Cowology wrote:I understand your argument... I just think it's flawed.
If playmaking is your concern I suggest you turn your attention towards a player capable of doing that from an actual position of need as opposed to crowding an already full backcourt. Either forward position to be more specific.
Keep in mind it doesn't necessarily help us to address one problem if all we do is create another, which is essentially what you are suggesting. For my part I love versatility and would love to add a guy who can create at the 3 or 4 spot, but I'm comfortable putting the ball in RJ/Jennings hands and allowing them to be ball dominant as most great PG's are. Your top assist guys always have high usage rates and neither of our points are the type of combo guards who typically demand a secondary ball handler in a 2-guard front style Offense.
If healthy I wouldn't be shocked to see them play stretches together as well, or with Dinwiddie.
Stan seems to want our PGs to act like PG's and they have both responded positively. i don't think this is nearly the issue you perceive it to be. Putting non shooting quasi-playmakers who are ball dominant seems like the wrong way to go here.
I'd place more emphasis on good ball movement. Spacing and execution will get us farther than Stuckey driving into traffic to "create".
I agree 100% about preferring to add a playmaker at the 3/4 and actually mentioned that in the Drummond max deal thread...
> Efficient winning teams have playmakers on the frontline
Right now we have spacing with Tolliver and Illyasova which is good. But, guys like Aldridge, Duncan, Draymond Green, Blake Griffin, Gasol, KG, Shaq, Rasheed, LeBron, Webber, Noah, Iguodala, Boris Diaw, Dirk, etc are all very good at making the right basketball play when given space to operate. Obviously these are rare players, but these type players are consistently a part of winning teams. They won't always have high assist numbers, but if you watch the games you see a comfort from these bigs in space or when doubled making the right play that makes the offense work.
The part I underlined though is why I'd be all for adding a guy like Stuckey, or anybody that can make a play in space. Those playmaking 3's and 4's are so rare and hard to get and I haven't seen any available. Tobias Harris is the only unique one semi-available I've seen, but he's more of a "get him the ball in a good position and he'll make a athletic scoring play" guy than a playmaker. Plus, Stuckey has the size and strength to defend and rebound the 3 spot.
If you think about it Stuckey is just like Draymond Green game-wise. He isn't as good of a defender obviously but he can defend multiple positions, rebounds like a taller player, hits the open 3 at a respectable clip, and can attack space and make a play scoring or passing off of good ball movement like you mentioned. Good ball movement ends when certain players get the ball in space and can't really do anything with it but dribble themselves into low percentage shots and predictable passes that usually end up with turnovers.
On offense picture a guy like Illyasova/Tolliver playing a traditional 3 role for spacing, and Stuckey playing more of a playmaking 4 role (like a Draymond) than a traditional guard role and that's where you get the fit. You see a 1-4 of Jennings/Jackson/Stuckey/Stretch 4 and a lot of people say you need shooting. Put it on the floor though and if you're getting your 5, Stuckey, and even Jackson involved in P&R as the guy setting the pick you get an interesting dynamic there with playmakers in space. If they're not involved in the P&R, if you swing weakside you have a guy that can hit the 3, run another P&R, or if there is space they can also drive and create efficient offense from there as well.
KCP, Meeks, Illyasova, Tolliver, etc are all guys that can only hit the open shot. When there is a good closeout and no space to shoot the 3 and they have to dribble..? <25FG% & turnover probability 45%. Picture how worthless the Cavs specialists were in the Finals and ours aren't any better (Delly, JR, Shump, Miller, Jones). They had LeBron running PG and were still worthless. Meanwhile with GS, the Cavs doubled Steph to get the ball out of his hands but still had Iggy, Barbosa, Klay, Livingston, Draymond, etc who could DRIBBLE. None are super consistent 3 point shooters for stereotypical space except Klay, but they made plays. Specifically Iggy and Draymond.
He can defend 1-3, would provide another person who can make a play off of the bench, and would allow KCP to play more at the 3 and not be forced into ball-handling situations. He made pretty much the minimum last year but I think he could be a steal as a tertiary facilitator and defender off the bench with his minutes fluctuating depending on matchups. Somewhere in between what Livingston, David Lee, & Iguodala provided for the Warriors. DNP-25 minutes. I'd be willing to slightly overpay too because his value is not high. Scorers and playmakers who can defend on the floor are key despite their other weaknesses like the 3 mentioned above. No contender is going to pay him big money.
