Pistons best lineup...small ball?

[GQ Hot Dog]

Hey Pistons fans. I love your potential this year and I would love to see you guys play the modern-era 4-out small ball style.

Reggie
KCP
Morris
SJ
Drummond

You got a penetrating PG in Reg, a tough and strong point forward type in SJ, two classic shooting wings in Morris and KCP and a lane defending rebounding monster in Drummond. I don't think Drummond will ever be much of a post scorer but playing this style he only needs to dunk the ball off the playmaking from Reg and SJ.

What do you guys think?

[ImHeisenberg]

SVG would move Morris to PF and play Stanimal at SF in that line-up.

But, yes, most Pistons fans are feeling pretty optimistic about a playoff berth this season.

[GQ Hot Dog]

SVG would move Morris to PF and play Stanimal at SF in that line-up.

But, yes, most Pistons fans are feeling pretty optimistic about a playoff berth this season.

I just see so much natural strength in SJ's body that he would be better able to handle the PFs defensively while Morris lacks in toughness and is more comfortable out on the perimeter. The way things are going these days SF and PF are pretty interchangeable as shown by my Dubs combo of Barnes and Dray.

[Cowology]

No secret SVG wants to play 4-out. I do think Morris is more likely to play the 4 right now just because Stan is still a big unknown. Eventually I could see him evolve and spend more time there, but initially I think it best he acclimate to SF and get used to defending elite players at that position.

[aad]

SVG said stanley is more likely to play sg then pf

[zeebneeb]

That is not a small ball lineup. What Golden state plays is small ball.

Shortest guy is reggie at 6'3

It's actually a really big lineup.

I'm confused...

[Arp590]

That is not a small ball lineup. What Golden state plays is small ball.

Shortest guy is reggie at 6'3

It's actually a really big lineup.

I'm confused...

Right lol.. Marcus Morris is 6' 9" Stanley Johnson is 6' 7" and both guards definitely aren't small for their position.

[GQ Hot Dog]

That is not a small ball lineup. What Golden state plays is small ball.

Shortest guy is reggie at 6'3

It's actually a really big lineup.

I'm confused...

Yeah, I get your point. I guess it's more of a stretch-4 lineup.

[Snakebites]

If you are going to rock a small ball lineup you really don't want Marcus Morris to be your most consistent outside shooter.

Not sure we have a roster that lends itself all that well to small ball. Maybe if Pope finds some consistency it might be worth exploring.

As others have said this one is really only small ball if you look at the positions guys are "supposed" to play.

The closest we could get to a small ball lineup is Meeks and Pope at the wings with Johnson at the 4. Not sure if there is a point in doing that, but I DO think its possible we see Pope at the 3 some this year.

[Pharaoh]

SVG would move Morris to PF and play Stanimal at SF in that line-up.

But, yes, most Pistons fans are feeling pretty optimistic about a playoff berth this season.

I just see so much natural strength in SJ's body that he would be better able to handle the PFs defensively while Morris lacks in toughness and is more comfortable out on the perimeter. The way things are going these days SF and PF are pretty interchangeable as shown by my Dubs combo of Barnes and Dray.

Morris lacks toughness? I'm of the belief he needs to reign in the tough guy stuff to focuson being a better basketball player!

As noted its not a small ball line up. It's pretty conventional size wise but might struggle with outside shooting

[GQ Hot Dog]

SVG would move Morris to PF and play Stanimal at SF in that line-up.

But, yes, most Pistons fans are feeling pretty optimistic about a playoff berth this season.

I just see so much natural strength in SJ's body that he would be better able to handle the PFs defensively while Morris lacks in toughness and is more comfortable out on the perimeter. The way things are going these days SF and PF are pretty interchangeable as shown by my Dubs combo of Barnes and Dray.

Morris lacks toughness? I'm of the belief he needs to reign in the tough guy stuff to focuson being a better basketball player!

As noted its not a small ball line up. It's pretty conventional size wise but might struggle with outside shooting

Morris has a lot of tough-guy in him but his -1.91 defensive RPM places him just behind Dirk Nowitzki(yuck) for 387th overall last season. I guess when I say toughness I more mean his ability to defend PFs.

[coordinator0]

Morris has a lot of tough-guy in him but his -1.91 defensive RPM places him just behind Dirk Nowitzki(yuck) for 387th overall last season. I guess when I say toughness I more mean his ability to defend PFs.

Yeah, I think there's a bit of a misconception about Morris around here. He's not much of a defender nor does he bring any sort of productive "toughness" to the court. I think his off-court troubles might have built that delusion up. Morris' value to Detroit is all about ability on the offensive end.

[pistontr]

Morris is PF. So this is not a small line-up.

[mrroboto4889]

I came in here expecting a lineup of

RJ
Jennings
KCP
Stanley
Andre

After Jennings comes back of course

[zeebneeb]

I came in here expecting a lineup of

RJ
Jennings
KCP
Stanley
Andre

After Jennings comes back of course

Why in the world would you expect us to start two pg's?

As for Morris, I think this season is really going to change people's opinion of him.

Future starting lineup. More then likely by january;

Jackson
Pope
Stanimal
Morris
Andre

I really believe this will become obvious by around mid december, and will be implemented by jan-feb. The only problem I can see is that some kind of deal will have to be made for another SF if we start both Stanimal and Morris.

That lineup is fast, athletic, and on paper should be fantastic defensively.

Or we could lineup shuffle continuously at the forward spots. Our bench becomes absolutely insane if we roll with that starting group, save for SF;

Jennings
Meeks
???Morris/Stanimal
Erson
Baynes

Might always keep someone rolling thru at the SF slot.

[bballnmike]

I came in here expecting a lineup of

RJ
Jennings
KCP
Stanley
Andre

After Jennings comes back of course

Why in the world would you expect us to start two pg's?

Well that would be a small lineup.

[whitehops]

i know what thinkingwarriors is trying to say about the small ball lineup... no need to argue semantics.


one of the things SVG put an emphasis on was to get guys that could stretch the floor but also had size. he saw how effective length was for Milwaukee's defense and tried to add that element to ours. in theory the lineup in the OP should be mobile enough to defend effectively against an opposing small-ball lineup but also have size and length to cause problems both offensively and defensively. that's why SVG is having reggie and morris post up more.

i like the potential for this lineup to match teams defensively when they go small ball but also could cause problems for them offensively.

[Maker_84]

you can only play small ball if all 5 guys can score, create, and shoot so you have to take Drummond out of that lineup and put Ilyasova in

[mattao313]

you can only play small ball if all 5 guys can score, create, and shoot so you have to take Drummond out of that lineup and put Ilyasova in

Drummond is not a liability on offense in fact the offense is better with him on the floor.

[Ghost]

I could see Stanley/Andre getting paired in the frontcourt for some tough small ball at certain points this year. I love the possibilities with Stanley/Morris moving around the forward spots with Ilyasova.