How we should rotate players this season

[IthacaMatt]

When we watch how they all develop in the next month, this is how it looks to me:

I think Melo, Kris and Scoop are the 3 cornerstone guys who will play the most at their positions, or at least be sure starters.

I think Brandon and Dion are going to split most of the time at the 2, while Christmas and Fair do the same at the other forward spot. Obvious, right.

Well, here's what I think we need to do, to have a good balance of offense and defense on the floor:

It is a given that Christmas is going to be in the rotation, just to take the rebounding and interior defensive pressure off our 2 young centers. So when Christmas is out there, who would you prefer be the 2 guard - Dion or Brandon? I think Dion is more confident of having to take over and run the offense, or create something.

Brandon can still be effective, but I think Dion is going to pass him offensively, but Brandon can still excel in defense, rebounding, protecting and distributing the ball and being a "glue" guy, like his uncle and like other greats like Josh Pace, and even Craig Forth. You need those guys, too, to win championships.

I think you pair C.J. Fair, the more offensively explosive player at forward, with Brandon, who is a bigger guard, who can get you some rebounds around the defensive boards to help offset the rebounding shortcomings that you might get with only Kris and Fair to support the center on the boards.

So, think back to the #1 team two years ago - Scoop and Kris were the 2 super subs who came in together at the 8 minute mark or so. Two of our guys need to fill that role.

I think if you are going to continue to give Brandon the start because J.B. thinks he's more steady and plays better defense, then you probably ought to be starting C. J. Fair at the other forward spot, and bring Dion and Christmas in together as the first subs. It gives you better balance of offensive and defensive talent.

To me, having Brandon and Christmas on the floor, especially when Keita is at center, is going to have a hard time scoring. That's why i think J.B. will eventually (hopefully) settle on Fair with Triche, and Christmas with Waiters. I think it avoids having a really bad offensive group on the floor while do your best to balance out the defense.

 

[CaliCuse]

When we watch how they all develop in the next month, this is how it looks to me:

I think Melo, Kris and Scoop are the 3 cornerstone guys who will play the most at their positions, or at least be sure starters.

I think Brandon and Dion are going to split most of the time at the 2, while Christmas and Fair do the same at the other forward spot. Obvious, right.

Well, here's what I think we need to do, to have a good balance of offense and defense on the floor:

It is a given that Christmas is going to be in the rotation, just to take the rebounding and interior defensive pressure off our 2 young centers. So when Christmas is out there, who would you prefer be the 2 guard - Dion or Brandon? I think Dion is more confident of having to take over and run the offense, or create something.

Brandon can still be effective, but I think Dion is going to pass him offensively, but Brandon can still excel in defense, rebounding, protecting and distributing the ball and being a "glue" guy, like his uncle and like other greats like Josh Pace, and even Craig Forth. You need those guys, too, to win championships.

I think you pair C.J. Fair, the more offensively explosive player at forward, with Brandon, who is a bigger guard, who can get you some rebounds around the defensive boards to help offset the rebounding shortcomings that you might get with only Kris and Fair to support the center on the boards.

So, think back to the #1 team two years ago - Scoop and Kris were the 2 super subs who came in together at the 8 minute mark or so. Two of our guys need to fill that role.

I think if you are going to continue to give Brandon the start because J.B. thinks he's more steady and plays better defense, then you probably ought to be starting C. J. Fair at the other forward spot, and bring Dion and Christmas in together as the first subs. It gives you better balance of offensive and defensive talent.

To me, having Brandon and Christmas on the floor, especially when Keita is at center, is going to have a hard time scoring. That's why i think J.B. will eventually (hopefully) settle on Fair with Triche, and Christmas with Waiters. I think it avoids having a really bad offensive group on the floor while do your best to balance out the defense.

 

[arbitragegls]

I think that you are giving Dion too much credit and here is why:
1. one of most athletic guys on team
2. His creating his shot is done to detriment of rest of team...a good player creates his shots within the parameters of the team...Dion does not
3. He is too active and lose on defense in zone...has nose for ball but does not play position area well...that is why 3s launched from his side--and playing with Scoop is a double whammy since they both do the same thing
4. My belief is that Christmas and CJ will end will about same minutes and will play depending on need...scoring nod goes to CJ
5. MCW going to get more time with BT as I am believer that Scoop has not demonstrated he can bring a flow to the game
6. Would not be surprised to see MCW and BT playing 15 minutes a game together as season progresses

Starting line-up will be Melo, Christmas, KJ, Scoop and BT...first off the bench will either be CJ or Dion/MCW depending on if there is a flow to game and if we need scoring

 

[SoBristol]

For now, Brandon is going to be paired with Rak (JB's starting line-up); and CF will be paired off the bench with Keita as a way to balance the front-court.
Based on just one exhibition, MCW and Dion were a good guard combination -- some of that chemistry comes from how JB sets the practice line-ups.

Either of the combos suggested earlier in this thread (MCW with BT; or BT with CF) implies that BT will not be the starter. Really, how likely is it that JB makes that adjustment?

 

[arbitragegls]

"Either of the combos suggested earlier in this thread (MCW with BT; or BT with CF) implies that BT will not be the starter. Really, how likely is it that JB makes that adjustment? --SoBristol

Not true as I said...BT starts with Scoop but will play with MCW also. I want all four guards to play and do well...I just believe that Scoop and Dion play one way and MCW and Triche another...and that combo just might work

 

[SBU72]

I think that you are giving Dion too much credit and here is why:
1. one of most athletic guys on team
2. His creating his shot is done to detriment of rest of team...a good player creates his shots within the parameters of the team...Dion does not

A few years ago many complained how Flynn "beat the ball into the ground" when he ran the offense. Watching last year and the 2 preseason games, that is what Waiters does. Flynn stayed pretty much at the top of the key looking for an openning down the lane. Waiters circles farther from side to side but does much the same thing, if not more so. He is a score first kind of guy.

 

[cuseincincy]

...Brandon can still be effective, but I think Dion is going to pass him offensively, but Brandon can still excel in defense, rebounding, protecting and distributing the ball and being a "glue" guy, like his uncle and like other greats like Josh Pace, and even Craig Forth. You need those guys, too, to win championships...
To me, having Brandon and Christmas on the floor, especially when Keita is at center, is going to have a hard time scoring. That's why i think J.B. will eventually (hopefully) settle on Fair with Triche, and Christmas with Waiters. I think it avoids having a really bad offensive group on the floor while do your best to balance out the defense.

The biggest problem I see with your post is that Brandon is not likely to fill the role you define for him. I don't disagree with you, but I think JB and Brandon do. They both see him as a lead scorer not a glue guy. I'm surprised his apologists haven't refuted you more vehemently yet, but they will.

 

[orangefan13]

Melo is a cornerstone book it. Outiside of that its way to early to tell. We haven't even played zone Defense yet, or know who our tough guard defenders will be.

Scoop is closer to a cornerstone then a injured Kjo right now.
Kris and Scoop would make a heck of a 6th man reguardless.

IMO there is a opening for the best shooters of the bunch to get big minutes I would count on it. Mookie, cooney and James are out of the conversation as 28 mpg guys in that situation I think but I could be wrong on James or Cooney especially. JB will go with a spread offense thats what good teams do.

I also think Dion could be a monster off the dribble running the pick and role with Melo like bread and butter. So much mismatch there. Dion might find himself guarded by a PG here and there if he breaks out and that will be another adjustment he is going to have to make.

 

[stuckinbig11]

I would consider commenting, but I don't run and watch practices every day. I also lack 35 years of experience making these kinds of decisions. Maybe we can find someone who does.

 

[pfister1]

I would consider commenting, but I don't run and watch practices every day. I also lack 35 years of experience making these kinds of decisions. Maybe we can find someone who does.

Is that a call for Igor?

 

[IthacaMatt]

The biggest problem I see with your post is that Brandon is not likely to fill the role you define for him. I don't disagree with you, but I think JB and Brandon do. They both see him as a lead scorer not a glue guy. I'm surprised his apologists haven't refuted you more vehemently yet, but they will.

He just doesn't have that scorer's mentality. He won't ever be a 15+ ppg guy, in my opinion. He defers too much, and is still hesitant on the drive and streaky from 3. Given that JB is going to start him for the foreseeable future, I think it's smarter to start Fair over Christmas, so that you have a better offensive guy at forward to offset Brandon's limitations offensively.

Bring Dion and Christmas in after the first 8 minutes. A couple minutes after that, bring in Keita and MCW for Scoop and Fab.

That should be our core rotation, in my opinion.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Melo is a cornerstone book it. Outiside of that its way to early to tell. We haven't even played zone Defense yet, or know who our tough guard defenders will be.

Scoop is closer to a cornerstone then a injured Kjo right now.
Kris and Scoop would make a heck of a 6th man reguardless.

IMO there is a opening for the best shooters of the bunch to get big minutes I would count on it. Mookie, cooney and James are out of the conversation as 28 mpg guys in that situation I think but I could be wrong on James or Cooney especially. JB will go with a spread offense thats what good teams do.

I also think Dion could be a monster off the dribble running the pick and role with Melo like bread and butter. So much mismatch there. Dion might find himself guarded by a PG here and there if he breaks out and that will be another adjustment he is going to have to make.

One of the guys among Mookie, Trevor and James has a chance to crack the rotation as a situational shooter to break zones. It could be any of those 3 guys, and I'll bet they each get a handful of chances in our first 10 games or so. We'll see if one of them grabs the opportunity.

Personally, I think Mookie will never shoot it as much as he used to, so that JB trusts him a little more, but if Mookie doesn't shoot, he doesn't offer much more. James will have to show he can rebound in order to get on the floor.

If C.J. can make one or two threes a game off, then James won't play after December. Cooney will see some time unless they decide to redshirt him to preserve an extra season. He would be worth doing that for, if he wants it.