nate33 wrote:Booker is not a SF. He is a PF. The lineup Whitman is playing is pretty much the best lineup he can play given what he's got to work with.
I'd lean toward starting Mo Evans over Singleton to help boost the basketball IQ of our starting unit. The second unit can play helter-skelter full court D and have Crawford just jack 'em up in the half court set.
This team really needs "good Blatche" from the 2nd half of last season. An offensively capable big man would be real good for the 2nd unit. Play Blatche alongside Seraphin if the other team has a big post player. Play him alongside Vesely if the other team runs pick-and-rolls with perimeter-minded big men.
I see two positions that need IQ upgrades where there are easy options. That is why I was entertaining the moves I suggested.
They need a SG who has better control of his game. It would be nice if they could also handle the ball at a decent level. That means knowing when to dribble and when not to. Mo or Crawford may not be as good at shooting as Nick but Nick is not exactly hitting this year like he did in the past. Plus he kills the offense with his dribble. Both are better/smarter dribblers and both have some outside/midrange shooting ability. Crawford can even pass the ball pretty well but Mo would be less likely to take bad forced shots. I would trust Mo more to be effective and not mess things up when the team has something going.
Next is dealing with Singleton. I still like his D mostly but he doesn't dribble well or shot well specially off the dribble. So I am looking to replace him in the starting line up so he can be a defensive bench player. You say Booker can't play SF. Well what does Singleton do that Booker couldn't? Booker is faster, can jump higher, blocks more shots, has a better post game, and cuts the basket better and is more experienced. Neither has great dribbling skills or a great outside shot and they are about the same height.
Plus Dray, Lewis and Ronny will be returning. Ronny should get some court time since he is a smart vet player. That will also raise the IQ of the team.
That is what had me getting creative moving the pieces around. So what do you come up with as line ups once everyone is back. That is what I was projecting.
Wall, Mo, Booker pus two smart players on the court with Wall and Booker will set good picks.
Kev S and McGee add the beef and length the need in the post and KS will set good picks.
Booker, KS, and McGee is interesting to me. Nice mix of athletic, strength and length but obviously KS would need to step up his post game some which I think he can. He has the moves, he just needs to get comfortable in a game doing them. And he keeps the beef down there similar to Booker which helps McGee.
It is a lost season. Why not try it for a few games?
