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I feel like do to the circumstances around this team, the constant argument over Rose combined with the perpetual hope "with a healthy Rose next year" and the other moves that have been made, Mirotic waited for, and Butler groomed, we often forget to talk about the lion with a champions heart who we have counted on and received whatever was required on every night the Bulls suit up.
Other players have gone down, Deng was lost for a crucial playoff series when Rose was already down, and others, and Noah played hurt, he's played when he's off, but you always can count on him to step up on nights like this when much seemed hopeless and everyone kind of has trepidation going in about points and defense and missing players....there will be Noah giving his 100% for his 33 minutes.
Its guys like him you can count on in the playoffs. He might take a game off at home against an inferior opponent, hell, maybe he takes them lightly. But he'll show up in the playoffs and fight and its going to be exciting to see that this year if he indeed gets a starting back court of Rose/Butler heading into the playoffs.
With a max effort Noah going for the playoffs, and why would we expect less? He does this all the time when he needs to and the team needs him to. Well, those moments happen in the playoffs. He'll be there.
And so will Gasol, whose offensive game is really in a groove and he will have been leading the way along with Mirotic and Brooks for points down the homestretch. Dunleavy will give you Dunleavy all the time anytime. He just drives at 85% cruise control and plays within himself with a governor anyway, but very smart. He impacts the game in several ways and focuses his offense like Noah on not disrupting the great offensive players, keeping the ball moving when he doesn't shoot, and putting the pressure on the defense to commit to stopping drive or pass at all times. He rebounds his position well, and his length seems ok to good at disrupting the opponent from 3. He won't take bad shots, though he will miss an occasional mid range or lay-up do to athleticism and fear of block. Like almost all Dukies, he plays basketball like he is tough as Nails even if his body is not. I believe Duke has the best mental drive yourself to be good coach in the league, a west point man who surely teaches them how to be mentally tough.
He plays the right way. With scorers around him Rose/Butler/Gasol he becomes a dangerous facilitator/4th scorer and in this way compliments the game of Noah who just wants to offensive rebound and pass. Dunleavy is frequently found the guy back to break up a fast break. He has good defensive awareness and knows what Thibs expects from everybody.
Even though this starting 5 has barely played together, I can't wait to see it if it happens. With a tuned up and primed from scoring Brooks/Mirotic/Gibson group coming off the bench in playoffs to give valuable scoring and change-up lineup opportunities,
there is a reason GarPax have made dire moves and non-moves to keep this group together in the fantasy we see them all together.
At least everyone has played, and guys that missed long stretches played with everybody else at some point, just not all together too often.
But they are used to playing there own rolls in all different lineups and situation and needs on a given night, so it will just be 5 veterans playing off each other and doing there job in a formation they aren't as used to as they could be.
I hope we get them all together for about a week before playoffs, but its likely you have to be resting Gasol or Noah at that time.
Other players have gone down, Deng was lost for a crucial playoff series when Rose was already down, and others, and Noah played hurt, he's played when he's off, but you always can count on him to step up on nights like this when much seemed hopeless and everyone kind of has trepidation going in about points and defense and missing players....there will be Noah giving his 100% for his 33 minutes.
Its guys like him you can count on in the playoffs. He might take a game off at home against an inferior opponent, hell, maybe he takes them lightly. But he'll show up in the playoffs and fight and its going to be exciting to see that this year if he indeed gets a starting back court of Rose/Butler heading into the playoffs.
With a max effort Noah going for the playoffs, and why would we expect less? He does this all the time when he needs to and the team needs him to. Well, those moments happen in the playoffs. He'll be there.
And so will Gasol, whose offensive game is really in a groove and he will have been leading the way along with Mirotic and Brooks for points down the homestretch. Dunleavy will give you Dunleavy all the time anytime. He just drives at 85% cruise control and plays within himself with a governor anyway, but very smart. He impacts the game in several ways and focuses his offense like Noah on not disrupting the great offensive players, keeping the ball moving when he doesn't shoot, and putting the pressure on the defense to commit to stopping drive or pass at all times. He rebounds his position well, and his length seems ok to good at disrupting the opponent from 3. He won't take bad shots, though he will miss an occasional mid range or lay-up do to athleticism and fear of block. Like almost all Dukies, he plays basketball like he is tough as Nails even if his body is not. I believe Duke has the best mental drive yourself to be good coach in the league, a west point man who surely teaches them how to be mentally tough.
He plays the right way. With scorers around him Rose/Butler/Gasol he becomes a dangerous facilitator/4th scorer and in this way compliments the game of Noah who just wants to offensive rebound and pass. Dunleavy is frequently found the guy back to break up a fast break. He has good defensive awareness and knows what Thibs expects from everybody.
Even though this starting 5 has barely played together, I can't wait to see it if it happens. With a tuned up and primed from scoring Brooks/Mirotic/Gibson group coming off the bench in playoffs to give valuable scoring and change-up lineup opportunities,
there is a reason GarPax have made dire moves and non-moves to keep this group together in the fantasy we see them all together.
At least everyone has played, and guys that missed long stretches played with everybody else at some point, just not all together too often.
But they are used to playing there own rolls in all different lineups and situation and needs on a given night, so it will just be 5 veterans playing off each other and doing there job in a formation they aren't as used to as they could be.
I hope we get them all together for about a week before playoffs, but its likely you have to be resting Gasol or Noah at that time.
