Scottie or IQ at point?

[TGM]

With IQ coming back soon, I'm sure many are wondering if he is a plus or a minus in the line-up. I personally love having Davion in the starting 5 causing havoc on opposing guards. Barnes has also elevated his passing game, where I think it makes a lot more sense to have him handle the ball more.

One school of thought is can Barnes and IQ replicate the Lowry- Fred combo. IQ seems to be an over dribbler which sort of bothers me. He almost fits better as a secondary ball handler and play more of a SG role. But that's where I think Gradey is the better fit. RJ and Jakob are definitely starters as well. So do we try bringing IQ off the bench with Ochai, Brown, Mogbo and Kelly. That isn't a bad second unit either

Davion -IQ
Dick - Ochai
Barrett - Brown/Battle
Barnes - Mogbo
Jakob - Kelly

What I like about this line-up is that both have a balance and switchability on defense. The second unit you have IQ and Kelly leading the offense, with hustler and cutters. There is also a strong 3 PT balance. Ochai and Mogbo anchor the defense.

First unit you have Davion, Barnes and Jakob as the defensive anchors, but on offense with the exception of Davion the rest of the guys can all hold their own.

[RaptorLakerJay]

Could you add a poll to this thread?

[RaptorLakerJay]

I also think Scottie should start at point, but the only thing is Raps are paying him $32.5M over next 5 years, so doesn't sound reasonable to bring him off the bench.

[Kingsway_fan]

Haven't seen enough of IQ with these starters to assess the fit...

[ArthurVandelay]

Scottie

IQ off guard, secondary creator, and PG when Scottie subbed out

[DelAbbot]

The problem is not who is at PG on offense, but who is defending the opponent's PG

[pilkoids]

Need to see them all play together first to assess the fit.

[kalel123]

This team has too little shooting with Mitchell in starting lineup. Quickley has been rather weak defensively thus far but I still much prefer him on offense and we can use Mitchell/Shead situationally. Barnes can still be the point guard/forward on offense and I think that was the idea from the get-go anyway because Quickley is more of a combo guard and can play more off the ball.

[Duffman100]

There is just no way you should start Davion over IQ. Fully healthy we should be starting IQ and Ochai.

Play IQ off ball and use his shooting and hopefully he can spend more energy on defense.

[kalel123]

There is just no way you should start Davion over IQ. Fully healthy we should be starting IQ and Ochai.

Play IQ off ball and use his shooting and hopefully he can spend more energy on defense.

Yeah, start Ochai so we can still have a POA defender. He can at least provide decent outside shooting. Ideally, want to see Dick in the starting lineup long-term but he's still young enough that he can come off the bench.

[Indeed]

Why does it matter playing at point?

[tdotrep2]

Scottie should be the one initiating the offence most of the time. You could debate who would be better at it at this point but; the path to greatest success IMO is with Scottie initiating. IQ could potentially be a great release valve for him. When IQ comes back quite honestly I think the greater question is, should RJ be a 6th man. Now, this will never happen but it would be the greatest benefit to the team.

[BHF]

I've seen enough from IQ, I am not a fan of his game and I don't think he will ever be a good point guard. He is a bench player at this point but they paid him like a star in hopes he becomes that. I am hopeful but very skeptical, unless he learns how to make a normal layup and not brick all his floaters.

[Shakril]

Well, i liked them to be fully healthy as a team and than watch them 20 games together before you can say who is better with the ball.
I actually dont think Barnes should be a PG, if IQ is on the court with him. Playing PG is next to the C positon the most taxing, as you have many responsibilities. I dont know if Barnes can handle that on a regular Basis for 35 to 40 mins.

[DreamTeam09]

Why can't they both start and Barnes play the lead PG while IQ plays the combo guard role ?

[Johnny Bball]

IQ is a far better PNR player on offense than Barnes at this point in Barne's career.

When is he expected back?

[libertyYYZ]

Why does it matter playing at point?

When we had Siakim and Barnes and FVV, we talked about initiators vs PGs. Having variety for who initiates the offence gives the coaching staff a bunch of different looks from night-to-night and vs different defensive personnel and defence sets within a single game. Diversification is a good thing for any team.

[Scase]

IQ starts 100% of the time, regardless of any of his flaws he is indisputably a better player than Davion, defence be damned. Scottie should be facilitating mostly and IQ can run off guard, but I think there will be matchups where IQ runs point and we look to have a more traditional team structure.

Scottie even with as good as his facilitation is, he isn't a PG and can't do things a smaller more agile guard can. Some games we will need IQ driving and kicking it out, he has that speed and ability and Scottie doesn't. IQ will always be listed as the PG in the lineups, it's how the guys are used that will change.

One thing to take into account is that IQ has spoken in the past about wanting to grow his game to be more of a PG instead of an off ball shooter like he was in NYC, so I wonder how that works if the team is basically telling him to be an off ball shooter. Might be an internal issue, or it might not, something of note though.

My bigger concern is how IQ coming back ends up impacting GD, Ochai obviously is important to the defence, but GD is a much higher ceiling prospect than Ochai, and having him relegated to the bench unit is probably not the best for him developmentally.

If this truly is a developmental season, it should be a lineup of IQ/RJ/GD/SB/KP with Ochai likely being 6th man.

[hyper316]

IQ did a good job at running off outbound screens to get open. Saw videos of IQ on Knicks with Brunson passing him the ball off screens, IQ has a quick trigger

[Syd-TK3]

IQ will obviously start but the dynamic of him as a "point guard" will be in name only. Majority of plays and sets need to be run through Scottie and IQ's shooting needs to be taken full advantage of