01-28-2024, 01:30 AM
(01-27-2024, 04:57 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: Okay, fair enough. So the starting 5 is Kyrie, Green, Luka, Stewart, Lively. With Exum, Bojan and DJJ as the main options off the bench.
That team sounds like it could match up well against Timberwolves, Lakers, 76ers, Bucks, Kings, Rockets and Jazz.
Against the cream of this year's crop though?
Celtics... who is guarding Tatum and Brown?
Suns... who is guarding Durant?
Nuggets... who is guarding MPJ?
Clippers... who is guarding Kawhi and PG3?
OKC... who is guarding SGA and Jaylen Williams?
Pacers... who guarding Siakam?
Like these questions a lot. My answer is that Luka either has to guard or give up on being a champ. It’s fair to say his offensive load is too big, takes too much energy. But the answer to that is less offensive load, not no defense. I’m excited to see if he is gonna end up a Hardin-y player or an all-time great. And I think that answer is 100% about defense.
Pessimism doesn’t make you smart, just pessimistic.