When Lamb Comes Back Marco Should become the Backup PG.

[HornetsFan29]

I think Marco would run the 2nd unit better than Sessons who has sucked and this would be a way of giving Lamb and him more playing time since they wont be fighting for the same spot at backup sg.

anybody down with this?

[fatlever]

It could work in halfcourt offense, maybe. Would work better with Hawes instead of Roy, so we can run more Princeton style.

It all comes down to whether or not either Marco or Lamb can defend the opposing PG. Option could be putting MKG on backup PG.

I would imagine that lineup also gets pressed a lot 3/4 court. Might result in a lot of turnovers. Also, lack of penetration might hurt the drive-kick game.

It could also possibly work with Batum playing with bench rather than MKG, but then you lose someone who can guard opposing PG.

Better solution is finding an upgrade to Sessions in a trade or perhaps giving Roberts a run.

[HornetsFan29]

yeah all good points Fat and I agree our better opion would be trying to trade Sessons but until that happens I like to see Marco get a shot at it to see if it can work cause we know for a fact Sessons is not working right now.

[euphorbus]

Interesting idea, but Belinelli is only averaging 2.2 assists per 36 minutes. That is pretty average for a shooting guard, terrible for a point guard. Lamb averages 2.6.

[yosemiteben]

Yeah, really my only concern with it is relying on Marco or Lamb to always bring the ball up against pressure. MKG can operate as a ball handler on the break, but I don't have a ton of trust in him breaking a set press either. I honestly wouldn't love Batum in that role either.

I'm not worried about guarding backup PGs at all when using MKG and Roy in the second unit. As we've seen in the past with MKG, he can eat PGs alive - I think he's better suited to defend going small than he is at going big and guarding PFs.

[bravor]

I strongly disagree. I can imagine this is a reaction to Sessions's last game (and overall lack of impact to run the offense of BF1) but Marco is really not the ideal to help here.
First because you would lose one of his strenght, his off the ball move and quick release on c&s. Most likely you would also slow down the offense and require much more help from big's away from basket to help him bring the ball and set up up the offense. Also, since i am euro, and since i have followed Italy (even though he skiped some campaigns), he can run some iso plays but his finish at the rim is, to say the least, pretty meh. I did not follow him since he is in the nba but from what we have seen (short sample though), he also misses some easy lay up. Last but not least, the risk of costly turnovers would be huge as mentioned by Fats and others.

[yosemiteben]

Fair points bravor, and I would hedge by saying that it only works if we get the good Lamb that can create on his own. Lamb has some flaws in his game, but he does not turn the ball over much - his highest TO rate per 36 in his entire career is 1.5. He typically hasn't been a primary ballhandler or playmaker so that number is artificially low when talking about this role, but I'm not too worried about his ability to handle pressure with the ball in his hands, and I think he could be really effective as the ball man in PNR sets.

I would view Lamb as just as responsible, if not more so, as Marco in initiating our offensive sets and playing pretend PG.

[fatlever]

Interesting idea, but Belinelli is only averaging 2.2 assists per 36 minutes. That is pretty average for a shooting guard, terrible for a point guard. Lamb averages 2.6.

It's not really about Marco being PG. It's about running an offense without a conventional PG. Someone would have to bring the ball up the floor and someone who also have to defend the opposing PG, so I guess either of those could technically be considered the PG. In the halfcourt it would just be a lot of motion, passing, Princeton style with no true PG. Hawes has basically been the main facilitator with the 2nd unit, which is why it would work better with him than Roy. Marco's role really wouldn't change, just him running around screens, looking to get open and stretch the D.

Sessions does at least bring some penetration that can warp a defense and provide some drive and kick chances and keep D honest. We'd lose that aspect which might be worse than rolling with Sessions and his liabilities.

No perfect answer. I think for now, we probably have to give Sessions another month to try and get it going and have Batum play more with that unit as opposed to MKG. Getting Lamb back could help since he has the ability to create offense on his own.

[Mystical Apples]

Bench passing and ball control are the last things I'd worry about. Defense would be fine too. PG is a negative defensive position anyway so sticking Marco there and replacing his wing defense with Lamb is additive. And really, they could switch or continue muling MKG and FK.

The bigger issue is actually Hibbert v. Hawes.

[fatlever]

You're probably on to something with Hibbert vs Hawes. Hibbert mucks up some of the driving lanes that take away the one skill Sessions has. If he's not making up for that lack of space in defense, then we may see some problems. Also, much of that great passing from 2nd unit is due to Hawes.