I was reading yesterday that Baze is a fast and annoying, energetic defender (sounds like Sasha). He's just not always effective at it, LOL. Again, with Handy and Vogel and Davis and Lebron around .... all of these guys ought to be able to step up a little higher, who have any fixable flaws they don't know about.
Awesome interview. Super likable individual. He’s come home too with his family wanting him back. UCLA and friendship connection with Russ.
Russ is a G! Straight to recruiting Ariza hahaha. There is a reason players and all the teams Russ has been on love him. I expect Ariza to play significant minutes - anywhere between 12 to 24 mins. He is still the best perimeter defender we have and also last season he was still solid defensively. If he shoots well like he does every few seasons, he could even start. But I have him as the backup 3 behind Bazemore playing 16-20 mins a game.
I always thought this team needs a long wing that can defend and Ariza came down... Second team with Howard, Nunn, Bazemore, Anthony. I'm pegging Horton-Tucker to start at the 2.
Thought about that...but he can keep up with Westbrook or James on the break. Maybe Monk. The 2 spot is up for grabs if Horton-Tucker does not get the nod.
3 years/$32 mil to come off the bench? Maybe Ellington/Monk are placeholders but Horton-Tucker gets more minutes. For the second unit him and Nunn could be a nice combo given their familiarity with each other. On topic: Can't wait to see Ariza gets minutes on George when we play the other L.A. Team.
He can still play 25/30min without starting or closing. It relies on his shooting. With our big 3 you really need 2 snipers
he could play sf in closing lineups with lebron and AD at the 4/5, too. i think we start the least popular fan lineup of the big 3 + marc and ellington because both are long-range threats and guys who can play a role.
dont count our Kendrick Nunn as well...i know a lot of projections have him as the backup 1 but he's played plenty of 2 in Miami and was pretty reliable
Definitely not counting him out. It's a possibility, but he is counted on as a backup PG, with maybe playing some minutes at the 2. It's tough to justify starting him at the 2, when he's the best PG we have after Russ. Monk's more of a SG type, although he can serve as a PG if he has to.