Spacing Issues - Who Do You Bench?

[fatlever]

Thru 3 games in the preseason the biggest flaw we have seen on offense is the glaring lack of outside shooting from the starting lineup. This problem is magnified when Al Jefferson is in the game. When the other team can freely leave our perimeter players to double-team Jefferson, there is no punishment.

None of Kemba, Henderson and MKG will ever be considered average or above average 3pt shooters at their position and in MKGs case, he is well below average.

I imagine the coaching staff will give this starting lineup (with Jefferson back from injury) a few weeks to gel. Henderson will get his chance to prove he has made progress from 3pt line. MKG will get some time to prove his work with Price is at least helping.

But what happens if/when the following happens?
1. This group continues to struggle with outside shooting
2. We are losing as a result of offense/spacing issues
3. Jeff Taylor continues to shoot well from the outside

If those 3 things happen, by December the coaches will probably have to make a decision to shake up the starting lineup and insert Taylor for either Henderson or MKG.

Jeff Taylor can play both the SG spot and SF spot. With that said, who should be replaced in the lineup? Henderson or MKG?

Reasons to keep Henderson in the lineup
- He is a team captain
- He is a better outside shooter than MKG
- He provides more scoring than MKG
- The team just invested 18 million in him

Reasons to keep MKG in the lineup
- He was the 2nd overall pick and needs time
- His confidence might be ruined with a trip to the bench
- Taylor is better suited as a SG than a SF
- The team would be better rebounding with MKG

Which player between Henderson and MKG would fit better coming off the bench? That would probably be MKG. Sessions, Gordon/Pargo, MKG, McRoberts and Biyombo - this lineup provides two outside shooters to play next to MKG (Gordon/Pargo and McRoberts) and that lineup has enough scoring that MKG can focus on doing what he does best.

Thoughts?

[Liver_Pooty]

I'd much rather keep MKG in the starting lineup. I think it will all work itself out in due time though.

I think having a defensive minded player at SF to guard all the elite wings that are in the NBA today would be ideal. Henderson is becoming a SG that simply can't shoot from long range. That only works if you are elite defensively like Tony Allen or Bruce Bowen, and even they could hit a corner three.

[Eoghan]

I'd bench MKG. Let him build up his confidence by beating up on 2nd units for awhile. He can get more used to being the 'man' on offense with less pressure and he should still see plenty of minutes. MKG just wants to win, he won't get upset about being benched as long as it's the right move.

[Stun704]

I'd bench Henderson but BrotherDaves logic is solid, only if benching MKG doesn't destroy his confidence

[HornetJail]

I know this sounds stupid, but Zeller. Play small ball and you have more outside shooting. Jefferson/MKG/Taylor/Henderson/Walker. Still I think Henderson made big strides in his shooting last season and is already at least respectable from deep. MKG is our best defender, Henderson is our glue guy, Taylor is probably our best outside shooter (except for Pargo and *gulp* Gordon).


If Clifford is serious that he's never playing small ball then MKG is the first to get demoted to the bench. He'll destroy second units and may actually play better there. I said this last season while he was struggling, and I still think it could be a good idea as well.

[fatlever]

the 2nd unit + MKG looked really good vs the bucks. it was sessions, pargo, mkg, mcbob/tolliver and biz. MKG gives that unit rebounding (biz wont grab 21 often) and a slasher. also allows MKG more space to work in the post.

i think as long as the narrative is Taylor being added to starters to improve spacing, MKG to work as 6th man rather than MKG benched for sucking, then he should be OK. it wont stop the anti-MKG crowd from getting louder, but who cares about that if it helps the team and our players.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Didn't Clifford also say MKG would be able to play some 4?

I think IF there's a lineup change (which I doubt), it'd be JT for Hendo. MKG is our Swiss Army Knife, and his ability to defend and grab rebounds will also allow for Zeller to play the stretch four role, assuming he lives up to that billing.

[JDR720]

well CLifford has said he doesn't like "small ball" so that takes out benching Zeller, i think MKG would do great in the 2nd unit with Biz,Gordon/Pargo,Sessions,McBob and Tolliver which is our small ball shooting lineup, that unit needs defense and rebounding and a slasher, Biz sitting in the paint, McBob at high post, Sessions dribbling around and the other 2 guys sitting on the 3pt line would probably free MKG up for some easy shots because of the spacing and moving Jeff to the starting lineup wouldn't be as good on defense (more of a SG) or rebounding but the spacing will be better

Starters- Kemba, Gerald, Jeff, Zeller, Al
Bench-Sessions, Gordon, MKG, Tolliver, Biz

situational's
need a 3pt shot badly (to win or tie game)- Kemba,Pargo,Gordon,Tolliver,Al
need defense-Kemba,Gerald,Jeff,MKG,Biz
need a quick score- Kemba,Sessions,MKG,Zeller,Al

[mrknowitall215]

I think eventually benching Gerald Henderson for Jeff Taylor should be the first experiment to help fix the spacing issues without rattling the rotation too much. I believe this will happen maybe a week or so into the season if Henderson isn't putting up enough production & the team's offense continue to stall from lack of confident perimeter shooting to space the floor

[KembaWalker]

you have to bench MKG. theres no point in playing MKG and Jefferson on the floor together even if you sub Gerald for a good shooter MKGs man will still leave EVERY time and double Jefferson. Hendo isn't a great shooter but he isn't so bad that his man can literally just not guard him on the perimeter. Start Jeff for MKG, let MKG play with the line with BG/Sessions/Pargo/McBob/Biz when they will be focusing more on playing up and down and no bigs will be posting up in the half court (instead Biz will be out on the perimeter setting his beastly screens). thats the best way imo. i like MKG but he's on the hook here for a long time yet, theres no point in bringing Jefferson in here for 2 years of huge money to let him go out there and not be allowed to play his game because he's getting doubled constantly

[Liver_Pooty]

you have to bench MKG. theres no point in playing MKG and Jefferson on the floor together even if you sub Gerald for a good shooter MKGs man will still leave EVERY time and double Jefferson. Hendo isn't a great shooter but he isn't so bad that his man can literally just not guard him on the perimeter. Start Jeff for MKG, let MKG play with the line with BG/Sessions/Pargo/McBob/Biz when they will be focusing more on playing up and down and no bigs will be posting up in the half court (instead Biz will be out on the perimeter setting his beastly screens). thats the best way imo. i like MKG but he's on the hook here for a long time yet, theres no point in bringing Jefferson in here for 2 years of huge money to let him go out there and not be allowed to play his game because he's getting doubled constantly

To be fair Jefferson is going to get doubled regardless. He was constantly doubled on the Jazz even when Hayward was on the floor.

[KembaWalker]

yea but its different when youre in position to make the defense pay for doubling. we allow them to double freely with no worry. I don't think most teams would double Jefferson constantly. If he's going to town on his man after a few baskets theyll start doubling to throw him off, but again thats different than just totally 100% doubling in the post all day which is what he faces with MKG on the floor

[Red Larrivee]

Trade Henderson for a shooter.

[Bassman]

Great points by everyone. Still, the only antidote to doubling is a shooter, and Hyphen just can't shoot. Taylor is a player on the rise, and his shooting is just a part of his developing all-around game. MKG as a super 6th man is no shame. If his shot gets fixed to a level of dependability he could easily re-enter the 3 spot with Taylor putting Hendo off the bench.

[fatlever]

Trade Henderson for a shooter.

i've thought about this alot and i have come to the conclusion that it would be rather difficult to trade henderson for a wing who is a better shooter. what team is willing to take on 18 mil for a player who is a worse shooter than the person they are trading, at the same position?

maybe there is a team with an abundance of wings that cant defend but can stroke it. perhaps they need a wing who can defend?

hendo to sacto for thornton? meh.

[Red Larrivee]

i've thought about this alot and i have come to the conclusion that it would be rather difficult to trade henderson for a wing who is a better shooter. what team is willing to take on 18 mil for a player who is a worse shooter than the person they are trading, at the same position?

maybe there is a team with an abundance of wings that cant defend but can stroke it. perhaps they need a wing who can defend?

hendo to sacto for thornton? meh.

Someone like Wesley Matthews would be a good target. I'm sure Portland would deal him for the right price.

[Liver_Pooty]

I say we play at least 25 regular season games before we start the yearly trade rumors.

[mrknowitall215]

i've thought about this alot and i have come to the conclusion that it would be rather difficult to trade henderson for a wing who is a better shooter. what team is willing to take on 18 mil for a player who is a worse shooter than the person they are trading, at the same position?

maybe there is a team with an abundance of wings that cant defend but can stroke it. perhaps they need a wing who can defend?

hendo to sacto for thornton? meh.

Someone like Wesley Matthews would be a good target. I'm sure Portland would deal him for the right price.

Matthews would've been ideal & kind of easy to trade for, but then McCollum went down...

I don't think the spacing issues will be addressed soon. Like I previously mentioned, maybe Clifford might experiment with a Henderson-Taylor swap, but that's only if total desperation sets in & the Bobcats are losing consecutively bad and the spacing issues are the direct cause. As long as they continue to play team defense the way they currently are, perimeter shooting could be put off until next offseason via draft or free-agency

[Man Strength]

first off, this is only an issue for maybe 6-10 minutes a game. besides that at least one sub is in and rarely is the entire starting lineup on the court together again.

mcroberts has shown a great 3-stroke this pre-season. switch zeller with mcroberts and that adds another perimeter shooter.

i do agree that you should have 3, or an absolute minimum or 2, legit 3 point shooters on the floor at all times.

kemba, taylor, mcroberts, gordon, tolliver - if gerald cant improve on his 3's then you will see 2 to 3 or these guys on the court together more than one would otherwise expect.

i do think we have good depth. more than we realistically have playing time for. additionally all our pieces dont fit perfectly, so this screams trade to me. expect to aquire rebounding and shooting in any deal

look at the bulk of our sighings this offseason (besides jefferson)- mcroberts, tolliver, southerland, pargo and potentially zeller in another year. all those guy can space the floor.

[Benjamin Linus]

What about starting McBob and Taylor? That would seem to space the floor the most for Jefferson, Kemba, and Henderson.

Plus, I think the starting lineup could benefit from McBob's passing ability and veteran savvy, in addition to his shooting... and it would probably help MKG's confidence if you brought him off the bench with another top pick in Zeller.

Biz - Zeller - MKG - Pargo - Sessions

That lineup is going to run, so it might suit MKG and Zeller more than playing alongside Jefferson, who might slow things down a bit.