RickyDizzle wrote:hugepatsfan wrote:cl2117 wrote:Realistically if the weren't already on the team I think Brissett, Stevens and Svi would be solid targets for a "big wing". Of the guys that fit into the TPE and are obtainable, there's not really anyone that stands out as a massive upgrade over that trio.
Oshae in particular fits the bill really well. 6'7 but I think plays bigger because of his physicality. Jack of all trades master of none. Box score stats look great this year and the eye test suggests he's a hustle player who isn't going to get in the way of our studs. I have to imagine that's what Brad is looking for. We don't need more shooting, playmaking, defense in particular, so a guy who can do a bit of everything and just fill the space between the better players on the court makes perfect sense. I'm honestly surprised he hasn't been given more of a chance to carve out a more regular role.
Stevens as well jumps out. Not as big of a wing, but still plays bigger than his physical profile. More of a defensive focused option, which also works well given the rest of the roster. Svi makes the least sense because I think he needs the ball more than the others to be effective but if he's hot from three he could be really useful.
I don't think he's ready but Walsh could be a darkhorse in terms of an internal candidate for the role. He's got the physical profile and based on what we'd ask him to do, which would be very limited, he could still be an option. Similar to Queta it probably comes down to whether or not he can keep from fouling his way back to the bench or not.
I'm all for pushing our chips in and acquiring whomever Brad thinks helps us get over the hump, but there's a part of me that feels like Brad's mom and wants to say "No, we have big wings at home".
Neither Brissett or Stevens will be playable in the playoffs IMO. If you're a wing that can't shoot we've seen time and time again that defenses will sag off of you to the point that it f's up the whole offense. It's a tale as old as time. That's just how it goes. Same with Queta and Kornet... bigs who can't defend the pick and roll can't stick in the playoff rotation. That's just what it is.
It's pretty foolish IMO to expect any of those guys to be any sort of factor in the playoffs.
Don't think Brissett and Stevens are necessarily unplayable. Playing good defense is more important than shooting in the playoffs for spot minutes. Think you could play one of these for 3 or 4 minutes, get some tough D, offensive rebounds, maybe they make an open corner three maybe not. See how it goes and maybe play the same guy for 3 or 4 minutes in the second half, or if the first half didn't go well, you switch from Stevens to Brisset or vice versa.
Neither guy has really gotten a shot at this point in a steady role. I'd probably use the rest of the regular season to experiment with things and lower tatums minutes, see if one of those guys can emerge as a consistent bench contributor.
This just isn't what teams do. You don't play a guy 3-4 minutes and then yank him if it didn't go well. No one thrives like that and you put too much pressure on him.
Maybe Brissett or Stevens would buck the trend, but you go through past playoff series and guys like that get run off the court in the playoffs. Their "energy" on defense and the boards is less of a standout because in the playoffs everyone is playing hard vs in the regular season where not everyone is. And while maybe they make a few 3s in a game, their track records show they aren't reliable so defenses will sag off them and make life hell on your best players.
Look at a guy like Tony Allen. Truly one of the best defenders maybe ever from his MEM days. They had to bench him in the playoffs at times because of how teams defended him. Playoffs is just a different game and our wings (Brissett, Stevens) and bigs (Kornet, Queta) are the exact profiles that time and time again have been rendered useless in the playoffs.
