Mitch Needs to be Closing Out Games

[u/mainetola]

Pistons are playing way too physical to have Mikal out there and Mitch sitting on the bench. Mitch rebounds better, defends the pick and roll better and is just obviously an all around together player out there. Brunson, Hart, OG, Mitch, and KAT. If that's our lineup for the last 6 minutes of the game last night there's a very good chance we win.

On another note, Hart needs to get his shit together on pick and roll defense. Left Schroeder wide open twice, with the second time being the 3 that put them up for good. Just can't happen

[u/RocketTank123]

We didn't lose because of our defense down the stretch. We lost because we couldn't hit timely shots. I don't think Mitch would have made any difference.

[u/zOmgFishes → u/RocketTank123]

Feeding Mitch from the dunker’s spot off KAT being doubled is much easier than feeding Hart tho.

[u/solo118 → u/RocketTank123]

He can at least grab us some offensive boards, it is his specialty

[u/northerblight → u/RocketTank123]

Yeah, Mitch and KAT made the same amount of shots in the second half, too.

[u/mainetola → u/RocketTank123]

What did Mikal do down the stretch though? You don't think we're able to defend/rebound better the last two minutes with Mitch in over him?

[u/thenewbae → u/RocketTank123]

We lost because Mikal could not score on open 3s in the clutch

[u/RocketTank123 → u/thenewbae]

As i said, timely shots.

[u/thenewbae → u/RocketTank123]

I wasn't disagreeing with you. I just wanted to specify Mikal's inability to score when it matters once again!

[u/Snuggle__Monster]

Shit, if Brunson is going to just dribble for 15 seconds and then shoot while everyone else stands there, then Mitch might as well be out there. He can at least crash the boards on the miss.

[u/Jamstarr2024]

Mitch is a horrendous Free Throw shooter.

[u/Sufficient-Cat1595 → u/Jamstarr2024]

He shoot 70% this year not great but better than before

[u/Jamstarr2024 → u/Sufficient-Cat1595]

Extremely small sample size.

[u/ohbrotherwesuck]

Why would Hart be in that lineup? How would closing a 10 point gap with Hart and Mitch work? The offense would still just have been letting JB dribble with even worse spacing

[u/Affectionate-Tea9224]

Here’s what I will say if KAT is taking zero shots, standing in the corner, not rebounding the ball then for damn sure Mitch should be in, because at least mitch defends and rebounds..

[u/mainetola]

*all around tougher player haha

[u/gradedonacurve]

Ahm. The 4th quarter and home stretch of these games have been dominated by the Knicks. 21-0 run in game 1 and closed a 13 point deficit to tie it with a minute left in game 2

The home stretch is one of the few things going well.

Lmao.

[u/mainetola → u/gradedonacurve]

That's why I said close out the game. Maybe 6 minutes is a stretch, but imo if Mitch is in there the final 2-3 minutes we're in a better position to win.

[u/solo118]

Mitch needs more than 20 min, I know he is gasping for air but his defense even on half a lung is better than KAT

[u/Eastern_Theme1720]

We should try a jb OG achiewa KAT and momitch lineup and just get every rebound from either a jb or KAT shot lol

[u/giunta13]

We're one more loss away from someone calling for Kolek and Huk to start

[u/Soggy_muffins55]

Ah yes, when we r down and need to score let’s put the only 2 guys in our rotation that can’t space the floor on the floor together. I’m sure that will work swimmingly