VFX wrote:JoshuaPotter wrote:VFX wrote:
This is what I was thinking during the game.
He isn’t a point guard. He’s a shooting guard in this system. Not sure how I square that with Jalen Suggs getting paid and being instrumental to the defense.
They also just paid KCP, so it makes even less sense and they have even less incentive to move Suggs back to where he was playing at a high level last season.
It’s good that AB isn’t a bust. Not sure what to make of the current and future rotation based on this information though. Do I trust the FO to do the correct thing and acquire a starting level point guard knowing this? Not a chance. Cole and Suggs getting healthy means what for Black? Oh and it also means Jett Howard is gone.
We agree on the principle of needing a PG. Otherwise. So?
Cojo was never really known for assists but he seems to have more of a PG impact then "Fultz" (waits for the mob) ever did.
To an extent Paolo + Franz need a PG enough to loosen the valve and open things up. Get everyone in a favorable position to get rhythm rather then it just being the Paolo / Franz ISO show the entire game.
For the last time. I personally have backed off the idea of Black being a PG from "sure thing" to "I don't know." This wasn't the game where I realized it. I have been this way for a bit.
The only PG on the roster as far as I can tell is Cojo and because he seems to set the table well enough for us to get into a rhythm I am not backing off that he overstates the point you are trying to make. Which is agreeable.
I'm gonna defend the AB flowers though. Only reasonable counter point is Paolo is playing out of his mind so he should get it. Ok fair.
I've always been an AB proponent for the simple fact that the 2023 draft cannot be a complete bust otherwise Orlando is screwed. I never believed in Jett Howard fwiw, so he wasn't really part of the equation.
I hoped that AB would be a pick against the grain of popular wisdom in stating that 6'6+ lanky prospects usually don't pan out favorably as point guards. I appeared to be incorrect. Well it appears we have Suggs 2.0 where he lands as more of a 2 guard into a system where he isn't directly tasked with getting players into better scoring situations. That's fine. I'll take the added asset value, on court production, and depth.
I don't believe Weltman is capable of making tough decisions. That's unfortunate for Anthony Black. Because at this juncture Weltman has to weigh all the data we have on AB, last two games included, and actually make decisions regarding the future of Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, KCP, AB, and two draft picks keeping in mind the offense is sporadic at best.
The path of least resistance says Cole is gone, Suggs remains at point guard, and AB is off the bench behind KCP until he is moved (unlikely) or expires (likelier). Maybe they use a pick on a backup guard assuming Gary isn't also gone.
I don't like that path even though I know thats what Weltman will go with. Why? Because it doesn't address anything and it doesn't put these guys in the best opportunities to succeed. Suggs is the de-facto "point guard" in name only because it happens to work on paper and allows Weltman to pretend his point forward experiment was a success until he's fired.
If we can get this AB more consistently then I'm 100% shipping out KCP if possible. Between a healthy Suggs & AB that should give you all you need from the 2 spot.
If they do nothing they'll be kicking the can down the road and continuing to ignore the red flag that's been waived. The last 2 years and 1 verbal call out by Paolo with another one probably coming after the end of this season. I will say it does sound like he knows he can't just continue to sit here and do nothing and at some point has to cash in his weltman bucks for actual players who will help.
Everytime AB has a nice game with 10pts, he gets a lollipop and suddenly his "SW Rating" is higher than Paolo's and eyriq thinks there's some sense of reality to it. Getting bored with Paolo's unstoppable relentless driving of this team leads to minute dissection of his efficiency while lesser guys get stickers just for putting their shoes on the right feet...Sweater Vest is fun, but only fun. KInd of like how Jordan should get the MVP every year he played - but that's boring to discuss. I prefer your definition above
