Lineups, Depth Chart & Minute Allocation exercise: WWYD?

I am not smart enough for this exercise but I do know we are probably not going to be finishing many games with our rookie 2nd round pick.

Not about being smart. Not what will happen. What would YOU do? If you need there the be a consensus or to ask some one else how to feel, then yeah, i guess don't play.

Zion - 32
Ingram - 32
NAW - 30
Graham - 30
Valanciunas - 30
Hayes - 24
Satoransky - 18
Hernangomez - 10
Kira - 18
Murphy - 16
Naji - 12

That's a solid 11-man rotation that I would like for us to start the season with. In reality, they will put Temple in the regular rotation to start the season, but this is what I would do.

Didi, Wenyen, Temple, and Jones would not play in my preferred rotation.

I would flip Satornosky and Marshall, maybe dial back Murphy and Hayes a bit and give some minutes to Didi as a defensive stopper. But you are pretty dead on, especially at the top. Not a deep team and the fall off after the top 5 is steep..

quote:

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not going to be finishing many games with our rookie 2nd round pick

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I think he’s gonna surprise some people, he’s probably the best defender on the team

This is what I would do. The Temple minutes could go to Naji, Willy, or maybe even Jones depending upon matchups and development through the season.

Starters:

Jonas Valanciunas (28 mins)
Zion Williamson (33 mins)
Brandon Ingram (33 mins)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (28 mins)
Devonté Graham (28 mins)

Rotational Bench:

Jaxson Hayes (20 mins)
Trey Murphy III (20 mins)
Tomas Satoransky (20 mins)
Kira Lewis Jr (18 mins)
Garrett Temple (12 mins)

No offense, but I didn't have any takes, and I didn't want that to be the purpose of this thread. I'm not interested in being proved right about anything and i didn't make any predictions. If i was i would gamble or something. I Know for a fact it wont happen. Of course you can ask for and i'd be happy to give you my explanation, but I think that you can infer someones reasoning behind whatever they put into this format, even if you don't agree with it. It would be very wordy (like this..) to explain WHY for each choice- too many choices. Even if 2 ppl agree, do they agree for the same reasons? Did they arrive at the same answer the same way? Give 100 different real life coaches this same team and there will be quite a bit of variance in the rotations.

Now i should have said in the thread title "if you put the impetus on winning games" maybe, or at least clarified thats what my wants are. My opinions on Kira and Jax have not changed, ive not soured on them, there is absolutely no negative to having them, but IMO Kira can't impact our winning until he gets a go-to move for a bucket or fills out more for defense, even then hes still only playable at the 1. I never see him being a starter on a good team. You'd have to play him over many better players in the meantime (IMO) to develop him and find out, and Graham, NAW, Sato, and Temple all much better options to me for winning now. Back up PGs are easy to find at a replacement level for cheap. He's Darren Collison or Schroeder level, those level backup PGs guys usually have to go somewhere else when their teams get better. unecessary luxury. His ability keep the ball from sticking while not turning it over is great though for his age and better even now than Graham and NAW, but their complete games are much more helpfull to any team, IMO.


Now Jax has all the potential in the world and offers elite energy, athletecism, and lob catching WAY above replacement level. But his best strength ATM is his defense and energy. play him for THAT purpose. Val and Billy way more solid well rounded and smarter players, and pretty cheap. no pontetial left, but you pay for that kind of thing. and if Jax is ever the starter, he is the 5th best one every time. he'd make for an expensive 5th starter too and im not big on weapons that need other playmakers to be weaponized, if you catch my drift.

On the other hand, my absolute favorite types of players are those who give you a lot even if they in theory never hit a shot all game (this is probably why yall think im loco, if i had to guess). That is the appeal of Jones. Kira and Jax have to hit jumpers to pan out IMO, and i think Jones is better than both right now at jumpers anyway (not saying any good). Also if you're a "potential" guy or "all it takes is some Vinson work" guy (Im typically not) then idk why Jones wouldnt be the one you'd want to give the run too.

Last thing- if anyone cares after any draft where a player was drafted, and you're not talking about the money or perceived trade value... kind of spineless and validation seeking IMO.

I’d love to see us do this
Starters:
D, Graham, Ingram, Murphy, Zion, Jax
Reserves in order of minutes:
Naw-6th man
J Val
H Jones
Naji
Sato
Kira- I think he’s a year away still until meaningful minutes
Temple

Buddy 48

quote:

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Zion 34
Ingram 34
3M3 28
Jonas 28
NAW 28
Naji 24
Graham 24
Jax 18
Kira 10
Jones 5
Billy 5
Sato 2

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Given what Green said yesterday, I think Kira is going to be getting more minutes than most people think.