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Originally Posted by Dlev59  IMO, I don`t think there is such a thing as a meaningless, unproductive win.
And honestly, do you think a rookie would actually stop a player like a Tony Parker in the playoffs? Not to mention get any calls from the refs.
Let`s face it, if our playoff hopes rest on AA stopping quick penetrating guards, or AJ being the difference against an athletic team, WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!! |
Often when there are two teams of equal level, the little things make a difference, an energy play here, a defensive sequence there.
It's not even about AA stopping TP. It's about AA not being Dixon, and immediately triggering a run for the other team, and another defender that you can use to switch it up who can actually defend. It's not as much that AA/Amir are the best players ever as they are the best players WE have off the bench and it's stupid not to use them. What does it hurt to try?
Remember that defensive stretch in the BOS game with AA, or the stretch in the PHO game with Amir? Little things like that can turn a game.
Also, i belive AJ can make a huge impact just with his mobility alone. Having a good defender who is quick and can double/rotate recover and block the occassional shot is huge in the PO's. He doesn't have to be the difference. He just has to help, and make the game easier for the starters. Maybe an extra 10 min stretch of rest.
Bench players often make a difference in a series (We don't need to look further than Daniel Gibson). Just like Dixon's 4 min last night did. Can you imagine that happening in a PO game? It would be really difficult to come back from that against BOS. You will see BOS bench players in that series. Big baby Davis, Tony Allen, etc. The question is where will ours be?
The last few years we have looked old and slow so our solution as the PO's near is to scrap youth and get old and slow again ?
Playing them won't garuntee a ring, but it will definately give us a better chance. There's no need to repeat the past two years.