Frontcourt Is Going To Be An Issue This Postseason

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Vucevic did not even play one minute tonight. Kind of says all you need to know about how Joe values him. Again, strictly a deal to cut salary.

And whatever on that I guess, but it?s disappointing that we are now sitting with the 27th pick in the draft after that mess of a series

Joe also decided that Ron Harper, Jr. should start.

Vuc was never really used properly.  They took a really versatile offensive player and excellent passer, and turned him into a spot up shooter on the perimeter.

Brad gave Joe the tools. Joe just mismanaged them, as he has so often done in the playoffs.

the problem with using Vucevic properly is it takes away from the strengths of Tatum and Brown who are far better players.  You don't acquire a poor fitting player and then expect him to fit properly.

Not really.  Other teams -- including Philly -- run a diversified offense.  Joe is more of a one trick pony.

Vucevic is one step from being out of the league. He'll be 36 at the start of next season and he can neither move anywhere near the perimeter, nor provide any resistance to opposing players down low.

His offense is okay, but it's not good enough to make up for his complete lack of defense. To make it as an offense only Center, you need to be a focal point of your team. This is basically Enes Kanter Freedom right before he fizzled out.

Dude had a really good career, but he is far from All-Star Vucevic these days. Perhaps someone will take a chance on him with the taxpayer MLE, but I can't imagine he will ever be an impact player on a decent team, or any team for that matter, ever again

Vuc was still a 17/9/3 guy on a .570 eFG%.  Billy Donovan used him effectively.  Joe didn't.

Good stats on their way to a perpetual record below .500. He's the definition of a good stats bad team guy.

If he's the best player on a team, sure.  But, most players surrounded by bad teammates will be below .500.

Classic chicken or the egg question. You say Vucevic didn't have good enough teammates to have a winning team. I say that Vucevic isn't a winning player enough that helps his team be better.

15 years is a pretty big body of evidence. It's hard to believe it's always been his teammate's fault.

Maybe you can't build a winning team around a high volume decent efficiency postup big man that can't defend the rim?

Vucevic isn't a "build around" player.  Very few guys are.  That doesn't mean they can't win.

He'll, KP was also a guy you can't build around.  Horford, too.  We haven't had a center that a team can be built around since...  Cowens?  Parish was a great player, but I think that if he was your centerpiece in the 80s, the team would have struggled. 

Most players are complementary players that need to be used correctly.

But one common theme is that teams that rely on a high volume decent efficiency postup big man that can't defend the rim aren't winning teams. You have to be really, really good on offense as a big man to make up for being a bad defender.

Zinger's best quality was his rim protection. You can work with that skillset, even if he is a complimentary piece.

Horford might be the exact opposite of Vucevic. He's always been a winning basketball player who did all the little things to make his team better on offense or defense. He's the ultimate complimentary piece.

Comparing Vucevic to those guys is comparing an apple to an orange.

[Moranis]

Vucevic did not even play one minute tonight. Kind of says all you need to know about how Joe values him. Again, strictly a deal to cut salary.

And whatever on that I guess, but it?s disappointing that we are now sitting with the 27th pick in the draft after that mess of a series

Joe also decided that Ron Harper, Jr. should start.

Vuc was never really used properly.  They took a really versatile offensive player and excellent passer, and turned him into a spot up shooter on the perimeter.

Brad gave Joe the tools. Joe just mismanaged them, as he has so often done in the playoffs.

the problem with using Vucevic properly is it takes away from the strengths of Tatum and Brown who are far better players.  You don't acquire a poor fitting player and then expect him to fit properly.

Not really.  Other teams -- including Philly -- run a diversified offense.  Joe is more of a one trick pony.

Vucevic is one step from being out of the league. He'll be 36 at the start of next season and he can neither move anywhere near the perimeter, nor provide any resistance to opposing players down low.

His offense is okay, but it's not good enough to make up for his complete lack of defense. To make it as an offense only Center, you need to be a focal point of your team. This is basically Enes Kanter Freedom right before he fizzled out.

Dude had a really good career, but he is far from All-Star Vucevic these days. Perhaps someone will take a chance on him with the taxpayer MLE, but I can't imagine he will ever be an impact player on a decent team, or any team for that matter, ever again

Vuc was still a 17/9/3 guy on a .570 eFG%.  Billy Donovan used him effectively.  Joe didn't.

Good stats on their way to a perpetual record below .500. He's the definition of a good stats bad team guy.

If he's the best player on a team, sure.  But, most players surrounded by bad teammates will be below .500.

Classic chicken or the egg question. You say Vucevic didn't have good enough teammates to have a winning team. I say that Vucevic isn't a winning player enough that helps his team be better.

15 years is a pretty big body of evidence. It's hard to believe it's always been his teammate's fault.

Maybe you can't build a winning team around a high volume decent efficiency postup big man that can't defend the rim?

Vucevic isn't a "build around" player.  Very few guys are.  That doesn't mean they can't win.

He'll, KP was also a guy you can't build around.  Horford, too.  We haven't had a center that a team can be built around since...  Cowens?  Parish was a great player, but I think that if he was your centerpiece in the 80s, the team would have struggled. 

Most players are complementary players that need to be used correctly.

But using him correctly means you aren't using Tatum and Brown correctly.  That is the issue.  You can't run an offense that fits Vucevic's strengths when your two best players aren't well suited to that offense.  Vucevic simply isn't a good enough player to merit having an offense tailored to his strengths, especially doing it on the fly.  What is Joe supposed to do mid-season, stop running the offense that they've been running with success for years, because they landed an ancient center who can't play defense?

Vucevic wasn't the right fit on the team.  He was acquired because he was a big man, that was available for Simons, and that cost less.  It was much less about the fit on the court than the financial fit. That is readily apparent with the way Vucevic played.  He just isn't any good. 

[Roy H.]

Vucevic did not even play one minute tonight. Kind of says all you need to know about how Joe values him. Again, strictly a deal to cut salary.

And whatever on that I guess, but it?s disappointing that we are now sitting with the 27th pick in the draft after that mess of a series

Joe also decided that Ron Harper, Jr. should start.

Vuc was never really used properly.  They took a really versatile offensive player and excellent passer, and turned him into a spot up shooter on the perimeter.

Brad gave Joe the tools. Joe just mismanaged them, as he has so often done in the playoffs.

the problem with using Vucevic properly is it takes away from the strengths of Tatum and Brown who are far better players.  You don't acquire a poor fitting player and then expect him to fit properly.

Not really.  Other teams -- including Philly -- run a diversified offense.  Joe is more of a one trick pony.

Vucevic is one step from being out of the league. He'll be 36 at the start of next season and he can neither move anywhere near the perimeter, nor provide any resistance to opposing players down low.

His offense is okay, but it's not good enough to make up for his complete lack of defense. To make it as an offense only Center, you need to be a focal point of your team. This is basically Enes Kanter Freedom right before he fizzled out.

Dude had a really good career, but he is far from All-Star Vucevic these days. Perhaps someone will take a chance on him with the taxpayer MLE, but I can't imagine he will ever be an impact player on a decent team, or any team for that matter, ever again

Vuc was still a 17/9/3 guy on a .570 eFG%.  Billy Donovan used him effectively.  Joe didn't.

Good stats on their way to a perpetual record below .500. He's the definition of a good stats bad team guy.

If he's the best player on a team, sure.  But, most players surrounded by bad teammates will be below .500.

Classic chicken or the egg question. You say Vucevic didn't have good enough teammates to have a winning team. I say that Vucevic isn't a winning player enough that helps his team be better.

15 years is a pretty big body of evidence. It's hard to believe it's always been his teammate's fault.

Maybe you can't build a winning team around a high volume decent efficiency postup big man that can't defend the rim?

Vucevic isn't a "build around" player.  Very few guys are.  That doesn't mean they can't win.

He'll, KP was also a guy you can't build around.  Horford, too.  We haven't had a center that a team can be built around since...  Cowens?  Parish was a great player, but I think that if he was your centerpiece in the 80s, the team would have struggled. 

Most players are complementary players that need to be used correctly.

But using him correctly means you aren't using Tatum and Brown correctly.  That is the issue.  You can't run an offense that fits Vucevic's strengths when your two best players aren't well suited to that offense.  Vucevic simply isn't a good enough player to merit having an offense tailored to his strengths, especially doing it on the fly.  What is Joe supposed to do mid-season, stop running the offense that they've been running with success for years, because they landed an ancient center who can't play defense?

Vucevic wasn't the right fit on the team.  He was acquired because he was a big man, that was available for Simons, and that cost less.  It was much less about the fit on the court than the financial fit. That is readily apparent with the way Vucevic played.  He just isn't any good.

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

[Moranis]

Vucevic did not even play one minute tonight. Kind of says all you need to know about how Joe values him. Again, strictly a deal to cut salary.

And whatever on that I guess, but it?s disappointing that we are now sitting with the 27th pick in the draft after that mess of a series

Joe also decided that Ron Harper, Jr. should start.

Vuc was never really used properly.  They took a really versatile offensive player and excellent passer, and turned him into a spot up shooter on the perimeter.

Brad gave Joe the tools. Joe just mismanaged them, as he has so often done in the playoffs.

the problem with using Vucevic properly is it takes away from the strengths of Tatum and Brown who are far better players.  You don't acquire a poor fitting player and then expect him to fit properly.

Not really.  Other teams -- including Philly -- run a diversified offense.  Joe is more of a one trick pony.

Vucevic is one step from being out of the league. He'll be 36 at the start of next season and he can neither move anywhere near the perimeter, nor provide any resistance to opposing players down low.

His offense is okay, but it's not good enough to make up for his complete lack of defense. To make it as an offense only Center, you need to be a focal point of your team. This is basically Enes Kanter Freedom right before he fizzled out.

Dude had a really good career, but he is far from All-Star Vucevic these days. Perhaps someone will take a chance on him with the taxpayer MLE, but I can't imagine he will ever be an impact player on a decent team, or any team for that matter, ever again

Vuc was still a 17/9/3 guy on a .570 eFG%.  Billy Donovan used him effectively.  Joe didn't.

Good stats on their way to a perpetual record below .500. He's the definition of a good stats bad team guy.

If he's the best player on a team, sure.  But, most players surrounded by bad teammates will be below .500.

Classic chicken or the egg question. You say Vucevic didn't have good enough teammates to have a winning team. I say that Vucevic isn't a winning player enough that helps his team be better.

15 years is a pretty big body of evidence. It's hard to believe it's always been his teammate's fault.

Maybe you can't build a winning team around a high volume decent efficiency postup big man that can't defend the rim?

Vucevic isn't a "build around" player.  Very few guys are.  That doesn't mean they can't win.

He'll, KP was also a guy you can't build around.  Horford, too.  We haven't had a center that a team can be built around since...  Cowens?  Parish was a great player, but I think that if he was your centerpiece in the 80s, the team would have struggled. 

Most players are complementary players that need to be used correctly.

But using him correctly means you aren't using Tatum and Brown correctly.  That is the issue.  You can't run an offense that fits Vucevic's strengths when your two best players aren't well suited to that offense.  Vucevic simply isn't a good enough player to merit having an offense tailored to his strengths, especially doing it on the fly.  What is Joe supposed to do mid-season, stop running the offense that they've been running with success for years, because they landed an ancient center who can't play defense?

Vucevic wasn't the right fit on the team.  He was acquired because he was a big man, that was available for Simons, and that cost less.  It was much less about the fit on the court than the financial fit. That is readily apparent with the way Vucevic played.  He just isn't any good.

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

Al and KP fit with them. Vucevic does not. Fit matters whether you want to admit it or not. 

[Roy H.]

Vucevic did not even play one minute tonight. Kind of says all you need to know about how Joe values him. Again, strictly a deal to cut salary.

And whatever on that I guess, but it?s disappointing that we are now sitting with the 27th pick in the draft after that mess of a series

Joe also decided that Ron Harper, Jr. should start.

Vuc was never really used properly.  They took a really versatile offensive player and excellent passer, and turned him into a spot up shooter on the perimeter.

Brad gave Joe the tools. Joe just mismanaged them, as he has so often done in the playoffs.

the problem with using Vucevic properly is it takes away from the strengths of Tatum and Brown who are far better players.  You don't acquire a poor fitting player and then expect him to fit properly.

Not really.  Other teams -- including Philly -- run a diversified offense.  Joe is more of a one trick pony.

Vucevic is one step from being out of the league. He'll be 36 at the start of next season and he can neither move anywhere near the perimeter, nor provide any resistance to opposing players down low.

His offense is okay, but it's not good enough to make up for his complete lack of defense. To make it as an offense only Center, you need to be a focal point of your team. This is basically Enes Kanter Freedom right before he fizzled out.

Dude had a really good career, but he is far from All-Star Vucevic these days. Perhaps someone will take a chance on him with the taxpayer MLE, but I can't imagine he will ever be an impact player on a decent team, or any team for that matter, ever again

Vuc was still a 17/9/3 guy on a .570 eFG%.  Billy Donovan used him effectively.  Joe didn't.

Good stats on their way to a perpetual record below .500. He's the definition of a good stats bad team guy.

If he's the best player on a team, sure.  But, most players surrounded by bad teammates will be below .500.

Classic chicken or the egg question. You say Vucevic didn't have good enough teammates to have a winning team. I say that Vucevic isn't a winning player enough that helps his team be better.

15 years is a pretty big body of evidence. It's hard to believe it's always been his teammate's fault.

Maybe you can't build a winning team around a high volume decent efficiency postup big man that can't defend the rim?

Vucevic isn't a "build around" player.  Very few guys are.  That doesn't mean they can't win.

He'll, KP was also a guy you can't build around.  Horford, too.  We haven't had a center that a team can be built around since...  Cowens?  Parish was a great player, but I think that if he was your centerpiece in the 80s, the team would have struggled. 

Most players are complementary players that need to be used correctly.

But using him correctly means you aren't using Tatum and Brown correctly.  That is the issue.  You can't run an offense that fits Vucevic's strengths when your two best players aren't well suited to that offense.  Vucevic simply isn't a good enough player to merit having an offense tailored to his strengths, especially doing it on the fly.  What is Joe supposed to do mid-season, stop running the offense that they've been running with success for years, because they landed an ancient center who can't play defense?

Vucevic wasn't the right fit on the team.  He was acquired because he was a big man, that was available for Simons, and that cost less.  It was much less about the fit on the court than the financial fit. That is readily apparent with the way Vucevic played.  He just isn't any good.

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

Al and KP fit with them. Vucevic does not. Fit matters whether you want to admit it or not.

Except, of course, that prime Al, KP, and Vuc all had similar offensive skill sets.

[Celtics4ever]

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

[Who]

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

Al and KP fit with them. Vucevic does not. Fit matters whether you want to admit it or not.

Except, of course, that prime Al, KP, and Vuc all had similar offensive skill sets.

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

Agreed on both counts. Vooch has a similar offensive skill set but not a similar defensive skill-set.

Given that Vooch has a similar offensive skill-set, he can clearly fit in alongside the Jays. There is no excuse in terms of offensive fit. There is no reason why Vooch should be sidelined / ignored to the degree he was. There is no reason why Vooch cannot be a productive offensive player while also allowing Tatum & Jaylen to continue being productive players themselves.

This was a failure of coaching. Not of offensive fit.

[Moranis]

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

Al and KP fit with them. Vucevic does not. Fit matters whether you want to admit it or not.

Except, of course, that prime Al, KP, and Vuc all had similar offensive skill sets.

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

Agreed on both counts. Vooch has a similar offensive skill set but not a similar defensive skill-set.

Given that Vooch has a similar offensive skill-set, he can clearly fit in alongside the Jays. There is no excuse in terms of offensive fit. There is no reason why Vooch should be sidelined / ignored to the degree he was. There is no reason why Vooch cannot be a productive offensive player while also allowing Tatum & Jaylen to continue being productive players themselves.

This was a failure of coaching. Not of offensive fit.

Al became a spot up shooter in Boston.  His last 4 years here (when Tatum and Brown were in their prime) he took over 60% of his shots from 3 and they were almost all assisted.  His last year in Atlanta he dunked the ball 84 times, in Al's last 4 years here he didn't dunk the ball i4 times total.  Al was a different player in Boston than he was in Atlanta.   He adapted his game to fit with Tatum and Brown.  .Atlanta Horford was more similar to Vucevic, but Atlanta Horford is not the Horford we got in Boston.

KP has always been mostly the same player, but he also has always been much less interior driven. He gets dunks and inside scoring from rolls, cuts, etc. He doesnt camp out on the block like Vucevic.  Not really the same style of play at all. 

[Who]

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

Al and KP fit with them. Vucevic does not. Fit matters whether you want to admit it or not.

Except, of course, that prime Al, KP, and Vuc all had similar offensive skill sets.

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

Agreed on both counts. Vooch has a similar offensive skill set but not a similar defensive skill-set.

Given that Vooch has a similar offensive skill-set, he can clearly fit in alongside the Jays. There is no excuse in terms of offensive fit. There is no reason why Vooch should be sidelined / ignored to the degree he was. There is no reason why Vooch cannot be a productive offensive player while also allowing Tatum & Jaylen to continue being productive players themselves.

This was a failure of coaching. Not of offensive fit.

Al became a spot up shooter in Boston.  His last 4 years here (when Tatum and Brown were in their prime) he took over 60% of his shots from 3 and they were almost all assisted.  His last year in Atlanta he dunked the ball 84 times, in Al's last 4 years here he didn't dunk the ball i4 times total.  Al was a different player in Boston than he was in Atlanta.   He adapted his game to fit with Tatum and Brown.  .Atlanta Horford was more similar to Vucevic, but Atlanta Horford is not the Horford we got in Boston.

KP has always been mostly the same player, but he also has always been much less interior driven. He gets dunks and inside scoring from rolls, cuts, etc. He doesnt camp out on the block like Vucevic.  Not really the same style of play at all.

Vucevic doesn't camp out in the low post. He spends most of his time in the high post as a facilitator and PnP / PnR player.

He goes into the 20 foot area rather than the 23-25 feet area. There is no reason why he cannot work alongside the Jays.

[Who]

Vucevic averaged 2.6 post ups per game in Chicago this season. He also averaged 2.6 post ups the year before for Chicago. He does not camp out in the paint. He plays mostly in the high post opening the paint up for Chicago's ball-handlers to drive. That is exactly what Tatum & Jaylen like to play with.

The year prior to that in 2024, Vucevic averaged 3.1 post ups per game. Porzingis averaged 3.2 post ups for Boston that season when they won the title. Porzingis averaged 3.5 post ups for Boston last season (vs 2.6 for Vooch in Chicago).

[jambr380]

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

That was all I was trying to say in my post. Vucevic has talent on the offensive side and could have found some semblance of a groove if he didn't get injured, but he might be the worst defensive Center in the league. We were never going to utilize him enough on offense to make up for his terrible defense.

Al and KP were both much more impactful defensively. It's just so hard to play a Center who doesn't make any defensive impact if you want to win. They'd have to be the Center version of prime Isaiah Thomas.

And while I was upset we paid to get off of a better player in Simons, I didn't absolutely hate the trade when they made it. Vucevic has had a long, mostly productive career, but there comes a time when guys don't quite have it anymore.

[Larry for 3]

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

That was all I was trying to say in my post. Vucevic has talent on the offensive side and could have found some semblance of a groove if he didn't get injured, but he might be the worst defensive Center in the league. We were never going to utilize him enough on offense to make up for his terrible defense.

Al and KP were both much more impactful defensively. It's just so hard to play a Center who doesn't make any defensive impact if you want to win. They'd have to be the Center version of prime Isaiah Thomas.

And while I was upset we paid to get off of a better player in Simons, I didn't absolutely hate the trade when they made it. Vucevic has had a long, mostly productive career, but there comes a time when guys don't quite have it anymore.

Exactly. He got played off the court in this series as he would have been against the Knicks. In the playoffs you can?t justify giving him meaningful minutes. Congrats on saving money Mr. Chisholm.

[Moranis]

That's nonsense.  The Jays thrived with Horford.  They thrived with KP.  Both can clearly play with an offensively talented center.

Al and KP fit with them. Vucevic does not. Fit matters whether you want to admit it or not.

Except, of course, that prime Al, KP, and Vuc all had similar offensive skill sets.

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

Agreed on both counts. Vooch has a similar offensive skill set but not a similar defensive skill-set.

Given that Vooch has a similar offensive skill-set, he can clearly fit in alongside the Jays. There is no excuse in terms of offensive fit. There is no reason why Vooch should be sidelined / ignored to the degree he was. There is no reason why Vooch cannot be a productive offensive player while also allowing Tatum & Jaylen to continue being productive players themselves.

This was a failure of coaching. Not of offensive fit.

Al became a spot up shooter in Boston.  His last 4 years here (when Tatum and Brown were in their prime) he took over 60% of his shots from 3 and they were almost all assisted.  His last year in Atlanta he dunked the ball 84 times, in Al's last 4 years here he didn't dunk the ball i4 times total.  Al was a different player in Boston than he was in Atlanta.   He adapted his game to fit with Tatum and Brown.  .Atlanta Horford was more similar to Vucevic, but Atlanta Horford is not the Horford we got in Boston.

KP has always been mostly the same player, but he also has always been much less interior driven. He gets dunks and inside scoring from rolls, cuts, etc. He doesnt camp out on the block like Vucevic.  Not really the same style of play at all.

Vucevic doesn't camp out in the low post. He spends most of his time in the high post as a facilitator and PnP / PnR player.

He goes into the 20 foot area rather than the 23-25 feet area. There is no reason why he cannot work alongside the Jays.

and yet he didn't.  He is too slow and gets in the way.  Over 50% of his attempts for his career are inside 10 feet.  Less than 19% of his career attempts were fron 3, he was just over 38% in Boston.  Only 16.5% of his attempts in Boston were inside 3 feet, which is the 2nd lowest in his career and over 8% lower than his career average.  Last year Horford was at 68.1% and 11.9% from this ranges.  Even KP was 43.6% and 17.4%. 

Vucevic couldn't adapt to the style of play required in Boston.  His style simply doesnt fit offensively and he isnt good enough to change the offense for him.  With both Tatum and Brown, the big man needs to be mostly a spot up floor spacing big man.  An uber talent like KP can do a bit more pick and rolls, but even KP had to adjust a fair amount to really make it work. 

There aren't a lot of offenses you can run with 2 wings with the skill sets of Tatum and Brown, especially when they are both on the floor.  Neither one has the ball handling or playmaker abilities of the other great wing duos in history (Lebron/Wade and MJ/Pippen).  JT and JB really only work well in an offensive system similar to the one Boston runs.  Now if you swapped one out for a similarly talented player that wasn't a wing, a lot more options would open up.   

[Roy H.]

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

That was all I was trying to say in my post. Vucevic has talent on the offensive side and could have found some semblance of a groove if he didn't get injured, but he might be the worst defensive Center in the league. We were never going to utilize him enough on offense to make up for his terrible defense.

Al and KP were both much more impactful defensively. It's just so hard to play a Center who doesn't make any defensive impact if you want to win. They'd have to be the Center version of prime Isaiah Thomas.

And while I was upset we paid to get off of a better player in Simons, I didn't absolutely hate the trade when they made it. Vucevic has had a long, mostly productive career, but there comes a time when guys don't quite have it anymore.

Exactly. He got played off the court in this series as he would have been against the Knicks. In the playoffs you can?t justify giving him meaningful minutes. Congrats on saving money Mr. Chisholm.

Prior to the deadline, our bigs were Queta and Garza (both of whom got played off the court, as well).  After the deadline, they were Queta, Garza and Vuc.

It stands to reason that if we didn't make the Vuc trade, we would have been thinner in the front court, not better. 

[jambr380]

They don't have similar defensive skill sets.

That was all I was trying to say in my post. Vucevic has talent on the offensive side and could have found some semblance of a groove if he didn't get injured, but he might be the worst defensive Center in the league. We were never going to utilize him enough on offense to make up for his terrible defense.

Al and KP were both much more impactful defensively. It's just so hard to play a Center who doesn't make any defensive impact if you want to win. They'd have to be the Center version of prime Isaiah Thomas.

And while I was upset we paid to get off of a better player in Simons, I didn't absolutely hate the trade when they made it. Vucevic has had a long, mostly productive career, but there comes a time when guys don't quite have it anymore.

Exactly. He got played off the court in this series as he would have been against the Knicks. In the playoffs you can?t justify giving him meaningful minutes. Congrats on saving money Mr. Chisholm.

Prior to the deadline, our bigs were Queta and Garza (both of whom got played off the court, as well).  After the deadline, they were Queta, Garza and Vuc.

It stands to reason that if we didn't make the Vuc trade, we would have been thinner in the front court, not better.

It always made sense to trade for another Center. Since we already had Garza to spread the floor, I assumed it would be more of an athletic banger like Missi or Sharp - a guy who could come in and provide a similar skillset to the one Queta was playing that was mostly successful.

We were also running lineups with Minott, Hugo, and Walsh at Center. And we had Tatum step into that spot in the past (not the best idea coming back from injury).

I genuinely agree that the ideal version of Vooch could have helped this team, but both his energy and playstyle were completely different than what we were employing all year. And then he missed a very important month right before the playoffs. He just always looked very out of place out there.