I actually to an extent agree with this depending on Mikes health. We can’t win this series without Mike Conley back, and if the Clippers win tonight they’ve completely changed the momentum of the series, and we will need Mike back to regain it. If it comes down to 2/3 Kawhi can absolutely beat us 2/3 times.
I wondered if Quin would deviate from his "get Rudy against the bench center" rotation in the playoffs. Thus far he has not. Its time to get the big fella up a few extra minutes if fouls permit.
Honestly... if Mike is still not quite ready but should be for game 5 and if DM is more injured than he is letting on... I almost might punt this game and go all in on a 3 game series with us closer to full strength. We would never do it... and it might be dumb AF.
It's the rotation timing for sure, but it's just minutes in general. Kawhi and PG have been playing much heavier minutes than our stars. Derrick and Georges Niang should not be out there for anything longer than a breather for our guys at this point, we don't even have Mike and he's not playing them the same amount of minutes. The only guy who is playing heavy minutes basically every night is Royce, somewhat Bogey, and Royce is probably playing the most grueling minutes of anyone. Quin needs to switch up his rotations and play our starters a few more minutes. The few minutes are a huge difference maker.
Game 3 was the game to punt, you can't punt this game. We let them come back in game 2, they blew us out in game 3, you have to at least keep it close tonight if they blow us out tonight they have grabbed full control of the series until we grab it back IMO. I think game 5 is when Mike will return, as Locke has said, game 5 lines up with the 14 day window that its taken every time for Mike to recover from this same thing. I really would love seeing him tonight but I do think we have at least one more game without him. As for Mitchells ankle, it's not as though he's turning it. I think his ankle is structurally fine at this point or it'd be weak and he'd be turning it. I think he is just in pain, but with some of the moves he's making it's more of a pain thing right now than it is a structural issue I would think. Now that could change the second he bends it the wrong way or something and then we're f******.
If the Nets are without Kyrie or Harden, let alone both, the Bucks could even get them. It is legitimately wide open right now, unfortunately, we have our own issues. The Clippers will win the title if the Nets aren't healthy and they beat us, so yeah, we need to do everything in our power to win this series and if Mike is 70% good, by game 5 he better be on the floor.
