New Bench Dilemna (cc: Reaves / Beasley)

[Nash Vegas]

Lakers bench have been out scoring opponents in dub digits and were ranked top 5 in bench points after the all-star break.

But in the last 4 games, after AR was inserted into the starting lineup in place of Beasley, the Lakers bench instead have been out scored by a total of 34 points.

Would Lakers be better having AR come off the bench as their Manu Ginobli 6th man? Or should the Lakers stick with AR with the starters because he’s much better than the one he replaced?

Either way, AR shouldn’t lose any minutes and he should always be closing games.
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[justsomelakerfan]

He either has to come off the bench or there has to be an early sub between him and DLO to lead the 2nd unit. I think there’s merit in starting your best players and getting off to a strong start, so I lean towards early sub but either is fine.
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Austin Reaves
Tweeter: @sarah_dotbiz

[leking006]

[tox]

I think there is a good case for both (although I think this board is going to come down in favor of starting). I voted for bench because, as you noted, the Lakers'' bench with Reaves was really good. And while the starters were awful, that was without LeBron.

With LeBron, AD & Russell can naturally slot in to the #2 and #3 options (in terms of ball dominance/ defensive attention/ etc -- even if AD is putting up bigger numbers) so I think the starters will be good even with Austin.

I can imagine a way to keep Reaves as a starter and stagger the bench so that it's not as bad. But I do prefer Reaves on the bench, and I also think maximizing Beasley's value is putting him next to LeBron/AD/Russell.

[saetarubia]

Stagger minutes to make sure Lakers have two ball handlers on the court always. Starting 5 should remain the same. Also play Lonnie if Malik is struggling a lot.
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Showtime 2.0

[dont_be_a_wuss]

Beasley has been playing terribly. If he wants to start he needs to shoot more efficiently.

[Megaton]

Lol at idiots who even thinks Beasley is a rotation at this point, let alone a starter.

Reaves starts. It’s as simple as that. Near elite defender, incredibly efficient offensive scorer from anywhere on the court. Great playmaker especially next to AD and Lebron.

What you do is simple: you stagger minutes. Just because Ham is a total brain dead moron with sending in entire 2nd unit lineups, doesn’t mean you compromise now the best starting lineup in the NBA. Especially for a scrub like Beasley. There’s no dilemma, unless you’re as clueless as Ham.
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Darvin Scam: https://media.tenor.com/images/3c15249955860a4b16b59e8ae035fb75/tenor.gif

[miggz23]

This is simple... Reaves is better player off the bench. Our bench also will be better as a unit. Starting Reaves you simply lose his production off the bench.

Beasley should play strictly with the starters, where we can maximize his shooting. You let him run the first 5-6 minutes to start the game and the half. Judge him by how good he's shooting that night. You sit him if he's not shooting well which limit him to 10-12 minutes. If he's shooting well he gets extra burn. Plus I like Beasley as a floor spacer with the starting unit.

Reaves can produce as a starter or off the bench. It does not matter if he's starting or not. As long you give him his minutes and his closing out games.

[tox]

I stand by my Beasley statement, right now he's basically worse than useless and I think we need him to be more valuable or it'll be a large problem come playoffs time. Give him 3-4 games of playing with the starters and see if improved shot quality helps him hit 3s.

[Kblo247!]

A simple fix is just don’t play Beasley or Lonnie.

Denis and Troy get all the minutes as the backup perimeter. Then they can just let Russell or Reaves play with them. And they can offer Rui and Gabriel the other minutes keeping one of Bron and AD out there while also extending Vando minutes.

An effective 9 man rotation

Russell Reaves Vando Bron AD - Start
Denis Troy Rui Gabriel - Bench with starters mixed in
Denis Russell Reaves Bron AD - Close

It’s not that hard to use that and say Beasley, Lonnie, and Bamba are just there as cheerleaders

[Don Draper]

Starting Reaves makes sense, especially to keep developing chemistry with DLO and LeBron. Not his fault Beasley has been bad. The bench will survive so long as we stagger minutes well and give Rui more opportunities to be the focal point.

[JUST-MING]

Not a dilemma. Dont play Malik.

[Vancouver Fan]

He starts and he finishes.
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Music is my medicine

[Lonzo-Lite]

If Ham insists on playing Beasley then the best way to maximize him is with the starters to spread the floor. Give him 6 mins then sit his ass until the start of the 3rd quarter.

Instead, Ham is playing Beasley as a semi-play maker off the bench like Austin was.
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Tacos

[JUST-MING]

I’d rather see Austin with the starters. Lonnie with the bench. Malik in street clothes.

[miggz23]

[mad55557777]

AR off the bench playing 32 minutes, and finish games. that’s how spurs used Manu. We kind of need a spark off the bench.

[mad55557777]

[Megaton]

[miggz23]

[mad55557777]

[Megaton]

[miggz23]

[mad55557777]

[Megaton]