This kid is really everything you want a backup center. Relentless moter, not the most skilled big but you aren't gonna outwork him. Athletic. Rebounder. Not Roy in terms of blocking shots and defending the paint at that level, but he's a solid team defender, more mobile, and as we saw Friday can run pick and roll with.
Yeah I don't get it. One of the complaints was he was undersized... So what's that mean for Bass playing Center??? It makes no sense! The most dynamic lineup yesterday had Randle/Bass in there. The least dynamic had Kelly/Bass. What side of the spectrum does Black/Bass lean closest too??? Infuriating.
Third coach in a row who has mad maddening lineup decisions and which make it seem that they just don't understand their personnel. It doesn't seem that difficult to me. Why try to fit the square peg in the round hole? Just do the commonsensical thing and play the guys at their appropriate positions. The FO did a pretty good job of filling the roster with guys at each spot. Now utilize them that way.
Hmmm, let's see. Team is struggling with "manning up" and Metta and Tarik are both chained to the bench.
Finally got some playing time but looked rusty as hell. Hopefully he earned more playing time, he'll look better.
Well he got playing time, but for him to be more than Hibbert is ridiculous. Black is a solid backup center, but he should NEVER play more than the starting center. He'll get exposed.
He showed improvement as the game went along. He was grabbing all the Laker boards for a little stretch there. He's better than Kelly, I'll say that for sure.
Great to finally see him out there, but there's no balance with Byron. Now he played him too much instead of going back to Hibbert which we needed down the stretch. I thought he played well though.
He finally saw the court and produced...who would've thunk? Maybe Byron over played him to compensate for forgetting he was on the roster the previous 3 games.
He looked terribly lost defensively. Really, really badly lost inside. Still I loved his activity level out there and I'd much prefer his competency over Bass or Kelly at this point. Either one. I'd prefer Kelly, but Bass has been rough too.
Agreed completely. I wasn't saying that as a critique of Tarik, but more as further damnation of Byron. It's on him to make sure guys are prepared. Hard to be prepared when you're sitting on your butt with no known role.
I would prefer the strength of Bass and Black inside than anything Kelly has lacked to offer. Remember Tarik didn't get much time in preseason either. He needs more run with the bench to get any sense of chemistry out there.
I'm not disagreeing at all. Just saying he didn't look good defensively last night. That's all I said.
