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I think Hayward and Tatum have become extremely underrated defensively. Brown, Hayward and Tatum is a very good defensive wing group

Fencer reregistered wrote:For a guy who was picked as the top high school player of the year, Semi has developed slowly since then. Is there any basis for hope about him stronger than "He's not totally worthless on the court, he's still fairly young, and he seems like a good guy, so maybe it will finally click?"

Made some significant year over year improvements in RPM [-5.9 his rookier year to -1.1 last year]. Versatile defensively, capable of switching up or down. Hit 36% of his corner threes in his career, the hope being that he can legitimately provide spacing.

cloverleaf wrote:

SmartWentCrazy wrote:Hot take:

My ideal starting 5 is Kemba-Brown-Tatum-Semi-Time Lord. Would roll out a bench of Edwards-Smart-Hayward-Williams-Kanter.

Feels like both lineups are well balanced with roles, an established pecking order and defense and that our bench would crush other teams.

Would close with Kemba-Smart-Tatum-Hayward-Brown, rotating in a big if needed.

Semi and TL starting together? That could make for some very sorry O.

We need some lower usage players that are okay with playing defense and not getting shots. Charlotte had the 11th best ORTG behind pretty much only Kemba last year [Boston was 10] and i’d have to wager that the above lineup is significantly more talented than what he previously worked with.

The guys on the roster who I want to see playing as offensive creators at times -- assuming they're on the floor at all -- are:

Walker -- obviously
to some extent Smart -- solid distributor
Edwards -- microwave scorer
Waters -- seems like an all-around offensive PG, but this is a moot point since he's not projected to get minutes at all
maybe Langford, but we don't know enough to project how he'll be as a pro
not Brown -- I think it would be easier for him to be a great garbage scorer than a good creator
Hayward -- obviously
Tatum -- obviously
Kanter -- obviously

So I'd like three of Walker, Smart, Hayward, Tatum and Kanter on the floor at all times, except that Edwards can substitute for one of them.

With everybody healthy that's probably doable, even given the likelihood that four of those guys start. It could be harder in the face of injuries, however.

This kind of reasoning is supportive of ideas such as:
-- Always have at least one of Tatum or Hayward on the court
-- Start a better defender/worse offensive player rather than Kanter
-- Play Jaylen at the same times you play Kanter (whether or not Kanter starts)
-- Give Edwards some minutes

SmartWentCrazy wrote:

cloverleaf wrote:

SmartWentCrazy wrote:Hot take:

My ideal starting 5 is Kemba-Brown-Tatum-Semi-Time Lord. Would roll out a bench of Edwards-Smart-Hayward-Williams-Kanter.

Feels like both lineups are well balanced with roles, an established pecking order and defense and that our bench would crush other teams.

Would close with Kemba-Smart-Tatum-Hayward-Brown, rotating in a big if needed.

Semi and TL starting together? That could make for some very sorry O.

We need some lower usage players that are okay with playing defense and not getting shots. Charlotte had the 11th best ORTG behind pretty much only Kemba last year [Boston was 10] and i’d have to wager that the above lineup is significantly more talented than what he previously worked with.

Starting Semi ahead of GH, who could well be the team's best player this season? Gordon is no defensive slouch and the guy who is able to be the starting unit's second distributor (like AH was last year).

cloverleaf wrote:

SmartWentCrazy wrote:

cloverleaf wrote:
Semi and TL starting together? That could make for some very sorry O.

We need some lower usage players that are okay with playing defense and not getting shots. Charlotte had the 11th best ORTG behind pretty much only Kemba last year [Boston was 10] and i’d have to wager that the above lineup is significantly more talented than what he previously worked with.

Starting Semi ahead of GH, who could well be the team's best player this season? Gordon is no defensive slouch and the guy who is able to be the starting unit's second distributor (like AH was last year).

Lets learn from last year and let Hayward prove he's worthy of starting before declaring that he could be our best player. Im not buying the PR pieces for him after seeing him fall flat after the same song and dance last pre-season. He needs to prove it with his play.