I was really looking forward to RW3 returning to health, and getting worked back into our rotation. I still go back to the highlight reel from San Antonio game; who can forget his otherworldly play?
After watching the first two scrimmages, local media consensus is that Brad does not intend to play Robert meaningful minutes. If anything, he has seemed to slip from option 3 at the 5 to option 4 (behind 6'6" Grant Williams). Watching Theis' struggles against Adams in first game, and our inability to establish a secondary defense against perimeter penetration by SGA, RW3 seemed worthy of an audition.
But no. Brad seems to have made up his mind, at least for this season. Huge disappointment for me. This team's ceiling is so much higher when TL is on the floor. We bring a defensive energy that is unmatched by any team in the league. Even in his limited minutes vs Suns, he made an incredible block, followed by a steal. No other player on this team is capable of that. Little moments like that are valuable. They are Marcus Smart-like.
Speaking of which, Smart mentioned how Rob changes their defensive strategy. Perimeter defenders play more aggressively when he is on the floor, because RW is the only guy on the team who can protect the paint.
Not here to bash Brad's decisions. He sees these guys on a daily basis and must not like what he sees from him.
Still. For the life of me and cannot tell what it is. In his limited minutes in the 2 scrimmages, he displayed his typical energy and intensity, but also seems to be playing more contained, taking fewer risks. This has diminished the number of "oh my" plays, but frankly that is what Brad seems to want; Rob seems to be following Brad's instruction.
My prognosis for this team this season has gone negative. I just don't see a team where most of its minutes at center are taken by Theis, Kanter and G Williams going very far. I think Toronto will man handle us in the 2nd round. Heck, if we match up vs. the Sixers in round 1, I don't think we get past them.
Robert Williams is healthy and is getting chump minutes in scrimmage games. MMS.