I hate that ECF squad that played the Bucks

[NBASupes]

That team like Trae rookie squad tricked ya'll and it tricked the front office. 

That Trae rookie team went from running an offense and struggling bad to saying f it in late December and started playing Trae Ball. A crap load of Trae/JC PnR that damn near was impossible for the NBA to guard. Before Dec 20th, Trae was outside of the top 15 at creating corner 3s. After that, 1st and finished 2nd that season only to Westbrook. 

The next season, teams adjusted and we couldn't get any flow going offensively. Defense was a tad better but not much and the bench was terrible that season whereas it was solid his rookie season before we traded everyone with a pulse. 

This year, it's like that team to an extreme. Teams been figured out how to limit our 1/5 PnR success even though last year. It was still good enough to finish 2nd in the NBA on offense but it faulter late in games as Capela offensive limitations bit us in the ass late in games. This year, it seems the 1/5 PnR just isn't as good. The 1/4 PnR seems to be a bigger struggle when it was uber efficient last year but we couldn't spam it. It seems like our bread and butter just isn't good anymore. 

It seems like that ECF appearance got JC paid when no one was fighting us for him. It seems like we just made a major mistake. That ECF appearance has haunted us. It gives us a glimpse of what could be but what it that was just an illusion. 

The games that season was so fast that teams couldn't scout our changes and adjust and so many teams had dead legs too. Guarding 3s was so much easier that year. A lot of elements that happened that year. Too many to say that's any different than LALs Orlando title.

Edited December 31, 2022 by NBASupes

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[nathan2331]

Teams didn't figure us out. JC can't hit a three and JJ backing him up can't shoot either. Trae ball works fine if you've got the shooters who can punish teams for bringing an extra man to stop the lob. We used to have the great benefit of JC shooting ~40% and Gallinari off the bench who was an even better shooter. Now we need to adapt and do some different things. We can still be successful but Trae ball won't get us far even though we've got a better roster now.

[NBASupes]

15 minutes ago, nathan2331 said:

Teams didn't figure us out. JC can't hit a three and JJ backing him up can't shoot either. Trae ball works fine if you've got the shooters who can punish teams for bringing an extra man to stop the lob. We used to have the great benefit of JC shooting ~40% and Gallinari off the bench who was an even better shooter. Now we need to adapt and do some different things. We can still be successful but Trae ball won't get us far even though we've got a better roster now.

I agree

[REHawksFan]

59 minutes ago, nathan2331 said:

Teams didn't figure us out. JC can't hit a three and JJ backing him up can't shoot either. Trae ball works fine if you've got the shooters who can punish teams for bringing an extra man to stop the lob. We used to have the great benefit of JC shooting ~40% and Gallinari off the bench who was an even better shooter. Now we need to adapt and do some different things. We can still be successful but Trae ball won't get us far even though we've got a better roster now.

IF ONLY there were people screaming all pre-season about the lack of shooting on this squad.  But alas, here we are living in an NBA world where the outside shot is the most important shot in the game to everyone EXCEPT Nate and the Hawks.  SMH