Starting Small Forward

[mook]

You look at Hood, Bazemore and Hezonja's stats from last year, and there really isn't much of a statistical argument for one over the other.

Rodney Hood: Best scorer, best 3 point shooter, has that sweet spot of age at 27 where he still has upside but isn't a kid. More of a 2/3 who may physically not match up well with all the big 3's out there. Took a pay cut to come here. We have him on a one year re-rental, although I think we get his bird rights?

Kent Bazemore: Best defender, most seasoned. Oldest at age 30. Another 2/3. Almost definitely somewhere else next year (unless he plays himself out of a good contract).

Mario Hezonja: Definitely the most upside, but also the most downside. Only 25. 5th overall draft pick just 4 years ago who so far has performed poorly in basket case situations. More of a 3/4, with a solid 20lbs on the other two. His last 3 games in NYC were phemominal, but the prior 55 not so much. We have him this year and next year, so we have some incentive to develop him.

Who will win the starting job on opening night? Will he keep it by December?

 

[Reep]

I think it will be Hood's job to lose, but am pretty sure Terry will run a bunch of lineups to see what the best 3/4 combo is. My honest hope is that at some point Hezonja takes the position, with Hood and Baze off the bench. But, more likely that Hood or Baze will hold onto it. Probably whoever plays better defense and hits the three more aggressively and consistently.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I think Bazemore gets it. I think Hood's overall fit with the Bench unit is better for him, and for the team. I really like Hood, but to me it just makes sense. He can create shots for himself, he can be a matchup problem. If he's "on", he may get more minutes on some nights than Bazemore does. Bazemore, on the other hand, will help even out the starters, can be a good defender in PNR's, and if he can remember how to shoot, he's a good floor spacer for Dame / CJ.

I think Hood stayed knowing he'll get minutes, but I don't think they promised he'd start or anything like that.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

A competition between three bench players for our starting spot.

Even the SF we drafted was a bench player!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Bazemore has started about 30 more games than coming off the bench. He shoots a much higher % as a starter. He came off the bench last year because Atlanta was going young.

He'll get the start. IMO

 

[riverman]

Rodney played last season and in the playoffs for us....I think he'll get the nod early in the season if for no other reason than the fact he knows the system better than the new guys. Someone might take the starting job after the break but I'll bet Stotts starts Rodney...I think Bazemore will be more of a bench ball handler....2 guard....Rodney and Mario will probably handle the SF spot

 

[Labinot41]

It doesnt really matter who starts imo because we have Dame/CJ/Whiteside. Most important is who is at the 3 and 4 in the 4th quarter, it could be
Dame, CJ, Hood, Collins, Whiteside or
Dame, CJ, Bazemore, Collins, Whiteside or
Dame, CJ, Bazemore, Hood, Whiteside or
Dame, CJ, Bazemore, Hood, Collins or maybe
Dame, Simons, CJ, Hood/Bazemore, Collins/Whiteside

We have many options, i just dont like the depth of our roster right now but i'm sure Neil gonna fix that problem by the Deadline

 

[illmatic99]

Last year: http://www.82games.com/1819/1819POR.HTM

Turner played 30% of the SF minutes.
Harkless played 27% of the SF minutes.
Layman played 21% of the SF minutes
Hood played 12 % of the SF minutes.

Bunch of other guys filled the other 5 mins or so (CJ/Seth/Suace, etc). Once Hood came on, Turner's mins reduced and Layman was pretty much out of rotation.

This year, I see the breakdown as follows:

Baze starts for his defense and takes the Harkless role. Hood comes on off the bench midway through the first and replaces the Turner role. Hezonja is the third swingman and goes up to PF on occasion.

Minutes breakdown:

PG: Dame (33) / Simons (15)
SG: CJ (33)/ Hood (10)/ Simons (5)
SF: Bazemore (25)/ Hood (15) / Hezonja (8)
PF: Collins (25)/ Tolliver (15)/ Hezonja (8)
C: Whiteside (30)/ Collins (5) / Center to be named later (13)

The key to our SF rotation is Collins being to play consistently around 25-30 mins at PF without foul trouble.

 

[illmatic99]

Also sidebar. I really want to scale down Dame's minutes this year. It's now year 8 for him and he's climbing up the overall minutes chart. After seeing him completely breakdown physically by the end of our playoff run, we need to start managing his minutes. Steph scaled down to 32-34 once Kerr came on, and we really need to start doing the same with Dame. I really hope Terry plays around with the rotation a bit more this year. If Simons is truly ready, then we can make Dame hyper-efficient in his 2-3 fewer minutes this year and keep his usage the same.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Also sidebar. I really want to scale down Dame's minutes this year. It's now year 8 for him and he's climbing up the overall minutes chart. After seeing him completely breakdown physically by the end of our playoff run, we need to start managing his minutes. Steph scaled down to 32-34 once Kerr came on, and we really need to start doing the same with Dame. I really hope Terry plays around with the rotation a bit more this year. If Simons is truly ready, then we can make Dame hyper-efficient in his 2-3 fewer minutes this year and keep his usage the same.

If we could start blowing teams out consistently like the Warriors were once Kerr arrived, I'm sure Dame's minutes would decrease. As it is, I don't see that as likely.

But yes, I agree that if Simons is in fact the real deal, a reduction in Dame's minutes could be feasible.

 

[riverman]

Also sidebar. I really want to scale down Dame's minutes this year. It's now year 8 for him and he's climbing up the overall minutes chart. After seeing him completely breakdown physically by the end of our playoff run, we need to start managing his minutes. Steph scaled down to 32-34 once Kerr came on, and we really need to start doing the same with Dame. I really hope Terry plays around with the rotation a bit more this year. If Simons is truly ready, then we can make Dame hyper-efficient in his 2-3 fewer minutes this year and keep his usage the same.

If Dame is still playing FIBA world cup...it'd be smart to give him some rest when possible early in the season

 

[Scalma]

Bazemore is a better off ball scorer and defender than Rodney while Rodney is the better isolation player. Hood has more experience in the system however and will probably be the starter initially.

 

[Chris Craig]

It'll be Bazemore though Rodney would fit better

 

[illmatic99]

Not to belabor the point, but if Zach can't hack it at PF, Hood and Hezonja will get a lot more mins at that position, making Baze the default SF.

 

[Reep]

It'll be Bazemore though Rodney would fit better

I have mixed feelings. I like Hood creating his own shot in the second unit, and Bazemore likely a better overall defender. But, Hood is bigger, which usually works better in the starting lineup, with Baze playing in a small-ball second unit, adding vet savvy to balance Ant.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Not to belabor the point, but if Zach can't hack it at PF, Hood and Hezonja will get a lot more mins at that position, making Baze the default SF.

I was kinda thinking that they could go with both. Baze at 3 and Rod at 4. Would definitely be a small lineup, but it'd be tough for the opposition to defend as well.

 

[hoopsjock]

Also sidebar. I really want to scale down Dame's minutes this year. It's now year 8 for him and he's climbing up the overall minutes chart. After seeing him completely breakdown physically by the end of our playoff run, we need to start managing his minutes. Steph scaled down to 32-34 once Kerr came on, and we really need to start doing the same with Dame. I really hope Terry plays around with the rotation a bit more this year. If Simons is truly ready, then we can make Dame hyper-efficient in his 2-3 fewer minutes this year and keep his usage the same.

Dame only averaged 35.5 minutes per game last year. I know that's still high compared to the rest of the league but I don't think it's that egregious for Dame to be playing just under 75% of a game.

 

[B-Roy]

I have mixed feelings. I like Hood creating his own shot in the second unit, and Bazemore likely a better overall defender. But, Hood is bigger, which usually works better in the starting lineup, with Baze playing in a small-ball second unit, adding vet savvy to balance Ant.

Hood is taller, not bigger. His wingspan is smaller than Bazemores and he’s also a significantly worse rebounder. Like Hoods rebounding numbers are anemic.

 

[Reep]

Hood is taller, not bigger. His wingspan is smaller than Bazemores and he’s also a significantly worse rebounder. Like Hoods rebounding numbers are anemic.

Well, Hood does outweigh Baze by 5 lbs, and I didn't say "longer" I said "bigger". We don't have Baze's standing reach, but I would guess it would be similar to Hoods, give Baze's wingspan advantage.

 

[B-Roy]

Well, Hood does outweigh Baze by 5 lbs, and I didn't say "longer" I said "bigger". We don't have Baze's standing reach, but I would guess it would be similar to Hoods, give Baze's wingspan advantage.

I'm saying this based on the way they play.

 

[Defender]

Regular season I like Hood over Bazemore, playoffs I’d rather have Bazemore out there for his defence when things get more half court oriented.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame only averaged 35.5 minutes per game last year. I know that's still high compared to the rest of the league but I don't think it's that egregious for Dame to be playing just under 75% of a game.

The problem is overall minutes, not necessarily load per game. I'm fine if he sits out 10-15 games/yr and plays 35 a night.

Edit: https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_active.html

It's crazy, Dame has played nearly a season's worth of minutes more than guys like Gallinari (drafted 08) and Hayward (10). History tells us that guys who climb above 15k mins are prone to a redshirt sorta injury year. Hayward/Steph/Kawhi/PG/Klay/KD/Blake/etc etc. All of em have had at least one year with a major injury. Dame is closing in on 20k.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

It'll be Bazemore though Rodney would fit better

Weird, I think just the opposite.
It SHOULD be Bazemore starting (want best possible defense next to our starting guards), but I think it'll be Hood (to convince him to stay at year's end).

 

[Pinwheel1]

I like Hood creating his own shot in the second unit, and Bazemore likely a better overall defender. .

This says it all for me.

 

[DUB]

At the moment I’d start Bazemore at the 3, and bring Hood off the bench.

I seem to remember that Hood was great off the bench in Utah, but not as a starter. I don’t know what the stats on that are though.

However that was obviously years ago, and he’s young enough to be given a second (third?) chance.

So I’d just let everyone battle it out in training camp, give the spot to whoever earns it, and tell everyone else to take it off them if they’re good enough.

Good spirited competition for a starting spot is good for everyone involved.

 

[blazerfan11]

Stotts will want to keep what's left over from his 2nd unit rotation from last season so Hood will come off the bench.

 

[BBert]

Bazemore is a better off ball scorer and defender than Rodney while Rodney is the better isolation player. Hood has more experience in the system however and will probably be the starter initially.

You just convinced me that Bazemore should start, and Rodney should come off the bench, haha.

Knowing Stotts though, your logic is sound. Initially.

 

[BBert]

Stotts will want to keep what's left over from his 2nd unit rotation from last season so Hood will come off the bench.

Good point.

It will be Stotts, who will want the guy who knows the system and who he is comfortable with as the starter vs. Stotts, who will want to maintain his second unit rotation by having the guy he's comfortable with coming off the bench.

Chances are, Stotts wins that argument.

 

[blazerkor]

It doesnt really matter who starts imo because we have Dame/CJ/Whiteside. Most important is who is at the 3 and 4 in the 4th quarter, it could be
Dame, CJ, Hood, Collins, Whiteside or
Dame, CJ, Bazemore, Collins, Whiteside or
Dame, CJ, Bazemore, Hood, Whiteside or
Dame, CJ, Bazemore, Hood, Collins or maybe
Dame, Simons, CJ, Hood/Bazemore, Collins/Whiteside

We have many options, i just dont like the depth of our roster right now but i'm sure Neil gonna fix that problem by the Deadline

Hood can't play the 4. The guy is 206 lbs. He isn't terribly long and he's only 6'8". I know a lot of small ball fours are 6'8" but they weigh a lot more than Hood.

 

[BlazerWookee]

What is a "basket case situation?"