2023-24 Season | Game #44 | Clippers @ Cavs | Jan. 29, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.

[BimboColesHair]

"JBB needs to get better at matching his personnel to the opponents and sticking with what works against them instead of shoehorning his rotation into what he wants without taking the opponent into consideration!!! He has a horrible feel for his rotation!!!” - JBB haters

Does exactly that and beats one of the best teams and coaches in basketball.

"No, not like that!" - JBB haters

Guy just will never win with a certain crowd and that is okay. We saw that with Lue when he was here too and had to hear about how he was one of the worst coaches in basketball too.

I don't think RCF is the end all be all of judgement of good/bad coaches, based on past forum experiences.

 

[MirORich]

Last time the site was this mad about a duo not playing was Cedi Osman and Ante Zizic.

I like Sam & Craig but the hype is way overdone. If this was 2018-19 they’d be getting a ton of playing time but we’ve got a bunch of vets ahead of them and we’re contending. I doubt either of them will be significant playoff participants although each might get a chance in a game or two (esp Sam).

Thankfully, I truly believe Merrill and CPJ can both be better all around players than Cedi and Zizic.

And even when DG is back, I hope Merrill is still in the rotation, even if it peels back to 10-12 mpg

Love the depth it gives us for rest/injury games

Love the matchup flexibility it gives us

Loves the originality it gives us in the offseason and the long term.

It’s a good position to be in to have more than 9 guys that you’re confident could be positive contributors in your rotation. Reality is though that most NBA coaches do 9 man or shorter rotations, especially in the playoffs

 

[Dr. Claw]

Thankfully, I truly believe Merrill and CPJ can both be better all around players than Cedi and Zizic.

Oh God, yes. This is what I point to when I hear complaints about JA and Max Strus.

Those are two players that once the Cavs acquired them, the floor was raised. and I believe the same about Merrill and CPJ.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Thankfully, I truly believe Merrill and CPJ can both be better all around players than Cedi and Zizic.

And even when DG is back, I hope Merrill is still in the rotation, even if it peels back to 10-12 mpg

Love the depth it gives us for rest/injury games

Love the matchup flexibility it gives us

Loves the originality it gives us in the offseason and the long term.

It’s a good position to be in to have more than 9 guys that you’re confident could be positive contributors in your rotation. Reality is though that most NBA coaches do 9 man or shorter rotations, especially in the playoffs

He used a 9 man rotation in the first half last night and eight in the second (no Sam). When Garland comes back we’ll have nine ahead of CPJ and Sam.

I can already hear the screaming.

 

[CleveRocks]

Sam Merrill is nowhere near Steph as a shooter.

Or ball handler or facilitator.. Curry has an arsenal of ways to beat you.. Sam is a specialist..

 

[MirORich]

He used a 9 man rotation in the first half last night and eight in the second (no Sam). When Garland comes back we’ll have nine ahead of CPJ and Sam.

I can already hear the screaming.

Which is weird because 9 is the norm

A lesser amount use a regular every game 10 man rotation.

So this idea that all the potential “rather have one of these 500 guys than JBB” replacements would be sure to run 10 or 12 man rotations just isn’t supported much by league wide analysis of the rotations used by all 30 teams

OKC does an 11 man but only because Presti is TEFLON there with ownership and gave Daignaukg a specific directive order that no matter how much the win or lose, this is still a “sort through a lot of young players” developmental year and that he has full support and instruction to go 11 deep unless injury dictates otherwise

 

[wuck]

Those of you who are perfectly comfortable about not giving the 9th-11th players on the bench much playing time have not been paying attention to what some other teams are doing: winning and playing 10-13. We have argued about this before, so not really interested in that.

But acting like the Cavs approach to player development is the only way to do things or the best way because it often has happened before is absolutely not the case. Look at Philly and OKC. Think about if Garland is hurt and Mitchell gets in foul trouble in a playoff game.

The level of I-told-you-ness in this thread suggests that you are the ones who are being closed minded about an NBA season where injuries are real, especially when you have a guy named Garland on your team.

I am not going to post in playoff threads about "I told you that Garland would get hurt" and be happy about it. Because I will be really upset. But you all absolutely have no idea what we will need this postseason at a particular moment, and your mid-season victory lap is unwise.

 

[foucault87]

Going 9 deep into the Clippers is fine. They are a strong team and it's okay ti play for yhe game win. The problem is if this rotation persists to be so short going into det etc. We don't need a thin rotation to beat the weaker teams. Why waste fhe talent we have? The 2004 mentality is not good

 

[2 For The Brew]

I don't recall posting that I advocated a max 8 or 9 man rotation. My main point is that JBB's top nine do not include Sam or CPJ. With injuries and some weak opponents they'll get some time and Sam will get time against teams with weaker defenses but I do think in the playoffs a nine man rotation is the most we'd see.

We need to prioritize playing time for the top nine as we're over halfway through the season and we've had several key players miss a lot of games.

But this us a fame thread so a victory lap for the win is warranted.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Sam Merrill is close to steph as a catch and shoot guy imo. Steph is another dimension as a shot creator tho

Which is precisely why scheming to get him open the way the Warriors do with Steph won't work.

 

[foucault87]

Which is precisely why scheming to get him open the way the Warriors do with Steph won't work.

We've seen him do the specific move I'm thinking of. A backpick for the big in the pnr. I'm not thinking of the give and go/short roll stuff with draymond

 

[The Oi]

Real comps happening in here.

Steph Curry: ass
Merrill: elbow

 

[Benway]

Real comps happening in here.

Steph Curry: ass
Merrill: elbow

There is a connection.

 

[Jscc]

Real comps happening in here.

Steph Curry: ass
Merrill: elbow

This sounds like the start to a fisting story.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

This sounds like the start to a fisting story.

Again....

@Damage @Deezus