What’s your starting BB lineup without Livers?
We’ve struggle since Livers has been injured. We can’t run our regular starting rotation without him, so during the time without him, what lineup would use?
Do you go big, do you play smallball? How do you shift our lineup to play without Livers?
(for the squeamish out there, I am in no way implying anything about Livers’ recovery progress, just thinking about the lineup without him)
January 12th, 2020 at 6:56 PM ^
Brooks and Nunez got 36 combined minutes today. I'd zero out Nunez giving his 4 minutes to Bajema, and give 10 of Brooks' minutes to DDJ. Castleton really needs to bulk up.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:09 PM ^
Agree with this. Really need Livers back.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:29 PM ^
I still don't understand how Bajema isn't getting Nunez's minutes. Nunez has scored 11 points in 39 minutes on 33% shooting this year while Bajema has scored 19 points in 30 minutes on 78% shooting this year. Nunez has to be killing it in practice because that's the only reason I can think of
January 12th, 2020 at 9:50 PM ^
Nuñez is Joe Bolden and Bajema is Ben Gedeon.
January 12th, 2020 at 10:56 PM ^
Brooks is not playing well, but he does not force shots and plays hard. DDJ is a gunner, and probably better suited for a 6th man role for now.
I would give Davis some of Castleton's minutes .
This team is flat out limited at several positions, so I will be happy with .500 in conf play and a trip to the Dance. Recruiting help is on the way, and Wagner will be a beast with a year under his belt.
Next year, Wagner starts at SG, and Livers moves to SF.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:01 PM ^
I'd probably start building for the future. X at the 1. DeJulius at the 2. Franz at the 3. Johns @4. Teske @5. Backup rotation: DeJulius 1, Brooks 2 (split some of these minutes with X), Bajema 3, Castleton 4, Davis 5.
I'd love to see what Bajema is doing at practice. The little bit of playing time he has gotten this year, he has shown a ton of ability. Really heady player, great shot and athleticism. I really think he's going to be a heck of a player for Michigan.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:01 PM ^
I wish Matthews was still here.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:15 PM ^
Did Matthews have another year of eligibility ? If so, imagine with him back, how much better the team would be.... They were a great defense with him and now without him its totally different, and one would have expected more of a carryover from last year, so maybe he played a bigger part in it than credited...
January 12th, 2020 at 10:10 PM ^
Yes. He was a redshirt junior last year. But it was understood the whole year that he was going to move on.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:01 PM ^
Put out your best 5 whoever they are - Xavier, DDJ, Wagner, Johns, Teske
I think that's the best 5. Bring Brooks and Castleton off the bench. Try to stay with 7 deep until Livers comes back. Problem is the refs put us in constant foul trouble so we have to sub in the weaker players.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:08 PM ^
1 - X or Z or whatever
2 - DDJ
3 - Franz
4 - Johns
5 - Teske
January 12th, 2020 at 8:59 PM ^
It’s X... if you’re ever courtside (notably after games) you’ll hear his friends and family calling him X.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:08 PM ^
Z, DDJ, Wagner, Johns, Teske.
Rotation would be Brooks, Davis and Bajema. That would be it.
If Castleton can start developing a shot from about 10-15 feet in practice, I'd maybe play him as well.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
I don't think there is much JH can do. Eventually he has to sub and the choices are three small guards or playing a big out of place. Given those options, I'd go small. At least DDJ can create some offense.
I would like to see Bajema get a look, it is hard having 2 wing players available (Wagner and Johns). But, I'm sure there's a reason, he is probably still too slight.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:32 PM ^
Muscle mass in basketball is pretty overrated, especially for a college 3. He can still put the ball in the hoop.
Could putting Bajema in for two or three minutes instead of Nunez really hurt us? Nunez is the worst UM basketball player I’ve seen since the Amaker years.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:51 PM ^
I'm with you, I would like to see him more. At the very least he stands in the corner and provides spacing.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:53 PM ^
Carlton Brundridge was pretty bad
January 12th, 2020 at 8:45 PM ^
Matt Vogrich
January 13th, 2020 at 8:32 PM ^
Not even close. 35% 3 point shooter and could play some defense
January 12th, 2020 at 7:19 PM ^
PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Steph Curry
SF: Lebron James
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Anthony Davis
January 12th, 2020 at 8:06 PM ^
what? no bird, jordan, magic, wilt and isaiah?
January 12th, 2020 at 8:20 PM ^
I was picking guys currently playing
If I had to go with an all time lineup it would be:
PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Larry Bird
PF: Karl Malone
C: Shaq
January 12th, 2020 at 8:21 PM ^
Magic and Isaiah play the same position. Magic, Jordan, Bird, Karl Malone and Hakeem.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:21 PM ^
Magic and Isaiah play the same position. Magic, Jordan, Bird, Karl Malone and Hakeem.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:32 PM ^
I almost picked Hakeem,
I almost picked David Robinson too
The late 80s and 90s had fantastic centers in the NBA
January 12th, 2020 at 8:59 PM ^
how about a laimbeer or even mahorn just for when we play sparty, so we could lay some guys out?
January 12th, 2020 at 9:59 PM ^
Honestly the best 5 lineup would exclusively feature guys currently playing. Unless the old players had the benefit of years of training in the current NBA. Someone like Jordan would struggle to be an all star today. He would need to learn how to shoot 35% from 3 in high usage. And the athleticism has skyrocketed. Magic would be a scrub today. It’s a totally different story when comparing their ability to their peers. Which is how it should be. Gordie Howe is a top 10 all time hockey player. But wouldn’t be a top 100 player in this current nhl.
January 13th, 2020 at 1:55 AM ^
I understand and agree with most of what you're saying but I think you are underestimating Magic & Mike. Magic would possibly not be considered the all time great player he was is in the 80's and 90's but he would still be as transcendent to the globe as he was then IMHO. Think a personable Russel Westbrook playing in the bright lights of Hollywood. As far as MJ is concerned, while you are correct saying that MJ would not have the athletic advantages he had in his prime, I still believe he would be amongst the elite. MJ's drive and passion would not allow him to settle for anything less, think LBJ with a killer instinct. MJ's game, while not exactly modernly fashionable, was efficient even in its era, will always be difficult to defend, and 30ppg is 30 ppg no matter how you accomplish it.
My All Time 5 to play a modern game would be
PG Magic
CG MJ
Wing Scottie Pippen
Stretch 4 Bird
5 Kareem(If they can't stops X's hook today, how would players stop Kareem's?)
Bench would be Reggie Miller, Alonzo Mourning, Grandmama, and Steve Nash.
On the play ground give me
PG Magic
SG MJ
SF Bird
PF Malone
C Duncan
Disclaimer: I am very aware that my picks are all 80's era or newer but I did want to pick players for whom I was personally alive while the were in the prime. I am also not saying these are "the best ever", just those players whom I would draft for a fantasy exercises such as this.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:23 PM ^
I don't think humans can live without Livers so this lineup is DOA on the court.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:24 PM ^
Starters don’t matter but the best lineup is the 3 guards with Franz at the 4. Franz really should be a 4 at all times. He can’t dribble his way through traffic against a 3. He is matchup nightmare at the 4.
January 13th, 2020 at 2:19 AM ^
He was a nightmare on defense at the 4 too! Kid got bullied out there in the post. Keep him on the wing!
January 13th, 2020 at 7:54 AM ^
You're right but blame the absurd defensive scheme where no one helps a soul out there. I've never seen a college team that is more hugged up on their man off the ball than Michigan. Not only allows paint touches in the post guys are getting to the lane off the bounce.
This a JB team and in a JB team Franz has to play the 4. Johns gets abused just as much as Franz does but Franz actually brings a scorers mentality to him where Johns can't get out of his own head.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
Simpson
DDJ
Johns
Teske
Wagner
———————————
Brooks 12-15 Min (Sub for each guard but matchups largely dictate)
Davis 4-6 (1 min before each TV break)
Bajema 4-6 (same as above or if producing longer stretches)
Castleton (never at same time with Johns & Teske) 8
Nunez Human Victory Cigar or Blowout
January 12th, 2020 at 7:45 PM ^
I think the starting lineup is fine. Brooks is a plus defender. His shot will start going down again soon.
What’s baffling to me is the rotation. Why is Nunez taking minutes from anyone? DDJ or Brooks or Johns should be playing those 4 minutes.
Brooks brings good defense.
Johns good rebounding.
DDJ scoring.
Nunez hasn’t been good at anything. Even his three point shooting is subpar.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:17 PM ^
Say what you want but Nunez didn't play bad today.....
January 12th, 2020 at 8:58 PM ^
Are you serious. He was forced to dribble the ball and looked panicked. He was a mess.
January 12th, 2020 at 9:01 PM ^
He was forced to after he stood there with the ball for like 6-8 seconds waiting for someone to come get it from him. He’s scared to touch the ball.
January 12th, 2020 at 7:58 PM ^
Avery Queen, Gavin Groniger, Jevohn Shepherd, Ron Coleman, Josh Moore
January 12th, 2020 at 8:13 PM ^
Avery Queen was 5’7”and shot threes at like a 25 % clip
Josh Moore was 7’2” and shot free throws at a 24% rate...
Gavin Groninger regressed every year... went from a 37% three point shooter to 17% in his last year.
Those were dark days.
January 12th, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^
I played a lot of rec ball in Chicago with Mike Gotfredson. Remember him?
January 12th, 2020 at 8:00 PM ^
Itd be nice to have someone connected to the program to at least figure out why Bajema never plays. Hes someone Howard asked to still come here. Nunez isnt his guy at all.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:08 PM ^
Brooks is a good shooter. He needs to look to shoot first.
Wagner can shoot so he starts.
Teske and Simpson obviously.
We need the 5th starter to be able to shoot outside. Maybe DDJ.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:25 PM ^
Simpson, DeJulius, Wagner, Johns, Teske
January 12th, 2020 at 8:47 PM ^
Like most people have said, give DDJ some more minutes but cutting down on Brooks (at least if his shooting remains weak) and cutting Nunez out of the rotation. So roll with Simpson, Brooks/DDJ, Johns, Teske, and Wagner and then your bench is Brooks/DDJ, Bajema, and Castleton/Davis based on matchup.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
I'd like to see Castleton next to Nunez firmly rooted to the bench
January 12th, 2020 at 11:05 PM ^
Castleton still gives you size and some athleticism defensively. And, like, he's shown flashes this year. I'm sure Nunez is a good shooter in practice and maybe he just needs another year to mature, but right now he's got one for made FG than PF (13 to 12), and that's not going to cut it. Castleton at least has played well against the cupcakes and gave them some okay minutes against Purdue. He's not made the jump people expected but he at least looks like he can stay in front of his man more times than not. This isn't a team loaded with talent and athleticism, and so I'm a bit more forgiving of a guy who has at least flashed that.
January 12th, 2020 at 8:56 PM ^
These guys:
January 12th, 2020 at 9:00 PM ^
Right now based on what we’ve seen there isn’t much reason at all that Castleton or Nunez should be in the rotation. Davis is at least more physical on both ends to spell Teske for a few minutes at a time. Nunez is a - on both ends of the floor. If they have to they can even roll with Johns at the 5 for a few minutes. His D on Oturu today was better than what we saw from the other two most of the game.
I don’t remember a situation in the recent past under JB where there were several players getting playing time over others for no obvious reason. There is nothing that points to Brooks getting more minutes over DDJ, or Castleton at the 4 when he doesn’t stretch the D, or Nunez playing at all. The last case I could think of was Kam Chatman getting a lot of minutes as a freshman, but that team was so injury riddled.
January 12th, 2020 at 9:31 PM ^
My thing with Castleton is I think they are trying to make him a post player inside and that isnt working well. Castleton brings the ball up from a low position and he gets himself in trouble. I feel like they need to move him out to about 12-15 feet and see if he can shoot from there. 2-3 makes a game would help open up some things. That, or let him roll some to the basket when the lane is opened up more.
January 12th, 2020 at 9:05 PM ^
Simpson / DDJ / Wagner / Johns / Teske
Davis as backup C, Castleton spelling Johns at the 4. Brooks is still a great defender but shots need to fall and DDJ is more likely to get it going on offense at the 2. Would love to see more Bajema in the place of Nunez if there are minutes to be had behind Wagner.