2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[DanSchwartzgan]

I find it interesting the perception that JR is killing this team and we need to put THJ in the starting lineup.  The 4 man KP/Luka/DFS/THJ is a net -16 with 131 defensive rating.  That is terrible.  Replace THJ with JR and goes up to +2, and that is weighed down by THJ (KP/Luka/DFS/THJ/JR is -21).  

JR has been disappointing this year on offense and is not what we hoped, but he has been more effective with the starting unit that THJ.  That is likely due to the difference in defense.  Maybe putting Holmes in the starting lineup will mitigate some of that, but I just don't see a KP/Luka/THJ group being able to play contender level defense.

I am all for upgrading JR spot in the starting lineup, but THJ is not the answer and Green isn't either.  We are going to have to get somebody and they are going to cost at least 15.  That means baring trades, we can re-sign THJ or sign Holmes, but not both.

The thing we have to be careful about in these four man lineups is we have almost zero groupings where KP and either WCS or Powell are with THJ and the starters.  And, obviously we don’t have any lineups where Holmes is playing with us.  Your point may be spot on.  Or, a real center with KP and DFS “might” make a Luka/THJ backcourt more palatable.  I honestly don’t know.  I lean toward your position that this will be a poor defensive lineup (with Powell or WCS, maybe not with Holmes).  But the Net may actually be pretty good.