The Golden Gate Moves to Boston

[D.o.s.]

I agree with the last few posts in this thread.

Probably unsurprising, but it's worth pointing out, I think.

[JoeyAinge]

BUT...... We DID NOT get Lee to be a "great player" or a "contributor" on a "contender".

The advanced stats about his defense mean nothing to us.

We got Lee so we could save our 13 Mil TPE, and have another big body for ONE season. A season in which we have no delusions about trying to contend for a title.


All of these little stats about his bad defense, was well known to Danny, obviously. But we aren't a contender and non contenders getting a 1 year player to help keep our flexibility dont have to worry about these advanced defensive stats at all.

If you are really worried about if David Lee is bad, or good.. (which honestly, it doesnt matter if he is bad or good at all) Then all you have to do is ask yourself, "is he better then Wallace?"  The answer to that question, no matter what, is YES.

Bingo, idk why anyone even cares if Lee comes in here and averages 30 and 20. He will  still not
make us championship contenders and his sole purpose here is to clear major cap room for this offseason or be used in a trade for our next championship run. Our current team is currently a non playoff team. Lee coming in... We are still a non playoff team. I'm just being realistic.

[kozlodoev]

Lee is a very poor man's Amare, and Amare was only a good player when he was overwhelming offensively.

It seems they're planning to pair him with Amir in the frontcourt (you usually don't sign a $12 million FA to not have him start). Of course, it's entirely possible it's just a lateral move of sorts and he'll come off the bench, but I think he's too good for this. Either way, I'm curious to see how it's going to work. Perhaps we finally caught lightning in a bottle, and the Smart-Bradley-Turner-Lee-Johnson lineup will turn out to be what the doctor ordered?

[D.o.s.]

BUT...... We DID NOT get Lee to be a "great player" or a "contributor" on a "contender".

The advanced stats about his defense mean nothing to us.

We got Lee so we could save our 13 Mil TPE, and have another big body for ONE season. A season in which we have no delusions about trying to contend for a title.


All of these little stats about his bad defense, was well known to Danny, obviously. But we aren't a contender and non contenders getting a 1 year player to help keep our flexibility dont have to worry about these advanced defensive stats at all.

If you are really worried about if David Lee is bad, or good.. (which honestly, it doesnt matter if he is bad or good at all) Then all you have to do is ask yourself, "is he better then Wallace?"  The answer to that question, no matter what, is YES.

Bingo, idk why anyone even cares if Lee comes in here and averages 30 and 20. He will  still not
make us championship contenders and his sole purpose here is to clear major cap room for this offseason or be used in a trade for our next championship run. Our current team is currently a non playoff team. Lee coming in... We are still a non playoff team. I'm just being realistic.

There is no evidence to support your assertion, though. While I agree with you that this team is not a championship contender, I don't think there's any reasonable way to predict that they miss the playoffs. They might not win a postseason game, but they'll almost certainly qualify.

[kozlodoev]

Lee coming in... We are still a non playoff team.

Like last season, right?

[DefenseWinsChamps]

As if Lee's defense is any worse than Sullinger's.

In his last season as a full-time starter, Lee's defensive numbers were really good.

http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/101135/tracking/defense/?Season=2013-14&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

Players shot an average of 3.6 percentage points worse against Lee. He is a good defender inside 10 feet (4.5 percentage points worse against him).

Last year, he was about average. He struggled to defend outside of a 15 feet (+3.5%), but inside, he was still good (-2.5). I think it is likely that he struggled to get into a rhythm with so few minutes.

Both years, he held opponents to about 49% at the rim, which would immediately be the best on our team.

My point isn't that he is an all-defensive team defender. But just like there are stats that indicate he is a poor defender, there are also stats that indicate he is a solid defender.

[Evantime34]

It might make sense to bring Lee off the bench, given how bad his defense is. Playing in the second unit (listed below) he and IT4 can work the pick and roll surrounded by shooting. The second unit would push the pace and just outscore opponents making their defensive failings less pronounced.

Lee
Olynyk
Jerebko
Rozier/Turner/Young
Thomas

[D.o.s.]

As if Lee's defense is any worse than Sullinger's.

In his last season as a full-time starter, Lee's defensive numbers were really good.

http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/101135/tracking/defense/?Season=2013-14&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

Players shot an average of 3.6 percentage points worse against Lee. He is a good defender inside 10 feet (4.5 percentage points worse against him).

Last year, he was about average. He struggled to defend outside of a 15 feet (+3.5%), but inside, he was still good (-2.5). I think it is likely that he struggled to get into a rhythm with so few minutes.

Both years, he held opponents to about 49% at the rim, which would immediately be the best on our team.

My point isn't that he is an all-defensive team defender. But just like there are stats that indicate he is a poor defender, there are also stats that indicate he is a solid defender.

The Warriors had the best defense in the NBA last season. They also only played David Lee for 900 minutes over ~50 games.

When he was getting more minutes, the Warriors defense was worse (although still top 5). Coincidence?
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2015.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leeda02.html

Of course, defensive analytics are notorious for being team-based (witness the inflated Drtg that we see from many sub-par defenders on good defensive teams), so it's right to be skeptical.

[PhoSita]

Either way, I'm curious to see how it's going to work. Perhaps we finally caught lightning in a bottle, and the Smart-Bradley-Turner-Lee-Johnson lineup will turn out to be what the doctor ordered?

I don't think that lineup could possibly work.  That same lineup with Bass and Zeller in the frontcourt was regularly beaten by opposing starting lineups.  The bench was always what evened things out.

For my money, Thomas, Smart, Lee, and Amir are now the 4 best players on the team. 

With the team apparently focused on being decent, it makes the most sense to maximize minutes for the best guys. 

Probably starting Crowder at the 3 is the best option, given that, though they could really use somebody who is bigger and a better shooter.  Crowder is better in a reserve role.

[Chris22]

In one game against Cleveland in the Finals, Lee played 15 minutes and was a plus 21.
I look forward to seeing him play for us.

[Snakehead]

He is our best big, period.   I have never been the biggest fan, but we need scoring and rebounding and he brings both of those to the table.  Him not playing was a testament to what Golden State had in Draymond and what they needed from other bigs that played over him (Defense and legit C size).  Our bigs we have are basically no different on defense than him so I don't see what there is to complain about.

Now, do I think we are building around Lee or something?  Not at all.  I think he's here as an asset to play up his numbers and be available in a trade to a contender late in the year or as a big salary matcher to be in a trade with a bunch of picks.  Meanwhile we get a more talented offensive player who is the same on defense.  I'd play him over Sullinger any day.

I am expecting Amir to start at C and Lee to start at PF and that's going to be much better than what we started last year as long as both are healthy.

Probably starting Crowder at the 3 is the best option, given that, though they could really use somebody who is bigger and a better shooter.  Crowder is better in a reserve role.

I agree a lot with this.  A shooter would do wonders for that lineup and allow both frontcourt guys (assuming we start Amir and Lee as we should) lots of room to work with.  But that's obviously a big part missing from our roster right now.

[D.o.s.]

I think you swap that and have Lee start at the 5, but I think

Lee
Johnson
Crowder
Turner
Bradley

is what we'll roll out at the start of the season, assuming health.










 

[Snakehead]

I think you swap that and have Lee start at the 5, but I think

Lee
Johnson
Crowder
Turner
Bradley

is what we'll roll out at the start of the season, assuming health.










 

I think there's zero chance Marcus Smart does not start for us.  It's his team.

I  am hoping/expecting him to be ready to take over more of ball handling duties.  Hopefully Turner was a one year stop gap on that front.

[tarheelsxxiii]

He's also good at scoring extremely attractive women.

[D.o.s.]

I think you swap that and have Lee start at the 5, but I think

Lee
Johnson
Crowder
Turner
Bradley

is what we'll roll out at the start of the season, assuming health.










 

I think there's zero chance Marcus Smart does not start for us.  It's his team now.

yeah you're probably right. We still have too many guards.