Batum wasn’t getting starting five numbers, but his play has improved in the past two games with play calls that would have gone to Aldridge. What about making Batum the sixth man? We don't have another sub for a power forward who does nothing but nail a seventeen footer. Batum went for 23 against the Warriors and 21 against the Bucks, both games without Aldridge. If Batum will perform off the bench, then we'll start winning again. Stotts hasn't found a way to work Batum into the offense when the play calls are going to Aldridge for jumpshots. Wright can certainly get Batum's usual numbers as a starter, but Wright was 0 for 8 last night, and Throb makes a better small forward as soon as everyone recognizes that he's not as big as he was in college. Batum is being wasted for a few threes, and we don't want him to be the next Rudy Fernandez. Please stop talking trade and root for the next sixth man of the year. Two changes were supposed to make this a better year: having a true center and having a deeper bench. We have our true center, and he's playing as well as expected. With the exception of Mo Williams, production from the bench has been poor. Stotts hasn't put enough confidence in Leonard or McCollum, and there should be no question of who backs up Lopez and Matthews. Stotts treats his subs like his practice unit when he should use them piecemeal and more often. As long as the reserves are matched appropriately to the starter's roles, there isn't a 'second unit', but enough individual role players to make a real bench. Mo Williams is the only player being used consistently and effectively as a backup because the expectations for a scoring point guard are consistent regardless of the lineup or the nature of the game. A player like Leonard might seem lost on the court because it's not clear what he's supposed to do. Stotts seems to treat his second unit like another team, with different expectations, different calls, and no consistency to the lineup, despite that there has been absolutely no question about the starters. Stotts has too much confidence in his first five—not to say something like "Lamarcus Aldridge isn't a superstar" but the opposite: there are supporting roleplayers on the starting five when compared with two players, Aldridge and Lillard, who are consistently good for twenty or thirty a night. Matthews is streaky, and Batum has been dormant. Lopez is consistent, but still not primarily a scoring threat. Putting Batum in the sixth man spot will increase his scoring and give Aldridge the rest he needs. The rest of the bench needs consistent minutes and enough early minutes to warm them up and make them a part of the game. If players feel like they're being watched and judged, then they lose confidence and they perform poorly. So let's not point our fingers at another player, but at Terry Stotts. He doesn't have to play.
It could hurt the team on the defensive end, but Robinson is an aggressive defender and a good rebounder if you judge from his recent highlights. Batum gets a lot of assists, and of course he's more of an overall asset now than anyone we have to replace him in the starting five. He's just not scoring enough, and another eight or ten points from him would have made the difference in so many close games. Putting Batum on the bench would be stupid for its own sake, but not if it would actually increase his production. I was judging from the last two games, opposed to all of the games in which Batum wasn't a scoring factor.
I have complete trust in Stotts direction for the team. He's far exceeded anyone's predictions this season, is working with new vets who have yet to get a full season under their belt and last years rookies have all improved. Yeah, we could be better but my biggest criticism this season would have to be a lack of patience from the fan base in general. Stotts knows what he's got more this season than last and he's having success.
The thing is he has tried Batum with the back ups and it has not gone well. Maybe with more time it would as they became more familiar with each other, but Nic has a tendency to pass to open players who are cold off the bench. It seems like a good idea, (since they are open) but it tends to result in a turn over or missed shot. I would prefer he be a little more selfish. I think what you are saying has merit, but I would rather he start and simply be more aggressive like he is when LMA is hurt. Plus who knows how he would shoot coming into the game ice cold. It's not easy for these guys who have started their whole life. Not many can do it consistently. The problem with playing TRob with the starters is similar to what happened last night....he went unguarded outside. They dared him to shoot...and he did. If they bring Nic off the bench, I would go with Claver. He can't shoot either but he tends to pass it in those situations. And you still get good D. I prefer TRob off the bench, as our center.
Yeah, Robinson has played better down low then Leonard or Freeland. Last night he was 4-8 and hit a tough turnaround jumper under pressure on the baseline. He's a real athlete, so I think he can learn to shoot.
Though I much prefer pretending to be a GM then I do Coach, I don't like that the starters are relied upon for everything and I wish there was more consistent minutes for the reserves. IMHO, Trob is definitely a PF and not a SF. Lastly, why did I not get a welcome Sly?
I missed your first couple of posts so I sent you one last night in a private message, check your inbox.
