In my eyes the pick and roll option seems more effective than pick and pop at keeping defenders from doubling Dame (even with LMA this was true). Plums is a threat the rumble to the hoop for a dunk, and both he and Davis can operate the play from the top of the key if Dame is smothered, provided he can get the pass off. Meyers is a threat from outside, but he won't shoot AT ALL if anyone taller than 5'0" is closer than six feet away. The scouting report is clear now; forget Meyers; he's neutralized by literally anyone running at him, and doesn't pass fast enough to make defenses pay for switching.
Thinking about this more Stotts should start Harkless. You can call Mo or Rouq the SF/PF both are interchangeable in those forward spots. We've had some very successful games with that lineup. Plumlee - Meyers Harkless - Davis Aminu - Hendo CJ - Crabbe Dame That's consistently been our 9 best players this year. I know we wanted to develop Vonleh, and we've done it for over 60 games. Harkless is only 22, he's handily outplayed Vonleh and it would be interesting to see what he can do before we have to decide on resigning him this summer. That lineup still leaves Plumlee with our starters, Davis able to help Meyers on defense with PF's, and Meyers the chance to play against second units where he is more effective. Stotts should start the above rotation now on games we are rested to get practice before the playoffs. It likely helps us win a few games and possibly stay out of the 7/8 seed too. On back to backs we can give Vonleh some minutes.
Roberts has been playing really well for us, but I know it's too early to put him in as Dame's backup.
No, it's not too early; it's just unnecessary since CJ handles backup PG duties. But personally, I'm still not particularly comfortable with CJ running the offense. For my money, he dribbles himself into corners or traps way too often when manning the point.
Yeah he has been doing well I think we could give him a 5-10min run on a back to back and give DameCJ a bit more rest. I was surprised to see Roberts is 30 second oldest on the team besides Kaman. He didn't make into the league until he was -27
CJ has been phenomenal. No he's not a perfect player every guy has faults. At PG he allows us to have big defensive SG/SF and is 6'3" himself which really helps our second units defense.
CJ has been phenomenal. CJ scores very well. CJ is bigger than most PGs. None of that negates any of what I said; when it comes to actually running the offense while Dame's off the floor, CJ has plenty of room for improvement, and I don't know that we wouldn't actually be better served to play Roberts during some of those stretches.
I really want to try this experiment of running Roberts on the point. I think he can more than hold his own with the second unit. Why we haven't? Probably for cohesions' sake.
I too wouldn't mind Roberts getting minutes. I understand why Stotts doesn't do it though. It is almost impossible to have a 10 man rotation in the NBA now-a-days and keep everyone happy with the minutes they should get. 9 man rotations are basically the norm (some teams even only go 8 besides blowouts). When we play Mo and Nards we basically are at 10 and we don't do that all that often because of multiple reasons so we are basically asking for 11 man rotation if we go with Roberts. Just not going to happen for the guy outside of injury I am afraid.
I guess my thinking is, why can't we just keep CJ at the 2 in the 2nd quarter and then take CJ out when Dame comes back in for Roberts and put in Crabbe at the 2. It doesn't really change a whole lot. At least make it an experiment after we clinch or something. If it doesn't work, go back... but I think Roberts deserves a few "meaningful" minutes.
