Who will be the starting point guard on opening night?

[Handlogten's Heros]

You dont think Ochai could gain huge value? If he can become a dude who can shoot 7 threes per game and shooting above 36%, that would make him a pretty valuable player and I think that's within reach (far more than the Sexton one IMO). In SL he showed you that he has put an emphasis on your biggest bugaboo, STOCKS and general off-ball activity.

I think he has a lot of potential as a guy that can shoot 7-8 threes at a 38-40% clip. The STOCKS is just a symptom of my issue with his defense. His defense is okay... hopefully it gets to really good. If he does that his value increases but a bench role where he is getting 18 minutes a night does not crush his value like it would a guy you are paying 18M a year for. He is at a point in his career where he can play off the bench without it pushing his value one way or the other.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

As I said in my last post, Dunn has a career average of -3.1 OBPM. His entire career he has tanked his team's offense. If I had to bet, I would bet he's closer to what he has shown for most of his career than what he showed in the last 24 games. So the playmaking angle is a bit lost on me, but I get the defensive argument.

its ballhandling and playmaking... and I get he hasn't been a good offensive player... but when you compare his ballhandling, passing, playmaking to Ochai its significantly better. That is the case... not saying it is more important than shooting but its important when you already are deficient in the front court.

 

[Jingled]

The last game of Clarkson's season he had 12 assist. I think right now he's probably the best option if you are trying to put out the best possible lineup.

Could be. I just worry that if Clarkson is the starting point guard Ochai will be the starting shooting guard. I don't think a starting 5 of Clarkson/Ochai/Lauri/Collins/Kessler has nearly enough passing/playmaking.

 

[HermanG]

The roster is extremely lopsided (to the point of potentially log-jamming our top-ten pick) towards big forwards and bigs that are play finishers but need good guard play to set them up, except the guards are almost all combo guards where none are obviously of starting caliber. Our only wing that appears to be NBA caliber is Ochai and he is also a guy that needs his table set. Our best guard is a guy best-known and best-suited as a 6th man on a good team.

I feel I should note that your question prompted me to guffaw. The roster is goofy.

Laugh all you want but which is more non-sensical.... our roster or evaluating it as if it was even intended to be a finished product?

I think its very much primed to serve the future. We got a huge pool of very athletic young players with upside and also a long list of movable/matchable contracts.

 

[LogGrad98]

I would like to see

Dunn
JC
Lauri
Collins
Walker

That is really a solid starting 5. Excellent interior defense, shooting and outright scoring from 3 positions, and 2 and maybe even 3 playmakers on the floor. Sub in KO for Walker for an entirely different look at some point, then bring in the rookies and let them get at it. Could be a fun year really.

 

[cctrackstar]

All but one of the possible players are combo guards, and i hate starting combo guards. Unfortunately, the only non combo guard the team is on a make good contract and is close to thirty years old, seems a waste to give time to him and not use the twenty milish per year other players. it's really lose lose. our pg situation sucks.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Laugh all you want but which is more non-sensical.... our roster or evaluating it as if it was even intended to be a finished product?

I think its very much primed to serve the future. We got a huge pool of very athletic young players with upside and also a long list of movable/matchable contracts.

And now we're full circle; I said this in the post that you initially responded to:

The roster being non-sensical is evidence that another feel-it-out-then-maybe-tank-down-the-stretch strategy might be in play.

It looks to me like Ainge was just opportunistic with Collins and is being patient until opportunism actually yields a roster-construction that makes sense.

I never said it was a finished product. That's actually my point. Just prepare yourself that this season could be a letdown when the roster is clearly in the middle of a renovation.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Laugh all you want but which is more non-sensical.... our roster or evaluating it as if it was even intended to be a finished product?

I think its very much primed to serve the future. We got a huge pool of very athletic young players with upside and also a long list of movable/matchable contracts.

I think its good to get a lot of good players but if you are looking at it as a bunch of assets you can move later the issue becomes that those players will need to be placed in situations to succeed to increase their value. I don't know that they are being placed in situations to succeed based on fit/role/etc.

I get that its not a finished product for sure. I think a trade or two could change things... but not sure we have a trade in us until after the season starts.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Could be. I just worry that if Clarkson is the starting point guard Ochai will be the starting shooting guard. I don't think a starting 5 of Clarkson/Ochai/Lauri/Collins/Kessler has nearly enough passing/playmaking.

I think no matter what the arrangement is there will be a mid 1st quick sub for Collins and maybe one other starter. It will be like the Favs/Rudy days. Need to work our way into a bench lineup where Collins/Lauri/KO arrangement where we are 5 out and Collins is the main roll man. I just have no clue how Hardy will do that dance.

 

[fishonjazz]

The #1 Ochai Hater strikes again.

But the reasons you would want to pencil in Ochai starting over Sexton/THT/Keyonte is that he profiles as an ideal 3&D type wing and you need someone out there who can matchup with star 2-guards/wings. If you're rolling with some combo of Dunn/Clarkson/Sexton, how are you matching up with the playoff teams in the West? Seems pretty difficult.

You also need the floor spacing Ochai provides. He has a quick trigger off the catch and can be a real C&S weapon. THT/Dunn are negative floor spacers and Sexton can shoot it when open, but its' really not his game. If we are going to lean in to these athletic bigs, we are going to need spacing.

Agreed. You are talking me into Clarkson/ochai starting.

 

[underdog]

Really good post. Dont disagree with any of the pro/con stuff.

Except he forgot to add “Fun” in his bullet point list for Sexton.

 

[fishonjazz]

You start Dunn and you are playing a starting lineup with 3 non-spacers and it's not like Dunn is a plus creator, so you're just putting more weight on Clarkson/Lauri to operate in bad-space with no one to kick out to. Why not lean into the better shooter?

I mostly agree but Dunn was AMAZING from 3 last year. super small sample no doubt but since we are talking about what ifs (what if ochai takes 7 threes per game and makes over 36% etc), what if Dunn increases his volume without his percentages going down a lot?