jskinny35 wrote:I think our roster fits for a 10-8 record honestly. Our best player is really a 2nd or 3rd star on a ECF playoff team so a little above .500% is probably where we are unless RJ takes a big step or Toppin, Grimes, IQ progress beyond good role player.I know some of us have floated the idea of swapping out Burks for Fournier to improve the starting lineup's performance and effort level.
I have long been critical of Randle's style of play and while I may be in the minority on this position - I think our two best players may perform better if split up. While I can fully acknowledge that RJ is not performing well and Randle is the better player - I think RJ would likely play better with less Randle and more Toppin/IQ, etc...
I realize because of money/politics it would never happen but if we brought Randle off the bench it would probably help our energy level issue and balance out the 2nd unit well. Again, I understand Thibs would never bench Randle even if he committed a felony - but honestly could see it helping even as a temporary experiment for a few games.
Toppin simply plays faster and brings an energy that our team sorely needs. Same with IQ except IQ seems to play so well off of D Rose that I would keep him with the 2nd unit for now. RJ would have more space and not be relegated to camping out behind the 3pt line waiting for a Randle kick-out. Burks (starting) could help offset some of the offensive deficiency we would lose by bringing Randle in with Rose and the 2nd unit. Mitch seems to pair better with Randle vs Noel IMO.
Wouldn't this combinations offer more balance and help with the low energy levels the starting unit has struggled with this season? I know there are a lot of ways to skin a cat but I keep coming back to Randle's style of play - ISO, no moving without the ball, reduced ball movement as the thing that needs to change.
Noel/Taj
Toppin
Burks
RJ
Kemba
- Defensively we are about the same as before. Offensively if Burks can give us 15-16 I suspect RJ will take that jump as he would handle the ball more. Kemba may play better as the offense would shift from ISO style to allowing Kemba to handle/penetrate (vs waiting behind 3pt line for kick-out). Toppin hustles enough that don't think we lose that much defensively and the pace increases significantly. Noel seems like he does his job regardless of his teammates - Mitch seems like a better fit next to Randle (vs Toppin).
Mitch/Taj
Randle
Fournier
IQ
D.Rose
- Rose and IQ move the ball and bring enough energy that there is balance with Randle's ISO style
I actually think RJ is much better suited coming off the bench considering he is not a one on one player. He’s a good open court player so he would bring the much needed energy. Randle would slow it down and ruin that chemistry. It wouldn’t work.
With that said, I think putting RJ on the bench would have some consequences that make it not necessarily worth exploring.
