Who will be the starting point guard on opening night?

[fishonjazz]

Maybe Dunn is the next thing I'm super wrong on and he is actually what he showed post- ASB, but I just doubt it. The guy has a career average of -3.1 OBPM and he somehow fluked himself into a really good 24 games.

If the options are somewhat similar, I'd rather lean into developing the young talent and not the 30 year old PG with a 1 year deal.

Good response to my previous post fwiw.

 

[underdog]

I would go with Dunn. He didn’t play a lot of games but clearly showed what he can do. Experienced, plays good defense, likes to facilitate, doesn’t make many mistakes. Keyonte isn’t ready yet, and our other guards - Clarkson, Sexton, and THT - are all similar net-driving players who don’t pass the ball much. Like many have said, our biggest need is to have a PG who can deliver the ball to Lauri, Collins, and Kessler.

 

[fishonjazz]

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.

Gun to my head, this is my starting lineup in game 1

 

[fishonjazz]

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

Or he could have used the adjective "vibes" like with clarkson. Sexton has all the "vibes" and fun.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Also... just a reminder Sexton started 15 games last year and was 20.5 ppg and 6 assists per 36 (he played 29 minutes per but there was the game he got hurt early...so per 36 is relevant imo). 64% TS, so real efficient. He plays a bit more passive as a starter and looks to get others the ball a bit more... its a bit mechanical but whatevs.

Sexton/JC is where I will land... guess if no other trades. Its not ideal but there is an obvious trade that will need to be made if are balancing the roster and getting the young guys on the floor.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

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

Honestly zero to little fun in watching Sexton for me. Boring game IMO.

 

[HermanG]

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.

Hardy wants to play certain brand of unselfish basketball and DA and Zanik fill the roster to fit that mold. Eventually they need the high end on-ball talent to be successful in the playoffs, but I think the fact that there is no one to spoonfeed Lauri, Kessler or Collins (who has been spoonfed his entire career) might actually be best for their development.

I also wanna remind that we did quite well without Conley last year with very limited playmaking talent on the roster. ORtg 115.0 in 39 games without him, and that includes the 15 games at the end of the season when we alternated injuries to tank.

 

[HermanG]

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


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.

Perhaps I overreacted and got stuck on the non-sensical term, when to me the roster makes perfect sense.

My apologies.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think just start JC and Sexton. Midway through the year both guys should have increased trade value and you can pick one to keep and one to trade. If Dunn is healthy, Key looks ready, or Ochai takes a leap you can cover their absence.

I think both JC and Sexton if healthy and getting minutes will have more value in a trade than they do now (Jc can't even be moved) or at any point last season. I don't see Ochai as a guy we need to move or even want to move... so not worried about increasing his value. I think JC and Sexton are the best guards we have so don't overthink fit for now (lord knows they didn't overthink fit with Collins)

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Hardy wants to play certain brand of unselfish basketball and DA and Zanik fill the roster to fit that mold. Eventually they need the high end on-ball talent to be successful in the playoffs, but I think the fact that there is no one to spoonfeed Lauri, Kessler or Collins (who has been spoonfed his entire career) might actually be best for their development.

I also wanna remind that we did quite well without Conley last year with very limited playmaking talent on the roster. ORtg 115.0 in 39 games without him, and that includes the 15 games at the end of the season when we alternated injuries to tank.

Maybe so... I just think that unselfish ball movement is contagious and if the ball sticks it can be contagious too. We have a lot of guys that put the basketball in the hole when they get touches (that's good) and some that the ball tends to stick to... my worry is that unselfish brand of basketball needs a couple guys willing to sacrifice that are also good at passing. No Conley is one thing... KO's role being diminished is another... if we see a bit more of the "disease of me" or just guys not playing the brand of basketball we prefer I won't be super surprised.

It can work but it will take JC or Collin fighting against their nature/tendencies and really buying into setting guys up and picking their spots. It will also depend on all three front court players improving their playmaking (which as you noted may be a benefit).

 

[seattlejazzfan]

keyonte mother****ing george

 

[whatthe]

Well Clarkson is our best guard and he could in theory run the team but at the same time Dunn has the best inclination for a point guard but he needs shooting to surround him from all positions. I think will be Clarkson and Dunn off the bench. This really messes with THT and Sexton and Keynote (don't trust rookies) and disrespects them so that maybe a challenge how to fit everyone together.