Indeed wrote:JB7 wrote:Badonkadonk wrote:Yeah the whole #1 option narrative is for talking heads like Bobcat (with all due respect; still a fan). Different scenarios will emphasize different skillsets.
Nobody would that argue Jokic is easily the best and most valuable player on the Nuggets, but his most dangerous role in crunch time on offence is to quarterback the final play and make an optimal read (which may result in him calling his own number).
There is only one Joker, but I think Barnes' real superpower is in the same mold. Read the play, and see which weakness in the D gets exposed. Whether RJ gets an angle for a perfect cut, they sag too far off Gradey in response to an action, they double him and IQ gets some space to create, or Scottie gets a mismatch he can bully-drive or back down - he's the hub.
I think when people say "#1 option" they generally think of just somebody who's gonna create something out of a live dribble in the middle of chaos or when things break down. IQ is probably the closest we have to that currently.
Yes, with a star like Barnes leading the team, the construction of the team probably would follow the Duncan Spurs model, where winning appears as more of a team effort. This team won't have a guy considered the #1 go to option, like say a Luka or Curry.
Sure as if we worked out with Siakam (both salary and win rate wise), the fact that we are not keeping Siakam showed this assumption with Barnes compare to Jokic is a bit immature.
Barnes is a better player at 22 than current Siakam, period. Siakam is a better scorer, that's it. While I think saying Scottie is a younger Jokic is a stupid comparison and absolutely premature. Using Siakam as a yard stick to measure Barnes is equally as bad.
I couldn't care less about the whole #1 option conversation, it's ultimately pointless, what we need is a team where we can guarantee a go to scorer can perform. Jamal Murray wouldn't be a #1 scoring option, but with Jokic he absolutely can be.
I've said this before, I think Scottie/Gradey (originally i thought GTJ might be able to be that "Murray", but dude has not developed at all) have the potential to have a similar style to Jokic/Murray. Gradey has shown he has quick the scoring knack, way more than he showed initially, but he needs that guy with the gravity to open him up, and vice versa. Scottie has shown to have a lot of gravity and he's not even a good scorer, maybe that duo doesn't work out, but people need to move past this #1 option mentality. That stuff only matters when you have a player like Luka/Shai/Durant etc.