As far as our offense goes, I didn't notice much of a difference. We ran the same FLEX series we started the majority of games with last year, with a slight variation of having a double high post instead of one. It seems like a lot of teams run this initial flex screen because the defender of the screen must help off in the key and then when the initial screener gets the down pick from the opposite high post, they're not in a position to recover in time, and switching it wouldn't be an option because it would live a guard defending a post on the block. The set plays ran for Batum appears to be the same plays ran for Roy last year where he could either come off two picks and flair to the corner, catch and shoot from the wing, or curl back to the lane depending on how the defender attacks the screen.
I know it's preseason, but just like in most every regular season game he has played in, Batum plays the fewest minutes of any starter. Why does this continue to happen? Matthews, Cunningham and Fernandez should not play more than him in any game unless he is hurt or in foul trouble. Can someone explain why this cintinues to happen please?
Batum had a long summer and he's said during training camp that he's still alittle fatigued, I'd wager Nate will continue to keep his minutes down until the games start to count.
I'm expecting Bayless to reach about 35/36ish percent from beyond the arc this year, he puts in so much time and he's got to have more confidence now than ever before coming in to the season 2nd on the depth chart with a strong playoff performance under his belt. We'll see though.
Bullshit. Rudy had a long summer too. So did every player that put in extra work this offseason. I am tired of that excuse because it's the same one we hear every year. I would happily take that wager, by the way. Nate has proven that he does not play Nic the minutes he deserves.
I have a feeling that if we are healthy on the wings and keep Rudy, Batum will average less than 30 minutes.
If it was simply a matter of work almost every player in the NBA should be able to get their shooting percentages that high. Bayless' real trouble is that he was more of a set shot shooter at UofA from distance and his long range jumper has been pretty flat his first couple of years, maybe he'll get that sorted out, but players don't typically make huge strides with their shot unless they already possess good form and a nice stroke; adjusting to the NBA three becomes more about range finding and touch for those kind of players. I'm not saying Bayless can't do it, but the odds don't seem to be particularly favorable.
The weird thing for me is that Bayless gets the "Gym Rat" label. I can't recall of another player with that label that wasn't a good shooter. What does he work on alone in the gym if not shooting?
I am not really sure why you care so much about this in a pre season game. Pre season games are always used to look at the new talent/bubble guys to make decisions. The starting lineup is settled. Right now Nate is probably more concerned in getting them to the regular season in one piece than what he will do with them.
The reason I am concerned is because it's Nic's minutes every year that seem to get cut. Nic is probably our best all around player, so the fact that his minutes get cut now is a bad sign to me.
Never content around here. Had this been a tight regular season game, I'm sure Nic would have been out there more.
#1: It's one game. I don't think it's fair to say it "continues to happen." #2: It's preseason. #3: It's a blowout. #4: Getting Rudy involved is good for his emotional state and, potentially, for his trade value. I don't see it as an issue, and I actually think it's a GOOD thing to treat him like a starter rather than (as with, say, Dante) a guy who needs minutes to improve. Ed O.
I know what you are saying. It's because Nic is young and more playing time = development for his game, and he looks like one of those guys that you just need to throw into the fire, let him get burned a bit, and he will come back a better player. I understand that. But when you are up by 40 in a meaningless game against the Clippers, and he missed half of last season with an injury, it is fine with me if he sits down.
I am wearing my prison blues baggy jeans and white leather Nikes today... I'm fucking pimp right now... for a fat white 30-year old.
