PG - Wall/M Jones (he's earned the playing time) SG - Oladipo/Gordon (I would like to see EG play with starting group, maybe last 5 minutes) SF - House/Brown PF - PJ/Tate C - Wood/Cousins The only reason I leave McLemore out is his defense and Nwaba 3 pt shooting is terrible ( in my Barkley voice). I would like to see what a Cousins, Wood, Gordon, Oladipo, and Wall would do on the floor during the last 5 minutes of a tight game...
We have too many "playable" players right now, but no one is consistently good. Some nights a player or two will go off, and then become a complete scrub in the next game. Tough job for Silas.
Wall Oladipo Gordon Tate House Tucker Wood Cousins That's probably our 8 man rotation. There's arguments for Nwaba & Brown with the SF position the only one that could change.
I dont think this will be a huge issue during the season. I think we have several players who need to have their minutes limited anyways. Granted the young guys are playing well, let them take some minutes from the older guys.
Tate and nwaba have earned minutes over House wall/Gordon Dipo/brown Tate/ Pj/nwaba Wood/cousins our 10th best so far has been Jones . But guard is full . House could get some backup forward minutes . Maybe we play small
We should continue expecting House and PJ in the starting lineup and Mclemore getting minutes to keep up their trade value (House and PJ in particular).
OPs lineup isn’t far off with the lineup except maybe switching Tate with House. However, I hope we showcase our trade assets to raise value... the real question is... 1. Would you rather go all out and let our trade assets expire along with our expiring contracts (Tucker/Dipo/Brown?) and end up with the MIAMI pick regardless of what happens? OR 2. Would you rather have additional draft capital from trading Tucker/Oladipo and others plus a 52% chance at a top 4 pick? Hopefully Stone makes the right choice...
You can't realistically expect to rely on Cousins for lockdown defense during crunch time. This roster does have some intriguing lineups. Less talent at the top, but seemingly much more above-average role players, or at least those who can contribute, than in many years. As interesting as that lineup you suggested might be, there's no way you leave out Tate or Tucker. Cousins or Wood would be the odd man out in certain defensive possessions. I'm confident Silas will be able to coordinate the lineups during crunch time, not unlike how the Spurs would keep Duncan out for some possessions. Realistically we're more likely to see inconsistent play with lingering injuries -- or precaution -- keeping players out here and there. Hopefully Oladipo can gel with the team as the days and weeks go by. As of now his role is up in the air and doesn't look particularly comfortable, but very small sample size.
Having a ten man rotation is great problem to have. Silas can play mix and match based on who’s hot and playing hardest any given game. Let 8-10 on the depth chart compete for minutes each game.
And something in the middle isn't an option at all to you? Having guys around like Tucker who can be on floor presence teaching the people we do have how to play and communicate?
That is an option but it’s more of a guarantee that we end up with the Miami pick while maybe making the playoffs.... not the best position to be in... similar to all the years we picked 14
This is fantasyland.. Unless we hire the Phoenix training staff and administer more roids than Miami... we are never going to have a fully healthy team.
