Ace Bailey = 6th Man?

[u/malleable7]

Looking at their first pre season game lineup, coach preferred to try out DP at the two and LM at the 3. I just don’t know how you can start LM and bench Ace……

[u/Silent-Frame1452]

New here? This was the most likely outcome ever since we traded for JJJ and was even more locked once we drafted DP.

You can’t play either Lauri or JJJ as a full time 5. You don’t want either of your best and highest paid players coming off the bench. Lauri has played the 3 a lot. So he and JJJ are the starting 3/4.

Add Keyonte as the 1 and Nurk (Kessler before he was moved) as the 5, and you have Peterson and Ace competing for the starting 2 spot, with the other as a super sixth man. 

Whichever ends up coming off the bench will still play plenty with the starters and get near starter minutes, it won’t limit development.

TLDR; you start Lauri and bench Ace because Lauri is better. 

[u/malleable7 → u/Silent-Frame1452]

Lauri is better in what aspect? Defensively ? Explosiveness? Iq? Dribbling?

[u/UnattentivePrimate → u/malleable7]

All of the above

[u/MetroidsSuffering → u/Silent-Frame1452]

I mean, in reality, you can’t play Lauri at the three in important or playoff situations either. So it’s uhh, going to be interesting! 58% of the cap is going to two pure PFs.

[u/Youngcheeese → u/MetroidsSuffering]

Wasnt his all star season at the 3 ?

[u/MetroidsSuffering → u/Youngcheeese]

He played the 3 and 4 but he can’t defend 3s.

[u/Disastrous-Annual510 → u/MetroidsSuffering]

And very few SFs can defend Markkanen. It's a wash. He played SF in spots quite well in Cleveland.

[u/UnattentivePrimate → u/MetroidsSuffering]

? You absolutely can play Lauri at the 3

[u/Silent-Frame1452 → u/UnattentivePrimate]

This guys basically a doomer, I don’t remember him ever posting anything positive about the team, so I’m not shocked by the negativity.

[u/UnattentivePrimate → u/Silent-Frame1452]

Haha thanks for the heads up

[u/MetroidsSuffering → u/UnattentivePrimate]

Do you think this will go well against playoff level SFs given that we’ve mostly been horrific defensively the last four years.

[u/JazzPlusEagles → u/MetroidsSuffering]

His numbers are much better when playing at the 3. He is a better perimeter defender than interior.

[u/Silent-Frame1452 → u/MetroidsSuffering]

Solid theory you have there. Pretty much just your theory at this point though, let’s see how it actually plays out first. 

[u/aatuboo]

DP or Ace has to come from the bench. If Ace plays better, I wouldn't be surprised if Will decided to start him

[u/malleable7 → u/aatuboo]

This is the answer. Love reasonable comments instead of “yOU DoNT kNoW baLl” lmao

[u/vorander]

What a weird way to spell "I don't know much about basketball"

[u/malleable7 → u/vorander]

Lmao then you should apply for coaching staff

[u/vorander → u/malleable7]

They seem like they're pretty well equipped

You probably shouldn't though, friend.

[u/malleable7 → u/vorander]

So you’re not knowledgeable enough to apply and take a spot on the coaching staff

[u/vorander → u/malleable7]

Weird ad hominem attack but I'm honest enough to say no

Are you?

[u/malleable7 → u/vorander]

Don’t think you’re using that correctly and with that I’ll let you be.

[u/vorander → u/malleable7]

Here you go bud

"An ad hominem argument is a rhetorical tactic where someone attacks the character, motive, or background of the person making a claim instead of addressing the actual substance of their argument"

Bye

[u/malleable7 → u/vorander]

You started with “you don’t know ball,” then pulled out a definition that describes your own opener.

Okay….. bud.

[u/vorander → u/malleable7]

I'm not your bud, pal.

[u/malleable7 → u/vorander]

😂😂😂 see ya

[u/ej_stephens]

I think it's a fine thing to try out. Bailey off the bench sounds pretty scary. If we find out we really need him to start then we can move to that, but I think we could be fine.

[u/OkLettuce338]

meh preseason line ups are all goofy

[u/dco222]

Yea ace will come off the bench.

[u/Disastrous-Annual510]

Who is going to start over? Markkanen is a former All Star, Peterson is a blue chip prospect and George was the leading scorer last season. George missed 28 games last season and Markkanen missed 40. I'm sure Peterson will miss a few games as well. He'll get his opportunities.

[u/LuckyTiger10]

I don’t think it will be that long term. If he’s playing like this on defense and rebounding he will start soon. Regardless he will play a lot

[u/coltan3]

Ace is gonna get his run. I thought there was a chance Ace could actually start at the two, just cause I think Nurk and Key can playmake enough around the others, but he def isn't starting over Lauri or JJJ. Those guys are proven, all-star level players in their prime.

[u/ClutchOlday]

It's preseason. Let DP prove he should keep starting when the regular season starts.

I see Ace as the main backup for Lauri and eventually start when Lauri's past his prime. He's going to play major minutes no matter whether he's starting or not.