C: Porzingis
F: Horford
F: Tatum
G: Jaylen
G: D White
The other thing I was thinking about earlier was with Porzingis now coming in there is another guy who will be looking for his instead of the ball going to our best player down the stretch.
There were several games were many of us were concerned that Tatum was not getting the ball enough in the 4th quarter. That it ended up in other places.
Now we have not 1 but 2 prolific scorers looking to get theirs alongside Tatum. Both Jaylen and Porzingis are me-first offensive players. Both guys are takers (shot takers) rather than givers (setting up teammates).
I expect we'll see more frustrating games where our best offensive player Jayson Tatum ends up not getting the ball down the stretch and instead our 2nd and 3rd best offensive guys will be the ones making the plays instead of him. Less effective players than Tatum.
Wouldn't that be a coaching issue if they can't figure that out
Not really. Most of that stuff is decided by players.
A lot of the time GMs have to move guys out of the way in order to make sure their best players get the ball. Like when the Lakers traded Nick Van Exel because he wanted to freestyle with the ball instead of dumping the ball into Shaq in the low post.
White was a more than adequate passer in Smart's absence. 15/5/4 on 47/40/89 shooting with great defence is better than what Smart was offering us. I think you're selling White's passing short.
What if we go small ball? Tatum at the 4, as he is perfectly capable of doing. Use the MLE to beef up the bench, aim to draft a forward or big. I think that might offset some of your worries. Tatum IMO has the size to play that power wing role on defence, similar to an Aaron Gordon.
White / Pritchard
Brogdon / Hauser
Brown / #25 / MLE (?)
Tatum / Horford
Porzingis / Williams 3
No, I think we just live with the bad passing. I reckon Porzingis needs more help in the paint to rebound and be defensive backline. Best to keep a 2nd big alongside him most of time. Only use this small lineup situationally rather than as a starting unit.
White is an adequate passer. He just isn't that creative compared to other PGs in the league. I like him as a starting PG. We just do not have a lot of help for him (passing wise). Ideally you want a PG like him to have help. Like say Bam (high post facilitator) and Jimmy (playmaking wing) in Miami.
So I'd stay big. It is not a good passing group but it is still our best overall group.
An interesting side question would be: How many title teams in recent times have won with so little passing? I am not sure what the answer is but usually title teams are better passing teams than this.
The Raptors and the Bucks didn't have much better passing IMO. Jrue and Lowry are better than White / Tatum, but overall I think those groups are comparable.
I am with you on the Bucks. Good call.
I'd give TOR an edge over us because of Marc Gasol. I thought he made a difference for them with his high post passing. Prior to acquiring M Gasol mid-season with Ibaka as the starting C, I see that Raps team as comparable to us.
Edit: I am starting to 2nd guess the Bucks.
So you have Giannis who is an above average passer, Middleton who is an above average passer at SF and Jrue who is a solid passer at PG. B Lopez is a below par passer. I forget who their SG was that year but I will assume that guy was a below average passer as well. Still, they had 3 guys who were plus passers in their starting lineup. And those 3 guys who were plus passers were their 3 main offensive players who had the ball in their hands most of the time.
I always remember being surprised at Middleton when he was with Team USA in 2019. That was a badly constructed team. It was PG centric with little passing from the wings. The only wing player on that team who really moved the ball well and could handle it well was Middleton. That impressed me. I don't think he gets enough credit for his secondary ball-handling and passing. He is quite good.
I can't remember but that might have also been the tournament where he looked awfully out of shape as well!
Topic: Shams: Porzingis to Boston? (Read 173014 times)