The Star: Patterson has inside track as starting PF

[Rapcity_11]

Hey, a basketball thread, not some rapper BS.

Garbage article. PF starter will be based on best match up. Scola likely gets half of the starts, just like he did last season, and 2Pat will get the other half. Both will split minutes at PF fairly evenly most likely.

What matchups favour PP and which favour Scola? I don't see much of a difference. It's also pretty much unprecedented for coaches to change the starting lineup constantly. It's probably a good idea, it just never happens.

[Patman]

Hey, a basketball thread, not some rapper BS.

Garbage article. PF starter will be based on best match up. Scola likely gets half of the starts, just like he did last season, and 2Pat will get the other half. Both will split minutes at PF fairly evenly most likely.

What matchups favour PP and which favour Scola? I don't see much of a difference. It's also pretty much unprecedented for coaches to change the starting lineup constantly. It's probably a good idea, it just never happens.

Scola is better to defend a low-post back to the basket scorer.

[Rapcity_11]

Hey, a basketball thread, not some rapper BS.

Garbage article. PF starter will be based on best match up. Scola likely gets half of the starts, just like he did last season, and 2Pat will get the other half. Both will split minutes at PF fairly evenly most likely.

What matchups favour PP and which favour Scola? I don't see much of a difference. It's also pretty much unprecedented for coaches to change the starting lineup constantly. It's probably a good idea, it just never happens.

Scola is better to defend a low-post back to the basket scorer.

So Zach Randolph? That pretty much ends the list of back to the basket PF's.

[Patman]

What matchups favour PP and which favour Scola? I don't see much of a difference. It's also pretty much unprecedented for coaches to change the starting lineup constantly. It's probably a good idea, it just never happens.

Scola is better to defend a low-post back to the basket scorer.

So Zach Randolph? That pretty much ends the list of back to the basket PF's.

He can slide to C if JV gets into foul trouble. I'd rather Scola defend a low-post C than Bismack. Bismack is better against the likes of DJ, Dwight, Noel, Drummond.

[Rapcity_11]

Scola is better to defend a low-post back to the basket scorer.

So Zach Randolph? That pretty much ends the list of back to the basket PF's.

He can slide to C if JV gets into foul trouble. I'd rather Scola defend a low-post C than Bismack. Bismack is better against the likes of DJ, Dwight, Noel, Drummond.

That's true. However, still not seeing any other matchup situations that favour starting Scola over PP.

[Patman]

So Zach Randolph? That pretty much ends the list of back to the basket PF's.

He can slide to C if JV gets into foul trouble. I'd rather Scola defend a low-post C than Bismack. Bismack is better against the likes of DJ, Dwight, Noel, Drummond.

That's true. However, still not seeing any other matchup situations that favour starting Scola over PP.

Agreed.

[SaveTheHens]

Patterson is one of our most reliable players. I could care less what people think about his rebounding, he makes big plays when they count and he spaces us out nicely so I'd like to see him start.

[MapleMan]

I think letting go of GV + Lou could really benefit the Raps on the boards especially Patterson, as it was quite evident that those two didn't really give it their 100% on the defensive side of things and if they did then that still wasn't good enough. I don't think we'll see much missed assignments on boxouts compared to last year.

[hype_2004]

Pat might surprise alot of people this year. Sure he has his weaknesses, but he showed glimpses of growth last year in smaller areas like passing and pick and roll D. He will work well with Hi-low game with JV on offence and is athletic enough to compete on D.

Not an ideal starting PF, but I think he can be solid for now.

I dosagree, he's the prototypical PF in today's NBA small ball offense, shoots the trey, has good quickness, intelligent, hustles, runs the floor well and has the vesatility to play SF/PF and C on occasions.

Those are all his strengths yes, but you can't ignore that he has pretty glaring weaknesses that are required to be a consistent impact starter.

Everyone in the NBA has their imperfections and flaws even Lebron James. Pat solid starter and better than many young PFs in the NBA. You cant ask for any more than that unless of course the team manages to snag Lamarcus Aldridge.

[ThatClockWork]

Dunno about Val and PP on defence

Yeah we did a good job addressing the lack of perimeter defence but the D inside is still a problem. Im thinking Biyombo might get more playing time than expected.

That's the issue. For the system Casey appears to desire, Bismack is a much better fit playing alongside Patterson in the frontcourt. I expect he'll be getting decent minutes off of the bench.

As of right now, I still do not understand how Val fits with this system.

[Thespianoid]

Dunno about Val and PP on defence

Yeah we did a good job addressing the lack of perimeter defence but the D inside is still a problem. Im thinking Biyombo might get more playing time than expected.

That's the issue. For the system Casey appears to desire, Bismack is a much better fit playing alongside Patterson in the frontcourt. I expect he'll be getting decent minutes off of the bench.

As of right now, I still do not understand how Val fits with this system.

After a perusing of NBA.com's stats, I think JV can fit just fine if they find a way to allow him to stay inside 10 feet and not have to come outside the paint every possession. He's pretty decent there, but once he's forced to leave the paint, his defensive effectiveness drops off DRAMATICALLY. and that's not an exaggeration. He goes from an average FG% differential of -.3.3% 10 feet and in, to +4.2% 15 feet and out. It's bad.

Most importantly, he needs to do a better job of contesting spot ups. Kick outs from penetration, mostly. Maybe off PnR action, but I can't be sure given the gaps in data logging. If he stays closer to his man in team defense situations, and doesn't opt to stay in the paint to protect non-existent paint attempts, he'll be just fine.

Interesting to note, JV's defensive metrics on post ups and roll man are better than Biyombo's. Displayed below, and included Patterson's. Make of it what you will.

Post Up

JV - 20.2% freq, 35.7% FG, 0.73 PPP

Biyombo - 20.7% freq, 41.0% FG, 0.84 PPP

Patterson - 10.2% freq, 46.7% FG, 0.89 PPP

Roll Man

JV - 10% freq, 41.3% FG, 0.82 PPP

Biyombo - 9.8% freq, 51.1% FG, 1.04 PPP

Patterson - 8.6% freq, 33.3% FG, 0.71 PPP

[orbesnet]

Dunno about Val and PP on defence

Yeah we did a good job addressing the lack of perimeter defence but the D inside is still a problem. Im thinking Biyombo might get more playing time than expected.

I believe the thinking is that with better perimeter D we'll have better interior D too... I mean, if our guards and wings can keep their man in front of them then our bigs won't have to help as much/won't be cought out of position as often. Or at least we can hope that's the plan.

[orbesnet]

As of right now, I still do not understand how Val fits with this system.

Wait... there's a system?!

I agree that we may see a reasonable swing on D compared to last year without GV and Lou. I can only hope there's more of a "system" in play this year, especially if there's some accountability being doled out (not just at JJ).

[Lunchpailhero1]

I dosagree, he's the prototypical PF in today's NBA small ball offense, shoots the trey, has good quickness, intelligent, hustles, runs the floor well and has the vesatility to play SF/PF and C on occasions.

Those are all his strengths yes, but you can't ignore that he has pretty glaring weaknesses that are required to be a consistent impact starter.

Everyone in the NBA has their imperfections and flaws even Lebron James. Pat solid starter and better than many young PFs in the NBA. You cant ask for any more than that unless of course the team manages to snag Lamarcus Aldridge.

Pat hasn't been an everyday starter yet in his career though. So that's why I'm a bit reluctant to be 100% confident in his abilities to be our starting 4. But like I said before I agree he can be solid for now until we secure a lock at that position (easier said than done lol) . Who knows, he could take a step and surprise people. I'm hoping so, because I really like him

[HighOctane]

Lowry
Derozan
Johnson
PPat
Val

Wright off the bench as a 1
Joseph off the bench as a 1/2
Carroll off the bench as a 3/4
Scola off the bench as a 4
Biyombo off the bench as a 5.

Looks okay. But really, JJ will be swapped for Carroll cause he don't know hustle when he sees it. Scola might also get more PT than what he's worth at his age.

[hype_2004]

Those are all his strengths yes, but you can't ignore that he has pretty glaring weaknesses that are required to be a consistent impact starter.

Everyone in the NBA has their imperfections and flaws even Lebron James. Pat solid starter and better than many young PFs in the NBA. You cant ask for any more than that unless of course the team manages to snag Lamarcus Aldridge.

Pat hasn't been an everyday starter yet in his career though. So that's why I'm a bit reluctant to be 100% confident in his abilities to be our starting 4. But like I said before I agree he can be solid for now until we secure a lock at that position (easier said than done lol) . Who knows, he could take a step and surprise people. I'm hoping so, because I really like him

Everyone has to "start" somewhere, if you don't give someone that chance you'll never know what you will get. In today's NBa a Pf needs to do a few things, defend the pick and roll, fight through screens, set picks, block out and hit the open jumper. Gone are the days of the bruising PF who, intimidates the paint, rebounds like an animal and post up like a bully, Pat is the prototype of today's NBA metric/analytic small ball offense/defense.

[Dukenukem23]

Lowry
Derozan
Johnson
PPat
Val

Wright off the bench as a 1
Joseph off the bench as a 1/2
Carroll off the bench as a 3/4
Scola off the bench as a 4
Biyombo off the bench as a 5.

Looks okay. But really, JJ will be swapped for Carroll cause he don't know hustle when he sees it. Scola might also get more PT than what he's worth at his age.

15 million off the bench...interesting

[ThatClockWork]

Yeah we did a good job addressing the lack of perimeter defence but the D inside is still a problem. Im thinking Biyombo might get more playing time than expected.

That's the issue. For the system Casey appears to desire, Bismack is a much better fit playing alongside Patterson in the frontcourt. I expect he'll be getting decent minutes off of the bench.

As of right now, I still do not understand how Val fits with this system.

After a perusing of NBA.com's stats, I think JV can fit just fine if they find a way to allow him to stay inside 10 feet and not have to come outside the paint every possession. He's pretty decent there, but once he's forced to leave the paint, his defensive effectiveness drops off DRAMATICALLY. and that's not an exaggeration. He goes from an average FG% differential of -.3.3% 10 feet and in, to +4.2% 15 feet and out. It's bad.

Most importantly, he needs to do a better job of contesting spot ups. Kick outs from penetration, mostly. Maybe off PnR action, but I can't be sure given the gaps in data logging. If he stays closer to his man in team defense situations, and doesn't opt to stay in the paint to protect non-existent paint attempts, he'll be just fine.

That's precisely the issue. Based on the eye test, Val becomes visibly lost in the scramble the second he hedges out past the mid-key area and you can see him turning his head and body in different directions trying to find out where he should be. When he stays at home or on that roll man, he can be a decent anchor (though still not quite occupying the paint as he needs to - also noticeably a step slow bringing help more than occasionally). As the stats have suggested, he does not close out on shooters well at all. I can see why they are telling him to improve his mobility but does that not negate much of what he accomplished in the previous offseason?

As of right now, I still do not understand how Val fits with this system.

Wait... there's a system?!

I agree that we may see a reasonable swing on D compared to last year without GV and Lou. I can only hope there's more of a "system" in play this year, especially if there's some accountability being doled out (not just at JJ).

If that happened, many of Demar Derozan's minutes would disappear though some games - which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if you are trying to manage your starters' minutes primarily or if we had enough firepower off the bench to succeed offensively without a volume scorer being on the floor most of the game.

James Johnson's defense is good - the issue is he over-helps to compensate for what some players are not doing on the floor - and for spurts that can really help you .. at least until your opponent catches on and starts exposing the glaring hole(s) left in your defense by that over-action.

[Reg00]

I still like JJ as a starting PF. But realistically that ain't gonna happen.

Pat I'm fine with, but with Scola and Bismack the playing time is going to fluctuate game to game a lot at the start while Casey gets his rotation figured out.

[Kenyon009]

Carroll is going to be a huge disappointment. Get ready folks. I have a feeling that if you have him and JJ equal minutes next to a good shooting SG, JJ would produce much better. Trade Carroll for a better powerforward that can shoot, in a package with JV?

Biyombo
(Carroll+JV)
JJ
(Derozan+NYK/DEN)
Lowry

That could be a great starting line up if Masai can fleece a few teams.