This I agree with. (Some people are misdiagnosing it though). (IMO).

Praying for IQ being back. Realistically that’s the path to having success, as it was all year - having enough threats that you can score decently even when one guy is cold.

I do really like what we’ve seen from the young guys. This is all really good learning stuff for CMB, Walter and Shead.

Started CMB for Jak second half - same big run for the Cavs to open the 3rd (colour me shocked!). Saw Mamu lineups killing benches and ran one out late in the 4th and it couldn’t keep up.

If you want to fix the starters and are willing to bench one of them, bring RJ off the bench as a scorer.

Games in Toronto could be different. But Raps got lucky in both of these first games and fell short in both. BI hitting a shot would help.

More worryingly, in my opinion, they (and a lot of people on here) have misdiagnosed the issue, and the solution.

He’s open or comfortable on every shot. He’s just missing good looks.

I’d have CMB in a lot more, if Jak is sitting he shouldn’t be.

These small ball looks are decent for the offence but it feels like we can never make a real run with them because we can’t buy a stop unless the opponent just gets cold.

I think we’ve seen a lot of CMB in for Jak and nothing has changed with the PnR roastery. This issue there is how much of that is targeted at RJ who dies on every screen.

Fascinating little run here from RJ until he jacked that 3 for no reason.

Nor should you. But starting the rookie is a Hail Mary, especially when it doesn’t solve the issue of game 1.

Yeah, layup after layup because Scottie is out at the perimeter. And it’s not like it’s slowing Mitchell down.

This is a fun defensive lineup! Especially against this small look.

Nice little jumper from CMB there. Early bench look to bring a different look, and it’s not doing much defensively but they have scored a couple times and missed a good look from three.

I thought when Walter was checking in it was for RJ, not Shead. RJ’s getting targeted every time down.

And Scottie on a guard is not the answer.

Same starters is daring. Even if I would have stuck with Jak I'd have changed something. No idea why after all the success Walter had late season with Barnes playing point they abandon it here.

We'll see if the film sessions and some improved focus is enough.

I love the idea in theory (and long term) but in practice we are starting an undersized rookie against the opposition's biggest lineup, a rookie in whose minutes we got absolutely demolished in game 1, replacing the one guy who didn't have a giant minus beside his name at the end of the same game.

I’ve seen suggestions of having Scottie guard the guards, too, which is wild to me - take a defensive powerhouse and put him in the spot he most struggles with.

Ultimately the reality might be that without IQ we don’t have the firepower for 48 minutes of offence to keep up with the Cavs.

I feel like I watched a different game than everyone else. Jak was not good.

But a) he was far from the biggest problem (RJ was) and b) starting the rookie is never the answer in the playoffs. Even in this bad Jak game it was the CMB minutes that killed us.

Walter has had a few nice passes to CMB in this one.

Rookie gonna rookie (and I've liked CMBs effort this game). But that's what this playoff run is about. Getting Shead and JaKobe and CMB these reps. Plus more reps for Scottie.

Learning curves can be wild. Rest of the series will be interesting to watch for those young guys.

Meh. Brutal Q. But this series was going to be tough for the Raps at full health. Without IQ it's too easy for the offense to just die.

I think their capacity for that is greatly increased when not shorthanded. But they have no margin for error health wise.

This is more a lineup for CMB. Weird match up choices from Darko this game.

Hey look a pick play going to the rim. Forgot those were a thing.

First half was pretty fun!

I hope Darko subbed CMB for Jak just to prove to his perimeter guys that that wasn't the issue. If that was a sub to solve a problem I'm concerned about the adjustments for the rest of the series.

The offense dying like that was rough, really hope IQ can come back at some point.

The problem isn't Jak it's the perimeter defence. Drive after drive right into the paint. Even CMBs miraculous defence is doing nothing. The bigs just get tossed impossible choices on every possession.

Wow did the offense ever come out listless in the 2nd half... Run some actions with intention please!

Defensively? I don't think so. Jak fumbled a couple offensive possessions but life is tough for him sans IQ.

Nice couple of late threes from RJ there to help salvage a tough half for him.