06-28-2024, 11:45 PM
(06-28-2024, 08:48 PM)Arioch Wrote: Based on minutes played, Green was obviously 7th in the rotation (after the starters + DLive). You could argue that if Maxi had been healthy for the entire run he might have taken that spot pushing Green to 8th place, but there's not really much of a question here. Omax wasn't in the actual rotation at all. Hardy and Exum were clearly behind Green as the 9th and 10th players who might or might not be in the rotation on any given night.
I see a strong argument for Green. I think the argument for Kleber pre-injury is stronger. More minutes and his role as closer.
And I also saw Exum coming on strong at the end of the regular season (23 mins per game in April), outplaying Green and Kleber both by a mile going into the playoffs (his first). He played 16 awful minutes in game 1 and didn’t look like himself again until the finals against Boston (going 1 of his first 10 from the 3-point line to start the playoffs and connecting on 6 of his last 10). If he had an undisclosed injury—one that affected his shot—that would explain a whole lot.
So I can’t agree with you that it’s obvious.
Pessimism doesn’t make you smart, just pessimistic.