This team cannot be mostly back next year. Whether it be coaching or players, the last games of this series was a wake up call. The most lopsided 6 game series in NBA history.
I want you to explain or show me any case where a team lost by 60 PTS in a series and ever turned into a contender or just kept their team the same.
We had a bit of a honeymoon period where we(including myself) thought they're was a high tier core here but just is not the case.
Dyson Daniels was the only guy that was not in a role that was clearly too much for him.
Jalen is a clear number 2, demeanor wise and playstyle. The defensive deficiencies with him are real. We thought he was sandbagging reg season effort but no he was mid in the playoffs too. If a team were to say "hey here's the PG package for him", I would seriously consider it.
Onyeka played good but it's clear he is a max 30 min dude. His efficiency/defense is just garbage when he plays too many mins. He's reminding me more and more of Rob Williams with the mins/efficiency. There just has to be a cap with him.
NAW was WAY out of league as a primary ball handler. It was eye opening but that's the reality. Dude could not dribble/breakdown around anyone. And not only that he decided to force his way into the paint so many times with no plan. If he had pulled from 35 feet every possession like Bogi, don't think anyone would have been angry with him. Positive note is he's a knockdown shooter.
C.J. clearly a gunner off the bench role but that's not surprising. Literally can't pass.
Kuminga again is an option to bring back but I'd steer away from it tbh. You can tell he wants to start and that should never happen in Atlanta. You saw the severe processing deficiencies with him. He impressed me though with the intensity/athleticism and defense/rebounding.
I'd rather move on from Quin next year if they underachieve. He doesn't work margins never has and I screamed about it a good amount past two years and got tired this year lol. There were certain things even this series (like playing Josh Hart like a shooter smfh or never taking charges on KAT's out of control drives...) that were clear like...are you guys paying attention? Game 5 was ridiculous, putting Dyson on KAT secured a 40 ball for Brunson on elite efficiency.
He stated in his press conference, "Lack of execution"...okay? So if Onsi agrees, they should change personnel. Because some of the mistakes and the overall vibe from this series was like, they should get better as the series goes on and yet they never did....Like we expected Atlanta to play good at some point in this series and they never did. Maybe most of Game 3? like 4 or 5 quarters of out of the entire 24 quarters series wide?
Personally I've rooted for sports long enough to know certain wins/losses can define a group. A loss like this will define this group if they keep it the same. Only Dyson getting ejected or starting a scuffle was embarrassing. What a shameful performance.
TLDR: Jalen shouldn't be looked at as a 1 nor should they pass on any picks or trade prospects because of that imaginary player's fit with him
Dyson should be elevated and pushed more to become a primary ball handler.
Onyeka needs a tandem rotation similar to a RB1a/1b
NAW needs to take a backseat on ball-handling. He's a great 3 and D guy though.
Wouldn't extend Quin longer than 2 years.