dc wrote:J the Drafter wrote:I know it’s the least popular option, but the team is short on players who can lock down power forwards and centers. Gordon and Isaac are big small forwards more than they are true power forwards.
In the modern game, those guys are both PFs. Boston made the ECFs starting Tatum and Brown at F.
Isaac could definitely be a demon on the defensive side but for his injuries.
Brown spent 50% of his PT at SG this year, but that's not suprising when you see he is just 6'6.
Also both Brown and Tatum ( especially Tatum ) have no issues with putting ball on the floor and attacking as guards/wings.
Where Isaac can't do almost anything off dribble and for team's sake it's better when Gordon doesn't pick up a dribble at all.
Not to mention that Brown and Tatum are 38% and 40% three point shooters, where Gordon and Isaac struggle to even hit 34% mark.
Brown spent 7% of all his pt in playoffs at PF and 77% at SF.
Tatum did play at PF 88% of time, but let's say another major thing. Main reason why Celtics didn't play in nba finals is because their complete lack of size. Adebayo averaged 22 points on 67% TS. They were simply outmuscled and outsized at "bigs". It got so bad that they even tried to play Kanter more just to have 7 footer.
Another thing was Kemba and his size, as he as well, couldn't guard anybody.
2 versitale SFs can play together in today basketball without major issues, but in playoffs it's still required to have center who can secure rebounds, point guard who can actually run offense , at least 2 above average shooters. What actually isn't required, is deep bench. As it's not that hard to squeeze 39-41 min from your starters and play 7 men lineup if you need it.
Bench is only useful in regular season. ( this is main reason, at least imo, why Bucks never go anywhere, they rely heavily on their bench in regular season, their PGs can't run offense and their starting C is alergic to rebounds)