Suns @ Kings 10/10, 7pm

#92
Normally that's the case, resting starters, but then Cuz wouldn't be getting extended mins. This is just lack his sub patterns last year.
I REALLY hope the sub rotations are better this year. The end of the second, start of the third absolutely destroyed us for many games. Along with the start of the fourth and leaving starters out wayyyyy to long.
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
#94
what kind of offense is this where Cousins is hanging out 4 feet behind the 3pt line
Triangle, lol.

Aside from that though, if you're comfortable enough with what MT and Reke can do, then why hasn't the decision of who starts been made? If you're not comfortable yet with who starts at the 2, then why aren't one then the other getting mins there instead of both warming the bench the whole 2nd at the same time?
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#95
Bench is going to get after it this season. JJ, Trob, Hayes, Brooks, Jimmer all with good looking stints, especially on the defensive end
If JJ is coming off the bench when the season starts Smart should be flipping burgers in the concourse by Game 2. He's clearly the starting SF.
 
#96
I like a lot more things then I didn't like.

The new guys looked really good. Robinson was doing a little bit of everything, Johnson was playing very good D, and Brooks was Brooks. The defense as a whole really settled in in the second quarter. Cousins 3's are obviously a cause for concern.

Overall - I'm happy with the first first half of the first preseason game. No one looked terrible and a lot of players looked good. We clearly have more talent across the board this season.
 
#97
Normally that's the case, resting starters, but then Cuz wouldn't be getting extended mins. This is just lack his sub patterns last year.
14 mins is extended minutes for Cuz?

Smart has a lot of perimeter players to use and needs to get a look at all of them. The bigs minute distribution was excellent in my book:

Cousins: 14 minutes
JT: 13 minutes
Trob: 10 minutes
Chuck: 9 minutes

For the 1st half, those are excellent
 
#98
If JJ is coming off the bench when the season starts Smart should be flipping burgers in the concourse by Game 2. He's clearly the starting SF.
Agreed. Where does Reke fit though? Starting at 2? We haven't seen much so far, but Tyreke looks exactly the same as last year so far.
 
#99
I just don't like Thornton, IT, Reke and Cousins out there together on offense. It sounds talented, but it doesn't function all that well. Would really like to see Reke and Brooks paired together at some point in the backcourt.
 
If JJ is coming off the bench when the season starts Smart should be flipping burgers in the concourse by Game 2. He's clearly the starting SF.


Agreed, assuming he keeps this up. He actually looked exactly like the piece we need at SF. And on the other end, the bench needed a scoring punch when they slowed down - enter Thornton. That switch makes too much sense not to make.
 
14 mins is extended minutes for Cuz?

Smart has a lot of perimeter players to use and needs to get a look at all of them. The bigs minute distribution was excellent in my book:

Cousins: 14 minutes
JT: 13 minutes
Trob: 10 minutes
Chuck: 9 minutes

For the 1st half, those are excellent
Sort of. Its fine for preseason, but Cousins needs 32+ minutes in the regular season. I'd like to see him at 35. He's on pace for 28.
 
I think it's important to note how much we improved defensively in the 2nd quarter. It's nice to know we at least have the personal to play good defense consistently this season
 
I just don't like Thornton, IT, Reke and Cousins out there together on offense. It sounds talented, but it doesn't function all that well. Would really like to see Reke and Brooks paired together at some point in the backcourt.
I think I have only seen one or two people here that likes to seeing those three on the court at the same time. It makes Reke go to SF and spreads the shots way too thing. In my mind Reke and Thornton should rarely be with each other at the same consdering the way we use them.
 
14 mins is extended minutes for Cuz?

Smart has a lot of perimeter players to use and needs to get a look at all of them. The bigs minute distribution was excellent in my book:

Cousins: 14 minutes
JT: 13 minutes
Trob: 10 minutes
Chuck: 9 minutes

For the 1st half, those are excellent
It's extended mins compared to the time MT or Reke got at the 2 next to an actual SF.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Agreed. Where does Reke fit though? Starting at 2? We haven't seen much so far, but Tyreke looks exactly the same as last year so far.
Putting him at SF next to Thornton and IT simply does NOT work. But we already knew that. He gets frozen out on offense, forces the few times he touches as a result. The big physicalness advantage he gives you at the guard spots is erased, and he's too small on defense etc. Its just the absolute worst thing you could do wiht him. And there it was. Again. Petrie may be forced into a Thronton or Reke trade because of Smart as much as anything. Its no big mystery or secret.
 
It's extended mins compared to the time MT or Reke got at the 2 next to an actual SF.
We have a million perimeter players who we need to get a look at. Notice every perimeter player got an extended look when they got into the game.

I imagine we'll start seeing a more defined perimeter rotation as we go through the preseason
 
For what its worth, Johnson led the team in minutes. I suppose, or hope, Smart is noticing.
And so far he put Reke in the corner, pulled him after 9 mins, played JJ at SF through the half, and didn't give Reke any time at SG. Isn't seeing if Reke can succeed at the 2 one of, if not the most important thing to start working out, and how the Reke/MT dynamic effects others?

Only one half, but so far 6 months later nothing has changed there.
 
And so far he put Reke in the corner, pulled him after 9 mins, played JJ at SF through the half, and didn't give Reke any time at SG. Isn't seeing if Reke can succeed at the 2 one of, if not the most important thing to start working out, and how the Reke/MT dynamic effects others?

Only one half, but so far 6 months later nothing has changed there.
What is worrisome to me is the emphasis we hear about "Seeing how different players play together." In my eyes I would be more concerned with how our most important lineup, the starting lineup, plays together.

edit: pretty much just agreeing with you.
 
And so far he put Reke in the corner, pulled him after 9 mins, played JJ at SF through the half, and didn't give Reke any time at SG. Isn't seeing if Reke can succeed at the 2 one of, if not the most important thing to start working out, and how the Reke/MT dynamic effects others?

Only one half, but so far 6 months later nothing has changed there.
so cuz is allowed to take 3s this season but Evans can't even get a sniff of having the ball in his hands. Championship here we come!