2015-16 Roster - Fit - Rotations

Brapman · Post #1 » by **Brapman** » Thu Sep 3, 2015 8:53 pm

I thought it time for this thread.

I have high hopes for this season, and know that given how young the key guys on this roster are -- you just don't get younger or much more talented than Drummond, Jackson, KCP and Johnson (ridiculous upside potential -- and these are our 4 key guys going forward), I wouldn't be surprised by a playoff run, nor would I be surprised if the team goes through slumps during the season and misses out on the playoffs.

I think SVG did a great job putting together a roster that fits, and is at least 2 deep at every position - adding veterans who have we know SHOULD be good in their roles as our starting forwards and our backup center.

Can we expect breakout seasons from Drummond and Jackson? I think so.

Can we expect Johnson to be ready right out of the box to be a serious contributor? I think so. He's my biggest question going into the season. Not whether he can play right away. I'm pretty certain he can. It's whether he can be really good in year one, and that seems well within his capacities. He's special. I can feel it.

Will KCP improve (-- yes) and will Meeks now injury free be back to his usual productive self (--yes).

MrBigShot · Post #2 » by **MrBigShot** » Thu Sep 3, 2015 11:57 pm

I don't expect Meeks to get back to the level of play he was at in LA, but I think at the very least his 3pt percentage will rise. KCP will likely improve, but may not show the consistency that we all want/expect out of him. Drummond, and Reggie especially, both have a chance to be 1st time all stars depending on how well we do. If we're on pace for 6th-8th seed I expect that at least one of them will make. Stanley has a chance to contend for rookie of the year but will ultimately likely get beat out by guys like Mudiay or Okafor who will get a bigger opportunity than him in terms of minutes and shot attempts imo.

ImHeisenberg · Post #3 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Tue Sep 8, 2015 12:48 pm

SVG has built a roster that will give Drummond and Jackson absolutely every opportunity to succeed. If they can't deliver, it's not on SVG.

I don't see a whole lot of upside for KCP. Consistency is where I hope he improves the most. He'll never be an all-star, but I believe he can contribute to a winning team on both ends of the floor.

Stanimal is the new player that will have the biggest impact. He's a vocal player, and could take the leadership position on this team, even as a rookie.

Brapman · Post #4 » by **Brapman** » Tue Sep 8, 2015 2:02 pm

With the rise of Drummond, Jackson and now Johnson, I can get it will be harder for KCP to make all-star teams in his career. One ball - three main offensive focuses, and that makes it hard for KCP to get the volume of shots up to be a 20 point scorer. That's also the case because the Pistons are loading up PF with 3 pt shooters.

However, I do think KCP has borderline all-star upside - just isolating on him as a talent.

As Johnson rises as a force in this league, as I expect he will over time, It's more likely KCP will be viewed and used as a quality starting role-player and not as a top two or three scorer on this team.

El Chivo · Post #5 » by **El Chivo** » Tue Sep 8, 2015 5:34 pm

Ersan is thriving at eurobasket.

I'm falling in love with him, looks like the perfect fit.

Hope he stays healthy and plays at least 65 games.

hoophabit · Post #6 » by **hoophabit** » Tue Sep 8, 2015 7:28 pm

Ersan is shooting well, although his rebounding rate is a little alarming for your starting PF (3 in 2 games). His stats say he's a better rebounder than this.

KCP's situation is interesting. In a better balanced roster he should be getting improved shot opportunities. Further, he's reportedly been working on his game. Hard to say that he'll just fade into the background now. SJ might well see minutes at the 2 in situations where KCP is clearly physically overmatched. SJ has looked to me like a guy who could give you some swingman minutes at the 2, even though he won't be physically overmatched against almost any 3. However, I seem to recall seeing where KCP has been working on his strength, so how often his being overpowered actually arises this season remains to be seen. We have seen that on occasion during his rookie and sophomore seasons. KCP shouldn't be discarded from potential "breakout" candidates just yet, IMHO.

Brapman · Post #7 » by **Brapman** » Tue Sep 8, 2015 8:24 pm

Oh, I agree hoophabit. I think KCP could be a breakout player. If he can shoot efficiently with less usage, as will probably happen on this team for the reasons I've laid out above, then he could find himself getting more and more touches. A more efficient scoring, stronger and outstanding defensive playing (because he's stronger) KCP, could be one hell of a player - even if one were to call him a role-playing starter.

On the Pistons three championship teams, the guys shared the load, impacting all their stats so that nobody stood out that much. I think SVG is building a team like that - with the exception that Drummond will always stand out, and the other exception being that SVG's system features ball dominant PGs so Jackson might stand out too as a relatively high scoring high assist PG.

Eoghan · Post #8 » by **Eoghan** » Wed Sep 9, 2015 4:16 am

From an outsider's perspective the starters I think will be very competitive if RJ and AD breakout. Ersan I expect to have a mini renaissance as he's the type of player SVG utilizes well. My chief concern lies with the bench and the lack of SF depth. Johnson is going to log some heavy minutes as a rookie and I hope Granger has more in the tank than I've seen recently. Drummond in foul trouble and the 2nd unit is going to require some creative tinkering on a lot of nights I'm afraid.

Post #9 » by **dVs33** » Wed Sep 9, 2015 5:09 am

BrotherDave wrote:From an outsider's perspective the starters I think will be very competitive if RJ and AD breakout. Ersan I expect to have a mini renaissance as he's the type of player SVG utilizes well. My chief concern lies with the bench and the lack of SF depth. Johnson is going to log some heavy minutes as a rookie and I hope Granger has more in the tank than I've seen recently. Drummond in foul trouble and the 2nd unit is going to require some creative tinkering on a lot of nights I'm afraid.

FWIW, Granger will most likely be waived. Morris and Johnson are the primary SFs and one of Bullock and Thomas as the 3rd stringer.
It's a fairly weak spot off the bat, but I think Johnson will be able to contribute early at least defensively.
KCP can play there in smaller lineups too.

kurtis48239 · Post #10 » by **kurtis48239** » Wed Sep 9, 2015 5:24 am

We also have to remember,when players hit that mark in their carrer where they are taking the next step and are considered one of the best of their position (dre,maybe jackson),it has a trickle down effect.I think Kcp will take the next step,especialy with johnson on the team,they both share that killer quality/mentality,I think they will feed well off each other.

Eoghan · Post #11 » by **Eoghan** » Wed Sep 9, 2015 5:37 am

dVs33 wrote:
BrotherDave wrote:From an outsider's perspective the starters I think will be very competitive if RJ and AD breakout. Ersan I expect to have a mini renaissance as he's the type of player SVG utilizes well. My chief concern lies with the bench and the lack of SF depth. Johnson is going to log some heavy minutes as a rookie and I hope Granger has more in the tank than I've seen recently. Drummond in foul trouble and the 2nd unit is going to require some creative tinkering on a lot of nights I'm afraid.

FWIW, Granger will most likely be waived. Morris and Johnson are the primary SFs and one of Bullock and Thomas as the 3rd stringer.
It's a fairly weak spot off the bat, but I think Johnson will be able to contribute early at least defensively.
KCP can play there in smaller lineups too.

i'm glad to hear that KCP can play some 3 b/c I would play him there anytime Johnson is out as much as I could get away with. I am not a fan of Morris personally; always seemed like the bad kind of 'tweener to me. I hope Bullock gets opportunity to steal some back up minutes there b/c he's a better player than his career arc has suggested.

Brapman · Post #12 » by **Brapman** » Wed Sep 9, 2015 11:26 am

Good call on Bullock. I think he might be one to surprise. I'm hoping that he's the first guy in the rotation with an injury to any of our rotation SG's, SF's and PF's. Reggie's a 2-3, but if Ilyasova and Tolliver go down and Baynes isn't a good matchup in that situation, Morris can slide over to PF and Reggie could get minutes.

His profile as a true 3 and D player fits our team to a tee. In year 3 as a pro, he might be primed to breakout.

Post #13 » by **dVs33** » Wed Sep 9, 2015 11:51 am

BrotherDave wrote:
dVs33 wrote:
BrotherDave wrote:From an outsider's perspective the starters I think will be very competitive if RJ and AD breakout. Ersan I expect to have a mini renaissance as he's the type of player SVG utilizes well. My chief concern lies with the bench and the lack of SF depth. Johnson is going to log some heavy minutes as a rookie and I hope Granger has more in the tank than I've seen recently. Drummond in foul trouble and the 2nd unit is going to require some creative tinkering on a lot of nights I'm afraid.

FWIW, Granger will most likely be waived. Morris and Johnson are the primary SFs and one of Bullock and Thomas as the 3rd stringer.
It's a fairly weak spot off the bat, but I think Johnson will be able to contribute early at least defensively.
KCP can play there in smaller lineups too.

i'm glad to hear that KCP can play some 3 b/c I would play him there anytime Johnson is out as much as I could get away with. I am not a fan of Morris personally; always seemed like the bad kind of 'tweener to me. I hope Bullock gets opportunity to steal some back up minutes there b/c he's a better player than his career arc has suggested.

Morris is such an unknown for me. He has everything to be a solid player, but his attitude has been horrible. I'm cautiously hoping that he tones that nonsense down after being separated from him brother.
I don't know much about Bullock outside of the little i read when the trade went down. looks like he could fill the energy 3 and D role that Cartier Martin could never do. Right now SVG needs to cut a few guys, so that last wing spot is out of Bullock, Martin and Thomas who was on the Grand Rapids D league team last year.