players that will cost us at least half cheaper with no problem,but thats not Altman’s best side,assuming he was missing math classes in the school regularly.

Come on. 80% of that is two players, one who was signed 4 years ago and both of whom are free agents this summer.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

True, though they both seem to have the ability to set up the bigs. We really need someone who can score off the bench.

It all kind of mixes in. The fact that we're spending so much in terms of both cap space and other assets on having two offensive powerhouses in the backcourt necessarily means we're going to be making sacrifices elsewhere. So the ultimate question is whether investing that much into a backcourt like this can actually work.

We just don't know yet.

 

[Dr No]

It all kind of mixes in. The fact that we're spending so much in terms of both cap space and other assets on having two offensive powerhouses in the backcourt necessarily means we're going to be making sacrifices elsewhere. So the ultimate question is whether investing that much into a backcourt like this can actually work.

We just don't know yet.

It got Portland close. So we know it can be successful. Portland was never quite able to surround their 2 small guards with what we have in Allen and Mobley. In a couple of years, with the core guys getting into their prime and having had a few seasons to play together, and with Love's money freed up to hopefully fortify the role players/bench around the core, I think we have a good chance to surpass what Portland accomplished.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

It got Portland close. So we know it can be successful.

I would argue that Portland figured out they couldn't be successful, and that's why they let McCollum go.

We're still trying to do something that has never been done successfully before. And the problem goes beyond how well the two fit together. It includes 1) where else are you making the sacrifices necessary to filed that stud backcourt, 2) can you truly take good advantage of and/or develop offensive talent elsewhere when you have two such ball dominant guys in the backcourt. In other words, even if you have the talent that Portland did not have in the front court, can you still truly take full advantage of it?

I don't think we yet know the answer to those questions.

 

[Dr No]

I would argue that Portland figured out they couldn't be successful, and that's why they let McCollum go.

We're still trying to do something that has never been done successfully before. And the problem goes beyond how well the two fit together. It includes 1) where else are you making the sacrifices necessary to filed that stud backcourt, 2) can you truly take good advantage of and/or develop offensive talent elsewhere when you have two such ball dominant guys in the backcourt. In other words, even if you have the talent that Portland did not have in the front court, can you still truly take full advantage of it?

I don't think we yet know the answer to those questions.

I agree. By successful, I meant it got them all the way to western finals and kept them relevant for years. Obviously, it didn't get them to where we'd ultimately like to go. The other team that did it with 2 little guards was the Dumars/Isaiah Pistons. But those guys, and the whole team, were made different.

 

[Jscc]

I agree. By successful, I meant it got them all the way to western finals and kept them relevant for years. Obviously, it didn't get them to where we'd ultimately like to go. The other team that did it with 2 little guards was the Dumars/Isaiah Pistons. But those guys, and the whole team, were made different.

And we won't either unless Mobley becomes him. That will be the difference imo. I think the whole organization understands this and understood this when they made that trade for Mitchell.

 

[kookoo]

I think getting a 3 and D small forward who is 6'8 is literally our biggest need. And getting rid of Okoro so JBB has no option to play him. If we can do that and also maybe get a more mobile backup 5 like Noel (not ideal but better situationally than ROLO) so Mobley never has to play the 5 unless REALLLLLY necessary. Those two (and also dear god this team needs better coaching). I want to keep Wade. I think he's going to be a key bench piece going forward, especially if Love is going to struggle the way he has been. A big part of our early success and our current failures is our bench guys performances. I told everyone to temper their expectations with Cedi, that he generally drops off in December after a hot start. He decided to do that in sync with Kevin instead. This squad has a top 5 starting lineup with Wade IMO. But a bottom 5 bench.

 

[Jscc]

I think getting a 3 and D small forward who is 6'8 is literally our biggest need. And getting rid of Okoro so JBB has no option to play him. If we can do that and also maybe get a more mobile backup 5 like Noel (not ideal but better situationally than ROLO) so Mobley never has to play the 5 unless REALLLLLY necessary. Those two (and also dear god this team needs better coaching). I want to keep Wade. I think he's going to be a key bench piece going forward, especially if Love is going to struggle the way he has been. A big part of our early success and our current failures is our bench guys performances. I told everyone to temper their expectations with Cedi, that he generally drops off in December after a hot start. He decided to do that in sync with Kevin instead. This squad has a top 5 starting lineup with Wade IMO. But a bottom 5 bench.

If the bench can stay healthy, I think Rubio will turn that around. Even if Rubio is only 70% of his former self.