Strawman - there are more than one permutations of a starting lineup that includes and covers for Reeds lack of defensive on ball (he’s generally solid at recovering and playing zone at the top - there are team communication issues that make him look worse here) You’ve picked a side before allowing it to play out. That’s fine. Just don’t be blind to the improvements he’s flashing since your line was drawn. He’s initiating offense well when it’s run through him. His confidence is growing game by game and it’s reflected in his shooting.
Maybe, they will maybe they won't - they don't have a lot of room to make trades. My guess, is they wait for the buyout market to bring someone in, and they only have to pay the remainder of the salary to stay under the 2nd apron. DD
In the buyout market - yes, the trade market is tougher, unless we use FVV's contract of 25m - we will be limited in our choices....that is why I don't think a trade is likely... Also, at some point Davidson might get a look and prove he belongs. Still waiting on @Hemingway to acknowledge him lying about Reed's assist to turnover ratio to try to make him look bad. DD
IMO the "pressure" on Amen and Reed this season is actually less than people think, at least in terms of team success, because in truth the FVV injury + no trade clause + first apron hard cap changed internal expectations into being more developmental (as long as we make the playoffs and put up a good scrap). The FO/Ime aren't going to come out and say it, but it is what it is: if your team leader and 15% of your cap tears their ACL in training camp, you're not going to win the championship. The big pressure they have is more about what they show individually and how it affects our future plans. Will Amen be an on-ball star or a star in his role? Will Reed be a real asset or a JAG? This is their year to prove it. Based on that we'll know next summer whether we need to acquire a #1 on-ball perimeter guy for the near term and long term (IMO, almost certainly will be the case).
I only picked a side on who our starting PG should be and against zone defense. Saying anything other than Reed is a poor defensive player at this point is disingenuous. I am a proponent of continuing to play Reed as our primary backup guard, so that he proves he can play at least decent defense. If he can we don’t have to trade for a backup guard. I’m not anti-Reed, I just don’t think he is anywhere close to being a starting PG. I don’t believe that’s taking a side it’s just an opinion. His diminutive size is going to be an issue unless his elite shooting can make up for it. Being an elite shooter is not as valuable as a point guard then distributing the ball and guarding smaller players on defense. My opinion is that he will be a valuable role player, because of this shooting if he can manage to become at least average on defense.
You asked a simple question and I answered. You guys can go back to bickering again. Sheppard has been efficient this year at 58.5 ts%. Btw quoting only fg% for a guy that takes 60% of his shots from behind the arc is pointless and a bit disingenuous. He's shooting 45.2 3pt%. He has a 2.43 ast/to ratio. He also hasn't got killed on defense as many are suggesting. Look, Amen is great. I think that he is the best player on the team. But if you want to quote stats, Sheppard has more assists per minute played than Amen. Sheppard also has a better ast/to ratio. Sheppard is obviously a much better shooter and he's been more efficient overall this year than Amen. Right now, Amen is just much better when playing near the basket. That's not really debatable.
Dang, just when I had managed to push this thought out of my head. Somebody earworm me so I can forget it again. La la la la la
my bad must have looked at the wrong column for assists. i don't lie. so to set the record straight it is 3.4 to 1.3. still think Amen is our pg for the next decade.
DD, lemme give you a dose of realism: Any chance JD has at making the playing rotation hinges on one thing: Reed completely failing. It's that simple.
Well well well. Reed lovers get to crow two games in a row. Go right ahead. He was efficient on offense and, oh man, those hands on defense. That deflection to Amen that ended up in a 3-pointer made me jump. What a moment! The idea of starting Reed should start creeping into Ime's mind. I think he should keep him coming off the bench and continue ramping his minutes. That is the main thing. Right behind that is playing in the 4th quarter, which he also did tonight. If 16 efficient points in 29 minutes isn't enough for you, nothing will be.
