Does Brown continue to start when Smart returns?[Poll]

[nickagneta]

So it's been just 4 games, but Jaylen, as the #4 option on the starting offense, has worked out well thus far in these playoffs. His defense and intensity has been excellent. He is shooting well everywhere but at the line(58.6% FG%, 42.9% 3PT%, 66.7% TS%) and has been great rebounding the ball with nearly 7 rebounds a game.

Kyrie is also playing great next to Jaylen, (22.5 PPG, 7.8 APG, 4.5 RPG)which is great to see since he obviously has to have the ball in his hands more without Smart there.

We all hope when Smart returns he is 100%, but that may be hoping for too much. Knowing Smart he would want to play at even just 25% capacity, which wouldn't be allowed, but I think it safe to say it is most probable Smart returns at less than 100% and possibly on a minutes restriction.

So do you give Smart the start or stick with what is working, with Brown playing some of his best defense of the year while being the most efficient scorer on the team and a giant plus on the boards grabbing 6.8 a game from the backcourt, making Brown, the team's 2nd leading rebounder?

But Smart and Kyrie have really shined as a backcourt all year. Smart taking some of the ball handling off Kyrie, tremendously helped the flow of the offense. Smart, at 100%, is also this team's best perimeter defender and a premier defensive QB along with Al Horford.

So do you go with what is working, if it continues to work with the Bucks, or do you give Smart his starting position back or do you wait until it appears Smart is just playing better than Brown, then make the switch?

[Androslav]

Brad isn't shy to make a starting lineup change, in the PO as well.
But also, his usual practice is, stick to the thing that is working.
I think that Jaylen starts this whole series and unless something drastic happens, whole PO.

[ozgod]

If it's working fine with Jaylen starting then I vote we stick with it, unless Jaylen suffers a drop in production because he becomes the 4th option with the starters vs the 2nd option with the 2nd unit, or if he's getting lit up by someone.

Personally I think with our team there's not that big a disparity with starters and bench players, it's not like other teams where there's a noticeable drop in quality. It's more about how many minutes they play and if they're in at the end of a close game. I became less concerned about who starts once it became obvious that we had a number of players who could easily start.

When you have players that are fairly interchangeable when it comes to quality, then the main thing becomes, who can impact the game at the start more and mesh in better with the 1st unit? I do think that's Smart, because he can survive on less touches offensively, and we already have 3 scoring options in Kyrie, Jayson and Al. But defensively I don't think there's a lot between them, maybe Smart has a bit of an edge but that's it. If Jaylen can be locked in defensively like he was for Indiana there's nothing between them.

BTW, this is predicated on Smart coming back, which I'm pretty sure are close to zero in terms of the Bucks series, and pretty low after that in any case.

[gouki88]

I chose the third option. I think Smart should slowly work his way back, and if he proves himself then Brad can make the move.

I think Brown was outperforming Smart coming off the bench at the end of the season, yet Smart still started. I also think Brown works better next to Hayward than Smart does.

[Chris22]

Smart should take Rozier's place in the second unit.

That will make us a much stronger team.

[Ogaju]

Brown should not even be starting now. He should be coming off the bench where he has excelled. It is actually shortsighted to have plucked Brown from the bench unit to the starting lineup after Smart went down. Because what you have effectively done is weaken your bench after suffering a loss that weakens your starting lineup. So now you have two weakened units instead of one. Morris should have been thrust into the starting lineup to replace smart.

[Somebody]

Brown should absolutely start, he's such a dynamic wing player that would be a huge mismatch for Milwaukee.

Btw 2000th post! Love you guys!

[Chief]

Smart taking Rozier's spot takes the the ball out of Hayward's hands. And I want Gordon with the ball.

So I say start Smart.

[Silky]

You go with what you know.

The starting lineup has performed very well.

4 wins no losses.

You dont change that for the 5th starter.



Smart comes off bemch amd lets gordon score more as opposed to facilitate. Team needs gordon putting up 20ppg more than it needs his getting 5 assists

[BASS_THUMPER]

if it aint broke dont fix it

[Ogaju]

Brown should absolutely start, he's such a dynamic wing player that would be a huge mismatch for Milwaukee.

Btw 2000th post! Love you guys!

Of course he is dynamic, now imagine him feasting on the opponents bench ala Lou Williams of the Clippers then when he is on a roll you play him at the end of the games. Brad is misusing his talent.

By the way TP for your new star.

[Big333223]

There are going to be a bunch of things to consider. Is Marcus 100% or is he on a minutes restriction at first? How does this affect the match-ups?

Everything else equal, I think you go back to what worked best over the course of the season, Smart in the starting lineup. But there might be other factors.

[Moranis]

If Brogdon is somehow back and starting next to Bledsoe, then I think Boston will need to start Smart, any one else starting with Bledsoe, you start Brown.

[nickagneta]

If Brogdon is somehow back and starting next to Bledsoe, then I think Boston will need to start Smart, any one else starting with Bledsoe, you start Brown.

Will it matter if Brogdon is playing or Brown? My guess is Tatum will be guarding either Brown or Brogdon with Jaylen or Smart, whichever starts, taking Middleton.

[Moranis]

If Brogdon is somehow back and starting next to Bledsoe, then I think Boston will need to start Smart, any one else starting with Bledsoe, you start Brown.

Will it matter if Brogdon is playing or Brown? My guess is Tatum will be guarding either Brown or Brogdon with Jaylen or Smart, whichever starts, taking Middleton.

I don't think Tatum or Brown would be effective guarding Brogdon.  Giannis is hard enough to contain the team doesn't need to give other Bucks easier times.

That said I don't think we see Brogdon until at least the 3rd game and he probably will be a much lesser version and not starting.  I also dont think Smart is back for awhile either.