companion poll: If we keep Jefferson, then what?

[billyshelby]

This to me is the absolute worst solution. It really surpised me coming from one of the better posters on this site. Millsap and Jefferson's feelings be damned. Favors is the guy that is the future of this team in the front court. He is the guy that needs to be kept happy and developed to be the center piece of this team. One of those other guys will not be on the team in 13. That is the guy who should be the bench player. I don't think you can keep them all and have all of them be happy. The one guy I don't want pissed off is Favors.

First, I'm talking about what will realistically happen, not necessarily what should. But even if Al and Sap start, I don't think it sets Favors back anywhere near as catastrophically as everyone believes for the reasons I've stated.

Second, I'm not especially worried about Favors "happiness." For practical purposes, nobody can touch him next summer, and if we wanted we could offer him a MAX extension at that time. That should suffice to keep him very happy. Even if we didn't, he's an RFA after year 4 and we'll match any offer so it hardly matters.

Third, I don't think there's much chance Favors won't be starting by the end of next year. Either Al or Sap will be traded, somebody will get hurt, or Ty will just put him in the starting lineup based on production. But STARTING the year on the second unit isn't a terrible thing for Favors.

 

[Karadrys30]

I actually like Al. He has an offensive skill set that will keep him viable in the NBA for another 10years. He doesnt rely on athletics to score so his decline will be gradual. He has probably maxed out his earning potental and his value will start to decline. Right now he is a better than average starting center, in a few years he will probably transition into a superb backup center. So I like keeping all three and hear is a bit of why.

Williams wont know the system as well as milsap does. This also allows two hustle guys to cover for all on the pick and roll. Also helps favors develop without him needing to be the offensive focus of the team. Mo at point and hayward at the 2 gives outside shooting with favors and milsap on the cuts and midrange stuff. Williams can come off the bench and sap can slide down to the pf slot. Williams can learn the system with sap and one of the vet back up points plus burks and canter. Looks like some good lineup action. When sap needs rest you can move evens or hayward around.

 

[billyshelby]

For the record, my personal opinion is we should start Favors and Al.

But also for the record, I have different opinions for how guys should be used. My belief is more teams would benefit from giving highly used guys spot days off. Back to back on the middle of a 5 game road trip? Sit Al or Sap. About to embark on a 5 game road trip? Sit Al or Sap. I'm not a fan of guys playing 82 games out of the warrior mentality. I'm also not remotely expecting Ty to adopt my personal philosophy on this.

 

[Stifle Tower]

For the record, my personal opinion is we should start Favors and Al.

But also for the record, I have different opinions for how guys should be used. My belief is more teams would benefit from giving highly used guys spot days off. Back to back on the middle of a 5 game road trip? Sit Al or Sap. About to embark on a 5 game road trip? Sit Al or Sap. I'm not a fan of guys playing 82 games out of the warrior mentality. I'm also not remotely expecting Ty to adopt my personal philosophy on this.

I've often thought the same. Look at baseball: guys get an occasional day off. You still have the player active on the roster, in case of injury or foul trouble. I think it would be very beneficial to guys with minor dings. Give them a few days to heal instead of having them man-up and hide their injuries. If a respected coach did this during the season, it might catch on.

 

[nightmare3983]

I've often thought the same. Look at baseball: guys get an occasional day off. You still have the player active on the roster, in case of injury or foul trouble. I think it would be very beneficial to guys with minor dings. Give them a few days to heal instead of having them man-up and hide their injuries. If a respected coach did this during the season, it might catch on.

Poppovich did this, but it's just not common with younger players.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

This to me is the absolute worst solution. It really surpised me coming from one of the better posters on this site. Millsap and Jefferson's feelings be damned. Favors is the guy that is the future of this team in the front court. He is the guy that needs to be kept happy and developed to be the center piece of this team. One of those other guys will not be on the team in 13. That is the guy who should be the bench player. I don't think you can keep them all and have all of them be happy. The one guy I don't want pissed off is Favors.

That's why I was hoping Al or Millsap would be traded. Since it looks like neither will happen Millsap makes the most sense to be our 6th man, as Favors would rather play pf, and Millsap would see better production off the bench.

 

[billyshelby]

I've often thought the same. Look at baseball: guys get an occasional day off. You still have the player active on the roster, in case of injury or foul trouble. I think it would be very beneficial to guys with minor dings. Give them a few days to heal instead of having them man-up and hide their injuries. If a respected coach did this during the season, it might catch on.

Both Millsap and Al are classic cases in point. Sap's rebounding declined every month. 9.4 until he leveled off at 8.5. Shooting percentages the last 3 months around 48%. Al was peaking around the end of February, but clearly lost some steam in March.

Both struggled more in March with the spike in minutes which went to 36 and 37. Making the playoffs added pressure, too, but keeping them a little fresher during the season could have helped them to withstand the extra minutes a little better.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Both Millsap and Al are classic cases in point. Sap's rebounding declined every month. 9.4 until he leveled off at 8.5. Shooting percentages the last 3 months around 48%. Al was peaking around the end of February, but clearly lost some steam in March.

Both struggled more in March with the spike in minutes which went to 36 and 37. Making the playoffs added pressure, too, but keeping them a little fresher during the season could have helped them to withstand the extra minutes a little better.

Could that be because Favor's minutes increased during those times?

 

[billyshelby]

Could that be because Favor's minutes increased during those times?

Solid theory, and in March Favors' minutes went up 5 minutes to 25. That's certainly enough to take some rebounds away from Al and Sap. But in December - February, his minutes were pretty static at 20. Sap was declining from January on. Al paradoxically got better, although minutes adjusted was pretty flat. Still doesn't account for their falling shooting percentages which I think is an indicator they were getting tired out there.