Bigtex
- DFW
No chance Goode plays the 4 (very much). I am sure it is his foot still healing but he looked slowGoode intrigues me at the 4 if Hawkins leaves. Let’s say Hawkins/Shannon leave but everyone else comes back. I’d start:
Epps
Rodgers
Melendez
Goode
Dainja
Offensively, I think swapping Hawkins for Goode at the stretch 4 makes us better. A true floor spacer that I can assume shoot far better than Hawkins. Dainja at the 5 is a reliable post threat. Melendez has the tools (he can slash, monster dunks, good shooting form but just needs to put it all together). So I’d feel fine at the 3-4-5. It’s the Epps/Rodgers backcourt that could be the issue. It’s hard to be a good team if your guards can’t shoot the 3. If Epps becomes Frank Mason/Carsen Edwards type lead scoring guard then this works. If Epps/Rodgers are about the same next year it won’t.
Defensively this group could get eaten alive tho. I’m confident in Rodgers/RJ being solid defensively, but Epps/Goode/Dainja could be exposed. You can mask it with a zone but doubt Underwood ever considers it.
Unfortunately RJ doesn’t have the handles in traffic. Hope his confidence and shot returns