If Reed can play like he did

[Waquoit]

The answer to the question is: Both. We need the two of them. Why make this a we/they issue?

 

[aceboon]

Johnson played well as the starter and had 3 buckets by the first timeout. Reed came in and killed the edge Johnson had built. Two turnovers, 1 board, 1 block, 1 dime. Reed out, Johnson back in, but his moment had passed. 2 turnovers, two missed shots. Johnson started the 2nd half -- 2 buckets. 1 steal, one missed shot. Then he threw the bad pass that got him yanked again. Reed came in, and dominated to the tune of 2 buckets, 4 free throws, 3 boards, 2 blocks, a dime and a steal, with only one turnover. I think he played about 12 minutes of the 2nd half, and only 18 for the game.

...and one of those first half turnovers was when the refs decided that the kickball rule no longer existed

 

[WhereistheDove?]

The answer to the question is: Both. We need the two of them. Why make this a we/they issue?

Literally no one is suggesting we don’t need significant minutes from both. That doesn’t mean a discussion of who should be leading that timeshare is unreasonable.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Johnson and Reed, Jr. do not play the same position.

Reed, Jr. is a 5, anchors the 5 on defense, rebounds, blocks shots, get put backs - and when on can be fairly mobile down low. On offense he is a back to the basket center.
Johnson is a 6'10" wing - he does not anchor the 5 on defense, but rather guards the middle 50/50 with the 3pt line. On offense he is a give and go, or falls off the screen for a dunk but he is not backing guys down for a layup.

They can (and have once) played together and we might need them and AK to anchor the frontcourt vs. Nova with Diarra/Nowell and Ball/Mahaney at the guards with selective Stewart/Ross subbing into the frontcourt as needed for rest or fouls.

 

[bendm]

The team's starts with Samson in the line-up hasn't been an issue

Our slow starts were a huge issue earlier this season, but yes they haven’t been lately. We’re solid at C this teams only glaring weakness is backup PG cough where’s Nowell?

 

[jibsey]

The answer to the question is: Both. We need the two of them. Why make this a we/they issue?

With McNeeley out we lose rebounding and we can’t afford to have Johnson in the same minutes as before because well , he doesn’t rebound.
In fact tonight against Nova we have to at least stay level with them on the glass, either that or be incredibly hot from 3.
So during this stretch we need more Reed.

 

[businesslawyer]

Providence actually scored 45 points in the 2nd half compared to 39 points in the first half.

Do actual facts matter any more?

More seriously, I fully agree with the line of thought that this staff knows what they are doing, and if Samson and Reed are getting roughly equal minutes, with who plays more depends on the individual game, that probably makes sense. On the other hand, I fully understand that, using the eye test, over the course of the season it has looked like Reed is a much, much more dominant traditional center.

Does anyone understanding analytics better than me want to post some complicated formula that shows whether one, over the year to date, has produced much more on an analytic basis?