The offensive pecking order

[Klomp]

There seems to be a lot of discussion about this in multiple threads, so we might as well funnel it to one location.

I think we all know Ant is the top priority. But how will the rest of it look?

[KGdaBom]

When you say offensive pecking order do you just mean shots? KAT is obviously 2nd. If you mean involvement in the offense Conley certainly third. If you mean shots McDaniel's and Gobert both might get more shots than Conley.

[Klomp]

When you say offensive pecking order do you just mean shots? KAT is obviously 2nd. If you mean involvement in the offense Conley certainly third. If you mean shots McDaniel's and Gobert both might get more shots than Conley.

I think that's where the discussion gets interesting, because it can mean. any and all of those things at the same time.

Personally, I see most possessions starting with Ant/KAT two-man action. Jaden will probably be in the corner on the strong side, while Conley and Gobert are on the weak side. Off of Ant/KAT, they either throw it to Jaden in the corner or pass it out to Conley on the weakside to run two-man game with Rudy. That's a pretty well put together offense.

The beauty is, almost anyone off the bench can sub in and you can still run it.

[wolves_89]

My hope is that the offensive scheme is driven by a somewhat equal combination of Ant/KAT where the balance changes game to game depending on the matchup and the opposing team's defensive scheme. For the rest of the roster, I would say it also changes game to game with some subset of Conley, McDaniels, Gobert, Milton, and Naz ending up scoring in the 15-20 range on a given night.

[Klomp]

My hope is that the offensive scheme is driven by a somewhat equal combination of Ant/KAT where the balance changes game to game depending on the matchup and the opposing team's defensive scheme. For the rest of the roster, I would say it also changes game to game with some subset of Conley, McDaniels, Gobert, Milton, and Naz ending up scoring in the 15-20 range on a given night.

Yeah I think it's going to be a very balanced stat sheet overall. Towns and Ant over 20, but then a handful of guys that likely can wind up around 10-20 ppg. That's seven guys of the nine-man rotation and you're at a bare minimum of 90 points from them most nights. That's a pretty good starting point.

[Mamba4Goat]

The pecking order is going to be pretty interesting and could be broken into tiers…

Top options:
1. Ant
2. KAT

Top bench options
1. Naz
2. Shake

Those four likely have set roles of just getting theirs. Conley, McDaniels, and to a lesser extent Gobert is where this gets really intriguing. They could just organically get their points throughout the game or have a need for Conley to score more, find a way to enable Jaden more, or, and hopefully not, try to get Gobert involved as much as possible (unless he’s hitting 3s. That’s welcome).

Edit: I’d imagine this is solved as the season goes on with no real set in stone hierarchy amongst those three.

NAW and SloMo will likely be more of a pair of glue guys than scorers factored into any pecking order and will organically get somewhere between 6-12 ppg every night.

Ideally I’d go Ant, KAT, Jaden, Naz, Shake, Conley, Rudy, NAW, SloMo in terms of FGA per game.

[m2002brian]

This team should. Be close the the OKC team that made the finals BUT hopefully we can find a third guy (like they had harden). Jaden should be a more or a reliable offensive AND MORE accurately, a defensive option than harden was for okc. And the cherry on top is Mike mother clucking Conley Jr with is cream just below him Rudy Gobert.

This is a deep team with deep talen. It’s more a matter of being a cohesive unit than it is a matter of talent. We should be witness to some greatness this year if the chemistry is in our favor.

[Calinks]

Ant needs to be the number one option if we want success but he has to prove he is able to handle it for 82 games. He can't vanish for huge stretches. We need to try to make him the number 1 option, we need him to be the number 1 option, but until he proves otherwise and consistently shows it, I still think Towns will be the number 1 option. He has a proven track record of producing every season, Ant hasn't managed that yet, that's part of being a superstar.

[KGdaBom]

Ant needs to be the number one option if we want success but he has to prove he is able to handle it for 82 games. He can't vanish for huge stretches. We need to try to make him the number 1 option, we need him to be the number 1 option, but until he proves otherwise and consistently shows it, I still think Towns will be the number 1 option. He has a proven track record of producing every season, Ant hasn't managed that yet, that's part of being a superstar.

KAT barely scored 20 PPG last season. He needs to return to 25 with 40% 3s.

[Jamaaliver]

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[Note30]

Ant needs to be the number one option if we want success but he has to prove he is able to handle it for 82 games. He can't vanish for huge stretches. We need to try to make him the number 1 option, we need him to be the number 1 option, but until he proves otherwise and consistently shows it, I still think Towns will be the number 1 option. He has a proven track record of producing every season, Ant hasn't managed that yet, that's part of being a superstar.

KAT barely scored 20 PPG last season. He needs to return to 25 with 40% 3s.

He also played 29 games and was still getting back into for 8 games, of course he's going to score more this season.

[Klomp]

Ant needs to be the number one option if we want success but he has to prove he is able to handle it for 82 games. He can't vanish for huge stretches. We need to try to make him the number 1 option, we need him to be the number 1 option, but until he proves otherwise and consistently shows it, I still think Towns will be the number 1 option. He has a proven track record of producing every season, Ant hasn't managed that yet, that's part of being a superstar.

KAT barely scored 20 PPG last season. He needs to return to 25 with 40% 3s.

He also played 29 games and was still getting back into for 8 games, of course he's going to score more this season.

Last year was an off year, I think that's clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda. I think it's foolish to say none of that had to do with injury/illness and attribute it solely to the position change and playing with Gobert.

[wolves_89]

KAT barely scored 20 PPG last season. He needs to return to 25 with 40% 3s.

He also played 29 games and was still getting back into for 8 games, of course he's going to score more this season.

Last year was an off year, I think that's clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda. I think it's foolish to say none of that had to do with injury/illness and attribute it solely to the position change and playing with Gobert.

I'd also add that even in the 29 games KAT played the majority of those were at far less than 100%. At the start of the regular season KAT was coming off being hospitalized and effectively missing training camp. I would have expected it to take at least 3-4 weeks for him to get in shape and find a rhythm (he got hurt at around 5 weeks). At the end of the season, it was pretty clear that he was not fully recovered.

[KGdaBom]

Ant needs to be the number one option if we want success but he has to prove he is able to handle it for 82 games. He can't vanish for huge stretches. We need to try to make him the number 1 option, we need him to be the number 1 option, but until he proves otherwise and consistently shows it, I still think Towns will be the number 1 option. He has a proven track record of producing every season, Ant hasn't managed that yet, that's part of being a superstar.

KAT barely scored 20 PPG last season. He needs to return to 25 with 40% 3s.

He also played 29 games and was still getting back into for 8 games, of course he's going to score more this season.

Just pointing it out and hoping/expecting better this year. Another reason we will be a massively improved team that will finish top 3 in the west.

[KGdaBom]

KAT barely scored 20 PPG last season. He needs to return to 25 with 40% 3s.

He also played 29 games and was still getting back into for 8 games, of course he's going to score more this season.

Last year was an off year, I think that's clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda. I think it's foolish to say none of that had to do with injury/illness and attribute it solely to the position change and playing with Gobert.

I just pointed out a fact. I'm hoping for and expecting much better this year.

[younggunsmn]

I think how Shake Milton fits into the mix is the one big unknown right now.
If he can replace the Nowell/Jmac minutes with some high efficiency bench play, that's a big upgrade.
But he has to be a passer too and developing some chemistry with Naz could give us a pretty lethal bench unit.
The film i've seen of him in Philly seems to indicate he's more of a crafty scorer and doesn't wow you with his athleticism, handle, or natural shooting ability.

I expect Slo-Mo's usage to dip quite a bit next year if KAT can stay healthy.
KAT was also not his previously hyper-efficient self.
Was that an indication of the poor spacing/forced shots with Gobert or of a decline related to the series of injuries he has had?

The sets Finch chooses to run will somewhat dictate the pecking order.
I expect more sets for Ant and a bigger variety of playcalls in the halfcourt with a better floor general in Conley for a full season.

If its just a bunch of Gobert pick and roll variations again, Ant ISO step backs, and KAT posting up at the 3 point line, we are in real trouble.

[andyhop]

Ideally KAT would be the first option with Ant as the second option given how much more efficient KAT is.

[Klomp]

I think how Shake Milton fits into the mix is the one big unknown right now.
If he can replace the Nowell/Jmac minutes with some high efficiency bench play, that's a big upgrade.
But he has to be a passer too and developing some chemistry with Naz could give us a pretty lethal bench unit.
The film i've seen of him in Philly seems to indicate he's more of a crafty scorer and doesn't wow you with his athleticism, handle, or natural shooting ability.

I expect Slo-Mo's usage to dip quite a bit next year if KAT can stay healthy.
KAT was also not his previously hyper-efficient self.
Was that an indication of the poor spacing/forced shots with Gobert or of a decline related to the series of injuries he has had?

The sets Finch chooses to run will somewhat dictate the pecking order.
I expect more sets for Ant and a bigger variety of playcalls in the halfcourt with a better floor general in Conley for a full season.

If its just a bunch of Gobert pick and roll variations again, Ant ISO step backs, and KAT posting up at the 3 point line, we are in real trouble.

I wrote in post three of this thread how I personally see the pecking order of the starting group.

Personally, I see most possessions starting with Ant/KAT two-man action. Jaden will probably be in the corner on the strong side, while Conley and Gobert are on the weak side. Off of Ant/KAT, they either throw it to Jaden in the corner or pass it out to Conley on the weakside to run two-man game with Rudy. That's a pretty well put together offense.

The beauty is, almost anyone off the bench can sub in and you can still run it.

Now let's expound on that last sentence.

Naz: Can fill in at Gobert or Towns' spot.
Anderson: Could step in for any one of the five.
Alexander-Walker: Could step in for Edwards, Conley or McDaniels
Milton: Could step in for Edwards, Conley or McDaniels

[TimberKat]

I think how Shake Milton fits into the mix is the one big unknown right now.
If he can replace the Nowell/Jmac minutes with some high efficiency bench play, that's a big upgrade.
But he has to be a passer too and developing some chemistry with Naz could give us a pretty lethal bench unit.
The film i've seen of him in Philly seems to indicate he's more of a crafty scorer and doesn't wow you with his athleticism, handle, or natural shooting ability.

I feel the same that he is more a Nowell replacement, but Connelly mentioned they see him as PG. Also, Finch mentioned he should be great in running pick and roll with Gobert (which I can see why from film). If I assume everyone just be as good as last year. Milton is the biggest unknown as we expecting him to do a lot more (or more minutes) than what he did in Philly.

[Klomp]

I think how Shake Milton fits into the mix is the one big unknown right now.
If he can replace the Nowell/Jmac minutes with some high efficiency bench play, that's a big upgrade.
But he has to be a passer too and developing some chemistry with Naz could give us a pretty lethal bench unit.
The film i've seen of him in Philly seems to indicate he's more of a crafty scorer and doesn't wow you with his athleticism, handle, or natural shooting ability.

I feel the same that he is more a Nowell replacement, but Connelly mentioned they see him as PG. Also, Finch mentioned he should be great in running pick and roll with Gobert (which I can see why from film). If I assume everyone just be as good as last year. Milton is the biggest unknown as we expecting him to do a lot more (or more minutes) than what he did in Philly.

Don't forget that Naz is a heavy pick-and-roll big too. I expect that combo to thrive leading the second unit.