Can't believe the NBA Experience we can use on the second team.
Baynes 30, Sixth Season
Morris 27, Seventh season
Tatum 19, First Season
Rozier 22, Third season
Smart 22, Forth Season
I'd still want Tatum to be the #1 option on offense, followed by Morris
Yes, I agree with you about Baynes off the bench; I think that Baynes/Horford is a problem for guarding quick swings/power forwards out on the perimeter. Baynes brings limitations along with his definite assets - but maybe you get what you pay for. It's a long season and it seems likely that we'll see a stretch of AB (!) as a starter.
The long-term solution is, above all, Tatum. Needs to put on weight, but the length is already there, the anticipation, the excellent NBA body, the quickness.
Best case scenario, after the All-Star Break:
Horford
Tatum
Hayward
Brown
Thomas
Give Jaylen/Jayson minutes. Don't worry about the record before New Year's.
6 Sixth Man: Crowder or Smart?
Crowder last season defensive reb% over 17 - great to have that at your small forward spot. Can back up wing or swing and was a consummate spot-up shooter last season. That he upped his free-throw rate and % as well and expanded his modest dribble-drive game is gravy.
And actually Boston's biggest gap is at the starting second big/swing. The job is waiting for Jayson Tatum, as soon as he can step into it. But Crowder can play that role, too, though he doesn't have the height and length of Tatum. He's much better placed as a backup swing, rather than a starter. But as a backup he's a big asset.
They use Smart as an instigator and in post-ups to deliver a pass - probably works best when you match him with four 3-pt shooters; if so it begs the question: is putting him with Baynes a problem?
Anyway, Brad loves him and what he brings - he makes something happen when he's on the floor; he made a big step forward in his team defense this year; so though he came off the bench, he got starter's minutes.
So how about you bring in Smart and Crowder together for Brown and Tatum?
8 First Big off the bench: Baynes
9 Morris
After 9, it's going to be a big shuffle throughout the season. Rozier will get more burn later on; the big step he took this past season was encouraging, and especially because he peaked in the playoffs. He'd better be shooting 1,000 threes a day. As the Celtics upgrade their shot-creators, a 3-and-D point with length is a very valuable commodity.
I wonder if Ojeleye might be the dark horse/surprise this season. His age suggests that the ceiling is limited; but he showed good smart, mobile physical defense on bigger players in SL (he helped turn the Laker game with his defense) - and an accurate shot from distance. The big question at 2nd big/pf/swing is also being asked of him. Can he defensive rebound?
Zizic got better through the summer league schedule. I don't believe in the body - flexibility, quickness, ability to avoid injury I'd give him low marks on. But he's relentless, takes contact, and looks like he's coachable - they did a play with Brown where Ante gets it up top while Jaylen on the wing beats his man cutting to the front of the rim and takes the bounce pass from Zizic, (à la Al Horford!) - and with success. That's GREAT news for those, like me, who are skeptical that you can run any offense through him.
Apart from the physical and skill limitations, he's got Baynes in front of him, and since it's hard to project Baynes as a regular starter it's hard to project Zizic as more than a 10th man; I think 11th. I think that Ojeleye is ahead of him, but their games are different. I'd bet that Brad would prefer the spacing that Semi brings. But it's a long season, and AZ may get his moment.
Topic: Build the best Starting five and Bench Five (Read 2359 times)