Balancing the First and Second Units

[Jdbraver137]

This is a tough puzzle. But I think there are tough decisions ahead for Doug. I don’t think we can play monk,Lavine,DDR, Keegan, and Sabonis. If yesterday taught us one thing, it’s that the other teams just march to the basket.
We need balance on the floor at all times. I think that means putting one of our walking buckets on the second unit. For me it’s DDR. Either DDR or Monk, but I’m worried taking monk out takes our ball handling away. Now will DDR accept the role of it means Ws? Thoughts?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

It's not a tough puzzle. LaVine needs to go to the bench, dassit. It is a tough decision, though, and Christie doesn't have the cache nor the job security to make that call. At a minimum, they would probably have to remove that Interim tag off of his title before he had the confidence to take one of those guys out of the starting lineup.

 

[SacTownKid]

Uh, lets see. Again, the art is in the stagger.

 

[Jdbraver137]

It's not a tough puzzle. LaVine needs to go to the bench, dassit. It is a tough decision, though, and Christie doesn't have the cache nor the job security to make that call. At a minimum, they would probably have to remove that Interim tag off of his title before he had the confidence to take one of those guys out of the starting lineup.

I love Keon and I think he should start, but he wouldn’t stop what happened yesterday when we just get opponents walking in for open layups.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Appreciate this thread. Definitely the most interesting on court issue moving forward.

Would be great if Carter could develop quickly and seize a starting guard spot, because that would help balance things as well. But that’s not happening this season.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

This is a tough puzzle. But I think there are tough decisions ahead for Doug. I don’t think we can play monk,Lavine,DDR, Keegan, and Sabonis. If yesterday taught us one thing, it’s that the other teams just march to the basket.
We need balance on the floor at all times. I think that means putting one of our walking buckets on the second unit. For me it’s DDR. Either DDR or Monk, but I’m worried taking monk out takes our ball handling away. Now will DDR accept the role of it means Ws? Thoughts?

You're giving the complexity and difficulty of our roster (in terms of overall roster management) way more credit than it deserves.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I love Keon and I think he should start, but he wouldn’t stop what happened yesterday when we just get opponents walking in for open layups.

What does that have to do with what I said? You're talking about balancing the roster, right? The quickest way to head in the general direction of balance would be to replace one of the scorers for a defender. The optimal move, given the personnel y'all currently have, would be Ellis for LaVine.

 

[Jdbraver137]

You're giving the complexity and difficulty of our roster (in terms of overall roster management) way more credit than it deserves.

Am I because last night there were glaring holes that I know could have been better filled by the bench.

 

[NiNetNiNe]

It's not a tough puzzle. LaVine needs to go to the bench, dassit. It is a tough decision, though, and Christie doesn't have the cache nor the job security to make that call. At a minimum, they would probably have to remove that Interim tag off of his title before he had the confidence to take one of those guys out of the starting lineup.

Between Zach or DeMarr, I'd sit DeMarr. Zach plays well off Sabonis, and his defense is better.

 

[SacTownKid]

I love Keon and I think he should start, but he wouldn’t stop what happened yesterday when we just get opponents walking in for open layups.

Very true, but no team is as big as the Magic. None. Prepping for them is totally unnecessary at this point. However, Monk and Keon are starting to get targeted with size. Two guys that can't defend with their chest and weigh like a 170-180 without the strength like Fox had could be an issue at some point. That's up to Christie though. If he lets Keon keep on ball hawking that's the answer. When they put Keon on the ball, but sagging off expecting the switch, or switching in the zone that can be exploited by teams as it was last night. Keon letting stronger players push him down towards the basket is a no no.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Am I because last night there were glaring holes that I know could have been better filled by the bench.

The simple fact that you believe that the glaring holes could have been better filled by the bench tells me that this should not be "tough" to figure out. The pieces already seem to be there - Doug just needs to decide to utilize them.

That is/was the point I am/was trying to make.

 

[Jdbraver137]

All I know is that we have to get stops with the starters and points from the bench. Right now it’s not working.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

It's not a tough puzzle. LaVine needs to go to the bench, dassit. It is a tough decision, though, and Christie doesn't have the cache nor the job security to make that call. At a minimum, they would probably have to remove that Interim tag off of his title before he had the confidence to take one of those guys out of the starting lineup.

His job security is this being his only chance so go with what works forget about feelings when you’re not in with the coaches to keep getting second chances

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Uh, lets see. Again, the art is in the stagger.

Staggering won’t work when you’re starting out small and defenseless just go with Keon and switch Lavine and DD next year. Bench with Lavine is close to elite and we’ve seen how good that starting group is

 

[SacTownKid]

Staggering won’t work when you’re starting out small and defenseless just go with Keon and switch Lavine and DD next year. Bench with Lavine is close to elite and we’ve seen how good that starting group is

6 minutes at the start is a free for all anyway. If the Kings routinely get down 20 in the first 6 minutes then worry. Until then, there's no tricking here. Carter and Keon and now maybe LaRavia are your defenders besides Keegan. It is what it is.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

His job security is this being his only chance so go with what works forget about feelings when you’re not in with the coaches to keep getting second chances

Yeah, right. He wouldn't be the first midseason replacement coach to not make it to the end of the year. Doing as you suggest is a good way to get himself Corbin'd.

 

[NiNetNiNe]

We can go crazy, bench DeMarr and start LaRavia. He is a pretty good defender, hustles, good passer, and is a movement shooter. Now you have gotten bigger overall as a starting unit plus Murray and LaVaria can guard multiple positions.

 

[Jdbraver137]

I honestly would love to see monk and DDR off the bench.

 

[SacTownKid]

We can go crazy, bench DeMarr and start LaRavia. He is a pretty good defender, hustles, good passer, and is a movement shooter. Now you have gotten bigger overall as a starting unit plus Murray and LaVaria can guard multiple positions.

IF they did have to eventually bring someone off the bench then yeah, DeMar is the guy. He can get his on auto so he's the safest bet to munch.

 

[funkykingston]

I honestly would love to see monk and DDR off the bench.

Who would be the starting PG? Domas initiates most of the offense, but you still need a ballhandler out there.

 

[bball_nomad]

I am all pro DDR as a 6th man. Though I think the chance of that is close to zero this season. OK. Another option. Managing lineups. That's what a good coach MUST do. Lineups, time-outs. Last season we were cruising with 20+ point lead in New York. I was watching feed that showed Knicks bench during time-out. Thib calmed down everybody and explained his players what they have to do and why. I thought to myself "no way Knicks will make a comeback". We lost that game.
Domas, Keegan and Monk are a must starters. DDR over LaVine - no way for me. Everything else - according to the circumstances. Players get hurt (except JV. He misses games only after surgeries ) or play hurt or play not at 100% due to bad hangover, viruses, some aliens having a party in their heads - whatever.
In Domas I trust. In Doug I want to develop trust

 

[Jdbraver137]

Who would be the starting PG? Domas initiates most of the offense, but you still need a ballhandler out there.

I think a mix of LaVine and Keon.

 

[Jones2006]

It's hard to balance the roster now since it's so offense-heavy ... Defense basically all falls on Keon Ellis & Murray's shoulders. At very least you have to stagger their minutes. Besides that, there will be some overlap in styles. Valincunis and DeRozan both like going 1 on 1, so they're an odd pair in my opinion. They have the team they have though, so somehow have to make this all work defensively. How exactly, no idea since they went after offense-1st guys at the deadline.

 

[Jdbraver137]

It's hard to balance the roster now since it's so offense-heavy ... Defense basically all falls on Keon Ellis & Murray's shoulders. At very least you have to stagger their minutes. Besides that, there will be some overlap in styles. Valincunis and DeRozan both like going 1 on 1, so they're an odd pair in my opinion. They have the team they have though, so somehow have to make this all work defensively. How exactly, no idea since they went after offense-1st guys at the deadline.

I think they definitely got bigger and longer and that will help. Plus JV can atleast stand under the basket and not allow guys to just walk in.

 

[funkykingston]

I think a mix of LaVine and Keon.

I wouldn't trust either of those guys to handle the ball against pressure. Not to mention that neither of them are playmakers nor able to initiate offense. With Fox gone I don't see how the team can afford to NOT start Malik.

 

[bball_nomad]

I wouldn't trust either of those guys to handle the ball against pressure. Not to mention that neither of them are playmakers or able to initiate offense. With Fox gone I don't see how the team can afford to NOT start Malik.

100% agreed. Monk is uber athletic, good shooter with very good handles. His game with Domas is a beauty.
Man, we now have so much versatile talent. It's all about coming together. JV is not a slouch either. Nasty screener, very soft hands. He was in the top 5 in FT% in the league with WAS for sometime, above 90% from the line. JV now is #6 in the league, 89+%. Easily finds open teammates on the perimeter or in the paint.
LaRavia is a bit of an unknown, but his teammates mentioned this year he did a lot of dirty work passionately. Deflections, 50/50 balls on defense, extra passes on offense.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Maybe JV should be the starter?

 

[Jdbraver137]

100% agreed. Monk is uber athletic, good shooter with very good handles. His game with Domas is a beauty.
Man, we now have so much versatile talent. It's all about coming together. JV is not a slouch either. Nasty screener, very soft hands. He was in the top 5 in FT% in the league with WAS for sometime, above 90% from the line. JV now is #6 in the league, 89+%. Easily finds open teammates on the perimeter or in the paint.
LaRavia is a bit of an unknown, but his teammates mentioned this year he did a lot of dirty work passionately. Deflections, 50/50 balls on defense, extra passes on offense.

I think monk over dribbles at times when the ball should be moving around the court

 

[bball_nomad]

Maybe JV should be the starter?

As a fellow Lithuanian - definitely no Unless you want him to be a primary ball handler. Ooops, I mean beer handler

 

[bball_nomad]

I think monk over dribbles at times when the ball should be moving around the court

He'll adjust.