Minutes

[Fan from VT]

I tend to think "logjams" have a way of working themselves out. On a roster of 15, there usually isn't THAT much of a surplus, then 1 injury, 1 young guy regressing/not living up to expectations typically results in normal depth.

But let's map this out.

Right now, let's talk about minutes and positions.

C: 48 minutes. Horford, 32 mpg. That means we need 16 mpg out of zizic +/- vet mins.
PG: IT 33 mpg. So, throw 15 in the pool.

PG/SG/SF: 111 minutes for Hayward, Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Crowder, Bradley, Smart. Based on last year, rough MPG: Hayward 34, Tatum *??*, Brown 17, Crowder 32, Rozier 17, Bradley 33, Smart 30.

So that is 163 minutes, not counting Tatum; probably he could get 18, so call it 181.

Last year, Brown played 1.5 mpg at PF, Crowder played 6.5 mpg at PF. Call that 8 mpg, so now we can decrease to 173. I don't think rozier really needs to play, so remove him, down to 156. Cut Crowder down to 24 (16 SF, 8 PF), that brings us to 148. Drop Bradley and Smart to 28, that gives us 143 minutes.

That is still 32 more MPG than is available, and that is assuming a combined 35 mpg for Tatum/Brown and none for Rozier. That really is a logjam.

So, counting the 8 from Brown and Crowder, we need 40 more mpg at PF. Hayward played no minutes at PF last year, per 82games. Brown played about 1.5 mpg at PF. Crowder 6.5. Some work to be done there, either by:
- Yabasule is ready to play small ball PF, plays above his size on D.
- Semi is ready to play small ball PF, plays above his size on D.
- Crowder can shift to nearly full time PF
- Tatum can handle some small ball PF.
- Zizic is ready for more than 16 mpg.
- CObble together some MLE type stuff
- Very small ball style of play
- A trade.

Final tally:
C: Horford 32, Zizic 16
PF: 10-12 Crowder/Brown/Tatum; 36 unaccounted (Trade, yabasule, semi, etc)
SF: 32 Hayward, 16 Tatum
SG: 16 Brown, 22 Bradley
PG: 32 IT, 16 Smart

But that leaves quite a few unused minutes for Bradley, Smart, Tatum, Crowder, Brown.

[Fan from VT]

Spitballing, potential targets (haven't worked out salary details, just thinking)

Bradley or Crowder for Cody Zeller, now that they have Dwight

Jon leuer or Marcus Morris from Detroit (though Marcus Morris may only be slightly more PF than Crowder).

Would Indy deal THaddeus Young for cheap, now that George is gone?

I've always kind of liked Jon Hensen from Milwaukee, but they look a little thin up front; on the other hand, since Giannis is kind of the point forward, they may wand a guy who can defend from the PG spot like Smart or Bradley.

Orlando has Biyambo and Vucevic sitting there, though I'm not thrilled with either, overall. Vucevic sure would help with rebounding though!

Can we re-trade for Powell from Dallas?

Denver is an obvious one just sitting there. Want a defensive tough guard to put with Mudliay and Murray? Mason Plumlee could fit very well in our PF spot. They just signed Milsap, still have Lyles, Hernangomez, Jokic all up front. And of course Faried, who would solve a lot of our rebounding woes.

Is Montejiunas salvageable from NOP? How about that Anthony Davis guy? that wouldb e the perfect fit.

In Portland, Ezeli still has knee issues, but they just drafted Collins and have Nurkic; would they deal Vonleah, Ed Davis or Leonard for a defensive off ball guard to put with McCullom/Lillard?


Would it be poor form to ask for Favors from Utah? I've always liked him.

[loco_91]

Here, I figured it out.

PG: IT / Smart
C: Horford/Zizic
Wing: Hayward/Crowder/Brown/Tatum/Smart/AB

As you can see, we have a perfectly balanced roster if you want to play with 1 point guard, 1 center and 3 wings most of the time.

[Who]

Guards: IT, Smart, Bradley, Rozier = 96 minutes
Forwards: Hayward, Tatum, Jaylen, Crowder = 96 minutes
Centers: Horford, Zizic = 48 minutes

I think Stevens will go small for whole game. Too many quality guards to get many minutes for those SFs at SG so they will have to play at PF ... where Boston has nobody anyways. So that works out just fine.

Game to game changes = In games where Boston needs more size on the perimeter, I expect Rozier to drop out of the rotation and either Hayward or Jaylen to pickup his minutes in the backcourt. When they need more size at PF, someone can come in there. Or if they need more speed at center, Zizic drops out of the rotation.

Something like ....

Guards: IT (33), Smart (24), Bradley (30), Rozier (10)
Forwards: Hayward (32), Tatum (24), Jaylen (26), Crowder (24)
Centers: Horford (30), Zizic (18)

[Fan from VT]

Here, I figured it out.

PG: IT / Smart
C: Horford/Zizic
Wing: Hayward/Crowder/Brown/Tatum/Smart/AB

As you can see, we have a perfectly balanced roster if you want to play with 1 point guard, 1 center and 3 wings most of the time.

You know, if Davis (or maybe even Cousins) were our center, that might work!