Is it time to start Stanley and bring Morris off the bench?

[Pork N Chili]

When it comes down it we just need better ball movement in the starting lineup (and more scoring off the bench) and I think this move would improve both in one, and maybe not best for the individuals but best for the team right now.

Honestly, this would probably be the best move IMO. Give our starters more ball movement and watch our shooting improve drastically with a lot more open looks. Give our bench someone that can create for themselves regularly (since Meeks and Jennings are out RN), and that improves our bench's effectiveness offensively and probably defensively as well.

SVG should at least try it one game so we can all know whether it would be better to start Johnson or Morris. Right now, it's all just speculation based off an early 10 game sample.

[No-Man]

I will start Bullock but thats just me.

[MrBigShot]

Aside from the Golden State game Stanley's been very underwhelming. I also doubt Morris would be too happy about coming off the bench...and as bad as our offense has been we honestly need him to post up and get us buckets in the half court.

[Todd3]

Aside from the Golden State game Stanley's been very underwhelming. I also doubt Morris would be too happy about coming off the bench...and as bad as our offense has been we honestly need him to post up and get us buckets in the half court.

That's just it though. Maybe his post game is what's causing the offense to be bad, like how the offense got better when we sat Monroe last year. We solved the problem then, but seem to have recreated it with Morris.

[kurtis48239]

Yes,the more time stanley gets the better he looks.If marcus is hitting shots then I would much rather have stanley out there.

[Blkbrd671]

SJ hasn't done anything to deserve starting roll. Furthermore as soon as you make that move, you can't go back. SVG going to look stupid as a coach. and the chances of a rookie being consistent for 72 games is very unlikely. SJ should come off the bench until he's playing to the point where even SVG's wondering why SJ is on the bench. SJ play hasn't dictated that, or even come close

[King Bugs]

Contrary to what I said, one solution is to move Morris to the PF position and start Stanley at SF. Morris is quicker than Ily. Stanley is quicker than Morris. But SVG's mistake is his arrogance. He'll keep the starting lineup the way it is because he trusts Ily at PF.

I like this idea. That's just a band-aid though, this team just isn't talented enough to win consistently. KCP, Morris, and Ily are not starters on playoff teams. We were supposed to have shooters now, but KCP and Marcus are both shooting below 30% from 3 and Ily is way too selective on his 3s to be effective. Passing up on open ones with pump fakes and ruining the offensive flow.

I cringe knowing that we traded BK and Middleton, they are exactly what we need right now.

[Spider156]

Contrary to what I said, one solution is to move Morris to the PF position and start Stanley at SF. Morris is quicker than Ily. Stanley is quicker than Morris. But SVG's mistake is his arrogance. He'll keep the starting lineup the way it is because he trusts Ily at PF.

I like this idea. That's just a band-aid though, this team just isn't talented enough to win consistently. KCP, Morris, and Ily are not starters on playoff teams. We were supposed to have shooters now, but KCP and Marcus are both shooting below 30% from 3 and Ily is way too selective on his 3s to be effective. Passing up on open ones with pump fakes and ruining the offensive flow.

I cringe knowing that we traded BK and Middleton, they are exactly what we need right now.

I would start KCP on a contending team. He can play given the right situation. It's here and he's still developing chemistry with the team. Ilyasova should be on the bench. He's played with Brandon Jennings, maybe he goes there when Jennings comes back. Morris is good but he's not consistent. He needs space. He's more of a spot up shooter and has the right size for PF. Stanley should start. You can tell he's a volume shooter and I feel like he's streaky. He could be the extra ball handler KCP and Jackson need. I would take BK and Middleton too but not on their contracts.

[Todd3]

Here are the advanced stats on our most used lineups. Most are small samples except for the starting 5, but we can see which groupings could have the most potential to succeed together should a change be necessary. The starters have been positive overall, but the low ast/to ratio and TS% is a problem. They also play too slow.

However, the RJ/KCP/SJ/MM/Dre lineup has been an even bigger positive across the board, and perhaps that is what we should try next. Not as good defense but much better offense, better rating differential, ast/to ratio, TS%, and pace.

The lineup with Tolliver seems to be our best defensive unit, but the extremely low ast/to ratio and ast % is not what we need right now.

Neither of those 2 lineups happen to include Ersan. Maybe he is actually the problem after all. He would seem to be a good fit with the starters because of his shooting, but he is really erratic and never looks in sync with anyone. He is also part of our worst lineup with SJ at SF instead of Morris, so that doesn't seem to be the answer. At least not with Ersan at PF. Our best bet looks to be SJ @ SF w/ Morris @ PF.

[Revived]

Contrary to what I said, one solution is to move Morris to the PF position and start Stanley at SF. Morris is quicker than Ily. Stanley is quicker than Morris. But SVG's mistake is his arrogance. He'll keep the starting lineup the way it is because he trusts Ily at PF.

I like this idea. That's just a band-aid though, this team just isn't talented enough to win consistently. KCP, Morris, and Ily are not starters on playoff teams. We were supposed to have shooters now, but KCP and Marcus are both shooting below 30% from 3 and Ily is way too selective on his 3s to be effective. Passing up on open ones with pump fakes and ruining the offensive flow.

I cringe knowing that we traded BK and Middleton, they are exactly what we need right now.

I would start KCP on a contending team. He can play given the right situation. It's here and he's still developing chemistry with the team. Ilyasova should be on the bench. He's played with Brandon Jennings, maybe he goes there when Jennings comes back. Morris is good but he's not consistent. He needs space. He's more of a spot up shooter and has the right size for PF. Stanley should start. You can tell he's a volume shooter and I feel like he's streaky. He could be the extra ball handler KCP and Jackson need. I would take BK and Middleton too but not on their contracts.

Their contracts are cheaper than RJ's and their also younger than RJ.

[mattao313]

I will start Bullock but thats just me.

Why? he looks like junk.

[Sort]

If Morris can swallow the unnecessary ego hit, starting Stan makes the most sense - but not if Morris is off to Pout-a-lot-ville. Stanley's pushing himself to do too much in the second unit, but he's not snagging shots from Reggie or Dre - he's not dumb.That starting unit could use his motor to keep themselves up and the starters can cover up some of his forced mistakes a lot easier.

Then you have a pro off that bench that needs a focus and some defense. Morris on the high post with people feeding off of him is not gold, but is a major step up from the current Bench Sob.

Right now, we only have seven healthy NBA players. Too bad SVG the GM's not so great as GM the coach. That said, most teams are only a healthy nine deep of real players.

[Todd3]

If Morris can swallow the unnecessary ego hit, starting Stan makes the most sense - but not if Morris is off to Pout-a-lot-ville. Stanley's pushing himself to do too much in the second unit, but he's not snagging shots from Reggie or Dre - he's not dumb.That starting unit could use his motor to keep themselves up and the starters can cover up some of his forced mistakes a lot easier.

Then you have a pro off that bench that needs a focus and some defense. Morris on the high post with people feeding off of him is not gold, but is a major step up from the current Bench Sob.

Right now, we only have seven healthy NBA players. Too bad SVG the GM's not so great as GM the coach. That said, most teams are only a healthy nine deep of real players.

Yep, we are only a few pieces shy of what other teams have, but that is enough to cost you in the meantime.

Agree on Stanley/Morris. That is the move to make.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/johnschuhmann/status/668919137746468864[/tweet]
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Some might see this as reason he needs to stay starting, but I see it as reason he would make the bench better (which is who needs it more right now). Any negative effect SJ is having on the bench would be neutralized with Drummond and Reggie around him in the starting lineup too. Like you said, SJ doesn't force it when he is playing with them. You can tell he respects them more and just plays off them, looks to set Dre up more etc. I think his ball hogging with the bench is just because he knows he needs to carry the scoring or we have no one else. Stan giving him the green light to be the main scorer off the bench was probably not the best thing for him. I know he is trying to bring him along slowly, but letting him play a complimentary role in the starting lineup would probably be a better way to accomplish that.

In essence it would make SJ less of a liability, while better utilizing Morris as an asset.