Barrett-Knox-Ntilikina combined for just 12 pts on 4 for 18 shot-making.
That WOULD be a dark cloud.
If...
We lost.
But we didn't.
Let's see how the team responds to the Wizards on Saturday. If they have a similar focus.
It's STILL a fucking cloud. Three fourths of our youth movement cant get consistent traction.
Only the rookie gets a pass here.
Let's stop taliking about this "base" until the consistency arrives.
(and I know, Chip - you favor the vets, so dont take this personally)
I favor the vets?
News to me.
Was flabbergasted at all the minutes Fiz lavished on Ellington when Dotson was ready willing and able.
And you are regularly amused by the traction I would proffer to Trier.
I like our puppies, and am taken aback by how quickly many of the Trader Vics on this forum would ship them out of town for a bag of magic beans.
It is often easy to forget how YOUNG our SEVEN puppies are.
And GREEN.
RJ [19]
Ziggy [20]
Knox [20]
Robinson [21]
Ntilikina [21]
DJ [22]
Trier [23]
And how young many of our vets are
Portis [24]
Randle [25]
Payton [25]
Dotson [25]
Allen [26]
That's TWELVE players under 26.
As for our vets
Bullock [28]
Morris [30]
Ellington [32]
Gibson [34]
Of the "vets" I'm pulling for, mainly Morris.
Inclined to pull for Bullock, because we need someone coming off the pine, besides Dotson, who can stroke AND defend.
Baby Steps
RJ last night?
2-10. Troubling.
4 defensive rebounds, 3 offensive rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and a very adult give up the body offensive foul he drew, for a +20. He PLAYED DEFENSE. Knox and Frank have been too. In lieu of hitting shots, DEFENSE WINS GAMES IN THIS MAN'S LEAGUE.
Payton, 13-7-4-1 and only 1 turnover in 32 minutes for a +25. And didn't allow Dinwiddie to run wild. DEFENSE.
You may be right about Randle finding his comfort level under Coach Miller. Fizz presumed him to be a point forward, and while a willing and able passer, was a turnover festival trying to shoehorn his game into being a facilitator. Was gratifying to see him working and dominating in the midrange, and while it troubles me to see him hoisting so many threes, he was 5-9 last night, so, I mean, yeah sure.
Is it worth mentioning to the assembled Trader Vics, that Julius just turned 25 at the end of November. He is also a puppy, and just finding his rhythm as the #1/#2 option along with Morris.
Who will emerge as the #3 option. God knows, we could use some consistent shooting.
But for one night, it was fun to see our Knucks grinding on defense, and holding the playoff bound 16-13 (now 16-14) Nyets to a collective 21-78.
Let's see if Coach Miller, Julius, Marcus and Elfrid can do it two games in a row.
PS: Agree with the idea of letting Dennis tune up in Westchester. Not sure how he would view that. Not a demotion, but a search for RHYTHM.