The thing is, Brunson, Bridges, and Hart are so mentally tough and seasoned that they don’t really need a Thibs any more (if they ever did, which is at least debatable), and Brown is allowing them to be “co-coaches” than would ever be possible under Thibs. But the early returns are that every single player on the team is playing with as much confidence that you could hope for. The Thibs residue is there, but it’s just better.

That might or might not translate into more playoff success…the bar Thibs set is really high and Brown doesn’t get the grace period that Thibs had. But the road is more scenic, more fragrant, more relatable. Tonight, Christmas Day, and Emirates Cup finals are all Mike Brown wins.

Also thought Diawara (should have gotten more mins) along with of course McCullar showed out. Kolek had an underwhelming night (should have gotten less minutes), as did Jordan Clarkson.

BBA, obviously, but isn’t that true for almost any team in the NBA? The hope is that they are more likely to eat minutes situationally in a pinch without costing us a playoff game. There’s a lot of very basic things you can’t learn unless you get non-garbage time NBA reps. I just pointed one of those things out in McCullar learning how to screen without being called for an offensive foul. Diawara is already doing less biting on fakes and reaching. Kolek sucked in his first few games this year and now he’s actually on the floor down the stretch in close games for defensive purposes!

Bottom line: Hey, you never know!

Meanwhile, brutal home losses for the Spurs and TWolves.

Nets are 7-3 in their last 10. Weak schedule, but getting better. The Spurs looking past a team after clubbing the champs back to back isn’t unexpected by a young team.

Kolek had some excellent defensive stands against Jalen Johnson, just chesting him up and keeping him away from the rim.

McCullar had two terrible illegal screens, but that’s something that can’t be corrected in the G-League because you ain’t screening for Jalen Brunson being guarded by a defensive wing down there. He should be able to clean that up.

These developmental mins for the young guys is fun to watch but other than Kolek if any other of the other young guys are getting meaningful mins in the playoffs we’re fucked.

You would have said the same thing about Kolek 3 weeks ago.

But that’s kinda the idea…. give the younger players on the roster a few minutes here and there so you don’t have the starters tongues hanging out in March and sometimes they take the ball and run with it.

Just two games out of first place in the East, baby!