I considered starting a few threads over the past week or so on just discussing one or two of these, but they're not really important and therefore probably don't deserve their own threads.
However, I have no inhibitions about putting them all in one thread. Feel free to debate or discuss any of them, criticize me, et al... although I expect this thread to get lost in the shuffle from the game thread in about an hour + the numerous praising/freak out threads following a game.
Anyways...
- Jerryd Bayless should be our starting PG right now.
I'm a big Bayless fan -- have been since I first watched him at Arizona -- but I don't think he should start simply because he's better. Bayless "fits" better with the starters. Sergio is a true ball-dominating PG, and our starting unit simply doesn't move without the ball much. Bayless can create his own shot and has become much better in just a short amount of time at dishing off to a big when he can. Bayless gets a lot of run in the second half, but that's also when Roy starts dominating the ball. A Bayless/Roy backcourt where Roy dominates the ball is not the best way to use JB. He's not a good shooter right now, for whatever reason, and when Roy goes ISO Bayless just sits in the corner doing nothing. Likewise, Sergio paired with Rudy, Outlaw, and sometimes Aldridge is a better fit. For one, as long as Rudy and Outlaw are our wing defenders, our defense will be garbage. Might as well throw the bad defensive PG out there, too. Secondly, Rudy and Sergio undoubtedly have a certain developed chemistry that allows them to excel together. I can envision a second unit that moves a lot without the ball and has a PG who is always looking to find a cutter.
- Batum should play more minutes
It's almost ironic, mostly sad, that two of our best defenders (Batum and Oden) are the ones who are sometimes sent to the bench without reason. Batum can guard guards and smaller forwards, 1-3 and sometimes 1-4 on the court. And do it well. Batum can get rebounds. He can disrupt passing lanes. He probably leads the league in trailing-a-fast-break-coming-from-behind-the-opponent blocks. And his shooting has been at least adequate in order to get more run.
- Aldridge should be the focal point of the offense when he's in with the second unit
This boggles my mind. When LA is in with Rudy, Outlaw, Sergio, and Pryzbilla, he seemingly never gets looks. I don't understand it. At the very least isolate him on a block once or twice. Play pick'n'pop/roll with Rudy or Sergio. Play the high-low with Pryzbilla. Run plays to get LA rolling so both he and Roy are in the swing of things early in the game.
Play Oden and actually work on getting him the ball. I'm not sure what's more frustrating... Oden being developed in a borderline idiotic way or the fact that we switch on every. single. screen. Fuck... fight through a pick. Hustle on defense! Play Bayless when Blake comes back, some how. Do not trade Batum or Bayless. Continue encouraging Outlaw to attack the rim (he's been doing this for the last month+, and it's so much better to watch than one-dribble pull up off balance bullshit shots right in a defender's grill. Even when he misses, I don't get upset at an aggressive Outlaw. And look in to playing more Oden + Pryzbilla at the same time. It worked well the one and only time it was used.
It's not that it's "without reason", it's that Nate has his Bill Walsh-issued first 10 minutes scripted in terms of substitutions. Batum shooting the lights out? Eff him. Oden with one foul? He's probably tired. Outlaw and Przy need to be in the game, I guess.