When will Reed be placed into the starting lineup?

Reed starting doesn't change ball handlers when the starting unit isn't out there at all. Reed still plays the minutes that Amen is on the bench. Amen still plays the minutes that the starting lineup is not entirely out there, and Reed isn't in the game.

The only thing stopping Reed from starting is proving he's good enough on defense to start. I don't know if that will happen this season.

 

You are right, if the coach would adjust. Right now it’s only the first 6 minutes of the game we are talking about so if we are still winning those first 6 minutes with the starting unit, there is no reason to change. Basketball is played on both sides of the floor as you indicated and Reed can get more minutes coming off the bench if his defense improves quite a bit and Ime is smart with his rotations.

Right now, our defense is pretty spectacular when the starters are in the game, not so much when we play double bigs or when we have Reed on the floor without Amen. Ime is showing more flexibility this year. If Reed’s defense can improve enough, he will get more of Josh’s minutes, but unless Josh falls off dramatically or gets injured there is no real reason to start Reed. Of course it’s not just Reed, but the defense gets worse for anyone when Amen is off the floor. That’s what happens when a DPOY candidate sits.

 

He could. But Amen is growing into the role. Reed could too. We don’t want to ruin that do we? The only way I’d be ok with CP starting is if we got close to playoff time and there were big concerns. Right now though, we have the best offense in the league and both of our young guys are getting to make mistakes and learn.

 

I don't think it matters if Reed starts or not so long as Okogie keeps playing well. If/When Okogie's play regresses back to his career norms, Reed has to take his spot.

 

Let him cook against bench squads. That will help build his confidence.

 

There is no reason Reed can’t fit in with our PG rotation and Amen is improving and will be spectacular by season’s end. We could use another bench player with handles in case Amen, Reed, or Okogie gets hurt, but not to take minutes from any of them. Once the synergy gets entrenched, we are OKC ‘s biggest competitor for the championship. We play them tough and match up with them better than most anybody.

 

Okogie is still playing at an elite level dont mess with whats working. When Okogie starts playing bad then you can replace him with Reed or Tari.

 

He's arguably looking better at the point now than Amen is tbh. Last few games Reed's really made up for the beginning of the season and more, fair play to the kid. Looking very impressive. He actually has an argument to start over either Okogie or Amen I think right now.

 

They are seeing what they wish was happening rather than what is actually happening.... and they likely have a fundamental misunderstanding about the role of a PG

 

Uh, Amen as a non-starter is a non-starter.

So much is being asked of Amen Thompson that he's regressed from "future All-Star!!" to "awesome 3rd best guy on your team"

Amen is being forced into too many roles. FVV's injury forced this PG experiment. I hope for the sake of the team's and Amen's success this season that they actually attempt to address the problem, because now Amen has regressed from "future All Star!!", a lot of which was based on his elite defense (that defense being less impressive so far this season).

 

The labeling of guys as good defender or bad defender doesn’t work.

KD, Bari, Sengun, and Reed are only good defenders in the context of checking other teams 4th or 5th best offensive threat while someone else handles the guarding best players on the perimeter.

None can be your 2nd best POA defender, that’s free blow bys all day.

 

Time to start him.

Now is a good time with Tari being out and Holiday playing

 

Bari absolutely can be your second best POA defender. He led our team last season in DefRating while often guarding the other team’s first or second best offensive threat.

 

He’s finally starting to find his footing in the nba. No need to rush this.

 

...umm, he rarely guarded the 1st offensive option, and in those rare times, it was mostly a switch in which he was being targeted. 2nd best was also not often. JSJ was usually guarding a player in the corner, so he could be the low man on defense (i.e., they were purposefully not putting him on the first or second option, allowing him to help when there was a breakdown). JSJ provides most of his defensive value as help; he was put in a position to be most valuable, and not at the POA. When Tari and JSJ share the court, Tari is usually on the better offensive player (except for really tall guys), while JSJ gets someone like Post.

 

I am fine with Okogie starting. He knows his role and does it well. But I do think Reed would be a better PG than Amen and Amen would be a better wing than Okogie.

 

Um, switching onto the other team's best defender is exactly what I meant by "often." It didn't happen all the time, but it did happen. And Bari is good enough to handle himself in those situations.

Not sure what Eason has to do with this. We're obviously talking about a lineup in which Reed starts. In that case, Amen be more in the dunker's spot, allowing him to preserve energy and play more efficiently as our primary POA defender. In that case, Bari would likely be our second POA defender (rather than Okogie), and he is more than equipped to handle it.

For those who doubt Bari's importance to our defense, here's what happened last season when we didn't have him:

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/st...ruggling-with-defense-rebounding/78399640007/

 

Him and Adams early to switch to the double big lineup is fine.
I say no rush. Let him progress this way, he not yet ready to start Imo.