Troy Daniels was hanging on to the roster by the skin of his teeth. There's a very possible scenario in which Ellington starts. He started over 30 games last season. That's more starts than Troy made his entire NBA career. Troy's best season was 17-18 with the Suns: 15 starts, 21 MPG, 40% from both the field and 3, 2 RPG, 1 APG, 9 PPG. Ellington bested all of those numbers last season. Now maybe there's the Lakers shooters decline/curse, but it won't drop him to Troy Daniels levels, who was roughly half the player that posted those above Phoenix numbers. Also, if you're 3 ball is dropping at 42% in Detroit where you're getting zero space or open looks, I have to think you'll still be successful shooting it with the WIIIIIDE open looks he'll get next to our guys. And it's not like he was jacking up 3s either to get a rhythm for that percentage, he's averaged a higher 3 pt FGA in five other seasons.
If you're starting Dwight/DJ, AD, and Bron you're going to have the biggest team on the court even if your other two players are Muggsy Bogues and Nate Robinson. Defensively if you funnel to the post you're fine, especially with Bron and Russ putting pressure on the passing lanes. I'm not set on Ellington starting, but given the lack of spacing and shooting provided by the other four players his ability to space the court for us far outweighs any weaknesses than will be easily covered. I think it is certainly our most contested position battle as camp starts and Vogel has shown he's not afraid to change things up. So whoever starts the season might not be 25 games in. I think our older guys will be resting a fair amount too, so there will be a lot of opportunities on the second night of a back to back for these 2 guards to get PT.
not sure he's that undersized, nor does it matter as much considering that we're oversized at pretty much every other spot. if he's automatic from three, i think he'll beat out monk, THT, nunn, bazemore, and ariza for minutes, tbh. it's that important that we have a guy who can make the defense pay attention off the ball, imo. he's probably our least talented wing overall, but his one talent may be crucial. unless you're (perhaps sensibly) banking on the laker curse for his shooting. in which case, yes, he'll be cut by the deadline.
He is actually listed as 6-4. Not much bigger than Nunn, who is 6-3 with a 6-7 wing span. I think the starting two might either go to Nunn or Ellington. I always thought Ellington looks kind of like Vince Carter.
nunn's listed at 6'2" 190, ellington at 6'4", 207. pretty sure ellington is close to average size for an nba sg, whereas nunn would be small-ish. again, i don't think it matters that much given our size at every other position. but i don't see nunn starting at sg.
The issue with starting Nunn at the 2 is you make a lot of players redundant. Westbrook / Rondo Nunn / THT / Monk / Ellington Two out of THT, Monk and Ellington won't get any time and with THT's contract you assume it's the latter two. Which are also our best shooters.
Haven't listened to the episode yet, but that's what I expected and imagine it was discussed in the conversations with all of our signings. I don't really expect anyone on the roster to play the full season.
feel like you need to see him with the three stars before judging. that's the role he was made for. if he can't hack it there, bench him.
Yeah, you're not catering to his strengths and only exposing his weaknesses in other lineups, which is why I'm still an advocate for him starting if AD is at the 5. He's the best shooter on this team and is passable in a team defensive scheme (1st play was helping trap in the corner). As a man defender, it has looked very rough. But when you have AD, Baze, and Bron (and a gambling Russ even) you can cover those mistakes. But next to three of these 4: Monk/Nunn/Melo/THT and with Dwight or DJ as the only thing close to a defender; he'll get cooked. He won't create the space for that group that he would for the starters and they don't need it to the extent a Russ lineup does.
