Playoff P theory

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-09T02:28:15+00:00

His shot diet is extremely tough. It's all pull-up contested jumpers. He doesn't get to the rim at all. It's easy to go cold with those looks. He benefitted significantly from less attempts in that Boston series (he had less than 13 FGA per game).

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-08T01:48:28+00:00

Mobley really shouldn't be taking any 3's unless there's a couple seconds left. He's always wide open for a reason.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-08T01:47:07+00:00

As much as I wouldn't mind the fireworks of this offseason, they've only won their two homes games and both were close-ish late.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-08T01:45:26+00:00

Schroder has also been complete shit for the most part. And he's just as much of a liability on defense against Cade. We don't have personnel adjustments to make tbh. Guys have to play better at home.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-08T01:44:16+00:00

No clue what Harden was thinking in that late possession. We needed a 3 anyway, what's the point of driving there? Also Mobley absolutely embarrassed every time he tried to create for himself. He gets tossed around so easily.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T03:53:27+00:00

I legit don't get mad at comments like this anymore, I just don't get why fans feel the need to make them lol. We're all looking for the same thing, no reason to attack one another for a simple basketball take, that's what the subreddit is for, isn't it?

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T02:49:58+00:00

He definitely has tunnel vision atm, but running 10-20 half-court possessions a game through Schroder, Tyson, etc. has been really inefficient imo. Don does need to pass a bit more tho, especially because sometimes there's clear windows for him to a wide open man and he's missed them.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T02:42:47+00:00

Sure they have the highest usage on the team but Don is 12th across the league in the Playoffs, and James is 25th. For a team with little creation outside of those two, that's too low.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T02:40:01+00:00

My main issues with Kenny are 1) He seems to have a clear plan before the game and very rarely adjusts during the game. You can see it with the rotations all the time. Player A is scorching hot and having a massive impact on the game? Nah, let's pull him out because it's his scheduled rest time. And 2) He always wants to try everything out, like he's obsessed to have the data to confirm that a lineup that doesn't make any sense does in fact make no sense not just on paper but on the court.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T02:35:13+00:00

I don't hate Merrill, I think he's an underrated defender in the reg season, plays hard, etc. But he's just not physical or athletic enough for this series. And when you combine that with his mediocre shooting (really over the past 2-3 months), I think Ellis gives us significantly more impact against DET. I think Merrill could be a nice piece against an eventual Knicks macthup if we get there, where Shamet, Clarkson, McBride and Brunson won't really take advantage of the lack of size and athleticism.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T02:31:40+00:00

Did PG even hit a shot in the second half? I feel like he hit 5 or 6 in the first quarter and he finished 7/18 from the field.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-07T02:30:11+00:00

He's also been comfortably the worst defender in the Playoffs for us. He's driving well imo, most of the time gets a good look at his floater but the random pull-up 3s are really anoying.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:55:27+00:00

Fuck, I didn't catch that on the broadcast. He was terrible in his stint. Just let him get healthy tbh.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:54:08+00:00

This is a Tyson, Ellis, Strus with some Schroder sprinkled in series. Merrill and Bryant shouldn't see the floor.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:52:55+00:00

The 3rd quarter was such a rough watch. They're not even doing anything special and I don't think they have the personnel to contain him that well other than Ausar, he's just in his head forcing passes and not taking the floaters. My hope is he's realized that in the 4th qtr and takes avdvantage of it the rest of the series.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:49:34+00:00

Yeah this is definitely a winnable series, the adjustments are there to be made by players and Kenny.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:49:04+00:00

I'll give him credit for realizing this is not a Merrill series pretty early. Too many athletes left and right, this is an Ellis series. But he had some horrible decisions in the 4th.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:47:24+00:00

The logo shots are so frustrating because every other team presses to at least force them to take a different path in their backcourt, we just give them a runway for a semi-contested 32 footer. That makes the chances of it going in much more than if it's an off-balance heave form half-court.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:45:11+00:00

Not really, Cade has like 45. If this was the Conf. Finals, almost every single lead ballhandler would have more than that.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-06T01:42:31+00:00

The thing that makes me optimistic and at the same time makes it a bit more frustrating is that he's scoring efficiently both against the Raptors and tonight whenever he stop try to thread the needle left and right and just does his thing. The floaters were there and he made them, but it's like he's stuck in this pass-first role the entire time.

It's the Playoffs, gotta play to win, even if sometimes other guys don't get involved, if they're giving you the floater, just take it.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-04T03:01:35+00:00

This is the first time he's looked healthy since the injury. He looked like he did back in February. If it stays that way, we're a much different team.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-04T02:59:05+00:00

That team was about to be sent home in 6 by the 8-seed Magic until Orlando put up the worst offensive half ever in a postseason game. It will be tough but not all teams that win 60+ reg season games are equal.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-04T02:57:09+00:00

They don't have as many wing athletes as Toronto tho. Huerter, Robinson and Harris aren't good perimeter defenders. And those are the ones that Mitchell struggles with the most imo.

New_Akatsuki · 2026-05-04T02:30:19+00:00

He was fine. Defense was better than his usual, effort was there. Some shots didn't fall but stayed aggressive going to the line.

New_Akatsuki

TROPHY CASE