So what's our starting 5 now?

[Tr1boy]

IT 35 / Rozier 13
Smart 32 / Brown 8 / Tatum 8
Hayward 32 / Crowder 16
Morris 32 / Crowder 16
Horford 32 / Zizic 16

whoa...whoa...
so Jaylen Brown is only getting 8 minutes at the backup 2 this year?  somehow I think he gets more minutes than that.

Nah. Tatum is not playing SG. The obvious conclusion here is that Brown and Smart will both get ~30 minutes at the G spot, and Rozier will do mop-up duty for less than 10 a game. Tatum is the odd man out and will only play what he's able to take away from Morris and/or Crowder.

Really need someone more ready than Zizic behind Horford, though.

I bet they will roll with Theis

Market has dried up

No decent 3 and D C/pf left

[max215]

Why are we assuming that Morris is starting?

He's like the only guy qualified to play starter minutes at 4 right now. 

I agree though, I think we'll still look to add a proper big, we're awfully low on them right now. That guy might be the one to start.

As much as Brad loves playing small, he almost always insists on starting two traditional bigs. I honestly think there's a better chance we start whoever we get for the RMLE over Morris.

I just flashed back to those Zeller/Lee starting lineups and shuddered. But I agree. I think we'll look for a more conventional 4 to start who just probably won't get a ton of minutes.

I'm more expecting a conventional 5. We need to maintain the fallacy that Horford is a 4 to placate him.

Lol

Seriously, though. How often does Al publicly say he's a 4? Once a month?

[fairweatherfan]

Why are we assuming that Morris is starting?

He's like the only guy qualified to play starter minutes at 4 right now. 

I agree though, I think we'll still look to add a proper big, we're awfully low on them right now. That guy might be the one to start.

As much as Brad loves playing small, he almost always insists on starting two traditional bigs. I honestly think there's a better chance we start whoever we get for the RMLE over Morris.

I just flashed back to those Zeller/Lee starting lineups and shuddered. But I agree. I think we'll look for a more conventional 4 to start who just probably won't get a ton of minutes.

I'm more expecting a conventional 5. We need to maintain the fallacy that Horford is a 4 to placate him.

LOL I had that thought too. Horford playing so much on the perimeter to midrange for shooting and playmaking does give us space for a more paint-based presence. But it'd have to be a guy mobile enough to cover 4s because Horford can't handle many of those at this stage in his career.

[dreamgreen]

IT 35 / Rozier 13
Smart 32 / Brown 8 / Tatum 8
Hayward 32 / Crowder 16
Morris 32 / Crowder 16
Horford 32 / Zizic 16

whoa...whoa...
so Jaylen Brown is only getting 8 minutes at the backup 2 this year?  somehow I think he gets more minutes than that.

Nah. Tatum is not playing SG. The obvious conclusion here is that Brown and Smart will both get ~30 minutes at the G spot, and Rozier will do mop-up duty for less than 10 a game. Tatum is the odd man out and will only play what he's able to take away from Morris and/or Crowder.

Really need someone more ready than Zizic behind Horford, though.

Smart at 32 mpg makes me want to puke. IT and Hayward would have to average 30 ppg! I can see Smart getting 25 mpg anything more than that tells me Brown and Tatum are not developing.   

[kozlodoev]

IT 35 / Rozier 13
Smart 32 / Brown 8 / Tatum 8
Hayward 32 / Crowder 16
Morris 32 / Crowder 16
Horford 32 / Zizic 16

whoa...whoa...
so Jaylen Brown is only getting 8 minutes at the backup 2 this year?  somehow I think he gets more minutes than that.

Nah. Tatum is not playing SG. The obvious conclusion here is that Brown and Smart will both get ~30 minutes at the G spot, and Rozier will do mop-up duty for less than 10 a game. Tatum is the odd man out and will only play what he's able to take away from Morris and/or Crowder.

Really need someone more ready than Zizic behind Horford, though.

Smart at 32 mpg makes me want to puke. IT and Hayward would have to average 30 ppg! I can see Smart getting 25 mpg anything more than that tells me Brown and Tatum are not developing.

Smart averaged 27, 27, and 30 minutes in his three NBA seasons. His minutes will likely not be materially different and hover around 30.

His defense is that good.

[jpotter33]

Why are we assuming that Morris is starting?

He's like the only guy qualified to play starter minutes at 4 right now. 

I agree though, I think we'll still look to add a proper big, we're awfully low on them right now. That guy might be the one to start.

As much as Brad loves playing small, he almost always insists on starting two traditional bigs. I honestly think there's a better chance we start whoever we get for the RMLE over Morris.

I just flashed back to those Zeller/Lee starting lineups and shuddered. But I agree. I think we'll look for a more conventional 4 to start who just probably won't get a ton of minutes.

I'm more expecting a conventional 5. We need to maintain the fallacy that Horford is a 4 to placate him.

Lol

Seriously, though. How often does Al publicly say he's a 4? Once a month?

Perhaps he's trying to pull the Lavar Ball and "speak it into existence." 

Seriously, though, he's clearly a 5 at this stage in his career. I think that's why Brad insisted on starting Amir, because thet made a promise in the free agency pitch to play him as a PF.

But that's why I like the Morris fit next to him. Sure, our rebounding isn't getting any better, but that's never stopped us before.

[max215]

Why are we assuming that Morris is starting?

He's like the only guy qualified to play starter minutes at 4 right now. 

I agree though, I think we'll still look to add a proper big, we're awfully low on them right now. That guy might be the one to start.

As much as Brad loves playing small, he almost always insists on starting two traditional bigs. I honestly think there's a better chance we start whoever we get for the RMLE over Morris.

I just flashed back to those Zeller/Lee starting lineups and shuddered. But I agree. I think we'll look for a more conventional 4 to start who just probably won't get a ton of minutes.

I'm more expecting a conventional 5. We need to maintain the fallacy that Horford is a 4 to placate him.

LOL I had that thought too. Horford playing so much on the perimeter to midrange for shooting and playmaking does give us space for a more paint-based presence. But it'd have to be a guy mobile enough to cover 4s because Horford can't handle many of those at this stage in his career.

I really want Dedmon. He can start in Amir's role for the first few minutes, and when he comes out Horford can play exclusively 5 for the rest of the game.

[Tr1boy]

Other than Zizic who else gets sent down to the G League?

[kozlodoev]

I bet they will roll with Theis

I bet Theis doesn't make it out of preseason. Like it or not, this team will have to do something.

[kozlodoev]

Other than Zizic who else gets sent down to the G League?

I'm sure some of our second-round picks will be offered two-way contracts. I don't anticipate having Mickey or Jackson on the big league roster, the affiliate roster, or anywhere in the NBA, really.

[blink]

Other than Zizic who else gets sent down to the G League?

I'm sure some of our second-round picks will be offered two-way contracts. I don't anticipate having Mickey or Jackson on the big league roster, the affiliate roster, or anywhere in the NBA, really.

Jackson played his way back to the d-league (or worse) with his first couple games in summer league.  bad bad bad.

[JBcat]

IT 35 / Rozier 13
Smart 32 / Brown 8 / Tatum 8
Hayward 32 / Crowder 16
Morris 32 / Crowder 16
Horford 32 / Zizic 16

whoa...whoa...
so Jaylen Brown is only getting 8 minutes at the backup 2 this year?  somehow I think he gets more minutes than that.

Nah. Tatum is not playing SG. The obvious conclusion here is that Brown and Smart will both get ~30 minutes at the G spot, and Rozier will do mop-up duty for less than 10 a game. Tatum is the odd man out and will only play what he's able to take away from Morris and/or Crowder.

Really need someone more ready than Zizic behind Horford, though.

I started writing mostly the same thing then saw your post. Ha I agree. Tatum might get squeezed out initially.  If he comes on it could lead to a further trade to open up more room for him.

[droopdog7]

5'7, 5'9, 5'10"  does it really matter?  He still is going to get abused on d, posted up routinely for easy buckets, and be a great scorer on offense (as long as his body / athleticism holds up).  We get a lot of points from IT but he presents a lot of problems on d for us.

How many point guards were posting him up in previous years?  Does not happen all that often.  And if opposing PG's are going to be posting him up, should opposing SG's or SF's have been posting him up all the time too?  Did not happen much either.

I dunno, I seem to remember a lot of this happening...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMoO0TD0VD8

Yes, it happened versus the Wiz because everyone and their mama was making a big deal out of hiding IT on Porter.  But it did not happen against the Cavs or the Bulls and very rarely any other time.

So sure, Wall is going to give IT and the Celts problems (just like he does every other team).  But now Wall is likely going to have to guard IT, which he did not do much either.

[kozlodoev]

5'7, 5'9, 5'10"  does it really matter?  He still is going to get abused on d, posted up routinely for easy buckets, and be a great scorer on offense (as long as his body / athleticism holds up).  We get a lot of points from IT but he presents a lot of problems on d for us.

How many point guards were posting him up in previous years?  Does not happen all that often.  And if opposing PG's are going to be posting him up, should opposing SG's or SF's have been posting him up all the time too?  Did not happen much either.

I dunno, I seem to remember a lot of this happening...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMoO0TD0VD8

Yes, it happened versus the Wiz because everyone and their mama was making a big deal out of hiding IT on Porter.  But it did not happen against the Cavs or the Bulls and very rarely any other time.

So sure, Wall is going to give IT and the Celts problems (just like he does every other team).  But now Wall is likely going to have to guard IT, which he did not do much either.

It doesn't happen when you're hiding IT on JR Smith in the corner, because you'll rarely see JR Smith bringing it up into open space.

But this also means you need to micromanage your defensive assignment, and you need your other starting G to be a universal defensive stopper (should be able to guard the likes of Irving, DeRozan, and some measure in-between).

[fairweatherfan]

Why are we assuming that Morris is starting?

He's like the only guy qualified to play starter minutes at 4 right now. 

I agree though, I think we'll still look to add a proper big, we're awfully low on them right now. That guy might be the one to start.

As much as Brad loves playing small, he almost always insists on starting two traditional bigs. I honestly think there's a better chance we start whoever we get for the RMLE over Morris.

I just flashed back to those Zeller/Lee starting lineups and shuddered. But I agree. I think we'll look for a more conventional 4 to start who just probably won't get a ton of minutes.

I'm more expecting a conventional 5. We need to maintain the fallacy that Horford is a 4 to placate him.

LOL I had that thought too. Horford playing so much on the perimeter to midrange for shooting and playmaking does give us space for a more paint-based presence. But it'd have to be a guy mobile enough to cover 4s because Horford can't handle many of those at this stage in his career.

I really want Dedmon. He can start in Amir's role for the first few minutes, and when he comes out Horford can play exclusively 5 for the rest of the game.

That's my (realistic) target too, though I don't think his mobility is that great. But lord knows we need a rebounder.