It's always good to win and I think both these last two wins were well deserved and needed, but I don't quite yet know how to think about this team.
On one hand I can see the potential here and can also see that they can easily improve this season. And yet, on the other hand I'm not so sure they will be able to reach their greater potential this season.
I know that basketball is a game of runs thus an up and down nature is always present, but I think the Bruins, the last two games have shown that they have a lot of work to do to even get into the very good team conversation. IMO the Bruins were lucky to get these last two wins. Also, IMO, they had no business making these last two games as close as they were.
Clearly they are still learning how to play together and I'm confident they will improve in that regard. They can't help doing so given their collective talent and Cronin's relentless insistent on it.
Of all the guards the Bruins have it is only Andrews who has displayed the ability to be an effective leading point guard. I don't know if he's playing hurt, or self-consciously with re-injury in mind, or he's dealing with a personality issue, but IMO he has to step up to his late last season form for the Bruins to even hope to approach what I think is their potential.
Right now, I think, Cronin's most effective lineup is Bilodeau, Dailey, Johnson, Clark, and Andrews. Mack could easily be in that lineup, but I like his coming off the bench and giving the Bruins an extra "lift" of aggressive offense. I think in that role he is maybe the most effective for the team and gives the Bruins something special.
But, I think Bilodeau at the four gives the Bruins their most potential. That means either Williams or Mara need to step up their game. I'm not sure that's going to happen this season. I initially thought Williams had the more immediate chance of growing into that position with his strength and athleticism. Accepting that he might not be a significant offensive contributor but would be serviceable with put backs, dunks, transitional opportunities, and the occasional down low shot. His main contribution would be on the defensive side of things with his rebounding and rim protection. I still think he has great potential but is farther away from that potential than I originally thought.
Mara, on the other hand, I think has made great strides toward his improvement and considerable potential but I still think he needs to get much stronger and we probably aren't going to see that until next season. I think eventually he is going to be a special player and load to deal with on both sides of the ball, but that's still a ways away.
I think Cronin right now this season is looking at those two posts as essentially backups. They will obviously improve in those roles but I don't think either will provide any significant answers to the post issues. That leaves Bilodeau at the five. I think the Bruins are a good team with Tyler playing the 5 and they will undoubtedly improve, but I don't think they will ever be the team I thought I had potentially envisioned for this season until Andrews steps up and Mara beefs up (which he eventually will) or Williams grows up.