Grades: Spurs vs. Lakers - Nov. 3, 2019

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-san-antonio-spurs-los-angeles-lakers-november-3-2019/

tl;dr: Nice one-man run by Murray.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Enormous talent disparity. Spurs are a work in progress, let’s hope Murray or White or someone else can develop into a proper star. Until then it’s all about being healthy and developing talent.

[tbdog]

Probably the first time I disagree with some of these grades. DD was clearly better and more of a positive impact than LMA. It's probably the worst game I have seen from LMA for a long time. He just needed to be half good and we have the win. We got just enough from White, Murray, and Gay, despite Lakers role players getting theirs and their two studs doing their job. Forbes was pretty much as bad as Mills but maybe only slightly better as his D was just barely okay.

[Fireball]

Another bad game from Aldridge, but I still hope he gets better as he did last year ... with increasing age it might take till January this time.

Murray was great in the 4th quarter ... full beastmode like the New York game. But he should have been more aggressive earlier. He hit a three ... take more of those young fella!

Derozan was the usual mess when he is angry ... agree with OP that it does not work out well. I would have liked a coach's challenge in the +1 situation from Demar against Davis that was ruled an offensive foul. Davis was moving so three points and a foul on Davis could have been the outcome. Pop could at least try.

White was solid. We still need more consistently though. But this defines a star and both White and Murray will not reach that status this season I fear.

Gay was very good. With Carroll finally seeing the floor and doing alright it might be time to move Gay into the starting lineup instead of Lyles? Difficult, but we need more scoring in the SL.
Patty and Belli forgettable, Forbes should not be outplayed offensively by Bradley Beal. Early in the game thread I said let Bradley shoot everytime ...damn :pctoss

So, now four more games until Murray can play 30 minutes? lets do it baby! (hopefully White does not play only 18 minutes then :tongue)

[RC_Drunkford]

Besides Rudy, DJ and Derrick everybody was trash. Carroll was decent. Other than that I would hand out a bunch of Fs

[Thunder1]

Thanx again for the grades, sir..I'm a little surprised that Poeltl is having so much trouble this season in pick & roll situations..

[GreekSpursfan]

Thanx again for the grades, sir..I'm a little surprised that Poeltl is having so much trouble this season in pick & roll situations..

If all you are is a pnr player then you're gonna struggle your entire career. He needs to develop some kind of post game. His game offensively is non existent.

[timtonymanu]

Besides Rudy, DJ and Derrick everybody was trash. Carroll was decent. Other than that I would hand out a bunch of Fs

[Robz4000]

Pop's becoming a serious problem, even considering how bad he's been the last few seasons. If White and Murray don't start getting minutes together once Murray is able to play more minutes then it's time to hit the panic button.

[Ice009]

Pop's becoming a serious problem, even considering how bad he's been the last few seasons. If White and Murray don't start getting minutes together once Murray is able to play more minutes then it's time to hit the panic button.

It doesn't matter about Dejounte being on a minutes restriction. Even if White is coming off the bench, that doesn't mean he should get less than 24 minutes a game. He's not a bench player that should be playing less than half the game. He should still be getting 30 minutes a game easily and that way he would be able to play with Dejounte a little bit.

[Robz4000]

It doesn't matter about Dejounte being on a minutes restriction. Even if White is coming off the bench, that doesn't mean he should get less than 24 minutes a game. He's not a bench player that should be playing less than half the game. He should still be getting 30 minutes a game easily and that way he would be able to play with Dejounte a little bit.

Agreed, but I figure Pop's logic might be to ease his burden getting back into the thick of things by not having to split ball-handling duties between himself, White, and DeRozan. He'll have to get used to it sooner or later (and I think it'll be tougher later on since he'll be accustomed to being PG full-time), but I guess Pop thinks it'll make him better in the long run?

[spursparker9]

I have been reading these grades. Did Pop ever gotten a B? Can't remember at all.

[SpaceCoast Spursfan]

Thought this was the first game where playing Murray/White together to close out the game may have changed the outcome. However as Timvp pointed out based on how we played majority of the game we were lucky to even be in position to almost steal the win.

[XDT76]

I just hope that Pop is using the first ten games as preseason tinkling, bedding in the players. I cannot imagine him playing Poeltl, DDR, Beli, Mills and Forbes in a lineup regularly. I also hope that there is nothing wrong with Carroll as it does not make sense for him to play well then disappear the rest of the game.

[sananspursfan21]

I still say these slow starts are killing our guys. I love this year’s team’s ability to make a comeback (albeit if it is just Murray) but to do it night in and night out is exhausting. They’ve gotta find a way to get ahead and stay ahead. Or at least keep it close then pull ahead later. Also, Dijon is amazing.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

demar given the assignment to guard lebron and at times davis, leads the team in assists and actually looked like he cared out there ... and he gets the same grade as lamarcus who didnt do shit, not even use up his fouls? cmon

also before we start sucking each others dicks, remember that dijon was lighting up mr belding in the fourth

[Kurgan]

demar given the assignment to guard lebron and at times davis, leads the team in assists and actually looked like he cared out there ... and he gets the same grade as lamarcus who didnt do shit, not even use up his fouls? cmon

also before we start sucking each others dicks, remember that dijon was lighting up mr belding in the fourth

Defrozan was terrible, what's your point? Just because he was slightly less terrible than Softridge doesn't give him a pass. He had the worst plus-minus on the night(-19) which mostly reflects his play. He did his usual pouting fit after the officials didn't give him a call early in the 1st and proceeded to play low iq basketball the rest of the night. Good players will control their emotions or use the anger to fuel their play. Demar does the opposite - he plays considerably worse when he lets the officiating get to him. This is a sure sign of a loser and why I believe the front office isn't willing to commit long term to this cancer. Just look at that play late in the 4th after Murray tied the game. Defrozen proceeds to heroball with his patented barrel drive into three defenders. It ends up as a turnover every time. We saw it all last season. We saw it in the playoffs against the Nuggets(especially in game 7). But he continues to play like an idiot, continues to look lost when he doesn't have the ball in his hands.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

Defrozan was terrible, what's your point? Just because he was slightly less terrible than Softridge doesn't give him a pass. He had the worst plus-minus on the night(-19) which mostly reflects his play. He did his usual pouting fit after the officials didn't give him a call early in the 1st and proceeded to play low iq basketball the rest of the night. Good players will control their emotions or use the anger to fuel their play. Demar does the opposite - he plays considerably worse when he lets the officiating get to him. This is a sure sign of a loser and why I believe the front office isn't willing to commit long term to this cancer. Just look at that play late in the 4th after Murray tied the game. Defrozen proceeds to heroball with his patented barrel drive into three defenders. It ends up as a turnover every time. We saw it all last season. We saw it in the playoffs against the Nuggets(especially in game 7). But he continues to play like an idiot, continues to look lost when he doesn't have the ball in his hands.

plus minus

[CGD]

There just has to be a way to get Murray and White of the floor together.

[R. DeMurre]

If the lesson supposedly being taught to Lonnie is "You don't earn minutes if you don't play defense," what must he be thinking as he sits on the bench watching DeRozan, Mills, Forbes, and Belinelli average a combined 98 minutes per game, as Murray & White are kept apart at every opportunity?

[vavvi]

LMA is painful to watch.
Is it his worst stretch in Spurs uniform?

Second game against good opponent and second time all three things happen:
1. LMA sucks so bad it's hard to imagine
2. DDR sucks but it's nothing new
3. Our 3pt shooters can't make shots

[duncan2k5]

Defrozan was terrible, what's your point? Just because he was slightly less terrible than Softridge doesn't give him a pass. He had the worst plus-minus on the night(-19) which mostly reflects his play. He did his usual pouting fit after the officials didn't give him a call early in the 1st and proceeded to play low iq basketball the rest of the night. Good players will control their emotions or use the anger to fuel their play. Demar does the opposite - he plays considerably worse when he lets the officiating get to him. This is a sure sign of a loser and why I believe the front office isn't willing to commit long term to this cancer. Just look at that play late in the 4th after Murray tied the game. Defrozen proceeds to heroball with his patented barrel drive into three defenders. It ends up as a turnover every time. We saw it all last season. We saw it in the playoffs against the Nuggets(especially in game 7). But he continues to play like an idiot, continues to look lost when he doesn't have the ball in his hands.

Completely correct

[duncan2k5]

LMA is painful to watch.
Is it his worst stretch in Spurs uniform?

Second game against good opponent and second time all three things happen:
1. LMA sucks so bad it's hard to imagine
2. DDR sucks but it's nothing new
3. Our 3pt shooters can't make shots

I've been saying for years us making the playoffs is fools gold with the players we have... Forbes and Mills can't get good looks and almost always play poorly VS contenders... LMA and DDR are not only antiquated, but they're career losers and chokers that are past their prime... We need changes

[Bojo]

I think the most fitting description for this team is "work in progress". The wins against some pretenders were nice and I'm happy they did not lay a gigantic egg so far. I just think they need to figure out some stuff, especially (off-)ball movement.
This team has way more potential than the previous iterations. But seeing the offense stall with the starting lineup is kind of frustrating.
- I still believe Aldridge and Derozan could be a good duo, but imo DDR needs to adapt his game more. LA is at least showing some willingness to step out of the three point line and has all the tools to become a decent shooter (slowly, but he'll get there). DDR isn't even looking to shoot and calls his own number waaay too often. Cue to I think the game was tied and Murray has 14 straight -> DDR goes for a bricked no-pass iso. I hope the Spurs and him don't reach an agreement for an extension...
- I am 100% positively sure White is not playing 22 mins because PATFO is dumb...coming off double PF and a whole summer of basketball, they might be cautious. But thinking that's the case is just as much a shot in the dark as saying Pop will play some guys regardless of performance.
- someone wrote that Pop might try to save Beli's season because of the lack of movement. I think that's not too far from the truth. Watching the games so far, that's one of my biggest concerns. Too much relieance on individuals trying to make something happen. Mills and Beli move well without the ball, and Lyles is trying I think. But it really starts with DDR, he's way too stagnant for this movement-heavy system.

But still, there are some good things:

- Murray and White will take over soon and they look very ready for that

- the depth is great and as soon as Carroll and Walker are acclimated enough to play, this team can roll two units and quality third stringers

- Gay might be getting in shape at the exact right time


Well let's hope they can avoid the egg in Atlanta.

[Ice009]

If the lesson supposedly being taught to Lonnie is "You don't earn minutes if you don't play defense," what must he be thinking as he sits on the bench watching DeRozan, Mills, Forbes, and Belinelli average a combined 98 minutes per game, as Murray & White are kept apart at every opportunity?

Exactly. If that is the lesson he is trying to teach Lonnie, how does Lonnie not react by saying you're playing guys that can't play defense to save their lives over me. What a freaking hypocrite Pop is.

[SAGirl]

Dejounte and Derrick the only reason to watch the team this season.

[r0drig0lac]

Exactly. If that is the lesson he is trying to teach Lonnie, how does Lonnie not react by saying you're playing guys that can't play defense to save their lives over me. What a freaking hypocrite Pop is.

you still find people here defending this kind of "lesson" as if it makes any sense to rational people. No one in the same situation would be pleased with the clear hypocrisy shown in this case.

[John B]

I really thought this was goingbto be a 20+ blowout. But seeing how Spurs lost, I can see a whole lotof improvements, from minutes restrictions on both Murray/White abd letting them close the game, playing Carroll more and maybe move Gay to starting PF against Lakers, Trey start shooting more. Again I’m disappointed with Aldridge not manning up against a great competition. I hate to go to battle with Aldridge. The guy is soft.

[John B]

I really thought this was goingbto be a 20+ blowout. But seeing how Spurs lost, I can see a whole lotof improvements, from minutes restrictions on both Murray/White abd letting them close the game, playing Carroll more and maybe move Gay to starting PF against Lakers, Trey start shooting more. Again I’m disappointed with Aldridge not manning up against a great competition. I hate to go to battle with Aldridge. The guy is soft.

[acoelho1]

Murray is so electric when he gets it going. So disruptive with that length and the speed is unmatched in the league. The more I see of him, the more I'm convinced he will be a superstar. Remember, it took KL a few years to get to that level and Pop has a plan that works when developing players with this kind of potential.

[Russo21]

Murray and White combined to play 48 minutes, 24.21 for Murray and 23.39 for White. They combined for 30 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. Murray 58.3% White 57.1% shooting. Murray may be on minutes restriction but it's time these two shared the court together, even if for now its just by White playing more minutes and not DJ as his minutes restriction. What other coach keeps his two young studs from getting court time together ffs? And for Beli and Mills who played 35 minutes combined for 7pts 3reb and 3ast on 2-10 shooting with shit D. What's Pop doing?

[Mugen]

Good stuff except it's okay to give out F's. :lol

Stubbornly refusing to let two of your best players play at the same time because of your ego is deserving of an F every single game. Every time.

[spin8]

Dejounte and Derrick the only reason to watch the team this season.

Especially when they’re not playing next to DeRozan and Aldridge.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Thanks for the article, Timvp. Nice write-up! :tu


One of the disappointing things in this game for me was the fact that neither of our two stars came to play. Maybe for DeRozan, a lot of that was playing out of position. It appears that Davis is a bit too much for LA right now...at least last night, as LaMarcus can Jekyll and Hyde pretty well on any given night.

My other disappointment is Pop not really playing to his team's strengths. Start getting Carroll involved over Belli, play your young stars together, don't resort to your old lineups where you're relying on guys like Mills that haven't gotten this team past the first round. I love Pop, but he's killing me so far this year.

[mookie2001]

Murray’s first half should get him an F.

[vavvi]

Dejounte and Derrick the only reason to watch the team this season.

Not a bad reason tbh

[RC_Drunkford]

What's Pop doing?

favoring his washed up vets like he always does

[spurs555]

My theory/opinion is Pop would play Murray and White together more if it wasn't for Derozan. To clarify our starting line up has been (1-3) Murray, Forbes, Derozan and (4-5) Aldridge, Lyles. A (1-3) of Murray, White, Derozan obviously lacks adequate 3 point shooting. I think Pop would prefer to have a starting lineup of Murray, Forbes, White, Aldridge, Lyles since Forbes provides that 3 point threat. Theoretically you'd then have Derozen come off the bench but then Derozen wouldn't stand for that and probably seek a trade/quit on the team lol.

For all the old notion of Pop telling players to "Get over themselves", he's way more sensitive to Aldridge and Derozan since they are our teams "All Stars". He can't just (bench them/not play them crunch time minutes) or they would be very disgruntled. I'm not a Derozan hater at all and think he's shown he can be a very capable play-maker at times but he is very inconsistent. Just like everyone I would love to see White and Murray play together but I think that would mean Pop sacrificing Derozan's minutes which would lead to him being very disgruntled which I think Pop is avoiding.

[MultiTroll]

For all the old notion of Pop telling players to "Get over themselves", he's way more sensitive to Aldridge and Derozan since they are our teams "All Stars". He can't just (bench them/not play them crunch time minutes) or they would be very disgruntled. I'm not a Derozan hater at all and think he's shown he can be a very capable play-maker at times but he is very inconsistent. Just like everyone I would love to see White and Murray play together but I think that would mean Pop sacrificing Derozan's minutes which would lead to him being very disgruntled which I think Pop is avoiding.
And their being disgruntled would be bad because?

Pop treats all the players the same.

[MultiTroll]

Murray had just scored 14 straight Spurs points and tied the game. :hungry: :toast

While but one play, I thought this was a huge momentum swing which went from 90-90 to 95-90. Context:

Lakers miss a shot, and Spurs fail to rebound as they have two guys to rebound but allow Dwight to get a hand in and tap the rebound away, out of bounds off of Spurs. Next KCP hits a jumper.
Spurs ball. Instead of Murray handling the rock, DD brings it upcourt. Goes into a spin move and is driving down the lane when he lets Dwight cleanly strip it way for the steal. Lakers go the other way and have #s since DD is back standing under the Spurs hoop. Lebron whips it out to KCP who hits the trey. Just like that 95-90.

It was a very inattentive play by Derosian. Who, I don't know why he had the f-ing ball anyways as hot as DJ had been.
Whatever. Spurs *Vet stars*.

[Mugen]

The team would be so much damn better if Derozan wasn't on the roster. You don't even need a return, simply addition by subtraction.

He's such a huge negative on both sides of the ball and is basically stunting all the youth's growth.

That Tobias Harris + first rounders for Nephew deal was so better. He still ended up in LA except RC/Pop decided to give him another ring for his legacy :lol

[Chucho]

Spurs fans should be encouraged, Laker fans should be nervous.

[K...]

I do say I love the consensus: pop is too old fashioned and caused kawhi to leave because he was too strict and limiting

Then also : pop is too conciliatory towards our stars and needs to show them tough justice.

[spurs555]

And their being disgruntled would be bad because?

Pop treats all the players the same.

Main point being Pop could have Ginobili come off the bench and Ginobili would see it as a team first move. If Pop tried asking Derozan to come off the bench his head would probably explode haha.

[duncan2k5]

Exactly. If that is the lesson he is trying to teach Lonnie, how does Lonnie not react by saying you're playing guys that can't play defense to save their lives over me. What a freaking hypocrite Pop is.

Yep!

[tmtcsc]

I know its early but the returns don't look good for the Spurs. No identity, no fight, no cohesiveness. Just a bunch of entitled guys - especially DeRozan and Lamarcus. They don't bring it every night.

[heyheymymy]

I think it's just a different league now. Pop used to put parker in the doghouse and it forged the kid into a star. Pop probably told Kawhi to get over himself and rightfully so, but Kawhi is a pussy ass bitch and left over it. Pop got shook on that and does things a little differently now. Besides if you told demar to get over himself it wouldn't work anyway. Parker was a killer and it moulded him.

Pop isn't playing white and Murray together because he is stretching them. You get 2 near starting 5 groups and send them in waves. It's a common way the spurs run. You put the two in together and make a run you cant sustain when you sub mills and forbes or beli in as relief.

[R. DeMurre]

Pop isn't playing white and Murray together because he is stretching them. You get 2 near starting 5 groups and send them in waves. It's a common way the spurs run. You put the two in together and make a run you cant sustain when you sub mills and forbes or beli in as relief.

If White plays 28-32 mpg instead of 23, you still get the exact same scenario, plus 5-8 minutes of White & Murray together. It doesn't change anything except for having a traditionally mediocre +/- guy or two off the court more.

[heyheymymy]

If White plays 28-32 mpg instead of 23, you still get the exact same scenario, plus 5-8 minutes of White & Murray together. It doesn't change anything except for having a traditionally mediocre +/- guy or two off the court more.

I bet that's pretty close to what they are working up to. It's still tinker time cause pop is gonna pop. I mean the guys are still getting their legs under them too, it's early. It wouldn't be as frustrating if both LA games weren't so surprisingly winnable.

[rjv]

young guys good. old guys bad. might be the theme of the season.

[MultiTroll]

Main point being Pop could have Ginobili come off the bench and Ginobili would see it as a team first move. If Pop tried asking Derozan to come off the bench his head would probably explode haha.
So his head explodes. We could then get the injury exemption and clear his salary off the books.

[FkLA]

No White-Murray is criminal. No way around it. Your best players have to share the court, especially down the stretch. If Nurse can start and close with Lowry (6-0) and FVV (5-10) in their backcourt, there's absolutely no reason that Pop can't do the same with his 6-4 and 6-5 PGs.

Just Pop going against conventional wisdom to show his "genius". Pretty sure his refusal to challenge a single play thus far also has to do with the same thing. Challenges are beneath a "genius" like him. :rolleyes

It really might be time for some new blood on the bench. Pop can move over to a Pat Riley type role.

[Maddog]

It's early.
That said I really think of this season as a transition year, while the Lakers are all in, so the results are not unexpected.
I suspect we'll see a bit of White/Murray in the near future.

[SPURt]

It’s crazy that the Lakers needed Dwight Freaking Howard to save them. He looked great in the 4th. The part of the game I hated the most was at the end when DD ended up defending Anthony Davis two plays in a row by himself, getting posted in the low block. Ugh.

[dbestpro]

Pop is turning into Woody Hayes.

[BillMc]

I think it's just a different league now. Pop used to put parker in the doghouse and it forged the kid into a star. Pop probably told Kawhi to get over himself and rightfully so, but Kawhi is a pussy ass bitch and left over it. Pop got shook on that and does things a little differently now. Besides if you told demar to get over himself it wouldn't work anyway. Parker was a killer and it moulded him.

Pop isn't playing white and Murray together because he is stretching them. You get 2 near starting 5 groups and send them in waves. It's a common way the spurs run. You put the two in together and make a run you cant sustain when you sub mills and forbes or beli in as relief.

Agree with this.

I don't care if White and Murray ever start together. I do wonder how often they'll finish together. (They did for like 5 seconds I think in the Washington game). I suspect it will happen more frequently as Murray's minutes restrictions lift.

Starting White and Murray together would leave a Mills/Forbes pairing in the second unit. Agree with Pop staggering the better players.

Now if DeRozan, LMA and Lonnie can get their heads on straight, team could be good (though the ceiling is limited by deep shooting or lack thereof.)

[TD 21]

No White-Murray is criminal. No way around it. Your best players have to share the court, especially down the stretch. If Nurse can start and close with Lowry (6-0) and FVV (5-10) in their backcourt, there's absolutely no reason that Pop can't do the same with his 6-4 and 6-5 PGs.

Just Pop going against conventional wisdom to show his "genius". Pretty sure his refusal to challenge a single play thus far also has to do with the same thing. Challenges are beneath a "genius" like him. :rolleyes

It really might be time for some new blood on the bench. Pop can move over to a Pat Riley type role.

Play them with DeRozan, they have zero spacing. Play them together some without him, they have zero perimeter defense (because DeRozan would then play some with Mills and Forbes/Belinelli). Resort to rotational gymnastics to avoid both scenarios and Murray probably exceeds his minute limit and/or White is probably among the league leaders in mpg (I doubt they'd be comfortable with this).

No matter how you slice it, the team doesn't make sense and they're going to have to choose between DeRozan and White (obviously, the decision should be easy). It's not about "leaning the system", gaining chemistry or any other cliché. They can keep beating their head against the wall, being unwilling to swallow their pride and making a misguided attempt to save face because of an all-time bad trade or they can face the reality of the situation and try to fix this mess.

[Arcadian]

Just Pop going against conventional wisdom to show his "genius". Pretty sure his refusal to challenge a single play thus far also has to do with the same thing. Challenges are beneath a "genius" like him. :rolleyes

To be fair, I'd hesitate to challenge anything outside the last 2 minutes of the game since you only get one (which is fucking ridiculous...even NFL coaches get two).

[ZeusWillJudge]

Nice set of grades, top to bottom.

That's an interesting take on Poeltl. During the game, I blamed those missed hookups on the passes. But I'm sure you watched the game again, and so I guess it really was on Poeltl. The PnR is all about timing, and one of the things I always liked about Poeltl is that he adjusted his pace on the way to the basket, to maintain a passing lane. (So many bigs these days just charge blindly to the rim, and are never really in the play.) It's kind of disappointing to read that he's lost something in that department.

There are a number of Spurs (like almost all of them) who have to learn that team rebounding means that sometimes you have to put a body on someone, and let your teammates get the RB stat.

It's kind of hard to win games against talented teams when you have two high-paid "stars" who both get D+ on the same night. It's also kind of hard to build a team when you commit that much of your cap to two guys like that.

[Ice009]

If White plays 28-32 mpg instead of 23, you still get the exact same scenario, plus 5-8 minutes of White & Murray together. It doesn't change anything except for having a traditionally mediocre +/- guy or two off the court more.

Exactly! This is all I am asking for. Unless White isn't 100% healthy, then you just play White at least 32 minutes and then you don't need as much of Mills, Forbes and Belinelli out there. Man, Mills and Marco fucking suck. Bryn isn't much better either (great shooter, but too many other limitations). Bryn is a bench player. No idea why he is starting (well obviously I assume spacing as he's a shooter). You could even start White at the 2 and move Derozan to the three, but if you don't want to start white, that is all good, you can have that as a closing lineup. Murray can start the 4th, then sub White in to give Murray a rest for a few minutes and then bring Murray back to close the game with White, Derozan and Murray in the 1-3 positions.

[Fireball]

When Murray and White both play 32 minutes and Carroll takes some time from Belli things could get interesting.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Thanks for the grades!

Man that DJ run was really nice on both sides of the court, that move he put on KCP and LeBron was elite. Yeah he's making mistakes and being loose with the ball but this is his 5th real game in literally a year and a half!! Come All Star break he's going to be a beast.

[TDomination]

I'm wondering how this lineup would fare at the end of games:
Murray - PG
White - SG
Carroll - SF/PF
Gay - SF/PF
Aldridge - C

Would Pop have the balls to not play DeRozan at the end of a game? I feel like he's such a detriment to this team in closing time against true competition. He could play until like 5 minutes to go but then take him out.

Or my alternative thought is to NOT have 1 of either DeRozan or Aldridge on the court at the end of the game. Both those guys are notorious chokers against true competition in crunch time. Having them both out there hurts this team more than helps. We could deal with 1 on the court but both out there will not work out in the playoffs if we want to go far.

Once Murray is off his minutes restrictions and White is playing more minutes as well, the ball needs to go through them and they can make the plays needed. Plus Rudy "NOT THAT GUY" Gay is actually a guy known for making big shots at the end of games as well. I'd rather have him out there.

[XDT76]

I'm wondering how this lineup would fare at the end of games:
Murray - PG
White - SG
Carroll - SF/PF
Gay - SF/PF
Aldridge - C

Would Pop have the balls to not play DeRozan at the end of a game? I feel like he's such a detriment to this team in closing time against true competition. He could play until like 5 minutes to go but then take him out.

Or my alternative thought is to NOT have 1 of either DeRozan or Aldridge on the court at the end of the game. Both those guys are notorious chokers against true competition in crunch time. Having them both out there hurts this team more than helps. We could deal with 1 on the court but both out there will not work out in the playoffs if we want to go far.

Once Murray is off his minutes restrictions and White is playing more minutes as well, the ball needs to go through them and they can make the plays needed. Plus Rudy "NOT THAT GUY" Gay is actually a guy known for making big shots at the end of games as well. I'd rather have him out there.

I quite like this lineup, except maybe for LMA. He would be wanting his touches else he might slip into passive mode.

[Fireball]

I quite like this lineup, except maybe for LMA. He would be wanting his touches else he might slip into passive mode.

its an end of games lineup ... hopefully he got his touches earlier