[video=youtube;9efsJwJxYEk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9efsJwJxYEk[/video] what the fuck happened Phil better play him more in the second round. We will definitely need him if we get matched up with the Rockets, and Yao Ming. We'll need him against the Blazers as well, if they advance. I am not a fan of benching Drew at all. First of all, he was coming off of an injury, and had to immediately adjust to playoff basketball. If he started the entire series, I'm sure he'd get more experience and start playing better. I absolutely love Lamar's play against the Jazz, but taking him from the bench just makes our second unit weaker. I don't know what's going to happen in round 2. I just know that Drew is our "secret weapon." We'll need him in the later rounds, and hopefully more practice, and more playing time on the court (hopefully) will allow him to gain more confidence and play better. We'll need his presence later on, definitely. I'm not sold with Gasol at center at all.
I just want him to see time with the starters, that way we can handle if he's still in a slump and not give up huge runs. We need him to cut down on the minutes of our other guys at the very least. I think he'll get around to it.
I was watching FSN's post game and Rick Fox brought up a very good point that I didn't think of. When Utah brought Memo back, that is when Drew's minutes really disappeared. He was a bad matchup for a perimeter shooting big man. Utah also used a small, speed lineup that was a bad matchup for Drew. I think we'll see more Drew next round.
Drew should look better in the next round. He's going to be going against a more traditional frontcourt of Scola and Yao (or LMA and Oden/Pryz) and won't have to worry about either of them stepping back from 3 point range. I also think this rest will help him out. The Rox/Blazers series extending to 7 games might actually be helpful to him so that way he can get an ample opportunity to rest that knee.
Millsap was too quick for Drew at the end of game five on defense. I think a more traditional five, or more offensively challenged front court will work out well. Scola and Landry could still give him some fits but he should play a bit better I think, he understands the flow of the playoffs a little more.
I think Landry could give him fits with his athleticism, but I don't think Scola will. Scola isn't exactly quick, though he can step out and knock down the 17 footer, which is the only thing I think could give Drew problems. Otherwise, Drew is stronger than Scola in the post, so I don't think that would provide a problem for Drew.
Phil said that Drew would probably be back in the starting lineup for Houston because they have more traditional bigs.
