I was more focused on how well the new additions looked like they fit within the flow of the offense. Strus obviously understands his role here and executed it beautifully in a win without our defensive anchor. It was hard af to win without JA last season, and it still didn’t look particularly easy vs. an average BK squad, but it’s an improvement with Max out there.

Niang didn’t really do much, and Jones is a serviceable big in a pinch. But the big question was: Does Max make us complete? Does he complete me? And I got my answer. Provided we haven’t seen him out there with JA yet, I think our starting 5 can bang with anyone, an Okoro will raise the quality of our biggest weakness…the bench. Our bench is god-awful if Okoro starts. So play good as you want Ice, we need you on the bench because you got to lift it up, carry it, and run with it all. damn. season.