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hmmm I don't think allowing 6 threes to a good three point shooter is good defense (this is the second Toronto game, FWIW). There may have been a few bad shots in there though that went, all I really remember from that game on the defensive end is watching Dennis get stuck on screens and Lowry getting a couple clean looks from three. He was just 3-8 on twos though so...idk.

George Hill (this is kind of both cases, short attention span and being a little smaller) Kyle Lowry (he may be a little taller but Lowry has a bit more "weight" on him, and this is also both) Maybe more but those were clear cases.

There are a lot more big point guards than just Westbrook (Who he already does not guard, for the record) and Dennis has trouble guarding all big point guards. He also has attention span issues off the ball. Let's be real, Millsap started giving some of what Horford did after that first bad stretch of games in late November on PNR (versatility/pass outs) and that helped get things back to being normal and stable for a while. But now he's hurt and it's clear he hasn't been right for a while, starting at San Antonio. During that game, it seemed like he was being too passive but now it looks like he got hurt somewhere in between the first Memphis game and heading to Texas. Maybe in the playoffs, Howard will be more willing to play hard and it'll help. He should be a good dive man but it doesn't happen often. The failed lob passes aren't just Dennis and they're the guards crying to Howard silently "ROLL HARD!". This Millsap injury might have more to it. Remember 2015 where Millsap sat out for a while? It turned out that his shoulder was more hurt than the Hawks let on.

This says it all (since the break): Starting lineup: 93 OFFRTG/113 DEFRTG Starting lineup without Bazemore: 133.8 OFFRTG/95.5 DEFRTG No this is not a misprint. Does Bud have any pride at all? It better not be what it's looking like, with him trying to match Kent's return with Paul to show how **important** Kent is. If Kent isn't available to return the game after today and Paul still doesn't play it's going to look very suspicious. Maybe I should take my tinfoil hat off. This would be a clear indicator that everyone being healthy wouldn't really matter.

I think my choice would be to quickly restructure with 2019 and 2020 in mind but I doubt even a quick restructuring happens. I am pretty sure that none of this happens but my thoughts start with what I posted last night and then. - Let Millsap walk. - See if you can trick a team into giving you a first in the 12-15 range for Howard. Maybe Detroit if they're sick of Drummond. If not that, just get another pick around the 16-20 range and still try to move up. - With said picks, pretty much take your pick from the Patton/Hartenstein/Collins (both) and then guys like Rabb/Adebayo/Jackson/Trier. - Resign Hardaway Jr and Ilyasova. If not Ilyasova, take a look at Terrence Jones. Bring in another big man as depth (perhaps a veteran) and maybe one vet wing but otherwise, let it be a team that's about younger players and take the season off. Bazemore doesn't matter as it's not supposed to be a serious season. What I'm afraid is actually going to happen may make me sick enough to become my actual screen name for a year or so.

This draft is the right draft to get a 12-15 pick, if you want to go the quickly restructure route, then it can most likely be done very easily. I think that might be the right move.

Oh if Hart's available at 31st, I'm absolutely taking him, but anywhere in the first round is too early. I think he could be Brogdon part 2, but it shouldn't mean push him into the first round.

Unless this team wants to head straight to needing to fully blow it up, they need to start taking risks on low floor high ceiling guys. I mean Swanigan, Motley, and Hart may all be solid pros but they all have a low ceiling. Happ's not going to be a first rounder.

If people are already whining about what Dennis is doing with Millsap around...imagine when he's not. I'm in the camp of restructure quickly for an 18-20 window (next season off) but it might not even work out that way. What Hardaway Jr does is fun but he still has a lot of work to do. Non SEC or college basketball folks won't get it, but he's a good offensive talent that is kind of lazy. He doesn't move off the ball as often as other talents (it's not that he doesn't, but he doesn't often). He's the Dusty Hannahs of the NBA this year, but a streakier shooter. Good offensive talent but could be so much more if he moved off the ball a lot more like Marshall Henderson, Jamal Murray (both college and NBA level), etc. He's made himself fit in because of his transition play and ability as a ball handler in PNR.

Who's a real PG today in basketball? Serious question, and don't say cp3. Most of the younger guys are score first even if they get assists, and that'd be what the Hawks would get in the draft. unless you want to get Jeff Teague again, and if you did, Bud would nudge him with being aggressive again.

I hate to use the little thing quote but a little thing of Howard not jumping on a rebound attempt he should've gotten in the fourth was brutal and just not as noticeable as the final possession. Really the more energetic team switched to Washington immediately in the second half but the charge was held off by some tough plays until a bad call.

This team is kinda stuck. They need to at the very least, take a step back for one full season and put off their window to later but I watched the fallout from the Braves blowup and needless to say, the Georgia/Atlanta folk were angry. Need better assistants again, a different GM, a different philosophy in the draft, etc.

It's not time to fully start over, but it is time to get back to the drawing board. What was done last summer went completely away from the norm for the team. Bud needs to be stripped of his presidential duties and an actual GM outside of Wilcox the puppet should be hired and better assistants are needed. Dwight Howard went so far away from the norm, it makes you wonder if it was pushed by someone else other than the GM/president. Here are two things that need to happen: 1. A philosophy change in the draft. I think the draft picks will be fine, but there is no chance that they'll be legitimate star talent. There needs to be more chances taken on young talent in the draft. If this isn't done, I already know who the Hawks are taking with their pick (Josh Hart). No offense to him, but he has a ceiling. Look more to the Patton's/Hartenstein's/Collins' (both)/Rabb's/Ferguson's/(and more) of the world. 2. Doing a better job of mixing the tools players with the skills players. This team does not do a good job of it. And please, please, get an actual backup PG. Doesn't matter who. Most backup points aren't good but Delaney is well below average.

It wasn't the point in which Dennis got more PT, it was when the Kyle Korver offense was figured out that the offense was done being a good offense. I won't excuse this game from either of the PGs, but, and I hate doing this again, Dwight just doesn't fit slashing players if he isn't able to consistently roll hard.

In other news the sky is blue. Seriously though, he might see the three knuckleheads and decide "eff this, I don't mind interacting with my younger bro who is a bit crazy in Dennis but screw Kent and Dwight. Unless I'm given a strong reason to stay, I'm walking". If Paul goes, you might as well also trade Dennis along with Kent and Dwight, let Hardaway Jr walk and make it a complete rebuild. Think he is bad now? He'll be 100x worse without a guy that he looks up to and leans on. Really both him and Tim lean on Paul's ability.

Now 0-6 without Paul Millsap. Simply the worst game I've ever seen played by two point guards, and fwiw, if Dwight had continued with his 1st quarter, I'd have said he had another good game but he did not. Bud, Dennis, and Dwight costed this game.

Nice idea, who knows if it'd work though, I think my mind is starting to compile a real idea of what to do for the summer and 2018 although some won't like it. If you move Howard or ask him to come off the bench, you might be able to rehab Bazemore's value. There will be more to my story though.

Bazemore is what he is. An average player in a well spaced offense in which all he has to do is move off the ball to get layups and hit corner threes and a bad one in one that isn't well spaced. I have been saying to trade him but it actually might be better for him to "Greg Monroe" Dwight Howard or put Bazemore on the bench and play him with shooting/passing lineups. Either trade Bazemore for Ellis or do something that will restore Bazemore's value, then trade him after the 2018 season. I know, this is OT but I saw a post about development.

I hate to bring it up again, but Bazemore is only okay in a well spaced offensive lineup. In a lineup that isn't well spaced, he, to put in frank, sucks. His signing was very confusing.

Bembry was basically "THE" point guard for St. Joseph's. There was no guard to help him bring it up sometimes, nope, nein, he was "THE" point guard.

hah good luck, the best choice would be kill two birds with one stone with a bad contract swap straight up of Bazemore and Ellis. Ellis may be able to be a decent backup PG. the main thing that I'm really getting at is versatility needs to be gained along with shooting, and no, Tristan is a poor comp to this team because A: He's a willing hard roller on PNR and B: The Cavs are a superstar team. If you want to have a traditional center, fine, if they're poor on the perimeter, fine. If they don't want to roll hard on the PNR, not fine.

I'm meaning eat some of the money on Bazemore's contract. He is untradeable if you don't...well maybe not. Maybe call Indiana and ask for a swap of bad contracts of Bazemore and Eillis.

Even if I'd want to not change much, Dwight Howard should get "Greg Monroe'd" (if he disagrees, then trade him) and Kent Bazemore should get traded. I still think this offense is not far from a fix, but it can't happen until the summer. Even if something major isn't done, just doing something like this: 1. Eat the money on Kent Bazemore's contract to where it looks like Danny Green's, attach one of the first round picks that you traded for to it, and trade for a mid second round pick for this year at the draft. 2. Privately talk to Dwight Howard and see if he'll agree to a bench role like Greg Monroe's. 3. Draft one of the following with your first pick: Patton/Hartenstein (if him, a center will probably need to be acquired to let him develop for a year)/J. Collins/Rabb/Z. Collins (if he goes)/Adebayo. 4. Take Tyler Lydon and Alec Peters with your second round picks (assuming that you can get one via doing #1). 5. Try to sign a guy like PJ Tucker in the MLE. 6. Bring back Millsap and Hardaway Jr. May fix the offense. The general idea is to get more shooting.

He doesn't want to put Prince at PF without Millsap, which is kinda needed to set a good tone defensively to start halves before you try to go in an offensive mode, so why would he put a rookie at PG especially with how balky he is about playing young players? And due to the above (the stretch before the comma), the Washington game is as good as done before it starts.

1. Turn Kent Bazemore's contract into Danny Green's contract and trade him. That might be all you need to do but if not, attach one of the firsts you traded for along with it. 2. "Greg Monroe" Dwight Howard or see if a team like Milwaukee is stupid and will take him. 3. Let Paul Millsap walk. Resign Tim Hardaway Jr/Ersan Ilyasova. Move up to the 10-12 slot in the draft again and grab Justin Patton. If not possible, get Ivan Rabb or a guy like Zach Collins (if he declares). Isaiah Hartenstein is another option. Take Tyler Lydon or Alec Peters with your second. This takes some thinking, but who is an under the radar veteran that is a good defender? Sign them.