We need a backup Center

[Zombie]

Our team defense is putting a lot of pressure on Gobert and Bradley to save us. Our perimeter defense has been bad the last few weeks. I mean we're just letting players blow by unimpeded. No resistance whatsoever. We're asking Gobert/Bradley to guard the opposing center, guard the blow by, protect the rim AND rebound. It's too much too ask on damn near every defensive possession.

This is exactly it. Tony has showed me enough this year that there's reason to be optimistic he can make it in the league.

But he simply isn't able to do what the team is asking of him right now.

 

[jom2003]

So here's where I'm at...

I don't think that Bradley is ideal for us as the backup THIS season. Just because he's still young, still learning, still growing. And we're trying to contend right now.

However... Bradley has shown a lot of promise and I don't think that the defensive issues and fouling are all his fault.

Our team defense is putting a lot of pressure on Gobert and Bradley to save us. Our perimeter defense has been bad the last few weeks. I mean we're just letting players blow by unimpeded. No resistance whatsoever. We're asking Gobert/Bradley to guard the opposing center, guard the blow by, protect the rim AND rebound. It's too much too ask on damn near every defensive possession.

So my question is... is it a defensive scheme problem or is it a personnel problem?

I think in a lot of ways it's a scheme issue. We've always funneled to Rudy. But Quin needs to somehow get the perimeter defenders to be more disruptive... don't make it as easy as it's been recently.

I feel like Bradley would look better if we weren't asking him to do what Rudy does. That's a MASSIVE ask.

I do think we need one more piece. I keep changing my mind on what that piece looks like. Sometimes I feel like it's a traditional backup 5. Sometimes I feel like it's a stretch 5 so we can go back to running some 5 out. Most times I feel like it's a disruptive defensive 4 who can also play some 5. Tonight I was wondering if maybe we need a strong perimeter defender so we can have Royce be more free to be disruptive in help D. Ideally its probably a mix of some of those traits in one player.

that are many different ways to approach this.

either bring in more defense help in getting more size/length at the forward spot to relieve your center's defensive load.

or, just give up defense entirely cuz quin still wanna play the likes of niang, bradley, etc. then go small, bring in another shooter like davis bertans, instead of trying to make your opponent score less. you score more.

 

[jom2003]

This is exactly it. Tony has showed me enough this year that there's reason to be optimistic he can make it in the league.

But he simply isn't able to do what the team is asking of him right now.

not just him. Ed Davis also. we can bring in as many centers as those fans want, and i'm sure they will all look bad in our current setting. no one can match what rudy's done for us this year. not even close.

 

[Zombie]

not just him. Ed Davis also. we can bring in as many centers as those fans want, and i'm sure they will all look bad in our current setting. no one can match what rudy's done for us this year. not even close.

It's not about matching Gobert though. No one should be expecting that out of our backup center, but we can't be playing someone that's as easily exploited as Bradley.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Jaxson Hayes is a tough matchup for any backup center. He's the perfect guy to expose Bradley for being a bit earthbound.

 

[jom2003]

It's not about matching Gobert though. No one should be expecting that out of our backup center, but we can't be playing someone that's as easily exploited as Bradley.

i firmly believe that bradley is not a defensive piece because his feet/jump really limits his defensive upside. he would shine on a more offense oriented team like Washington. or we can just try a more aggressive/offensive gameplan. Conley/bradley pick n roll would be a good start IMO

 

[NUMBERICA]

not just him. Ed Davis also. we can bring in as many centers as those fans want, and i'm sure they will all look bad in our current setting. no one can match what rudy's done for us this year. not even close.

THE BACKUP JUST HAS TO BE AS GOOD AS BACKUPS. HE GETS BADLY EXPOSED AGAINST 2ND UNITS.

 

[homeytennis]

Willie Reed is available. He's been through the wars.

 

[jom2003]

THE BACKUP JUST HAS TO BE AS GOOD AS BACKUPS. HE GETS BADLY EXPOSED AGAINST 2ND UNITS.

only realistic option i can think of is Holmes from Kings. everyone else would look as bad as Ed Davis. Baynes too. unless we switch to a more offensive approach given he's been exposed on D a lot as of late.

 

[jom2003]

oh, forgot about Christian Wood.

 

[NUMBERICA]

everyone else would look as bad as Ed Davis.

THAT IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE METRICS FOR THIS. STOP BEING YOU.

 

[infection]

THE BACKUP JUST HAS TO BE AS GOOD AS BACKUPS. HE GETS BADLY EXPOSED AGAINST 2ND UNITS.

Bro... you need to stop expecting him to be Rudy Gobert out there...

 

[The Thriller]

only realistic option i can think of is Holmes from Kings. everyone else would look as bad as Ed Davis. Baynes too. unless we switch to a more offensive approach given he's been exposed on D a lot as of late.

LOL. No.

not everyone. Davis has always been limited offensively and defensively. He’s rail thin, has no offensive game, and he’s not a post defender.

We need someone to go out there, set strong screens, play good defense, and have the hands to at least warrant a little attention on our p&rs.

Bradley is too limited physically to be effective and davis doesn’t have that skill set. Yet, this skill set isn't that hard to find. You’re making it sound like we need another Gobert.

let’s try those G league guys. We gotta do somethin

 

[jom2003]

THAT IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE METRICS FOR THIS. STOP BEING YOU.

metrics for what? metrics for being on a team that expected you to guard everything? well, better on offense for sure because Ed can't buy a bucket to save his life, which is what gets Tony the PT over him.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

LOL. No.

not everyone. Davis has always been limited offensively and defensively. He’s rail thin, has no offensive game, and he’s not a post defender.

We need someone to go out there, set strong screens, play good defense, and have the hands to at least warrant a little attention on our p&rs.

Bradley is too limited physically to be effective and davis doesn’t have that skill set. Yet, this skill set isn't that hard to find. You’re making it sound like we need another Gobert.

let’s try those G league guys. We gotta do somethin

Morgan should get 5 games to try. He was a monster at both ends of the court... he’s small but he will bother people more than TB... he can also shoot, dribble a bit, and pass.

 

[The Thriller]

At this point, does Andrew Bogut still have a phone? Call him. Is mosgov, faried, or boom bitches still available? All are better than what we currently have. Gortat? Plumleee? Noah? Whos gortat playing for right now?

Mailman want another attempt at a chip? Karl would school our backups even at age 60.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

The best we can hope for with TB is to not eff up... if he could do that routinely and when there is pressure then great. It’d be nice if there was a little more upside.

Like with Niang we can hope he doesn’t eff up and that he can hit 3/4 threes to swing a game.

Mudiay was prolly worse than him tonight... last game of a road trip... some guys looked rough out there.

 

[The Thriller]

The best we can hope for with TB is to not eff up... if he could do that routinely and when there is pressure then great. It’d be nice if there was a little more upside.

Like with Niang we can hope he doesn’t eff up and that he can hit 3/4 threes to swing a game.

Mudiay was prolly worse than him tonight... last game of a road trip... some guys looked rough out there.

If that’s the best then we’re doomed.

Bradley needs to be effective as a backup. But he’s not athletic enough to be in the NBA. Way too slow and has no vertical. He’s not a threat to score and he’s consistently the worst defender on the floor due to his lack of athleticism. His only serviceable skill is screen setting. But that doesn’t warrant him any playing time.

 

[jom2003]

LOL. No.

not everyone. Davis has always been limited offensively and defensively. He’s rail thin, has no offensive game, and he’s not a post defender.

We need someone to go out there, set strong screens, play good defense, and have the hands to at least warrant a little attention on our p&rs.

Bradley is too limited physically to be effective and davis doesn’t have that skill set. Yet, this skill set isn't that hard to find. You’re making it sound like we need another Gobert.

let’s try those G league guys. We gotta do somethin

except setting screens/having good hands/p&r are all offensive attributes which was the "shifting the gameplan focus to offensive" that i've been suggesting lol.

i'd agree Ed was a bad signing because he isn't good offensively but i'm not mad at all on centers who can't play "good defense" because we just took a big step backwards in that department this season, which was always the expectation. you don't let Favs go, bring in Conley/Bogey, give Niang PT and still expect to play "good defense". just how good of defense does your center need to play when you are pairing him up with those guys? just too much to ask so i wouldn't go there

 

[Jingled]

that are many different ways to approach this.

either bring in more defense help in getting more size/length at the forward spot to relieve your center's defensive load.

or, just give up defense entirely cuz quin still wanna play the likes of niang, bradley, etc. then go small, bring in another shooter like davis bertans, instead of trying to make your opponent score less. you score more.

Or you could just bring in a better backup center. And before you start in, I realize they won't be as good as Rudy, EVERYONE realizes that. Rudy is one of the most unique players in the league, no one expects our backup centers to be able to be able to provide what he does. There are however many backups throughout the league that could give us more than what Davis and Bradley have so far. Acquiring one is going to be the tricky part with our lack of assets but I believe the front office will do everything they can.