My objection was mostly in response to the suggestion we'd move faster because our half court ball movement would suffer with this personnel, which is how I read your comment ("We're going to have to play faster, ball movement in the half court just isn't going to be the same."). Maybe I misinterpreted that.We underwent a dramatic change this year from 17th in tempo to 295th.
Vaaks is a guy that can operate as a PnR ballhandler, as presumably can Coleman, but Keaton Wagler they are not.
The Wagler of it aside, the personnel in this presumed lineup has all the makings of a great half court offense. Ability to stretch the defense with shooting, great pick and roll personnel, everyone can pass. This is not a lineup I would expect to go cold every time the defense gets set.
And in these ways next season's personnel isn't really any different.We went slow this year partially because we were so big and didn't have a full court demon like a TSJ or Ayo, but it was also because Wagler and Boswell could just keep plays humming and defenses stretching for the full 30 seconds without being bogged down.
And the Keaton of it all...I mean yeah, we don't have Keaton Wagler next season. Nobody does. I don't think that means every offense in the country is going to run at a breakneck pace. I agree it's likely our tempo will pick up a bit next season. I'd be shocked if it went back to #17, and I'd be surprised if it went back to where we were in 2024. Under these hypothetical rosters were are retaining a large chunk of a team that got used to playing, with great success, at a slower pace. And the bigger point is that we won't be forced to play at an accelerated tempo. I feel very confident that this as of now hypothetical lineup can score in the half court.
That's a half court offense if I've ever heard one.That wouldn't be the core skillset of what we are now creating. We would probably post up more. Tomi in the post, double, kick out, swing, swing, shoot it. Offensive rebound, repeat.
I'll also add that one of the reasons our tempo decreased was that the offensive philosophy went all in on matchup hunting. Sometimes it takes time to set those matchups up. There were many offensive possessions that would go, "P-n-r, don't get the switching they wanted, Keaton pass out, pass back to Keaton, repeat the sequence" until they got the matchup they wanted. That's Keaton executing the game plan, not Keaton being Keaton. I don't think that fundamental philisophy is going to be different this upcoming season.
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