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Can Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay play in the same lineup?

SoberasHotRod

SoberasHotRod

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Rudy Gay is obviously a better overall basketball player than Georges Niang, but his fit next to Clarkson could be interesting. Gay's higher usage percentage and higher percentage of shots from 2 could be an issue next to Clarkson.

I think Quin might need to experiment with some different substitution patterns, but that could be tough with both players coming off the bench.

USG%
Niang - 16.9%
Gay - 23%

% Shots from 2pt range
Niang - 27.7%
Gay - 55.7%
 
SoberasHotRod said:
Rudy Gay is obviously a better overall basketball player than Georges Niang, but his fit next to Clarkson could be interesting. Gay's higher usage percentage and higher percentage of shots from 2 could be an issue next to Clarkson.

I think Quin might need to experiment with some different substitution patterns, but that could be tough with both players coming off the bench.

USG%
Niang - 16.9%
Gay - 23%

% Shots from 2pt range
Niang - 27.7%
Gay - 55.7%
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Shouldn't be a problem
 
I think there are interesting questions here as to whether or not having more offensive weapons allows less defensive attention on Clarkson makes him get easier baskets, or if having those other options allows him to not force it as much, or if this completely takes away from his freedom and his game. We’ll see. I’m hoping the former.
 
What are the usage rates for say Conley and Don? I assume even higher and they co-exist pretty damn well.
 
Gay is a professional. Clarkson just wants to win and is thrilled to be here. They will make it work. I think that Gay makes that second unit way more dangerous in place of Niang. Definitely excited to see it in action!
 
infection said:
I think there are interesting questions here as to whether or not having more offensive weapons allows less defensive attention on Clarkson makes him get easier baskets, or if having those other options allows him to not force it as much, or if this completely takes away from his freedom and his game. We’ll see. I’m hoping the former.
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In the past more offensive weapons has not lead to easier shots or better offense. Obviously having too much firepower is better than having too little, but when you have a ton of guys who take difficult shots the team ends up taking more difficult shots. Gay and Whiteside are more talented overall offensive players than Niang and Favors...but I don't think their offensive firepower is additive to this roster. If we didn't have a ton of firepower already it would be different, but we do and low usage high efficiency players are a much more natural offensive fit.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
What are the usage rates for say Conley and Don? I assume even higher and they co-exist pretty damn well.
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Conley dropped his usage and dramatically changed his shot distribution to co-exist with Donovan. Even then, their minutes are staggered to make it work.

I do think that Gay and Clarkson will figure it out, but I think one or both of them will need to change their game slightly to make it work.
 
KqWIN said:
In the past more offensive weapons has not lead to easier shots or better offense. Obviously having too much firepower is better than having too little, but when you have a ton of guys who take difficult shots the team ends up taking more difficult shots. Gay and Whiteside are more talented overall offensive players than Niang and Favors...but I don't think their offensive firepower is additive to this roster. If we didn't have a ton of firepower already it would be different, but we do and low usage high efficiency players are a much more natural offensive fit.
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We’ll see over the course of a season. I’m not too inclined to weigh previous samples of missing players.
 
SoberasHotRod said:
Conley dropped his usage and dramatically changed his shot distribution to co-exist with Donovan. Even then, their minutes are staggered to make it work.

I do think that Gay and Clarkson will figure it out, but I think one or both of them will need to change their game slightly to make it work.
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I think how much Clarkson should see the ball may depends on how much he'll be actually making the shots that he takes, as for Gay, i imagine that Quin gonna ask him to shoot way more threes.
 
rjfan said:
I think how much Clarkson should see the ball may depends on how much he'll be actually making the shots that he takes, as for Gay, i imagine that Quin gonna ask him to shoot way more threes.
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I agree Gay will most likely shoot a much higher percentage of his shots from 3. That alone probably makes things work. I doubt that Quin changes how he manages Clarkson at this point, which is the complete opposite of what you typed.
 
SoberasHotRod said:
Conley dropped his usage and dramatically changed his shot distribution to co-exist with Donovan. Even then, their minutes are staggered to make it work.

I do think that Gay and Clarkson will figure it out, but I think one or both of them will need to change their game slightly to make it work.
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Conley’s usage was 23.1% last year, higher than both Niang and Gay. Obviously, Mitchell’s is far greater. So yeah, this is much ado about nothing.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
Conley’s usage was 23.1% last year, higher than both Niang and Gay. Obviously, Mitchell’s is far greater. So yeah, this is much ado about nothing.
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The offense wasn't as good when guys took lower usage. Now they will have to drop more usage. I don't think that's nothing.
 
SoberasHotRod said:
I agree Gay will most likely shoot a much higher percentage of his shots from 3. That alone probably makes things work. I doubt that Quin changes how he manages Clarkson at this point, which is the complete opposite of what you typed.
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I don't think Quin will start to tell Clarkson not to shoot, more of resorting less on the sets for him whenever his ain't falling as much
 
I think Gay could make Clarkson better, at least I hope he does. If Clarkson gets better looks and forces fewer shots because Gay is on the floor that is a big win. I can also see a scenario where Gay is not as productive offensively as Niang was. Niang obviously struggled in the post season but he was efficient on offense during the season and his defense really improved. I have questions about how much better Gay makes us until we get into the playoffs.
 
gomretat said:
I think Gay could make Clarkson better, at least I hope he does. If Clarkson gets better looks and forces fewer shots because Gay is on the floor that is a big win. I can also see a scenario where Gay is not as productive offensively as Niang was. Niang obviously struggled in the post season but he was efficient on offense during the season and his defense really improved. I have questions about how much better Gay makes us until we get into the playoffs.
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Rebounding. There will also be a number of scenarios where Gay gets minutes in the last 5 minutes of the game, whereas with Niang there were none.
 
infection said:
Rebounding. There will also be a number of scenarios where Gay gets minutes in the last 5 minutes of the game, whereas with Niang there were none.
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Gay will not only be playable but important to our playoff success, where Niang was straight up unplayable. Huge upgrade, yuge, in fact. Yuge.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
Conley’s usage was 23.1% last year, higher than both Niang and Gay. Obviously, Mitchell’s is far greater. So yeah, this is much ado about nothing.
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Right, the Jazz have a lot of high usage players. That's actually part of the point. Our starting lineup works because of Gobert and Royce's low usage. Players who can be effective and efficient without a lot of touches are a huge deal.

I do think it works itself out. I also think it's something to watch out for.
 
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