If they're our best rebounders and we're not very good maybe we need to go another direction, like fixing our rotations and playing more natural bigs for more minutes. Leonard and Vonleh hardly get any playing time and I don't see neither Aminu nor Davis playing amazing basketball, far from it
When I said they are our best rebounders, I was referring to TRB%, not REB/G. So, what that means is our "natural bigs" (how the fuck is Ed Davis not a "natural big"?) would get even fewer rebounds than Aminu and Davis if they played the same minutes.
Aminu is such a double edged sword. He is absolutely killing our offensive efficiency. Before someone tries to point out that "our offense is just fine" or "offense isn't our problem", check out how much our offensive efficiency has dropped from last season to this. Aminu's .267 FG% is the second worst of any starter in the league. Only Robert Covington in PHI is worse. Aminu's poor shooting and stupid TOVs are killing our offensive efficiency.
But he's also our best defender and the best rebounder we have in our starting line up. So, if we replace him, we risk getting even worse at our two biggest weaknesses.
Historically, Noah Vonleh, last year as our starting PF, rebounded at a rate comparable to Aminu's rebounding rate this season. Vonleh also rebounded well in summer league against teenagers and rebounded well during preseason. So, I'm willing to accept that his poor rebounding so far can be attributed to small sample size and if he is moved into the starting line up, he can match, or at least come close to matching Aminu's rebounding. He cant guard stretch 4s as well as Aminu, but becuase of his low center of gravity, long arms and streigth has the potential to be a much bettter post defender than Aminu.
With Vonleh's improvement during preseason, I'd be willing to give him a chance at the starting 4 position, next to Plumlee. I don't think he'd maake our rebounding and defense any worse tha it already is, but could have a positive impact on our offensive efficiency. Plus, he has WAY more upside than Aminu, or any other player on our roster. Last year, giving Vonleh hurt us short term. This year, I don't think it would hurt us short term and would definitely benefit us long term.
Meyers was a good rebounder his second and third seasons, but ever since he's become a stretch 4/5, his rebounding has fallen off a cliff. I've never been a Meyers hater, but I don't want him in my starting lineup. He's fine coming off the bench and spacing the floor, but that should be the extent of his role at this time.
Basically, at this point, we have three guys who are quality starters - Dame, C.J. and Plumlee. Our starting forwards are so far below average it's killing us. The problem is, the only guy playing behind them, that has the potential to be any better, is Vonleh. I could see starting either Turner or Crabbe at the 3, but that seems like a lateral move to me.
A trade that nets us a quality starting forward, at either spot, would be a big improvement over what we currently have.
BNM
