3 non-shooters PLUS
3 below-average defenders PLUS
1 head coach who insists on playing this lineup for the most minutes in the league EQUALS
exactly what we’re seeing here.

There might be enough sheer individual talent on this team to beat bad teams, but we’ve gotten our asses handed to us by any good team whenever that good team decides to start trying.

That starting lineup is now -8.8 per 100 possessions even with the addition of Brunson.

Here’s an interesting (small sample size) exercise:

Lineups with Fournier + Randle: -8 net rating (331 poss)
Lineups with neither Fournier nor Randle: +6 net rating (215 poss)
Lineups with Fournier but no Randle: +17.4 net rating (only 22 poss)
Lineups with Randle but no Fournier: +16.6 net rating (138 poss)

Of course out of the 4 possible lineups here, the one Thibs plays the most is the worst one.

Trading out Reggie Bullock for Fournier (especially considering the contract) has turned into one of the most disastrous decisions this FO has made.

It is honestly time for Julius to become a 28-30 minute player and Obi to take the rest of the minutes. And for Grimes (or Quickley!) to enter the starting lineup. Cam has potential but still too many boneheaded plays. You can’t have 3 nonshooters and 3 non defenders at the same time.

Landry Fields, the gift that keeps on not being a gift at all.

(Btw, *we* didn’t try to trade for Murray when he became available because we were neck deep in Brunson and couldn’t pivot, even though a breakout young all star pg who is basically earthbound Westbrook but with elite defense is exactly the kind of guy a team like Rose’s Knicks NEEDS to try to find. Dolan’s Razor, yet again.)

I know he’s 22, but having him sign a major extension and that’s how he starts the season… we keep hearing that he’s a hard worker and has the right attitude and tries to improve but at some point it’s got to translate to on court production.