Alex Abrines

I’m a fair guy at heart. I was tough on Alex Abrines earlier this season as I called him frilly and soft. I said he wasn’t worthy of being in the rotation.

But I was wrong. Since that home court disaster loss to the Milwaukee Bucks–Abrines has worked his tail off and become what I would call a viable NBA player.

His defense has become worlds better. His lateral movement has improved markedly. His overall defensive toughness has gone from a soft Euro to a decent NBA player.

But even more importantly—he’s been scoring the ball as well.

Alex Abrines deserves to be in Billy Donovan’s nine man rotation as the Thunder enter post season play. It’s time for the rookie Ferguson to sit and time to reward Abrines on with minutes since this team is such a horrid three point shooting team and needs shooting.

Alex Abrines is trending and in a good way.

Donovan should shave some of Carmelo’s minutes and start giving them to Abrines, Jerami Grant, and Pat Patterson depending on who’s hitting shots on a given night.

Carmelo should be given 22 minutes a night. If his play warrants it—then he gets fed more minutes. Carmelo is not an elite NBA player. He was an elite NBA player and it’s time either a coach or a general manager explain this to him in a subtle private setting. But again, on those nights when he’s able to move and be an asset.. feed him minutes. If not–limit his exposure.

My nine man rotation goes in this order…1 Westbrook, 2 Paul George, 3 Steven Adams, 4 Carmelo Anthony, 5 Corey Brewer, 6 Ray Felton, 7 Jerami Grant, 8 Alex Abrines, and 9 Pat Patterson. An NBA coach has to orchestrate 240 minutes of playing time in a regulation game. Little league at the Girl’s North Edmond Soccer League time is over. Billy Donovan needs to tighten it up and get with it.