iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
A lot of people are saying we need shot blocking but do we? The two teams destined to make the finals this year have zero above the rim protection, Bam/Jokic/Zeller/Love/Gordon/Jeff Green (AG and Green are the back up C's for Den) none of these "bigs" defend the rim. Bam imo is the best defender in the NBA by a wide margin but even he despite him insane athletic ability rarely goes above the rim and does all his work on the floor. GSW last season also had as their bigs Looney/Green/Bjell?/? (anyone I'm missing).
I notice a lot of these catch and dunk big's and "elite" rim protectors who don't have a two way game get smashed in the playoffs time after time. Claxton/Allen/Gobert/Jackson/Mitchell Robinson/Robert Williams are dead weight come playoffs but are impactful during the regular season.
I’d say the blueprint for winning a championship isn’t cut and dry. None of the analytic guys who think they have everything figured out had Denver and Miami (looking like) in the finals. We know it’s generally the best players and or someone on a crazy hot streak. Monte is taking notes im sure but he will carve his own path.