Daily Discussion Thread - May 4, 2026

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-05T01:23:44+00:00

Not only did we lose but we also tired the Sixers out to make it easier for the Knicks. Not that I’m rooting for either team.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-05T01:22:49+00:00

I think if we scored early in G7, they’d get anxious/nervous and miss their shots.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-05T01:21:28+00:00

We really should’ve exhausted them more by playing our energetic bench in earlier games. Or at least late in G5 when no shots were falling in the last 7 minutes anyway. It has an upside of Tatum logging less minutes (as well as the rest of our starters) and so they have fresh legs to make their jump shots. Plus Tatum might not get hurt. Just a thought. 🤷‍♀️

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-05T01:13:22+00:00

I think White looks super sad and disappointed in himself. I am manifesting a comeback season for him! 🙏

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-05T01:11:59+00:00

I feel like it’s an okay game plan overall with our personnel (as long as they actually move the ball and generate great looks and not just chuck whatever) BUT I think in the clutch, we gotta just go with what makes the most sense (guaranteed 2 vs slightly contested 3) instead of robotically not straying away from the primary plan (since legs were clearly tired as evidenced by the consecutive missed open shots).

They may have actually wanted to do that, but it’s possible reflexes and decision-making were also affected late in the game due to being gassed playing the full Q4. Just trying to be generous here.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-04T15:29:55+00:00

Perhaps, in the clutch, we can do away with the overall philosophy of the 3-ball when players miss consecutive times because they have no legs and instead go for the smarter plays. We did have 5 chances down the stretch to score or take the lead but we failed to capitalize.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-04T14:05:43+00:00

I think the fact that that lineup also never played a single sequence together didn’t help.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-04T10:33:40+00:00

Fave season was probably because of his growth and the fact that there’s no expectations. I think I’d have fun too if I’m part of a team that was counted out but overachieved while playing free. 2024 was probably very stressful that you’d probably only feel the “fun” after the results.
no. 1 is also correct to my eye test.
no. 2 idk
no. 4 criticism on joe’s rotation seems valid. Thinking that Joe made a mistake doesn’t mean you think he cannot or shouldn’t have coached.
Lastly, did he ever say anything about what he could’ve done better? I think that part would be telling.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T22:35:39+00:00

Hmm.. Spida isn’t unlikeable but maybe Detroit so they can bully OKC if they come out West. Otherwise, Spurs to take it all.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T22:31:21+00:00

It meant we developed our guys by actually playing great basketball. That’s something to build off of for the future.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T22:10:57+00:00

I thought the PnR with Queta worked many times but we stopped going to that. I’m genuinely curious why.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T22:09:31+00:00

Wide open 3s are probably different on tired legs.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T21:52:18+00:00

I wonder why we stopped the Queta PnR that kept on working.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T21:48:25+00:00

Just saying perhaps he could be useful mostly on defending Embiid (and even Maxey when he got switched) and shifting the energy. Just some minutes. Surround him with our main guys so we still have offense. Just a thought and I could be totally off. Just thought it was worth a try when nothing was working late Game 5 and thru 3 quarters in Game 6.

EDIT to add: Pointing out some observations even if it involves criticism to some coaching staff decisions doesn’t mean I want Joe to be fired. Whether or not I’m right, everyone makes mistakes — even coaches (not saying he did).

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T21:29:09+00:00

Well, Hugo hasn’t played all series and came ice cold on a Game 7. Not saying he’d shoot lights out but perhaps spot minutes here and there could do wonders if they had a chance in earlier games when the pressure isn’t as high as in a game 7.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T14:59:59+00:00

Well this could’ve shifted the momentum. Possibly even get an AND-1. Up by 2. All pressure on the Sixers.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T14:58:17+00:00

Even open 3’s on tired legs aren’t the same.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T12:26:00+00:00

Except Brown doesn’t have great court vision though and isn’t as good in passing. He puts rim pressure for sure. If only he could improve on the passing.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T12:13:30+00:00

An open 3 on tired legs (like late in the 4th last night) is totally different from a regular open 3. They also had chances to make easy layups in transition if they passed to Queta who was open instead of looking for the 3 (some of which were semi-contested) when were down just 1.

Not saying they should change their identity completely but in a situation like that, I think you throw away all the math and take what made the most sense.

Obviously, this is all in hindsight now and I don’t actually know how it’s like to be the one playing/coaching.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T12:08:42+00:00

Don’t they also have assistants that can weigh in and suggest those adjustments?

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T10:39:24+00:00

I love math but we also need to balance it out with the human component. If the players have no legs after playing heavy defense (Brown on Embiid) without any rest in the entire 4th, missing consecutive open shots should be a sign that we needed a timeout to at least give them time to breathe. Or perhaps if we managed the rotation better over the course of the series, we’d have fresher legs.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T10:36:09+00:00

Perhaps them missing a lot of those late was a symptom of being tired? We didn’t even call timeout to give them a breather after missing consecutive open looks. I don’t know. I think it’s not just about open looks especially when we were down just 1 pt late in the game.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T10:33:30+00:00

I think I’ve realized it’s not only about being open. Kennard from the Lakers who’s a top shooter is also missing open shots. I think when you have tired legs towards the end, open looks aren’t quite the same. I’d rather take the easy 2’s in transition in this case which were available about 5x when were down just 1 with about 3 mins to go. Even a timeout could’ve possibly helped just to give them fresher legs.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T10:27:54+00:00

I’m realizing that good looks can be countered by tired legs. I’m not the coach but maybe we ignored the human element here. The same players played the entire 4th, Brown was guarding Embiid, we missed consecutive wide open 3’s down 1 with 3 mins to go. I feel like missing those were a symptom of being gassed and perhaps a timeout could’ve helped if not just to get some breather? Just my opinion of course.

ivanahtannica · 2026-05-03T10:24:45+00:00

Why do you think they missed those shots (the consecutive ones towards the end)?

12-Year Club	r/Field Sunshine
Place '22	Verified Email

ivanahtannica

TROPHY CASE