I'm going with:
PG: Smart/IT2/Rozier
SG: AB/Hunter
SF: Crowder/PJ3
PF: Lee/Sully/Olynyk
C: Amir/Zeller/Olynyk/Mickey
Here's the deal. I think we need to run Smart at PG and not SG. His ceiling as a SG is very low because of his jumpshot and a ceiling I would describe as that of a rich man's Tony Allen and I want more out of Smart than that. So I want the celtics to give him another season at the PG position. Yes, it sucks because IT and Rozier also deserve a lot of playing time at PG, but Smart needs to be given a chance there to see if he can become a great player at that position. Because of this logjam at PG is why I think trading one of Smart or Rozier is a priority for us -- even if they are the two prospects on this roster I like the most. Maybe Rozier can get some burn in the d-league for a while until there's a trade or an injury.
So why do I want to start Smart over IT, but not Sully/Olynyk at PF? I guess I'd like Lee to work up his trade value for one which would be useful for us. And two, Sully is in his last season before restricted free agency. So I'd like to see him really work hard to earn that playing time he needs in order to bargain his next contract. Also suppressing his minutes may work well in suppressing his contract if the celtics envision him as part of our future (I'm not sure that I would).
And yeah, I want Turner gone. He's not part of the future. Let's give up on the fact that he's not bringing back anything in a trade. I love the way Crowder plays and I want to see if PJ3 can do something with some playing time.
After two years, I think we can safely say that Stevens doesn't put much stock into rigid positions. That's why he's always using terms like "ball-handler", "off-guards", "wings" and "bigs". Regardless of how many of our current guys play for the next Celtic contender, it seems certain that if Stevens is here it will be with a bunch of guys who can play different positions in different situations.
For instance, you mention Smart needing to be played at PG, but I don't think that's totally true. For example; IT, Smart, Rozier and Turner are all capable ball-handlers who can initiate offense. Because IT (who's probably our best player) really can't match-up with opposing 2's physically and is at his best with the ball in his hands, Smart is better suited as the off-guard next to him. That doesn't mean he can never bring the ball up when they're on the court together (He didn't much last year since he was a rookie and we were trying to make the playoffs), but because he's versatile enough to play both on and off the ball, it gives us the flexibility to play those two together. In a line-up of Smart/Bradley, AB's lack of ball-handling skills and his ability to get open without the ball means Smart takes the role of playmaker.
I think that's part of the theory behind the Rozier pick. Bradley is one of our more valuable trade chips on the roster, but he really can't be anything but an under-sized off guard. Rozier has very similar attributes (including very good on-ball defense, a must in CBS' system), but with a MUCH better handle. They believe, like they did with AB, that Rozier's shot can develop into a legit threat, and that a Smart/Rozier back-court will be able to play off each other very well. A large majority of this roster is guys who can play multiple positions both offensively and defensively. Allowing a combo-guard like Smart to play both on and off the ball when the situation calls for it is the best way for him to reach his potential.
Kinda the hang up with guys like Rondo, Waiters, Pekovic, etc. They're skill-sets are only able to be effective if they do very specific things, normally to the detriment of the rest of your guys. Rondo did a whole lot of pounding the ball, plus since he was such a poor shooter his ability to get FT's was negated. Waiters is an inefficient high-volume off-guard who needs to be ball dominant but can't pass very well. Nick Young is like that too. And guys like Pekovic, Jefferson, even a young guy like Okafor are really suffering in today's league because they lack any semblance of versatility. Pekovic is one of the leagues best low-post scorers (Pre-injuries anyway), but he's a god awful defender who can't shoot beyond 8 feet and is far too slow to pretend to defend any stretch bigs or small-ball 5's.
I get your point I guess. Smart needs to be running the offense more than he did last year to grow into his potential, and I totally agree. I think in the next two or three years, you'll be seeing Smart doing what he did in SL, getting more and more responsibility in that time. But I don't agree with saying "We need to make him a PG because he'll be wasted at SG", because that ignores the realities of the pro-game today. Put him next to Rondo and maybe he's wasted at the 2, but there's not many guys like that anymore. James Harden is a SG, but he's running that offense 75% of the time. Paired with a guy like Rozier, Smart could play the 2, but run the offense 50-70% of the time, and use his off-ball skills to keep the offense moving when Rozier drives and has to kick out.
We need Smart and Rozier to keep improving their shots and their off-ball skills, so that both are able to play with or without the ball. If they can do that, as well as take turns defending the other teams best guard at times (the way AB has), we'll be much better for it.
Topic: What starting lineup do you like for this team? (Read 12107 times)