In Reply to: It doesn't matter much who starts. posted by mh on January 29, 2025 at 11:07:41
CMC tends to be a more conservative coach.
That underlies his coaching emphasis on D, for which he expects max effort for every minute we're on that end of the court.
Same deal for injuries, as he tends to play the long game when it comes to starters who have injuries that can be easily re-aggravated if not given enuf healing time........read.......ankles, especially those that are badly twisted viz Bilo.
None of us has any inside info, plus Mick is not going to say boo before tip-off to compound Altman's game scheming task for tomorrow. But, with CMC's conservatism in mind, it's pretty much a lock IMO that when the final buzzer sounds, Bilo (in ANY event) will play well under his mins/gm avg of 27 (2nd to only Kobe). Staying with CMC's conservatism, it's also much more likely that he won't experiment with Mara (mins/gm avg of 12) AND Bilo on the court at the same time, since that would involve 4 starters being moved out of their comfort zones:
1) Bilo moving to PF (a good thing IMO);
2) Dailey moving to wing (likely not ideal);
3) Kobe moving to SG (likely not ideal becuz that would take KJ from overplaying the passing lanes to a stricter man-D on the opposition's perimeter shooting guard); and
4) likely pulling Skyy (likely not ideal) and have him come off the bench.
Sweeping the traditionally ranked Quackers would be sweet in any scenario, but it would be difficult even if we were at full strength...............as Hail Mary's (DA trey at the buzzer) don't grow on trees.