VFX wrote:Those advantages absolutely matter. He isn't drafted that high AT ALL if he was 6'3 or 6'4. It's what gives him unique potential as a guard defender, rather than being relegated to an average wing defender.
It matters within context of where a roster is. If he was drafted in the Franz draft or even Paolo draft, yes, he deserves all the run and opportunity he could handle at the PG position. It also doesn't help that he's also that he's on a team with two other guards who could feasibly make an All-Defensive first or second team as a perimeter hounding guard, so even his biggest advantage at this moment is more of a luxury than something this team is starved for.
VFX wrote:People say "positions don't matter" but you'd never argue that skillsets or defensive capabilities aren't important within that context. Which is exactly the entire point of harping on the former and never focusing on the latter. AB is the prime example of this argument. Does he get better playing in a situation where he's not really guarding point guards or "running" the offense because everything is by committee? The answer is no.
It's not that they don't matter in terms of matchups or skillsets, especially in the playoffs, it's that to see the floor, coaches are putting literal guards like Dort at PF or center in some lineups, or guys like Josh Hart will play 1-5 depending on the lineup and if his skillset (energy, hustle, being a good rebounder) can mimic an actual big, he can create matchup advantages there. You wouldn't look at any of those guys, and many others, and even THINK about playing them out of position early on because it wouldn't be taking advantage of their skillsets. I don't think using Black in an Ingles-like role is even that "extreme" in terms of envisioning what his role might look at in the NBA if he isn't a full-time PG.
Because if he insists he is only a full-time PG, and he doesn't develop the skillset to even be a particular effective one, you are putting all of your eggs in one basket and finding a quick way out of the league.
VFX wrote:They have set up the roster in a way that is conducive to "earning" playing time over vets but also convoluted like your very apt examples of other teams in similar situations. The difference? AB is a top lotto pick point guard on a team without a true starting point guard. That should be obvious to most people what the solution should be. Probably not playing him in a second unit in a position better suited for another dude buried looking for minutes. Not necessarily the best spot for him to be honest.
I'd rather see his minutes be in the best possible situation to succeed and not because he needs to be on the floor by any means necessary.
You're right with this quote, but it only works as an individual statement with no context around anything else. Suggs was a higher draft pick who also needs to see minutes as an All-Defensive first guy and 40% three point shooter, and KCP is a proven top tier championship role player and shooter at his position, where there aren't many two-way guys who are able to do that.
They're all important, but it's hard to say that Black's situation supersedes what Suggs or KCP should. Hell, that's not even bringing up the fact that Paolo and Franz, despite them not being PGs, would have the ball in their hands a lot even if they had a Tyus Jones here.
If you're giving me a finalized version of Black who is an uber efficient PG who uses his length advantage at the spot, can shoot, has great vision and fits in perfectly, yes, move KCP immediately to the bench and start him right now. But there are way too many theoreticals to count before any of that happens, and unfortunately, the Magic got too good too soon, which occurred during the second half of the season before that draft even happened. Injuries were the only reason we were that bad. It's not like we tanked all season to make sure to get him.
