Jokic and Milsap think twice about attacking the hoop or shooting jumpers when Zach is guarding either of them. No Zach, and they're feeling at ease like it's a closed practice. It's the most obvious coaching move ever: play Zach as many minutes as he can handle, and preferably early, to keep them from getting into a rhythm!
Im more into the idea of starting Zach than I am Hood, they need Zach to help slow down Milsap, they need hood for instant offense and to get the bench going. Ive wanted to start Zach most of the year though.
Murray has been absolutely torching Harkless though. Maybe Mo is hurt. I don't know, but Hood has done a WAY better job defending him.
I just don't like the way Aminu and Harkless are defending in this series. It would be nice to lock Denver down right at the beginning.
And it's been the most obvious move by the officials to hold us down, get Zach in foul trouble. That's the risk you run by playing him earlier and often unfortunately.
People in this forum who are not getting paid knew this prior to the game, Stotts is paid milions and he still can't make the right moves.
I am completely incredulous about why the refs/NBA favor Denver. We have the vastly more marketable superstar player in Dame. We have the vastly more marketable second star in CJ. I just really don't get it. Jokic isn't exciting. He isn't likeable at all.
I don't agree about taking Aminu and Harkless out of the starting lineups...not both of them because then the bench will be Curry, Turner, Harkless, and Aminu....they couldn't do shit on offense
Start Zach and Rodney, then sub them out at the 6 minute mark then for Aminu and Curry. Then sub them back in at the 3 minute mark for Enes and CJ. Sub CJ in for Dame at the quarter break, then sub Dame back in at the quarter break. Sub Hood and Collins out at the 9 minute mark of the 2nd quarter for Enes and CJ, then sub Hood and Collins back in at the 6 minute mark for Aminu and Curry. That's a 7-minute rotation with a minute breakdown of: Lillard & McCollum - 42 minutes Kanter, Hood, & Collins - 36 minutes Aminu & Curry - 24 minutes. Hood and Collins would play three 6 minute stints a half, separated by 3 minutes of rest. Aminu and Curry would play 12 straight minutes but it'd be over the quarter break and it's likely that there's another timeout in there. Kanter would play the first 9 minutes then the last 9 minutes of each half. Lillard would play the entire 1st and 3rd quarters and the last 9 minutes of the 2nd and 4th. McCollum would play the first 9 minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters and the entire 2nd and 4th quarters.
Not neccesarily. See above. Two "bench lineups" without full starters (being Hood and Collins at the forward spots). Lineup 1: Lillard McCollum Curry Aminu Kanter Lineup 2: Lillard or McCollum Curry Hood Aminu Collins
When have we seen Zach be officiated as a starter? He had 5 blocks tonight without being in foul trouble. I'd say the refs allowed him to be aggressive.
Or just make sure Collins is in whenever Milsap is; and Hood in when Murray is. Hood's defense was just as critical as his offense last night.
Can't change the starting line all the time imho - players need some kind of structure too - but if we start slow - bring in Zach / Hood quick. I think Terry is right to not change things all the time - there needs to be a balance between stability and adjustments.