Why are we obsessing over something that won’t and shouldn’t happen?
End of first quarter differential:
PHI 0
TOR +7
NYK +13
ORL -9
OKC -6
DET +9
DET +3
MIL +7
IND +10
DEN +15
We lead by 4.9 points after Q1 (that extrapolates to +19.6PPG), so this tired rhetoric that we get off to sluggish starts and that the starting unit is getting killed is clearly a misnomer.
Only one game we lost because of a poor start (Orlando). The other (OKC) we overcame and the rest of our losses came after the first. If you want to complain about us coughing up leads, that’s an entirely different story regarding Stevens substitutions.
Jaylen is the only one with a negative BPM, and there’s no reason to demote a kid (who’s 2 weeks past his 22nd birthday coming off an impressive playoff run) 10 games into the season. Likewise, Hayward is getting back into game shape mentally and physically and demoting him is also counterproductive to what our goal is. He needs to play against the best and with the guys who he’s going to get the most run with.
I surely hope Ainge has already decided to not tender a QO to Rozier; the guy is shooting 35.5% after 10 games! Can we just cut him already?
And Rozier is a sharpshooter compared to Smart. I mean seriously, can’t some of us shoot 18.5% from beyond the arc? If Ainge doesn’t trade him January 15th, Wyc should seriously consider firing him. Worst contract ever?!?
But seriously, it’s 10 games! Everyone needs to sit back and relax. Hot takes after every game (win or lose) are not going to change anything. I’d be worried if we were playing well and still losing. Our defense has been mostly great, and our offense has been mostly bad. We have been one of the worst teams in the league at open threes, something that clearly will not continue that much longer.
The personnel isn’t wrong. This team has been built correctly. Starters and bench. Absolutely no reason for a panic move, which is exactly what changing the starting unit would be.