Post#144 » by minimus » Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:23 pm
Guys, I have a question. It looks like we might get defensive minded big such as Mark Williams or Walker Kessler.
How much we can improve if we change our bench identity to more defense oriented?
Let me explain.
Part 1.
Our recent bench success is also based on very hot shooting from TP, Beasley, AND JMac ability to control tempo. Neither of this group is an above average defender. Same goes for Reid, who is our backup C. The only good defender is MCD. But we still had success as group because this unit Reid-MCD-TP-Beasley-JMac/Nowell is very talented on offensive end. In defense they run same high wall schemу but they cant stop anyone from scoring. They actively patroling passing lanes and try to put pressure on ballhandler. But I think it is maximum what we could get from this group both in offense and defense, because:
* - Beasley has been shooting very well recently
* - TP has been shooting very well recently
* - JMac has been done impressive job as ballhandler, cut unnecessary turnovers, controlled tempo
* - Only MCD has MORE room to grow both in defense and offense
I watched some highlights of Williams and Kessler. They look impressive as rim protectors in drop scheme. But I believe it would require some additional changes to integrate them in our team. First, both Williams Kessler and Mark Williams are mostly weakside shotblockers, who can benefit from playing in drop scheme. Can we switch to drop scheme when we play bench unit, but still play high wall with starting unit? Also to play drop we need a strong PoA defender who can fight through screens. I mean there is no sense to swtich to use scheme if on point-of-attack defends undersized McLaughlin or Nowell. Embiid is so effective in drop, because Thybulle is so effective in contesting shots from behind. We dont have such guy on the bench. Second, Williams Kessler and Mark Williams are raw in offense we cant pair them with another limited offensive player. For instance, we can't pair Kessler/Williams with Vando or Okogie. Third, even drafting either bigman, we still need productive backup bigman. It means that we still we need Reid, who is completely different player: versatile scorer, but poor rebounder (although it looks worse because of high wall scheme) and positional defender. Reid can't play PF, so in this case we either resign him now and trade later when Williams or Kessler are ready or let him go.
So I am a bit torn between these two options. First option is keeping current offensive minded dynamic bench unit Reid-MCD-TP-Beasley-JMac/Nowell. Second option is very intriguing, but very risky: building defensive identity around Kessler/Williams+MCD+PoA defender. By itself MCD has high potential as defender, playing him with natural shotblocker would form very promising duo. Imagine adding here a solid PoA defender. Not to mention Kessler/Williams are far better rebounder than Reid.
To sum up: I like both Kessler/Williams, but it means we need to made significant change in defensive scheme. However, next season we could run hybrid unit based on matchups, let say Reid/Kessler-MCD-TP-Beasley-JMac/Nowell/Bolmaro. Let Kessler and Bolmaro mature, and after next season we will have Kessler-MCD-TP-Nowell-Bolmaro. I really hope that we have Caruso/DiVincenzo type of player in Bolmaro.
Thoughts?
P.S. I dont know how it work financialy, but maybe it makes sense to negotiate new contracts of Reid, TP and Nowell, and resign them this offseason at fair price, so they become assets. Will new Reid and Nowell extensions start from 2023-24 season? Or from 2022-23 season?
P.P.S I know maybe we should not sign role players before Towns, DLo extension are not discussed
