RealGM

I liked the debate on this topic on the game thread and wanted to pull it into a separate thread. Clearly, the dynamics have changed with Rose regaining some swagger, Jimmy playing all-star SG and with Noah regressing a bit. There are some interesting arguments for guys other than MDJ. Here my pros and cons for various options:

MDJ
PROS: He is shooting the 3 at a high rate. Creates space for Rose/Jimmy. Good defender. Not ball dominant.
CONS: Not a very good ball handler. Can't play big minutes. May bring more stability to 2nd unit.

Snell
PROS: Good ball handler. Not ball dominant. Good passer into the post. Good defender. Gives him opportunity to develop.
CONS: Below average shooter (which is an improvement). Turn-over prone. Can hold ball too long.

Mirotic
PROS: Good shooter. Good ball handler. Great passer. Average defender. Not ball dominant.
CONS: He is learning PF position and this could impede his development. As a 4th option, he may get tentative. Too slow for faster SF's. Makes rookie mistakes.

Kirk
PROS: Good ball handler. Good defender. Can make uncontested 3's.
CONS: A ball stopper on offense. Cannot play more than 20mpg before becoming detriment. Forces Jimmy to SF position.

McDermott
PROS: Average ball handler. Average defender. Commands attention on defense. He was drafted to be in this role and it would help his development. Being 4th option takes defensive pressure off him that he otherwise gets off bench.
CONS: He was been terrible at 3pt shooting (his strength) during regular season. Mistake prone as a rookie.

Brooks
PROS: Great ball handler/passer/shooter. Creates space for other guys.
CONS: Defensive liability. Moves both Rose and Jimmy out of position. Eliminates key bench scoring.

Moore
PROS: Good ball handler/passer/shooter. Average defender. 2nd most consistent SG so far.
CONS: Moves Jimmy to SF.

Mike for the spacing, rebounding and size.

Snell and Moore tank our spacing, Hinrich too to a lesser extent.
Mirotic isn't a wing so he's out. Starting Brooks really hurts defensively, and then who's the sparkplug off the bench ?
McDermott isn't ready to contribute.

it's pretty clear cut for me.

Snell is making a legit case for starting but it is tough to trust him because of how low his lows have been. The main goal is to provide driving lanes for Jimmy and Derrick. Can he do that regularly? I think Mdj starts looking at how Thibs handled Taj and Noah starting.

Wilson Chandler or Aaron Afflalo.

Gibson.

I think the poll tells it all. Other than peeps who are just fans of Snell (nothing wrong with that) there really is no debate.

I can't wait for Dunleavy to come back. After our recent run I really do think he's one of our most valuable players. Specifically, I think his presence has the biggest impact on Butler. It gives Butler much more space to operate, and it gives him a reliable shooter from distance to bail him out.

So, Dunleavy would be the safest choice here.

HOWEVER

I would really consider Snell in the Bogans role, as long as he can continue to play confident and shoot 48+ FG% and 33+ from 3P%. If you start Snell, it would only be for 5-8 minutes at the start of 1st and again at start of 3rd. So it would ensure 10-16mpg for him.

I would consider this because of what it means for that stretch Rose comes out of the game. You KNOW Butler is still going to be on the floor after Rose comes out at the end of the 1st and end of 3rd. And if Dunleavy starts, he'd probably come out the same time too. So Butler will be out there with Brooks and either Kirk/Snell on the wings. I think those 12-18+ mpg with Rose out would be best if both Dunleavy and Butler are still out there together.

Butler can take over games with Dunleavy out there. Like he often had to when Rose was out for full games. But with no Dunleavy, it's a much much more difficult challenge for Butler. I mean Butler, Dunleavy, Brooks is a dangerous wing dynamic...two guys with great athleticism and driving ability, two guys with 41+ 3P% (on high volume too), one excellent defender and another savvy high IQ defender (Dun).

Of course, the first unit would need Rose to truly turn the corner and go full fledge leader of this team (like he has been the last few games), and Snell couldn't lay duds, he'd need to be dependable and play 2-way ball.

As long as we keep Jimmy at the SG, it could work with either Dunleavy of Snell (if he continues to improve). The easy answer, of course, is Mike.

In an ideal world I'd like see line-up/substitutions baseline be something like:

1Q: 0:00 - 6:00
Rose / Butler / Snell / Taj / Gasol

1Q: 6:00 - 10:00
Brooks / Butler / Dunleavy / Noah / Gasol
(Brooks, Dun, Noah in for Rose, Snell, Taj)

1Q: 10:00 - 12:00
Brooks / Butler / Dunleavy / Miro / Noah
(Miro in for Taj)

2Q: 12:00 - 14:00
Brooks / Kirk / Dunleavy / Miro / Noah
(Kirk in for Butler)

2Q: 14:00 - 18:00
Rose / Kirk / Dunleavy / Miro / Taj
(Rose, Taj in for Brooks, Noah)

2Q: 18:00 - 20:00
Rose / Butler / Miro / Taj / Gasol
(Butler, Gasol in for Kirk, Dunleavy)

2Q: 20:00 - 24:00
Rose / Brooks / Butler / Noah / Gasol
(Brooks, Noah in for Miro, Taj)

Then repeat in second half, with the final 8 minutes of 4th depending on who is playing best (Noah and Taj probably getting some extra minutes). Total minutes breakdown:

Rose: 32
Butler: 40
Snell: 12
Taj: 24+
Gasol: 32

Brooks: 24
Kirk: 16
Dunleavy: 24
Miro: 20
Noah: 24+

Snell should get the Bogans role, and have Dunleavy come off the bench.

For now.

TheStig wrote:Wilson Chandler or Aaron Afflalo.

The way we're looking now, if we can get in on that fire sale and get either for not much...

lawd have mercy at our power....

Bring Snell off the bench and hope that he doesn't lose confidence.

MDJ is what he is, Bulls can call on him if nec. Its better for the Bulls, esp. come playoffs, for Snell to start and keep building his confidence. With McD3 coming on slowly, and assuming no upgrade via trade, Snell has to step up.

Snell. Needs that confidence boost. Mistakes can be mitigated by the rest of the starters. Won't be asked to do much w/the rest of the starters.

MDJ would be a nice presence to bring stability/reliability to the 2nd unit.

Dunleavy is the obvious choice. Snell hasn't played poorly but teams just don't respect his shot enough so he doesn't stretch the floor out as well. But Snell has played his way into 20-25 minutes a game off the bench.

I'd still prefer to trade him and second rounders or even our own (protected) pick for a third wing.

Snell would be an intriguing option if he actually played solid enough defense to guard good PG and let Derrick hide on SG but he simply doesn't so I say still leave Dunleavy in there.

Snell, definitely.

Durant

Snell plays better with the starters. More open opportunities

Tenchi Ryu wrote:

TheStig wrote:Wilson Chandler or Aaron Afflalo.

The way we're looking now, if we can get in on that fire sale and get either for not much...

lawd have mercy at our power....

But alas we are scared to make a deal.