The more we talk about how certain players probably won't get playing time despite our most vehement protestations, the more I wonder if our third line is actually better than our second, depending on how they're split up.
My best guess as of this moment is that our primary positional backups are Baldwin, Curry, Turner, Layman, Collins, with our third string being Simons, Stauskas, Trent, Swanigan, Leonard. Imagine those units faced off.
Looking at it laid out like that, the 2nd stringers have the clear defensive advantage with Wade, ET, and Zach, as well as superior ball handling across positions 1-3. The 3rd stringers would own the boards, and appear to have the best shooting across the board (although Curry and Layman certainly could hold their own). 2nd string looks to have an athleticism advantage; size is pretty comparable.
What do you think? Would you divide the 2nd and 3rd string differently than I did? How would the scrimmage play out? Does this thought exercise tell you anything about the future of the team?
