I don’t believe AR can be your 3rd best player and win a championship unless that team is extremely deep off the bench.
I do. IF this team can turn itself into a very good defensive one. Scoring isn’t the problem with this group.
yeah, who's boston's third-best player? imo, it's holiday. but he's closely followed by white, horford, and then porzingis. those are three high-dollar guys--two of whom spent the first part of their careers being tried as #1 or #2 options. i actually think reaves is on the same tier as those four guys, which is why i really would prefer not to trade him unless i'm getting a no-doubt #1 type. if we could consolidate the rest of our roster to trade for three more guys on the reaves level, that would be awesome, but i don't think it's possible. i do think we could grab two more using our combination of players and picks, but things have to break your way. boston getting holiday was unforeseeable until a couple days before it happened, tbh. this is why i'm in favor of keeping the powder dry (don't trade reaves and picks for murray).
The difference is Holiday, White and even Hordord ancient as he is, are known for defense. Even Porzingis can make up for any speed issues somewhat by being crazy tall. Reaves tries his best, but he regularly gets cooked, he’s just not that quick and almost every night he’s at an athletic disadvantage at his position. I think we could win with him as our 4th best player, but not 3rd, we’d have to have one guy just a little better and be a 2-way player ideally. Or, I guess if he were evenly matched as like a 3.a or 3.b with another 2-way player like a KCP type we could. Just my opinion anyway.
AR is no longer a defensive liability: I'm actually shocked by this. Yeah he gets burnt if he's in the wrong spot or anticipates poorly because he doesn't have the athletic or size like Reddish to make up for it. However, teams do not target him when they go full head hunting switch mode. The problem for him is he isn't a defensive stopper like Holiday and is tied to trash defenders around him like Dlo/Rui/first 3 quarters Lebron. https://x.com/Tim_NBA/status/1853487326938255570https://x.com/Tim_NBA/status/1853487326938255570
Right, that’s pretty much exactly what I was trying to say. He isn’t a bad defender, he’s just not an especially good defender, DLo is an awful defender. That’s why I said put someone of a KCP type next to him who averages 15-18ppg, basically matching Reaves on offense but covering some on defense, and I do think we can win. But with DLo next to him, with Rui, with year 22 LeBron? No, I don’t see it, need more athletes and 2 way players than just AD in the lineup.
I know it's assumed DLO has the better handle. But AR hasn't stopped working on his and it IS getting better and better. Not to mention he seems in the half court against physical play to have more going on with his repertoire of dribbling, jukes and strength to get where he wants with the ball in his possession .... seems to me ..... than DLO can against physical defense. Including, and he had a couple again last night, where he gets the step on the defender from that repertoire and blows by him for those VERY DLO-esque all in one motion off the dribble scoop layups. Love those!
22 of his 27 came in the 2nd half. Bron set the table and Austin feasted. Yep. I don't think enough was considered or being discussed about that significance during the debate regarding whether they should split up AR and DLO in the starting group. But I guess no one expected November CaMVP to make a comeback. Oh look...actually coaching your guys and communicating with them. What a wild concept.
Austin Big Balls Reaves. Jesus is he good to finish games - the PnR playmaking plus the cajones on those 3's. Really hope he gets consideration for the All-star game this year. His stats are reduced by playing AD/Lebron but at the same time, he's got to be so good because the Lkaers roleplayers just aren't as good as other teams.
He's so good in the clutch I really hope the Buss family doesn't think this era is over. You have a quality 3rd star just fall into your lap with an incredible rookie NFL QB contract. There is no guarantee you're going to get three stars like this again I'm going to beat this dead horse but AD, Lebron, AR are a great big 3. Just add 1 to 2 more two way players (Cam Johnson and Bruce Brown please Rob) and this team can be as good as OKV and Boston
