CJ and Dame: a dynamic duo?

[BoomChakaLaka]

I love Dame and certainly CJ came out strong this season...but are they truly a compatible duo in the backcourt?

I for one have never thought either player is exceptional while the other is on the court. If Dame plays with Trent Jr., Dame is a more productive Dame. And if Dame is on the bench, CJ can create his own shots and at times even dominate. Essentially, they are the same type of guard - not complimentary.

Is now the time to trade CJ?

 

[blazerkor]

I love Dame and certainly CJ came out strong this season...but are they truly a compatible duo in the backcourt?

I for one have never thought either player is exceptional while the other is on the court. If Dame plays with Trent Jr., Dame is a more productive Dame. And if Dame is on the bench, CJ can create his own shots and at times even dominate. Essentially, they are the same type of guard - not complimentary.

Is now the time to trade CJ?

The answer is, it's always been the time to trade CJ. Dame's and CJ's games are as close to incompatible as you can have. They are both very small guards, both of them struggle mightily on defense and their offensive games are so redundant that they literally take turns on offense. The guys have been starting together for six seasons and haven't come up with a way to work an effective two man game on offense. Why when putting together any basketball team would you have your two best players be terrible defenders that don't feed off of each other on offense? (I understand that they are there for each other emotionally and I know I sound like an ass when I say, I don't give a shit)

 

[ehizzy3]

They are a top 5 tandem but LeBron/AD, and KD/Harden are better. Maybe there’s another tandem like butler/bam or Tatum/brown but I like cj a lot.

I don’t like the poll options tho

 

[BonesJones]

Wait so unless they're the best tandem I have to vote trade CJ or bench him?

 

[blazerkor]

They are a top 5 tandem but LeBron/AD, and KD/Harden are better. Maybe there’s another tandem like butler/bam or Tatum/brown but I like cj a lot.

I don’t like the poll options tho

Oh shit, every player in every one of those tandems that you mentioned is better at defense than either of our guys and all of them work a two man game better. Our guys are two phenomenal small lead guards on offense. The only two lead guards offensively on another team that are close to Dame and CJ are Kyrie and Harden but just because you are two incredible talents does not make you an effective tandem.

 

[blazerkor]

Wait so unless they're the best tandem I have to vote trade CJ or bench him?

Yeah, "bench him" shouldn't be an option... the guy makes 30M per season.

 

[tester551]

Is now the time to trade CJ?

Nope. That was 4-5 years ago....

 

[bobf]

All three.
1. They are the best tandem. But that’s in spite of them being less than the sum of the parts.
2. Trade CJ if you can get equal value that fits better with Dame.
3. In the mean time, minimize the time they are on the floor together. If they each play 36 minutes per game, they only have to be on the floor together for 12 minutes.
EDIT: on second thought they have to be on together for 24 minutes.

 

[wizenheimer]

1. They are the best tandem. .

Lebron/AD
Harden/Durant
Kawhi/PG13
Giannis/Middleton
Butler/Adebayo
Mitchell/Gobert
Jokic/Murray
CP3/Booker

Brogdon/Sabonis
Zion/Ingram

not only aren't Dame/CJ the best tandem, if you value defense and complementary skills, you could argue they aren't even top-5

 

[tester551]

Lebron/AD
Harden/Durant
Kawhi/PG13
Giannis/Middleton
Butler/Adebayo
Mitchell/Gobert
Jokic/Murray
CP3/Booker

Brogdon/Sabonis
Zion/Ingram

not only aren't Dame/CJ the best tandem, if you value defense and complementary skills, you could argue they aren't even top-5

You missed a couple others:

Lebron/Davis
Embiid/Simmons
Tatum/Brown
Curry/Green

I think the real question is if they are even a Top-10 duo when considering defense and mesh.

 

[wizenheimer]

You missed a couple others:

Lebron/Davis
Embiid/Simmons
Tatum/Brown
Curry/Green

I think the real question is if they are even a Top-10 duo when considering defense and mesh.

is Lebron/AD the same as Lebron/Davis?...

you're right, I brainfarted on the Philly and Boston duos

it's homer-crazy that some people think Dame/CJ are the best tandem in the league

 

[mook]

You missed a couple others:

Lebron/Davis
Embiid/Simmons
Tatum/Brown
Curry/Green

I think the real question is if they are even a Top-10 duo when considering defense and mesh.

Embiid/Simmons are a pretty good comparison. Really great players who really should play with somebody else.

It's interesting to look over the lists and notice how rare it is for guys to be as incompatible as Dame/CJ are. When you have a top 5 or top 10 player you generally try to find pieces that work best with that guy.

For whatever reason, Portland has never done that.

 

[tester551]

is Lebron/AD the same as Lebron/Davis?...

you're right, I brainfarted on the Philly and Boston duos

it's homer-crazy that some people think Dame/CJ are the best tandem in the league

Sorry - I scanned the list 3 times looking for Davis. Never saw his name.

 

[Hoopguru]

The answer is, it's always been the time to trade CJ. Dame's and CJ's games are as close to incompatible as you can have. They are both very small guards, both of them struggle mightily on defense and their offensive games are so redundant that they literally take turns on offense. The guys have been starting together for six seasons and haven't come up with a way to work an effective two man game on offense. Why when putting together any basketball team would you have your two best players be terrible defenders that don't feed off of each other on offense? (I understand that they are there for each other emotionally and I know I sound like an ass when I say, I don't give a shit)

Just a matter of time. That umbilical cord should been cut a few years back, but Im sure there were other dynamics involved.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

The answer is, it's always been the time to trade CJ. Dame's and CJ's games are as close to incompatible as you can have. They are both very small guards, both of them struggle mightily on defense and their offensive games are so redundant that they literally take turns on offense. The guys have been starting together for six seasons and haven't come up with a way to work an effective two man game on offense. Why when putting together any basketball team would you have your two best players be terrible defenders that don't feed off of each other on offense? (I understand that they are there for each other emotionally and I know I sound like an ass when I say, I don't give a shit)

+100%

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

They are a top 5 tandem but LeBron/AD, and KD/Harden are better. Maybe there’s another tandem like butler/bam or Tatum/brown but I like cj a lot.

I don’t like the poll options tho

suggest other options! I’ll ask a Mod to assist with an update!

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Wait so unless they're the best tandem I have to vote trade CJ or bench him?

you’re the expert! Suggest another option!

keep them together?
Trade CJ?
Bring him in when Dame is out?

.....trade Dame and keep CJ? What else do you have?

 

[ehizzy3]

suggest other options! I’ll ask a Mod to assist with an update!

”They are a top 5 duo and need more help” “They are a top 10 duo and should be split up” “They are a top 10 duo and need more help”

 

[blazerkor]

Wait so unless they're the best tandem I have to vote trade CJ or bench him?

Hey, your thing is that you think they could be more connected on offense and that they would be better defenders on a team not coached by Stotts, is that right? If it is I can totally respect that. The reason I'm so solidly in the trade CJ camp is because I'm so frustrated with what I've seen for so long out of a supposed duo who will make well over 70M next season but maybe given that they have only played for Stotts my point of view is narrow.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Wait so unless they're the best tandem I have to vote trade CJ or bench him?

Do you believe they are a dynamic duo? If not, what would you suggest?

Stay put?

trade one or the other?

bench Dame, so CJ can thrive?

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

”They are a top 5 duo and need more help” “They are a top 10 duo and should be split up” “They are a top 10 duo and need more help”

I suppose my point, agreed to by several here, is that Dame and CJ are both very good NBA players...but as our 1 and 2 guards, they are NOT compatible thus not a dynamic “duo.” They don’t play great together. Rather, Dame did much better when paired with Trent. And CJ seems to contribute much more when Dame is sitting. Trade CJ or trade Dame is my suggested move. And since Dame is all-world, it’s CJ that needs to be traded in my own opinion. If CJ (with another player and/or pick) can get us a better fit to this puzzle so that we can win now - then so be it. If Minny would accept CJ and Nurkic and a #1 for Towns and Rubio....our chances to win the championship would be vastly improved!

 

[TBpup]

They certainly can be dynamic (on offense) but also sometimes get in each other's way and limits what the other can do. Dame has a higher peack w/o CJ and certainly vice-versa. I think CJ would be amazing on his own team but has a bit of a ceiling when teamed with Dame because of some of their similarities.

This team needs more balance offensively frontcourt/backcourt, and more of a defender in the backcourt. Can't hide 2 average to below average and smallish guards against quality opponents. Just doesn't work, hasn't worked, and won't work as constructed.

 

[bobf]

Lebron/AD
Harden/Durant
Kawhi/PG13
Giannis/Middleton
Butler/Adebayo
Mitchell/Gobert
Jokic/Murray
CP3/Booker

Brogdon/Sabonis
Zion/Ingram

not only aren't Dame/CJ the best tandem, if you value defense and complementary skills, you could argue they aren't even top-5

Yes, I agree but I was thinking guard tandem and I would put them ahead of CP3 and Booker.

 

[Hoopguru]

If you polled NBA players and coaches, they would most likely have Dame & CJ as the current most Dynamic back court.
SC and KT are obviously the best back court dual we've seen in the last ten years.

 

[wizenheimer]

Yes, I agree but I was thinking guard tandem and I would put them ahead of CP3 and Booker.

ok, and I was wondering if you were confining it to guards

it's interesting if you look at that list, and then add the two pairs mentioned I forgot, Tatum/Brown & Embiid/Simmons; and then add Dame/CJ. Out of 13 tandems only two of them are guard pairs. And only 5 of the 26 players are 6'3 and under and two of those are Portland's pair, who also happen to be a couple of the worst defenders. A lot of red flags waving

 

[wizenheimer]

If you polled NBA players and coaches, they would most likely have Dame & CJ as the current most Dynamic back court.
.

great....if they create a 6'4 and under 2 on 2 league, Portland is golden!

 

[Hoopguru]

ok, and I was wondering if you were confining it to guards

it's interesting if you look at that list, and then add the two pairs mentioned I forgot, Tatum/Brown & Embiid/Simmons; and then add Dame/CJ. Out of 13 tandems only two of them are guard pairs. And only 5 of the 26 players are 6'3 and under and two of those are Portland's pair, who also happen to be a couple of the worst defenders. A lot of red flags waving

Is Dame a better player than Ben Simmons? Its not always about the defense, Denver dismantled Clipper's as they couldn't score when needed. The Lakers had the better combination D and O against Miami.
I think any hot team can go on a run and be a disrupter like Miami was last year. If Philly doesn't get consistent scoring from their back court they wont last, so I predict Philly make a move to get a shooter that flat out can hit threes when need. It wouldn't surprise me that they trade Simmons for a bonafide three scoring guard. I wonder if portland might have one of those?

 

[wizenheimer]

Is Dame a better player than Ben Simmons?

well, that's a different discussion. The thread is about tandems

 

[James lamphear]

There both dominant the ball when they have it but the problem is to me with both playing together the other 3 player are more outlets to them if they find there selves in trouble so that's make offense not balance. So each night the defense design to stop 2 players not all 5 players. But I don't really blame them the offense is designed like that. Because when CJ was out the 2 players that shot the most the 1and the 2 guards got the most shots. But the other players were still more involved in the offense when CJ was out and vice versa. But like last night the 1st quarter everyone was involved and we had the lead but with CJ at the point starting the 2nd quarter there know flow due to you have CJ plus Melo dominate the ball so flow is gone and you know what's happens when get behind Dame and CJ both think there the ones needs to shoot majority of the time for us to catch that's ruin the flow of the game especially when they was both ice cold sometimes it's and we pulled out but it's really bad brand of basketball. I think you need trade CJ for a player that can score but also a good play maker so got 2 guards that pass the ball where you have better flow. The player I see can do and has improved his shot but can play defense is Ball from the pelicans. Ball going be looking for decent contract at the end of the year so pelicans sign and trade ball to us for CJ and if we pelicans can include Hart some way in that trade to me it's ideal trade for us.

 

[Hoopguru]

great....if they create a 6'4 and under 2 on 2 league, Portland is golden!

So is Utah with 2 6'1 starting guards.