Playing Kemba and Mo together

[tondi123]

When you have a guy like Cody who has vastly improved versus last year, even if (like MKG) it hasn't entirely translated statistically, I'm a bit hesitant to hand his future starting position to a guy who none of us have ever seen do anything. I would certainly love for Noah to come in and eventually make Cody the 3rd big but it seems a bit far fetched to assume that is going to happen, at this point.

[Bassman]

Noah will need time to get his game refined, grow further into his body (already impressive), and get up to NBA speed. Then he should be a quality starter. Biz was turning into a viable starter at the 5 (defensively for sure) which surprised me. He still needs to prove it over a full season there, which isn't happening until Al gets gone. Cody is improving but I also think he is a reserve on a really good team.

Back to Kemba & Mo...I think it will have it's moments both good and so-so. We still need a super draft pick to step in and be THE MAN at the 2.

[fatlever]

people would complain that Kemba didnt get enough assists or didnt get his teammates involved enough. The response from many was usually that Kemba would have more assists if his teammates were better scorers or if the coach ran a better offense. I think one clear thing that Mo is proving is that assists are available in this team.

That being said, I think assists are an overrated way to value a point guard. Guards that hold the ball and either shoot or wait to pass until there is an assist opportunity can always get big assist numbers if given minutes and freedom.

Its pretty clear that Mo is a better all around passer than Kemba and better at running the pick and roll. Mo also keeps the ball in his possession a lot more than Kemba and that will lead to assists. Remember that Kemba is among the league leaders in passers per game and he is ranked that high because he gives up the ball sometimes 3-4 times in the same possession, while he operates off the ball, looking to get free for shots - whereas Mo is more if a 1-2 pass guy, with those passes coming on clear assist opportunities.

So, if this was a mythbusters episode, the myth that Kemba's teammates and coaches are holding back his assists would be BUSTED.

But don't view that is a statement against him as a point guard. Kemba is never going to be a pure point guard. He'll always be a scoring guard, who more like an undersized shooting guard at times - think of his run of games earlier this year when he reminded all of us of a poor man's Iverson. That is how I want Kemba to play. Aggressive and looking for his offense. As long as we have another guy like Mo (last year Josh, we thought Lance this year) to help run the offense, then we can let Kemba do what he does best, which is scare the living **** out of defenses.

There is room on this roster for both types of point guards Mo and Kemba.

[fatlever]

Seems like Mo might be playing himself out of our price range for this summer. We're not getting him for a Brian Roberts type deal.

[yosemiteben]

Remember that Kemba is among the league leaders in passers per game and he is ranked that high because he gives up the ball sometimes 3-4 times in the same possession, while he operates off the ball, looking to get free for shots...

Solid post, but disagree here. Kemba also is at or near the top in the league in the amount of time he possesses the ball.

[catch20two]

Seems like Mo might be playing himself out of our price range for this summer. We're not getting him for a Brian Roberts type deal.

Prolly can throw the MLE at him. Either way no team is gonna throw MoWill a lot of money at this point in his career. $5M is prolly his max. I see something like 2yrs/10M from any team that want him. We can find a way to match that.

[yosemiteben]

Seems like Mo might be playing himself out of our price range for this summer. We're not getting him for a Brian Roberts type deal.

We could if he gets to play with his buddy Al...

#awkward

[fatlever]

Seems like Mo might be playing himself out of our price range for this summer. We're not getting him for a Brian Roberts type deal.

Prolly can throw the MLE at him. Either way no team is gonna throw MoWill a lot of money at this point in his career. $5M is prolly his max. I see something like 2yrs/10M from any team that want him. We can find a way to match that.

Isn't MLE up to about 7mil these days? Close to Marvs deal? Regardless, I guess 2/10 for Mo is very fair. We were willing to give that same money to Sessions a few years ago and Mo is much better than Sessions and a much better fit.

[tondi123]

I think 5 million a year for a solid backup PG is a great deal. Lord knows we've paid a lot more for a lot less in the VERY recent past.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Seems like Mo might be playing himself out of our price range for this summer. We're not getting him for a Brian Roberts type deal.

Prolly can throw the MLE at him. Either way no team is gonna throw MoWill a lot of money at this point in his career. $5M is prolly his max. I see something like 2yrs/10M from any team that want him. We can find a way to match that.

Isn't MLE up to about 7mil these days? Close to Marvs deal? Regardless, I guess 2/10 for Mo is very fair. We were willing to give that same money to Sessions a few years ago and Mo is much better than Sessions and a much better fit.

About $5.6m.

We could also give him just shy of $6m as we hold his Non-Bird rights.

[yosemiteben]

MJ better get ready to open up that billionaire pocket book this offseason.

[JDR720]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SteveReedAP/status/573985127430287361[/tweet]

[MasterIchiro]

So Hendo keeps his starting spot. I would think Mo is first sub in for Hendo.