Adrian Griffin filled in for Nick Nurse on Sunday as the Raptors’ head coach dealt with a family issue. Griffin, who coached the club to a one-point win over Detroit, hopes this experience will help him land a head coaching job down the road, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star writes.
“It’s something I’d like to pursue in the future as far as being a head coach so this is good practice for me,” the Raptors assistant said said. “But I never lose sight of what’s important and that’s the players. I’ve got to make sure that they’re prepared, I’ve got to make sure that they know what’s coming and put them first. Yes, I appreciate this opportunity but I always try to keep it in perspective: We’ve got a game to win and my job is to prepare them to win.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Dewayne Dedmon has decided to join the Sixers after he clears waivers, but Philly Voice’s Kyle Neubeck is skeptical that Dedmon is the answer as Joel Embiid‘s backup, given that he’s 33 and he couldn’t establish himself as the Heat’s backup big man. Dedmon made spotty contributions on offense this season and it’s questionable whether he can effectively guard pick-and-rolls, Neubeck writes.
- Ben Simmons admits he’s not happy with his spotty fourth-quarter minutes, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. “It’s a little frustrating trying to find some rhythm and consistency; but that’s what it is at this point right now,” he said. “Guys have been in and out due to injuries, trades, so there’s been a lot of different things that play factors into it.”
- Nets fans have quickly embraced Mikal Bridges, the top player they acquired in the Kevin Durant blockbuster. The home crowd chanted “Brooklyn Bridges” as he shot free throws in his team debut on Saturday. “Hearing that chant, I kind of wanted to join in and make them yell louder. … People were already saying ‘Brooklyn Bridges’ when I got traded. I like it,” he said.
- Bridges didn’t lose his consecutive games streak on a technicality, Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press reports. He was forced to miss a game last week for the first time in his career on Thursday after he was traded by Phoenix. He was listed as “inactive — trade pending” in the official box score. The league determined that since Bridges wasn’t eligible to play, it shouldn’t count as a missed game. He has the league’s longest active streak, now at 367 after the Nets fell to the Knicks on Monday night.
The Cam Thomas hype train didn’t last as long as linsanity that’s for sure.
Lots of guys could score 40 if they jacked up 30 shots.
Thomas averaged 45 points on 25 shots in his 3 games.
When you score that many points in a row, the league puts you on notice. If you’ve watched the games, he’s been double teamed a lot more recently. He does need to adjust and take better shots.
It starts with spotty 4th quarter minutes…
Dude wants to get quality time in the 4th quarter, he should act like he really wants it.
Jerry Sloan is probably rolling over in his grave with all these wusses playing professional basketball today!
You can tell a lot about a player with the way they answer that sort of question and Simmons failed resoundingly.
The correct answer was: “I’m more frustrated that I’m not playing up to my capabilities for myself and the team. Once that happens, I’m sure those minutes will be there.”
Ben is a superior defender with athleticism, length, and size. A reduced role is what guys like him play. 20 minutes a game is about correct for guys that do what he does, and still get to play in the NBA.
Ben Simmons
Practice jumpers
Crazy to be a $10 million dollar a year pro and
Cannot shot at even a high school level
And he is a 35+ mil player
1o million? Try 36 million.
He doesn’t even need to practice jumpers, just freaking dunk the ball. He’s so afraid of shooting free throws he doesn’t even bother with penetration. He also doesn’t bother with outside shooting either.
It’s the same drive to right outside the paint and shoot his wack ass shot. It’s hard to watch.
Dinwiddie, Harris, Bridges, DFS, Simmons
Cam Johnson, O’neal, Claxton, Cam Thomas/Seth Curry
I don’t like Simmons at PG. PG. Simmons SG. Dinwiddie, SF. Bridges, PF. DFS or O’Neal, C. Claxton
You dont like Simmons at PG, but want him to start there? In my version of the rotation, the idea would be for him to move between the 5, 1, and 4 spots depending who is on the floor with him, and pair him with their great catch and shoot guys…
Without KD and Kyrie, he does have to score slightly more, but it’s still not imperative for him to put up a lot of shots, with still a lot around him
If i had a team with Simmons. I would play him exclusively at the 3 with maybe spot minutes at other positions. I put Simmons at PG because that’s what I think the nets will do
He can’t be a 3. He is zero offensive threat from the wing and plays best in the half court from the dunkers spot. Having him patrol the perimeter without the ball in his hands is practically worthless. He has to be PG or PF with a C that can stretch the floor
If I was the nets I would trade him too. Right now
I agree with the Ben Simmons benching. He’s not aggressive trying to score, he STILL can’t make free throws, and his defense hasn’t been the same. He’s a liability in the forth quarter if the other team starts fouling him.
Hey Bulls: dump Donovan, give yer old pal Griffin a shot.
I mean in the morning off-season now