I'm getting the impression Chip thinks I'm mean.
I don't think so. I just prefer some players over another player.*
Why can't I think that?
Yes, tonight was a DELIGHT.
* A player who fits in incredibly poorly with rest of our starting lineup
** Welcome back, Frank!!! (Guess my new fave backcourt combo)
** Stick to shooting those in-rhythm 3's, Alec, and we're good
Happy for you Dawg.
Not EXACTLY what you wished for, but an interesting change of pace and reshuffling of the deck.
How'd the Stones put it, something about not getting what you want but getting what you need.
Thibs broke up the Rose/Quickley tandem. Instead of getting Quickley to start we got Rose.
We got Rose-Barrett-Bullock-Randle-Noel
We got Quickley-Ntilikina-Burks-Obi-Taj
Oh, and obviously we got Julius with both units.
Still. Rose & Quickley, two ball dominant facilitators, who can create their own offense, and DEMAND COVERAGE.
Not sharing the ball with each other, seemed to LIBERATE BOTH.
And seemed to, in turn, liberate both Barrett and Ntilikina. Dig that.
GOD BLESS THIBS. We put up 140 and he's focused on how we gave up 121.
Thibs WAS almost smiling.
I WAS FUCKING SMILINGFizdale was a great talker.
BUT THIBS BACKS HIS SHIT The Fuck UP.
To wit.
All of that talk about whether or not you are part of
the ten man rotation, practicing hard and purposefully, still putting in the work, let alone the extra work, hunkering down with coaches on the floor after practice, and in the film room...REMAINING READY.
TO WIT.
Frank hadn't played since what, sometime in December?
The pairing with Quickley as the off guard was inspired.
Frank was 3-6, with 3 steals and 2 assists in 23 minutes, but what was really impressive to me was his level of intensity. Frank's motor was grinding much faster than I recall, more aggressive, but more focused and under control. Thibs said STAY READY, BE PREPARED, and by God, FRANK WAS READY AND PREPARED.
SIDE NOTE: Kevin got a glimmer of light in garbage time, and BANG, hit his only shot, a corner three. SWEET.
But after three or four desultory games, Derrick and Immanuel were DOPE. Rose set a brisk pace to start, and really brought the fire to Fucks and Hell with 18-3-6.
And while Haliburton was VERY imoressive, Quickley was MORE IMPRESSIVE. Yes, yes, I know, the threes, but what got me was his pace and aggression. He had his flloater recalibrated again, and, AND, he hit a short midrage jumper, a trad pull up and pop. Cool. COOLER? He was
12-for Fucking-12 from the FT line with 3 assists and 2 steals, and 25 points in 20 minutes.
FUCK ME.
And boy did Stella Burks ever pick the right night to get her groove back; 24-4-2, 5-8 from trey in 25 minutes.
Finally, another double-double for Julius, 21-14-4 in 31 minutes, with Obi logging 17 for a +10 and doing things other than pad the box score. Good to see Thibs scaling back ever so slightly on Randle's minutes.
And overall Thibs was very very calculating in divving up minutes and keeping everyone fresh in his 10 Man Rotation.
Randle, 31
Bullock, 20
Noel, 23
Rose, 28 [7-11, 2-2 from trey, 6 assists]
Barrett, 25
Toppin, 17
Gibson, 24
Ntilikina, 23
Burks, 25
Quickley, 20 Finally, well, more finally, as up and down as we have been, THIBS keeps us on a path towards winning.
The Lottery?
Fuck the Lottery, that's for Dallas [15-16]
God forbid we beat the Pacers, a tough match up for us, on Saturday night.
We would be 17-17, in sole possession of the 4th seed in the East.
In THIBS We TRUST 
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