It's Time to Start Layman

[BonesJones]

This dude brings the most energy for the team, and is exception playing off of Nurk and spacing the floor for the guards. He's everything we were hoping Harkless could be offensively.

The argument for starting Harkless over Layman is the defensive end. This is an argument that I've made recently. But lately, Harkless has grown increasingly inconsistent and frustrating on that end, while Layman is improving and seems to be learning from his mistakes. Better yet, Layman gets pissed when he gets scored on, and I don't see that same attitude from Harkless. Layman is also big enough to guard most PFs, so starting him still allows Aminu to guard the best wing, or if the situation is right, he can guard the best guard. The defensive gap between Moe and Jake is evaporating, and the offensive gap is growing.

The problem lately is we'll play Layman for more than 12 straight minutes during stretches because he's coming off the bench and is obviously better than Harkless so Stotts just runs his number one characteristic (energy) into the ground. It'd be much better to start Layman, play him 8 minutes, give him a rest, then bring him in for the last 8 minutes instead of running him out there for 16 minutes straight.

Layman is our 4th best player right now... It's becoming glaringly obvious that Layman needs to start.

Well, obvious to everyone but our coach.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I'm going to copy and paste this here.

Agreed. But that's not enough. He needs 12 - 15 shots too. Same with Nurk. Same with Hood.

Olshey gets us another offensive weapon we can really use and he gets 5 shots? Layman and Nurk with 7 each? It's a joke. We could have gotten Otto Porter Jr. or Dario Saric and it would have been the same thing.

Yes we should get more talent but that's not even the half of it. They won't be utilized properly as you see from Hood, Layman and Nurk. I wish this game was an aberration but it isn't. This is our offense.

 

[BonesJones]

I'm going to copy and paste this here.

Agreed. But that's not enough. He needs 12 - 15 shots too. Same with Nurk. Same with Hood.

Olshey gets us another offensive weapon we can really use and he gets 5 shots? Layman and Nurk with 7 each? It's a joke. We could have gotten Otto Porter Jr. or Dario Saric and it would have been the same thing.

Yes we should get more talent but that's not even the half of it. They won't be utilized properly as you see from Hood, Layman and Nurk. I wish this game was an aberration but it isn't. This is our offense.

Agreed.

I thought it was weird how Hood got two post-up buckets against the smaller Ferguson early in the 4th and then we immediately went away from him and Curry went 0-3 in back to back to back possessions. Why go away from something that was working for Hood? Should've kept going to him and seen how OKC adjusted to that, and then maybe there was a way we could take advantage of their adjustment to Hood.

 

[joeBlazers]

CJ 5-20. n'ough said. So tired of this dude . 37 minutes played.

 

[Scalma]

This became obvious awhile ago and is long overdue. Harkless can go mope on the bench for all I care. Better yet, book him a flight to New York and let him stay there until his contract expires. Sick of him half assing it out there. He only plays hard when he feels like it, yet doesn’t get benched. What is that all about?

 

[Reep]

I agree with @AmirIcon that starting him isn't enough, or the problem. I don't disagree with starting Layman, but there is no way CJ should have twice the shot attempts as Layman in a game like this. Shot redistribution needs to be the primary emphasis. Nurkic, Layman and Hood need more. It won't happen this season, but would love to see Trent Jr. get into the mix.

 

[BonesJones]

I agree with @AmirIcon that starting him isn't enough, or the problem. I don't disagree with starting Layman, but there is no way CJ should have twice the shot attempts as Layman in a game like this. Shot redistribution needs to be the primary emphasis. Nurkic, Layman and Hood need more. It won't happen this season, but would love to see Trent Jr. get into the mix.

Obviously there's other problems, but they have little to no chance of getting fixed, and I don't think it's as obvious as the fact that Layman needs to start.

 

[Reep]

If we are starting Layman at the 3, can we start Hood at the 2 also?

 

[Scalma]

Obviously there's other problems, but they have little to no chance of getting fixed, and I don't think it's as obvious as the fact that Layman needs to start.

Not just start either, he needs to play 30+ minutes every night unless he’s in foul trouble. And he needs to become a part of the offense, not just an outlet when things break down. A good way to do that would be to play through Nurk, which we’ve gone away from again for GOD KNOWS WHAT REASON

 

[wizenheimer]

I'd bench BOTH Mo and CJ. Shake the team up and get them out of their damn comfort zone, which is taking them nowhere

 

[joeBlazers]

The Bucks changed coaches and kept the same players ... ( ok, they also signed Pat.) look at them today. I would fire our coach tomorrow morning..

 

[Scalma]

I'd bench BOTH Mo and CJ. Shake the team up and get them out of their damn comfort zone, which is taking them nowhere

Bench CJ hahaha Terry is thinking of ways to get him MORE shots as we speak.

 

[joeBlazers]

If Terry doesn't have the guts to fix this team, just fire his behind. This team is underperforming ... terribly.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Nurk
Aminu
Laymen
CJ
Dame

Zach
Hood
Curry

This is the 8 man rotation I want to see.

Harkless needs to sit until he's healthy and can attack.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Agreed.

I thought it was weird how Hood got two post-up buckets against the smaller Ferguson early in the 4th and then we immediately went away from him and Curry went 0-3 in back to back to back possessions. Why go away from something that was working for Hood? Should've kept going to him and seen how OKC adjusted to that, and then maybe there was a way we could take advantage of their adjustment to Hood.

Bro, the thing is that it isn't weird at all. How many times have we seen Nurk destroy his opponent and then we go away from him because Dame or CJ are just itching to get a shot up.

This is literally our MO. Shoot, Nurk was 9 for 11 against the Mavericks. It could have helped to exploit his mismatch.

 

[kjironman1]

This dude brings the most energy for the team, and is exception playing off of Nurk and spacing the floor for the guards. He's everything we were hoping Harkless could be offensively.

The argument for starting Harkless over Layman is the defensive end. This is an argument that I've made recently. But lately, Harkless has grown increasingly inconsistent and frustrating on that end, while Layman is improving and seems to be learning from his mistakes. Better yet, Layman gets pissed when he gets scored on, and I don't see that same attitude from Harkless. Layman is also big enough to guard most PFs, so starting him still allows Aminu to guard the best wing, or if the situation is right, he can guard the best guard. The defensive gap between Moe and Jake is evaporating, and the offensive gap is growing.

The problem lately is we'll play Layman for more than 12 straight minutes during stretches because he's coming off the bench and is obviously better than Harkless so Stotts just runs his number one characteristic (energy) into the ground. It'd be much better to start Layman, play him 8 minutes, give him a rest, then bring him in for the last 8 minutes instead of running him out there for 16 minutes straight.

Layman is our 4th best player right now... It's becoming glaringly obvious that Layman needs to start.

Well, obvious to everyone but our coach.

I agree. I also feel that after the All-Star break Terry will condense the rotation and Layman will get more minutes.

 

[kjironman1]

Nurk was 9 for 11 against the Mavericks. It could have helped to exploit his mismatch.

Nurk fouled out of the game.

 

[joeBlazers]

How do we let a guy go 5-20? Save him from his freaky misery. Shouldn't Terry have a rule, where any player missing 10 shots should be sitting next to him? This is ridiculous. This is no MJ taking shots here.

 

[TBpup]

The Bucks changed coaches and kept the same players ... ( ok, they also signed Pat.) look at them today. I would fire our coach tomorrow morning..

THIS!!!

 

[BonesJones]

Not just start either, he needs to play 30+ minutes every night unless he’s in foul trouble. And he needs to become a part of the offense, not just an outlet when things break down. A good way to do that would be to play through Nurk, which we’ve gone away from again for GOD KNOWS WHAT REASON

Yeah, I don't understand that at all. When we get pressured, we shy away from using our best option to beat the pressure (Nurkic in the high post as a passer for guys to cut off of) and instead we set even more ball screens!!!

Makes no sense.

 

[BonesJones]

The Bucks changed coaches and kept the same players ... ( ok, they also signed Pat.) look at them today. I would fire our coach tomorrow morning..

And I was begging for PA to have some balls and fire Terry and open up the pocketbook for Budenholzer. Am I arrogant for thinking that I could run this team better from a basketball standpoint if I was the Owner and GM?

Or does that just speak to how it's been ran...?

 

[BonesJones]

I agree. I also feel that after the All-Star break Terry will condense the rotation and Layman will get more minutes.

But not make the obvious decision to start him?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Nurk fouled out of the game.

I'm sorry, was that before or after he got 11 shot attempts?

So it stands to reason that he could have had more shots before he fouled out, correct? He fouled out tonight with 7 shots. Does that mean he could not have had more shot attempts before he fouled out when you just exhibited that he had 11 the game before and he fouled out?

Are you confused, misguided or just plain disingenuous?

 

[TBpup]

And I was begging for PA to have some balls and fire Terry and open up the pocketbook for Budenholzer. Am I arrogant for thinking that I could run this team better from a basketball standpoint if I was the Owner and GM?

Or does that just speak to how it's been ran...?

You're arrogant alright...lol. But you may not be wrong from a GM standpoint.

Cheers mate!

 

[BonesJones]

Nurk
Aminu
Laymen
CJ
Dame

Zach
Hood
Curry

This is the 8 man rotation I want to see.

Harkless needs to sit until he's healthy and can attack.

Lillard (36) / Curry (12)
McCollum (34) / Curry (12) / Hood (2)
Layman (20) / Hood (28)
Aminu (30) / Layman (12) / Collins (6)
Nurkic (30) / Collins (18)

Lillard - 36min
McCollum - 34min
Layman - 32min
Nurkic, Aminu, Hood - 30min
Collins, Curry - 24min

Meyers - Situationally

Turner, Harkless - BENCHED

 

[BonesJones]

You're arrogant alright...lol. But you may not be wrong from a GM standpoint.

Cheers mate!

To be fair, I think multiple posters on this forum could.

 

[kjironman1]

But not make the obvious decision to start him?

I wonder if starting him is the best decision? He is playing very well coming off the bench and he has been in there at the end of games.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

The Bucks changed coaches and kept the same players ... ( ok, they also signed Pat.) look at them today. I would fire our coach tomorrow morning..

Bingo. I'm not the biggest fan of CJ but I also don't think it's impossible for the Damian and CJ tandem to work. I just know it won't be under this coach.

We need a fresh perspective from the coaching seat.

 

[BonesJones]

Lillard (36) / Curry (12)
McCollum (34) / Curry (12) / Hood (2)
Layman (20) / Hood (28)
Aminu (30) / Layman (12) / Collins (6)
Nurkic (30) / Collins (18)

Lillard - 36min
McCollum - 34min
Layman - 32min
Nurkic, Aminu, Hood - 30min
Collins, Curry - 24min

Meyers - Situationally

Turner, Harkless - BENCHED

I'd probably try and stagger Aminu and CJ so we had a bench lineup of:

Curry / McCollum / Hood / Aminu / Collins

Aminu and Collins make up for the defensive lapses of the other 3. But Hood and Curry aren't terrible defenders. Try to stagger Collins so he plays PF during the last 6 minutes of the 1st instead off Aminu to compliment the defensive lapses of Dame and CJ.

 

[TBpup]

To be fair, I think multiple posters on this forum could.

....and we are probably all a little arrogant.