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Alternative Starting Line up


Author Poll
Panos
Posts: 10485
Joined: 1/6/2004
Member: #520
Mikal has been a non-factor for the past 7 games, and really has not been jelling in the starting line up.
Ignoring the fact that we're unlikely to change the SL so close to the playoffs (maybe we should be doing just that!),
let's play coach and say who you would replace him with in the SL if we were to move him to the bench.
For the sake of s#!ts and giggles, even if you don't think he should be benched, pretend he just got injured.
0 votes
0%
KAT, Mitch, OG, JHart, JB
0 votes
0%
KAT, Mo, OG, JHart, JB
1 votes
50%
KAT, OG, JHart, JB, GTA5
1 votes
50%
KAT, OG, JHart, Shamet, JB
0 votes
0%
KAT, OG, JHart, Clarkson, JB
0 votes
0%
KAT, Mitch, Shamet, JB, GTA5


Author Thread
VDesai
Posts: 43300
Alba Posts: 44
Joined: 10/28/2003
Member: #477
USA
3/18/2026  12:51 PM
The easiest solve is Deuce for Mikal.

When I think about the lineup construction and all the roles people play - in theory Mikal is playing the role of spacer/shooter, on ball/PA defense, guarding the ball handler and wings. In reality he plays help defense and hangs in the corner - he and OG are kind of duplicative and I think most would take OG. What we need is the spacing and on ball defense and the best guy to bring you that is Deuce. You could swap Shamet for Kal in the meantime, but I'm not sure that is absolutely necessary.

The Hart conversation has been a constant, but what Hart does, others do not. Clearly Hart has to shoot and not clog the spacing or allow teams to double Brunson and Kat, but he brings a lot to the lineup that we would lose (rebounding, secondary handling and creation, transition scoring, ability to win 50/50 balls). You can throw Shamet or Deuce in there - Shamet adds the shooting, but can't really help on what you lose with. Deuce brings some handling, 50/50 balls and creation as well as more shooting, so its more of an argument, but I think he's a better swap with Mikal.

AUTOADVERT
Panos
Posts: 30485
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 1/6/2004
Member: #520
3/18/2026  2:00 PM
VDesai wrote:The easiest solve is Deuce for Mikal.

When I think about the lineup construction and all the roles people play - in theory Mikal is playing the role of spacer/shooter, on ball/PA defense, guarding the ball handler and wings. In reality he plays help defense and hangs in the corner - he and OG are kind of duplicative and I think most would take OG. What we need is the spacing and on ball defense and the best guy to bring you that is Deuce. You could swap Shamet for Kal in the meantime, but I'm not sure that is absolutely necessary.

The Hart conversation has been a constant, but what Hart does, others do not. Clearly Hart has to shoot and not clog the spacing or allow teams to double Brunson and Kat, but he brings a lot to the lineup that we would lose (rebounding, secondary handling and creation, transition scoring, ability to win 50/50 balls). You can throw Shamet or Deuce in there - Shamet adds the shooting, but can't really help on what you lose with. Deuce brings some handling, 50/50 balls and creation as well as more shooting, so its more of an argument, but I think he's a better swap with Mikal.

I love Deuce. But I left him out of the poll above because he's been injured. Otherwise he'd be high on my list.

Panos
Posts: 30485
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 1/6/2004
Member: #520
3/18/2026  2:05 PM
KAT, OG, JHart, JB, GTA5

What do you all think of this one. You have KAT and JB (off ball) scoring with Alvarado as floor general, and OG/Hart chipping in with shooting/rim running. Alvarado + OG bring high caliber D + the rumor of KAT being a + defender.
So with GTA for Bridges, you're trading off some shooting, which Mikal has not been bringing latetly, for more ball movement and fluidity on offense.
ramtour420
Posts: 26722
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 3/19/2007
Member: #1388
Russian Federation
3/18/2026  2:59 PM
Panos wrote:
KAT, OG, JHart, JB, GTA5

What do you all think of this one. You have KAT and JB (off ball) scoring with Alvarado as floor general, and OG/Hart chipping in with shooting/rim running. Alvarado + OG bring high caliber D + the rumor of KAT being a + defender.
So with GTA for Bridges, you're trading off some shooting, which Mikal has not been bringing latetly, for more ball movement and fluidity on offense.

I like how GTA runs the PnR with Towns.
Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear- George Adair
Alternative Starting Line up

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